Alyssa Benedict has been elected to a two-year term as a student member of the Board of Trustees.

In her eighth semester, Benedict is working toward a combined degree — a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in public health. A University Scholar candidate, she is preparing a thesis on the Connecticut juvenile justice system.

Benedict has been an active student leader. She is a voting member of the Faculty Senate, state board chairperson for ConnPIRG, has held the positions of chapter chair, vice chair and treasurer of the UConnPIRG Chapter, and is currently a member of the executive committee of the national student forum at U.S.PIRG.

Benedict is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and the Golden Key national honors societies. She recently received the Donald L. McCullough Memorial Award, the University's highest student leadership award, and last year received the Spirer/Dueker Humanitarian Achievement Award.

Benedict created UConnUVote, a coalition of student groups aimed at registering students to vote, educating them on issues and getting them to the polls.

As a trustee, Benedict hopes to increase communication between students at the regional campuses and Storrs campus. She would like to create a campus network of student representatives - including undergraduate student presidents from all campuses - to share information and discuss important issues. She also says that being a board member will allow her to be proactive on issues important to students, such as "having the University be as environmentally friendly as possible."

Benedict plans to graduate in August 1999. After graduation, she hopes to work in the field of public health advocacy. She is also interested in going to law school.

Sherry Fisher