ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY General Assembly Office of the President Application Please turn in this application by 4:30 PM on Friday April 5th, 2019. Applications must be turned in by sending the scanned document(s) or a typed PDF version to elections@asmsu.msu.edu. Applications should be completed with detailed answers to the questions below with a professional résumé attached. Failure to comply will result in disqualification. 4/4/2019 Date of Application: Ragine Head Name: Local Address: Permanent Address: Email: Phone: PID: Social Relations and Policy Major: GPA: Fall 2019 Class Standing: Freshman: Sophomore: Junior: X Senior: Number of Semesters/years involved with ASMSU: 2 No official positions held. Just event Past Positions held within ASMSU: collaborations and attendance. For Which position are you applying? (Check all that apply) ASMSU President
ASMSU Vice-President for Academic Affairs ASMSU Vice-President for Finance and Operations X ASMSU Vice-President for Governmental Affairs ASMSU Vice-President for Internal Administration ASMSU Vice-President for Student Allocation ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY Ragine Head 4 April I,, on this day of, 2019, (your full name) (day) (month) do hereby declare my candidacy for the Associated Students of Michigan State University ASMSU Vice- President for Governmental Affairs. [officer position(s)] I swear that, if elected, I will abide by the constitution and all rules and regulations of the Associated Students of Michigan State University and will do my best to carry out the duties of my office. I declare the answers and information in this application to be true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand if elected, I may lose my office if I have provided any fraudulent or misleading information on this application. IMPORTANT : You must be able to provide federally required I-9 documents for employment no later than three (3) business days after you are elected. These can include government issued photo ID with social security card or birth certificate OR a passport. Failure to do so may result in corrective action or inability to hold elected seat.
Ragine Head 04/04/2019 Candidate s Signature Date Please submit your answers to the following questions below to elections@asmsu.msu.edu in PDF format. In the header of your document please put your name and the position you are running for. 1. Please explain your other campus involvement/activities. Please include all positions held and the approximate time commitment. 2. Please describe your reason(s) for interest in the position for which you are applying. 3. How do you see ASMSU s role not only at Michigan State University, but the broader community? 4. What is your vision for the General Assembly? 5. What is your vision for the departments/staff that will be under your supervision and leadership? 6. What are your overall goals for this upcoming session? 7. What skills do you have that would contribute to your position of interest and how have you demonstrated these skills in the past? 8. Please give, in detail, your experience in managing/leading staff or an organization. 9. What qualities do you have that make you the best candidate for the position of interest? 10. Where do you see improvements in the services and department you would be supervising?
Ragine Head https://www.linkedin.com/in/ragine-head-3b5836122/ Professional Work Experience Michigan House of Representatives East Lansing, MI Creative Director of Constituent Services (January 2019 Present) Coordinate and conduct integral affairs in the office of Representative Jewell Jones (D-11). Oversee communications, constituent relations, and legislative affairs with a special focus on coalition building across collegiate institutions and communities to improve overall student success and promote community inclusivity. Voters Not Politicians East Lansing, MI Fellow & Campus Liaison (September 2018 November 2018) Educated Michiganders on the issues partisan redistricting brings to state government and mobilized voters to terminate gerrymandering through forming collegiate partnerships, relationship building, and narrative change. NextGen Rising Detroit, MI & East Lansing, MI Fellow & Organizer (December 2017 December 2018) Promoted community engagement and voter education through programs that provided access to constituent resources and awareness to civic engagement opportunities, especially among youth. Helped increase voter turnout among MSU students to more than 300% between the 2014 and 2018 midterm elections. Hands-on campaign skills, motivated young people to vote in the elections, conduct voter registration drives, door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, text banking, and built out local organizational capacity both on and off campus. Frank Murphy Hall of Justice Detroit, MI Prosecuting Attorney Intern (May 2017 August 2017) Focused on legal research for charges and trials and worked to improve public safety and coalition building. Assisted with the investigation process for criminal cases, trials, hearings, arguments, depositions, and researched legislative histories. Volunteer Experience May 2018 Current Empowered women of all ages to vote and embrace their womanhood during the Detroit Black Women s Leadership & Policy Council. Planned and implemented; community workshops, clothes drive s, and several community service projects in low income communities. Detroit, MI (50+ HRS) November 2017 Current Lead, executed, and moderated candidate forums, and bridged the political divide in many communities through events, workshops, and voter education community classes with Black Lives Matter (BLM). Contributed to the Youth Voters Guide, which later became part of the curriculum for teaching young and driven leaders. East Lansing, MI (127+ hours) January 2018 Coordinated several Professional Development workshops for women through Women of Distinction, a campus based organization focused on empowering and inspiring young women through workshops and mentorship.
East Lansing, MI (20 HRS) October 2017 Planned and assisted with events/programs for Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation. East Lansing, MI (20+ HRS) Assisted with planning and facilitated conversations for My Brother s Keeper Summit. East Lansing, MI (8 HRS) Education Michigan State University (MSU), East Lansing, MI BA in Social Relations & Policy, concentration in Political Science Minor in Peace & Justice Studies May 2020 Affiliations January 2019 Current Fellow, James Madison Leadership Program I was selected as a fellow in a competitive leadership program geared towards to cultivating the next generation of leaders, particularly women and members of underrepresented groups, with a focus on two key arenas of public affairs: (1) electoral politics and government, and (2) civic activism and non-profit leadership. Partook in a global engagement experience at Participatory Research In Asia (PRIA) in New Delhi, India as part of the leadership program. October 2017 Current My Brother s Keeper (MBK) Committed to revitalizing urban centers and creating sustainable communities where justice, peace and opportunity are attainable for all children. September 2017 Current Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Engaged citizens across the spectrum in healing and creating change in the community. September 2017 Current Youth Advocate for Election 20xx: Transformation in the Political Process Engaged marginalized populations throughout the political process. September 2015 Current Madison Academic Diversity Initiative (MADI) Provided a supportive network for underrepresented students during their transition to James Madison.
1. Please explain your other campus involvement/activities. Please include all positions held and the approximate time commitment. I have experience of serving in several key leadership positions at MSU and was recognized as the W.E.B Dubois - Black Excellence Emerging Leader (2018), Women of Distinction - Distinct Woman (2019), and Co-Chair of the Catastrophe to Masterpiece Women Empowerment Event (2019) among other honors. Also, I served as a fellow and grassroots community organizer with Election 20xx, a pilot class in James Madison and served as President for the Political Action Committee (PAC) NextGenMI (2017-2019), where I facilitated voter education classes and engaged youth through programs that provided access to constituent resources and promoted awareness of civic engagement opportunities in marginalized communities. My contributions helped increase voter turnout among MSU students more than 300% between the 2014 and 2018 midterm elections. This year I have also been selected as one of nine Madison Diversity Leadership Fellows, who have been identified as promising potential leaders in the public sphere where I focused on two key arenas of public affairs: (1) electoral politics and government, and (2) civic activism and non-profit leadership. 2. Please describe your reason(s) for interest in the position for which you are applying. I am a self- starter, deeply familiar with primary data collection and analysis, policy-making, as well as experience in assisting with a number of programs geared towards addressing key issues facing disenfranchised communities. I value the promotion of learning, leading by example, and embracing diversity. My commitment to social justice and advancing participatory research in youth and ethnic minority politics, coupled with my demonstrated skills, would successfully be of assistance to the communities served by ASMSU. 3. How do you see ASMSU s role not only at Michigan State University, but the broader community? I see ASMSU s role not only at Michigan State University, but the broader community as by 1) providing a supportive network for underrepresented students during their transition to Michigan State and 2) committing to revitalize campus culture and creating sustainable communities where justice, peace and opportunity are attainable for all. I believe it to be detrimentally important to engage citizens across the spectrum in healing and creating change in the community. 4. What is your vision for the General Assembly?
It wasn t until I came to Michigan State that I realized the vitality of utilizing my voice to advocate on behalf of not only myself, but others as well. Through my experience in grassroots organizing and coalition building, I have come to the understanding that in order for real, and sustainable change to be made, it has to happen collectively and inclusively. I value Legislative action and the participation of University officials, community leaders, as well as representatives at the State Capitol and Federal level of government. I vision a coalition of change agents and the ASMSU GA coming together to collaborate and execute solutions on overcoming systematic oppression and breaking barriers that handicap many marginalized communities. 5. What is your vision for the departments/staff that will be under your supervision and leadership? My vision for the departments/staff that will be under my supervision and leadership is to foster a space where measured healing modality and transformative justice is able to exist and flourish, in the greatest capacity possible. I hope to establish relationships with other stakeholders at the university and build coalitions in an attempt to improve campus climate, accurately represent student voice, and to engage diverse and marginalized populations in the political process. 6. What are your overall goals for this upcoming session? My overall goals for this upcoming session encompasses; creating and discovering knowledge to improve the well-being of our state, regional, national and global communities, educating students through a comprehensive array of distinguished academic programs, preparing a diverse student body to be leaders and engaged citizens, and fostering a culture of engagement and service. It is imperative that diversity and inclusion are essential components of our excellence as a student body coalition. 7. What skills do you have that would contribute to your position of interest and how have you demonstrated these skills in the past? As a scholar, inspiring public servant, and exceptional leader, I committed to continue serving the community by acting as a mentor, encouraging political engagement, and promoting economic development. In my most recent positions, I have experience in interning with Michigan s Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney Kym Worthy and Michigan's youngest State Representative Jewell Jones (D-Inkster), where I focused on legal research, communications and operations, constituent services, and public safety. Also, engaging as a fellow for the James
Madison Leadership Program, I went to India for a global immersion experience with the Participatory Research in Asia Institute, where I learned how to empower local communities to garner the rights and resources they need. I am currently strategizing on how to implement those methodologies on a local level to improve our current governance and policy implementation. 8. Please give in detail,your experience in managing/leading staff or an organization. I have experience in coordinating and conducting integral affairs in the office of Representative Jewell Jones (D-11) by serving as the Creative Director of Constituent Affairs. In my position, I oversee communications, constituent relations, and legislative affairs with a special focus on coalition building across collegiate institutions and communities to improve overall student success and promote community inclusivity. I educated Michiganders on the issues partisan redistricting brings to state government and mobilized voters to terminate gerrymandering through forming collegiate partnerships, relationship building, and narrative change through facilitating classes on campus and in the greater Lansing area. Also, I lead, executed, and moderated candidate forums, and bridged the political divide in many communities through events, workshops, and voter education community classes with Black Lives Matter (BLM). My work contributed to the Youth Voters Guide, which later became part of the curriculum for teaching young and driven leaders. 9. What qualities do you have that make you the best candidate for the position of interest? As a highly competent community strategist and advocate for transformative justice, through my prior internships and involvement as a student leader, I look to provide The ASMSU and its communities with my commitment to empower everyday citizens by providing them with the tools to effectively bring about change. My personal background has equipped me with the knowledge that is necessary to understand the needs of our most marginalized citizens. My education at the rigorous James Madison College of Public Affairs has provided me with the knowledge and resources I need to navigate the complex world of policy. In addition, my internships and civic engagement experiences have rounded out my education by allowing me to harness my personal experiences and education to be an effective advocate. 10. Where do you see improvements in the services and department you would be supervising? The services and initiatives provided in the department that I would be supervising are very beneficial for our student body. The initiative in particular that I would like to hone in on in particular is Voter Registration. I would like to enhance this service by taking a step beyond voter
education and registration. As a community organizer, I experienced first- hand mass voter suppression at the polls on election day. Many of the voters that I registered also encountered barriers at the polls that prevented them from casting their vote, many who were first time voters. These unfortunate encounters happened at the hand of election officers and spurred as a result of improper conduct. I would love to see an initiative taken that would better assist voters on campus at polling locations by educating first time voters on their rights to requesting provisional ballots and walking them through the process, ensure that elections officers do not intimidate voters from casting their votes by combatting dismissive attitudes and adequately accommodating the needs of voters. I believe this would be very beneficial because there is more to the electoral process than just registering voters, we have to make sure that they get to the polls to vote and that their vote is actually casted.