By MORGAN TARPLEY

mlt017@latech.edu

 

Jessica O’Connor Dees, president of the Business Student Association and a senior accounting major, has been chosen as the first student to serve on Tech’s College of Administration and Business advisory board.

Dees will begin serving with Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau, Dr. Shirley Reagan, the dean of the CAB, and other prestigious national business officials tomorrow and will become a liaison between faculty and students.

“We realized we needed a direct link to our students,” Reagan said. “[Dees] brings a student perspective to the board.”

Reagan said the board developed new bylaws to incorporate the new student position on the board.

“[Dees] is the BSA president,” Reagan said. “[The board] felt that she would be the most appropriate student to represent all the business students.”

Dees said she knew nothing about the board’s new student membership before she was announced as its only student member.

She was not even aware that she was being considered for the position.

“I am the first student on the board,” Dees said.

“I’m kind of overwhelmed but excited.”

Melissa Aldredge, BSA faculty adviser and an instructor of accounting, said Dees is really enthusiastic and will make an exceptional contribution to the board.

“She is a good student, loves Tech and cares about the students,” Aldredge said.

“I think she will be able to really contribute to the board.”

Dr. Elizabeth Wibker, associate dean of undergraduate studies and administration for the CAB, said she has found that hearing the student voice is very profitable.

“It serves not only useful to the college for gaining [student views and opinions],” Wibker said.

“It also helps students to have a better understanding about why decisions are made.”

Dees said she hopes she will be able to let the board in on what the business students want.

“I want [the board] to get a good image of students,” Dees said.

“I want them to see that the students do care when things happen.”

Wibker said Dees was very eager to take on the responsibility of BSA president, and her work that must be completed for the advisory board will not be different.

“It takes someone to have a certain amount of responsibility to carry out their duties,” Wibker said.

“[Dees] has demonstrated that.”