A Message from the President

Greetings BraveNation,

My name is Aspen Andersson, and I will serve as your 2023-2024 Student Body President. On behalf of the Student Government Association, it is with great honor and humility that I welcome you to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Thank you for joining us in BraveNation! We are so excited you have chosen UNCP as your next step in your path to success.

The Student Government Association (SGA) supports UNC Pembroke’s Land Acknowledgement in “respectfully acknowledg[ing] that the lands within and surrounding present-day Robeson County are the traditional homeland and gathering places of many Indigenous peoples – notably the Lumbee.” And SGA strives to ensure its policies and practices promote our shared responsibility “to safeguard these lands and to respect the sovereignty of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.”

UNC Pembroke was founded on March 7, 1887, as a school dedicated to training Native American teachers. Today, UNCP is the only 4-year public institution in the nation founded by Native Americans for Native Americans. As a Historically Minority Serving Institution and North Carolina’s only “Historically American Indian University,” UNCP is one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the South. By encouraging students to excel at high levels and pursue a multitude of academically and socially invigorating opportunities, UNC Pembroke fosters individual growth and the cultivation of knowledge and intentional one-on -one relationships with staff, faculty, and administrators.

The Student Government Association “exists to champion the concerns and rights of the student body,” and it is our goal to connect with students (like you!) and to ensure your voice is heard and acted upon accordingly. SGA aims to create positive change on and off campus and to advocate for students in a variety of capacities, including our weekly, public senate meetings, forums with administrators and departments on campus, town halls, and legislation. As your Student Body President, my role is to aid in bridging the gap between the student body, administrators, and the Pembroke community. One way I do this is by serving as a voting member on the UNCP Board of Trustees. You too can be a part of this change by joining SGA and choosing to serve your peers and the community.

Aside from SGA, UNCP offers a plethora of opportunities to get involved on and off campus. You can connect with over 200 community partners for various volunteer opportunities and join any of over 100 organizations. Along with the wide range of opportunities to get involved, UNCP offers a range of free resources to students, including writing support, career counseling, mental health counseling, tutoring, and many more. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of these resources during your time at UNCP, and never hesitate to ask SGA for help. At UNCP, you will find your community, and you will always have a strong support system on campus. While you are a student first and should focus on your academics, remember to always prioritize your mental and physical health.

Thank you for taking the time to get acquainted with the Student Government Association. I hope to see you at some of our meetings and events this upcoming year! Remember, wherever you are in your journey and wherever you want to go, “you can get there from here.”

In service,

Aspen Andersson

Student Body President