Awa Mbai has been a member of the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) Student Government Association (SGA) for several years. But now, she’s taking on her biggest role yet, and she’s ready to get to work.
“We are the voices for the students, and essentially, each person within Student Government represents somebody at UNC Greensboro. It’s important for students to know that there’s someone within our organization they can come to with their concerns.” Mbai says.
In October, the UNCG Board of Trustees swore in Awa Mbai as the new President. She joined SGA during her first year of college, inspired by seeing her resident advisor serve as the President. In her first year, SGA advocated for Juneteenth to be included on the University’s academic calendar, one of the first impactful moments Mbai says in her SGA career.
MENTAL HEALTH FOCUS
“I want Student Government to now focus on mental health initiatives and also create a bridge between student groups and our organization,” says Mbai, a senior studying Political Science with a minor in Spanish.
Her first year was during the COVID-19 pandemic, which came with its own challenges but also helped shape her goals around mental wellness.
“During the pandemic, we had to help people manage mental health concerns. The SGA vice-president and I are now working on increasing mental health awareness,” says Mbai. “What that looks like is making people aware and taking the time within SGA to provide resources.”
The organization has been sending out surveys on issues like suicide awareness and setting up tables with mental health resources. One of Mbai’s goals is to bring back “mental health days” – a day each semester where students do not have classes and are encouraged to relax and step away from their schoolwork.