A university studies major from Eagle Pass, Alexsandra Velazquez now stands as the new Student Government Association president.

Alexsandra Velazquez arrived at Texas A&M University-Victoria with a simple goal: leave home without leaving family behind.

Now a senior at A&M-Victoria, the university studies major from Eagle Pass now stands at the center of campus life as the new Student Government Association president, focused on strengthening student voice and trust in university leadership.

“I can’t wait to see all the changes on campus,” Velazquez said. “I want students to know that their feedback is being heard.”

Velazquez grew up in a close-knit, family-oriented environment in a small border community. That sense of home guided her college decision, she said. Her older brother first enrolled at A&M-Victoria, followed by her older sister. Seeing them go off to college showed her that higher education was within reach and gave her a way to move away from Eagle Pass while still remaining surrounded by the people who meant the most to her, she said.

Freddie Cantu

“I'm excited for Alexsandra to step into the role of SGA president and to see all of the amazing things her administration brings to the campus this year,” said Freddie Cantu, A&M-Victoria director of Student Involvement. 

Her term as SGA president began on June 1 and will run through the academic year. As she steps into the role, Velazquez aims to focus on two priorities: building a stronger foundation for SGA as an organization and ensuring students see concrete results from the feedback they provide.

In recent years, she has watched SGA navigate changes in rules, regulations and systems. That transition sometimes left processes and expectations unclear, she said. She wants to stabilize those structures so that future student leaders inherit a more organized and effective association. A stronger internal foundation will allow SGA to create a broader and more lasting impact across campus, she said.

Equally important to her is rebuilding and maintaining student trust. Students can grow discouraged when they share concerns or suggestions but do not see visible progress or clear communication about the next steps. She hopes to change that dynamic by helping SGA not only collect feedback, but also share plans, updates, and outcomes so students can follow how their input shapes decisions and initiatives.

Her path to the SGA presidency has been a steady progression through past leadership and service roles. She worked in the Student Involvement office for three years, serving in multiple positions, including Paw Pantry student director, roles under student organizations and civic engagement, and as an office assistant. In addition to her role as president of SGA, she also serves as a second-year orientation leader, welcoming new Jaguars and helping them transition to university life.

Within SGA, she joined two years ago as a senator before moving on to the role of chief justice and then serving as vice president before being elected president. Each position gave her a different perspective on student advocacy, governance and collaboration.

As the fall semester approaches, Velazquez anticipates a schedule filled with meetings, conversations and outreach. She intends to spend much of her first semester as president listening to students, departments and organizations while introducing more students to SGA and what it can do for them, she said.

“Being a part of SGA has opened up so many doors for me,” Velazquez said. “It made me become a better student, it helped me become a better orientation leader, and it has made me reach out to so many students.”