December 19, 2005 (Vol. 2, No. 8)

Lehman College Student Chairs CUNY University Student Senate

From high school dropout to Lehman's first ever University Student Senate chairman, Carlos Sierra's journey in the United States has been one of hard work and commitment to personal development.

Sierra migrated from the Dominican Republic to New York at age 13 and moved to Kansas shortly afterward. In Kansas, he was later forced to drop out of high school to find employment. At age 17, he entered a Job Corps Center where he learned cement masonry and completed his GED within one year. Sierra was eager for opportunities to take on leadership roles, and was eventually elected vice president of the Center's student government.

After returning to New York City, Sierra enrolled in Bronx Community College. There, he quickly became involved with student organizations and again rose to leadership positions, such as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and yearbook, as well as student government president.

After receiving his associate's degree in advertising, art and computer graphics, Sierra transferred to Lehman College in 2004, where he is majoring in art and political science. It wasn't long before the CUNY University Student Senate caught his attention. "I wanted to help students on a large scale," says Sierra, who was elected chair of the USS in 2004. Some of the issues he's focused on include increasing state funding of higher education, preserving the TAP award and creating a CUNY 311 system so that students and the larger community can have easy access to current information about the various colleges within CUNY. "We want to create awareness of the different issues concerning the student body within CUNY, throughout the different campuses," says Sierra.

Sierra's role as USS chair is significant because it is the first time a student from Lehman College has held this position. And his position as chair also makes him a part of the CUNY Board of Trustees. The Board's 17 members include 10 who are appointed by the governor, five who are appointed by the mayor, one non-voting faculty member, and one student, Sierra. This means Sierra is a voice for the concerns of students throughout the CUNY system. He adds that his role "is significant because the CUNY Board of Trustees has the authority to make regulations that affect all CUNY students and administrators."

After graduation, Sierra says he would like to continue working in politics, possibly as an elected official or working within a branch of government.

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