Campus Celeb: Ron Lewis, President of the Illinois Student Senate

Meet Ron Lewis, the dedicated President of the Illinois Student Senate and all-around community leader. Lewis is committed to ensuring that every student’s voice gets heard and fostering a truly inclusive campus environment. In addition to representing the student body, Lewis is an active member of the Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. fraternity, teaches a Business 101 course, and works in the Admissions Office for the College of Business. Despite his majorly successful college career, Lewis insists that power and fortune do not equal happiness.

Major: Finance

Year: Senior

Hobbies/interests: Finance, Public Speaking, Basketball, Traveling

Her Campus: So to start off, can you tell me a little about yourself?

Ron Lewis: Definitely, I’m from Westchester, Illinois and I have an older sister that is currently working at a hospital earning her hours to become a Physician’s Assistant. My mother has been a 2nd grade school teacher in the Chicago Public School system for over 25+years, and my father is a police officer for Cook County.

On campus, outside of the Presidency role, I also work in admissions for the College of Business, I teach Business 101 to incoming Freshmen and Sophomores in the College of Business, and I have an active role in my fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

One of the main things I’m passionate about is redefining what success looks like on college campuses and in every environment I’m a part of. Some people view success as getting money or power. My main goal is to help people see that success has way more correlation with happiness than money or power does.

HC: How did you first get started in the Illinois Student Senate?

RL: My freshman year of college, I served as the Executive Assistant for the Student Body President Damani Bolden. From there, I served as a senator representing the College of Business my sophomore and junior year, before becoming President of Student Senate.

HC: What are your goals for your term as President?

RL: My main goals include state advocacy and working with elected officials to ensure that higher education is a priority, educating campus and the community about mental health, and working on diversity and inclusion initiatives so that many communities that normally don’t have a seat at the table, get heard.

HC: What are your responsibilities as not only President of the Student Senate, but also as a leader of the student body as a whole?

RL: Although I have two different titles, the responsibility is the same: My job is to be there for students. No matter how much I work with administrators or legislators, I want to be the type of President who works and serves all communities that I represent. It’s good to be able to have my voice heard amongst administration and legislators, but if I lose my connection with them, the title and the position mean absolutely nothing.

HC: Why is your role important to you?

RL: My role is important to me because I once was the student that was passionate about an issue but my voice wasn’t respected. Now, I get to help people get the respect that they deserve.  I’ve had many struggles before I got to where I’m at now, and I know how it feels to feel like you’re not going to make it through college because of different obstacles. However, looking back at my college career, the lowest points of my college career are what I continue to hold the dearest. I want to be that person that students go to when they feel like they need someone to talk to, because I was once them. The role is important to me because I know that this role connects me with people I never would have had a chance to meet. For that, I’m forever grateful to Student Senate for entrusting me to lead them.

HC: What are your plans after college?

RL: I am doing Teach for America in St. Louis after college teaching Middle School Math while also pursuing a masters in Education at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. After completing a masters, I want to go to grad school to get an MBA at a Top 10 program.

HC: Any advice for people wishing to pursue a position in the student senate or wanting to follow a similar path as you?

RL: For anyone that wants to follow a similar path, my advice: Don’t. I would have never been able to get this position if I focused my eyes on following the path of someone else. Whether you have your eyes on this position or anyone else’s, create a plan to get it, follow it, and prepare to adjust your plan along the way. When I set my eye on being President, the goal wasn’t to follow the path of my predecessors. My goal was to make sure that by the time I needed to run for the President role, I had all the necessary skills needed to be effective. To me, it didn’t matter how I got the skills, I just needed to make sure that I was ready. Please do not listen to my story and say ‘I want to take that path’ or ‘I want this position,’ instead, think of what you’re passionate about, and what skills you need to get where you want to be.