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Madame Prez

Meet UNC Asheville's 2022-23 SGA President Lo Braswell & Vice President Miracle Okoro

By UNC Asheville

August 9^th, 2022

UNC Asheville's Student Government Association's president for 2022-23 is Lauren Braswell, but you can call her Lo—or even Madame Prez, if you like. Braswell and her SGA Vice President Miracle Okoro have big plans for their term as the leaders representing UNC Asheville's student body, and they're ready to get started. We asked Braswell and Okoro 10 questions to help us get to know them better.

Lo Braswell, SGA President

1. What's your major? Why?

Biology. I enjoy helping folks. I originally planned to become a PA. But the love I have for science is undeniable. I hope and plan to earn my masters in botany and be a part of the team that significantly decreases the effects of the human footprint and global warming.

2. What made you decide to run for SGA president?

I’ve always envisioned myself being a part of a community. An actual community where you lean on each other, support one another, and most importantly express love and care for each other. After being gone for 1.5 year during covid I was able to do a lot of reflection and when I returned to UNCA I was ready to learn what building a community is all about and what it means to be a service leader. Running for SGA president was a leap of faith, but I couldn’t express enough gratitude for the experience and knowledge I’ve gained now and in the future.

3. What are your main goals for your time as SGA president this year?

During the 54th administration, Miracle and I plan to build a more collaborative, respectful, inclusive, and equitable campus. Our platform includes equity and inclusion, bridging communities, resources, health and healing, and school spirit.

4. Why are those goals important to you, and to campus?

We are striving to create a stronger campus community, and as leaders it's important we acknowledge the concerns of our community. We will honor the UNCA core values and mission.

5. What's one thing you want students to know about you?

I appreciate transparency. I welcome authenticity. Please always feel free to be open and direct with me.

6. What's your go-to study snack?

Cheez-Its. I used to bite my nails during tests or while doing homework (anxiety sucks lol) but Cheez-Its helped me break my habit.

7. What does your dream life look like after graduation?

My dream life after graduation looks like having the means to travel and explore different parts of the world before earning my masters at the School of Botany in Hawaii.

8. Coffee or tea?

It's always tea time!!

9. What class are you most excited about next semester?

Unfortunately, my class schedule is full with biology electives. And I say unfortunately because I am also an Africana studies minor (soon to be a major hopefully!) and this is the first semester I will not have a class dedicated to my black experience. Fortunately, all of the Africana professors, including Dr. Ruffin, Dr. Zunguze, and Dr. Boakye-Boaten welcome students who are not currently enrolled in their courses the opportunity to sit in, listen, and potentially add to the discussion. I’m excited about coming back into these spaces and continuing to go back and get it, Sankofa!

10. Anything else you'd like to add?

Just call me Lo, but Madame Prez has a nice ring to it :)

Miracle Okoro, SGA Vice President

1. What's your major? Why?

Mass Comm., because I’m a story collector and one day I strive to be a storyteller in the most efficient and impactful way possible. I also minor in Africana Studies because I love my people and there’s so much to learn about the black being, culture, heritage, soul, etc. We are literally the blueprint and my goal is to elevate my people with the knowledge of their greatness.

2. What made you decide to run for SGA vice president?

I ran for VP because I wanted to support my friend, but I also really care about people, and my calling in life is to help people. And part of what helping people looks like for me in this season is being a voice for the student body and fighting for us behind the scenes.

3. What are your main goals for your time as SGA vice president this year?

Our goal is to build community on the foundation of authenticity. We want to build school spirit, but also find a way to bridge the gap between administration and the student body. A large part of that is listening to the students and advocating on their behalf.

4. Why are those goals important to you, and to campus?

They are important because there’s no school pride, there’s no sense of a larger, united community, and that’s causing a lot of our student body to fall through the cracks of loneliness. I mean it’s hard enough to make friends period, but when there’s no general sense of community, of mutual love for our campus, making friends becomes 10x harder.

5. What's one thing you want students to know about you?

I want people to know that I'm approachable, as long as they're respectful to me and the people I love. I also really want people to remember that members of SGA are human.

6. What's your go-to study snack?

I don’t have one, my snacks literally come in phases of obsession. Last year I was stuck on hot fries the whole year. I’m tying to be healthy, though, so the study snacks might have to go.

7. What does your dream life look like after graduation?

I don’t quite know. I want to be a successful storyteller but I also want to be an integral member of my community. I want to also help restructure the education system and work closely with kids. So basically I don’t know the answer to this question. I just know I want to help people and tell their stories. Whatever I end up doing, though, my dream life would have to include making enough money to support my family and maybe getting married and having kids at some point.

8. Coffee or tea?

Tea, I hate coffee.

9. What class are you most excited about next semester?

I’m going to be a part of the Dignity Journal in Human Rights 301, and I’m so looking forward to that.

10. Anything else you'd like to add?

I don’t think so, thanks for this opportunity!

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