ALTOONA, Pa. — Evan Wagenmann is a busy guy.
He’s a second-year student majoring in political science and broadcast journalism with a minor in business. He’s a residence hall assistant in Oak Hall, an auxiliary officer with the campus police and was recently elected as president of the Student Government Association (SGA).
Past SGA roles in both high school and at Penn State Altoona have prepared him for his new position of advocating on behalf of the student body.
Wagenmann sat down for a Q&A about his plans and goals for the academic year.
Q: What led you to Penn State Altoona’s Student Government Association?
Wagenmann: I was in student government in high school and was the student body president my senior year. I loved it. I saw SGA as an opportunity to represent my peers and make positive changes here on campus.
Q: What makes you a good fit for SGA president?
Wagenmann: My first year in SGA gave me an understanding of the system and allowed me to see things that did and did not work from the leadership team.
Being student body president in high school is very influential on my choices now as SGA president. One of my biggest regrets during senior year of high school was not meeting and planning more over the summer. My team had a variety of things we wanted to accomplish but didn't plan far enough in advance to be able to do much. Having learned from that, I started assembling the leadership team here during finals week in the spring and met with them throughout the summer.
I am very passionate about leadership and love meeting and talking to people with experiences different from my own.
Q: How do you want to lead and be seen as a leader?
Wagenmann: I am a medium between students and the college’s administration. My main responsibility is to speak to the concerns of my peers. My hope is that while students may not raise issues to the chancellor or director of Student Affairs, they feel comfortable coming to myself or my leadership team.
I want to be seen not only as a friendly face but as someone students can trust and rely on so that they are seen and heard.
Q: What are your goals/plans for this academic year as president?
Wagenmann: My team has several goals we are really excited about. Justin Liao, our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging chair, is leading a committee working with the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP) and Campus Activities Board (CAB) to plan a winter dance. We are supporting the Criminal Justice Organization in hosting a First Responder Day event at the end of October. We also plan to work with Housing and Food Services on parking enforcement and new food options.
Q: What do you want your peers to know about you both as a fellow student and as SGA president?
Wagenmann: I want all students on this campus to be seen and heard. I try to be as approachable as possible but recognize with my busy schedule I can sometimes be difficult to find. I was elected to represent the student body. If something is important to you, I absolutely encourage you to email me at etw5238@psu.edu or sit in on an SGA meeting. You can find details on DiscoverWest.
Q: Do you plan to work in politics or government after graduation?
Wagenmann: I do! My goal is to one day be a state level senator or representative here in Pennsylvania.
Q: What do you like best about Penn State Altoona?
Wagenmann: I love the small-town environment. The classes are small; my instructors have all been easy to talk to, and I am grateful that I get so many opportunities to speak with campus leaders. Above all else, my favorite thing about Altoona is that anywhere I walk on campus I see someone I know.