Today, April 12, University of San Diego President James T. Harris III will switched places with USD junior Will Tate. Tate has been chosen USD’s inaugural Student President for a Day.
A graduate of Oceanside High School in Oceanside, CA, Tate is a Bill and Melinda Gates Scholar who is majoring in Accounting and Theology. Very active on campus and in the San Diego community, he participates in the Black Student Union, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and USD’s Student Support Services program where he serves as a student mentor. In San Diego, Tate volunteers as the Operation’s Supervisor for Fill-A-Belly’s Pancake Ministry.
As “2016 President for a Day,” Tate‘s busy schedule will include ten meetings and events. His day began at 8:30 a.m. when he met with the President’s staff followed by successive meetings with Ky Snyder, VP Facilities Management and Athletics, Terry Kalfayan, VP Finance and Chief Financial Officer, and a meeting with Admissions Director Minh-Ha Hoang. The day will also include a lunch meeting with Linda Vista community leaders, a visit to City Hall where Councilmember Lori Zapf will acknowledge Tate during a council meeting, and a meeting with a USD donor.
In his role as student, USD President James T. Harris III will attend Tate’s classes. Harris will take notes (no test!), enjoy lunch with students in the Student Life Pavilion, attend a Filipino Ugnayan Student Organization meeting, and otherwise fulfill Tate’s very busy schedule for the day.
While President of Widener University, Harris offered a similar program. “’Student President for a Day’ is always one of my favorite days of the year,” Harris said. “I enjoy spending my time with students in the classroom, dining halls and community spaces. I always walk away from this experience having gained so much.”
Both Harris and Tate agree the experience will be invaluable for the 2016 student “President for a Day.”
Chosen from a pool of 58 applicants, Tate was one of five finalists invited to give a 5 – 8 minute presentation to a panel of seven USD faculty, staff and administrators. Throughout the day, Student President Tate will tweet from President Harris’ account: @USDPres.
