SGA Summer Retreat Kicks off the Academic Year

Written By: Atsue Sawai, SGA Historian and Second-Year Student Pharmacist

After a year of virtual meetings and online classes, leaders from the School of Pharmacy’s Student Government Association (SGA) came together on Aug. 21 for a summer retreat to prepare for the 2021-2022 academic year.

The retreat kicked off with an introduction, remarks and words of encouragement from Dean Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, FCP, followed by a discussion on what leadership means to those in the audience. Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD, associate dean for student affairs and the SGA advisor, then spoke about event planning for this academic year and the importance of following UMB guidelines during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

SGA executive board members gave presentations on their individual roles and responsibilities. The 2021-2022 e-board consists of Sean Kim (president, Class of 2023), Chantiel Awkard (vice president, Class of 2023), Adriana Campos (secretary, Class of 2024), Amanda Summers (treasurer, Class of 2023), Atsue Sawai (historian, Class of 2024), and Susan Luong (USGA senator, Class of 2024). Each member also discussed the various committees they oversee, most notably the Legislative Committee, which plans the School’s involvement in the Maryland Pharmacy Coalition’s Legislative Day each February, when pharmacists and students from around the state come together to advocate for the profession with the General Assembly in Annapolis.

Leaders of the SGA’s 18 organizations and the SGA class officers presented their goals, annual events, and focus for the upcoming year, providing an opportunity for the organizations to get to know each other, see what other groups are doing, and discuss possible collaborations. Becky Ceraul, assistant dean for communications and marketing, gave an overview of the services the School’s communications and marketing team provides and how the SGA can share information about its activities with the School community. Patty Alvarez, PhD, assistant vice president of student affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, was the guest speaker to conclude the event.

The SGA thanks everyone who attended and wishes everyone a warm welcome back to campus.