Last Year's AS President at Cal State Long Beach Elected Chair of California State Student Association

A student at California State University, Long Beach has been elected chair of the California State Student Association (CSSA) by the student body presidents at the 23 California State University (CSU) campuses.

As chair, Robert Garcia will serve as the official CSSA spokesperson to the Chancellor's Office of the CSU and its Board of Trustees. He will also chair the body's monthly meetings and oversees the CSSA staff.

The CSSA is the acknowledged statewide student organization designed to represent, serve and protect the collective interests of the 370,000 students in the CSU system. Its stated mission is to maintain and enhance the accessibility of quality education for the people of California.

Garcia, who served as president of Associated Students at CSULB during the 2000-01 academic year, is completing degree requirements for a B.A. in communication studies and beginning graduate work for a master's degree in public administration at CSULB this fall.

"I would like to promote CSU pride on all of the campuses," Garcia said of his goals as chair. "As students, we need to remember that we are all ambassadors for our campuses."

His previous leadership positions at CSULB include serving as Associated Students administrator and senator and president of the Interfraternity Council and his fraternity Delta Chi.

"I love Long Beach State and am grateful for the opportunities it has given me," said the 1995 graduate of Covina High School.