ASI STUDENT GOVERNMENT SENATOR AND ASI BOARD DIRECTOR CANDIDATE:
PRESIDENT CANDIDATE: DAMIAN MERCADO
Major: Political Science
Minor: Chicano Studies & History | Class Standing in Fall 2026: Senior
CANDIDATE STATEMENT:
Hello CI Students, My name is Damian Mercado, and I am thrilled to announce that I am running for ASI Board of Directors and Student Government Senator for the upcoming school year. I am currently a senior majoring in Political Science, and I am passionate about promoting student interests, empowering student leaders, and further expanding multiculturalism at CSUCI.
I chose to attend CSUCI for its supportive, active learning environment. Through club involvement and internships, I developed as a student leader and advocate, working with key political organizations and families to improve educational outcomes and college readiness. These experiences prepared me to deliver results on the ASI Board of Directors or as a Student Government Senator.
Throughout my academic career, I have participated both on-campus and off-campus clubs, strengthening my knowledge of student leadership, fairness, and initiatives that improve financial literacy and educational stability. Serving as treasurer of Union de Hermanos further taught me that an engaging, multicultural community is crucial for thriving in higher education. Additionally, I am involved with off-campus political organizations that advocate for improvements in education, such as securing significant funding for financial aid programs to address student homelessness and malnutrition.
If I am elected to either student government position, my main goals are to promote and advocate for increasing student participation for internship opportunities, further expanding initiatives that could help increase retention and graduation rates, expanding opportunities for practical learning such as undergraduate research, and further integrating multidisciplinary, community-based learning concentrated on sustainable citizenship and environmental technology. I am particularly interested in advocating for initiatives that strengthen student participation, create more opportunities for students to obtain skills in fields of studies such as Global Studies, and improve communication between students and faculty.
In my opinion, I would be a strong student representative as a Student Government Senator or ASI Board Member because I am committed to understanding diverse student viewpoints to improve education, while actively supporting communities both on and off campus. I’m motivated to learn, communicate, and cooperate with other Student Government representatives to effectively advocate for your viewpoints and provide an additional voice for the academic community on campus. Thank you for taking the time to consider my candidacy; it would be a privilege to serve you.
CANDIDATE PLATFORM:
Educational Engagement
- Further promote paid internships with local non-profit organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club of Camarillo, to help working students gain experience without sacrificing income.
- Advocate for the expansion of preliminary guidance, such as career fair prep events, to help organize the application process for internships.
Scaling & Integrating
- Create more equity-minded summits and practices to eliminate equity gaps for underserved students by removing systemic barriers and diversifying mentorship.
- Advocate for more internships to boost career readiness and retention through hands-on experience and networking.
Active Learning & Collaborative Learning
- Collaborate with faculty to promote student travel to national conferences like NCUR, enhancing their presentation skills and professional networks.
- Promote and foster more research skills across the syllabus of each college class, while further promoting UNIV 498 courses for academic credit.
- Collaborate with the SURF program to help more underrepresented STEM students develop research skills and prepare for graduate school or careers.
Multidisciplinary & Incorporated Sustainability
- Collaborate with the Center for Community Engagement to expand learning that connects students with local environmental and social justice issues.
- Advocate for the continued integration of sustainability into each college class syllabus, campus services, and the environment through the Campus Sustainability Task Force.