First Ph.D. Student Appointed to Board of Trustees

A&S GRADUATE STUDENT REPRESENTS UM

The University of Miami’s Board of Trustees appointed the 2009-10 student representative, T. Mechelle Francis, ’11, this past April 15. Francis, 31, is the second Arts & Sciences student in consecutive years to be awarded the post. She follows Shajena Erazo, ’09, English Literature, currently in D.C. beginning one year national service in AmeriCorps, who was named to the board last year. Francis is the first doctoral student in A&S to be selected.

T. Mechelle Francis was named the student representative to the Board of Trustees. She is pursuing a doctorate in international studies.

The student trustee of the board, which is responsible for governing UM, must have significant leadership experience. After university leaders, including the vice president of student affairs, interview candidates who meet this criterion, the top three candidates are recommended to the board, which makes the appointment.
Francis, who is pursuing a doctorate in international studies, called serving as student representative an opportunity to be a voice for the entire student body. “I want to be an advocate for all those attending UM—to improve their experience here,” she said. “The 2009–2010 academic year is going to be like no other because of the economic situation the U.S. is facing. Financial concerns are a pressing issue for students.”

Francis served in the U.S. Army on active duty from 1996 through 2000 as a military police officer and garnered numerous commendations. After her service she enrolled at Florida State University, graduating in 2004 with a B.S. in political science. That year, she was honored with the Award of Distinction established by former U.S. Senator Bob Graham for outstanding achievement in academics and community service. At UM, Francis is president of the Graduate Student Association and a matriculating McKnight Doctoral Fellow.

“She has been very involved with students here at the University,” said Lori Ann Giese, associate director of financial assistance services and Francis’ former supervisor at the Office of Financial Assistance Services where Frances was a graduate assistant. “Mechelle is very thorough and will not stop until she gets the answers and everything is done to the letter.”

Francis, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica, says she would like to pursue a career in the U.S. State Department or Justice Department and someday have a hand in formulating foreign policy. “I believe civic participation is crucial to the advancement of a society. We all have a personal responsibility to each other,” she said. “Helping others has always been important to me because so many people helped me along the way.”

Francis added she is proud of attending UM because of the diversity of the student body. “We have an extensive international community. It’s wonderful to have so many friends from all over the world.”