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Brandon Phelps ’15: The Heart and Soul of SGA

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Jenna Kapsis
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at WPUNJ chapter.

Name: Brandon Phelps

Year: Sophomore

Major: Public Relations

Minor: Interpersonal Communication

Hometown: Hillside, NJ 

At WPUNJ, Brandon is best known as an active member of the Student Government Association (SGA). Since his freshmen year, he has worked with Finance in this organization, and for the last year and a half, he has been the SGA Treasurer.  Aside from SGA, he is a member of Go Japan, SAPB, Pioneer Players. He attempts to be involved with them whenever possible.

As the SGA Treasurer, Brandon is in charge of chairing the Finance Committee, which is the main committee of SGA which passes money to the students for clubs and events.  He is a member of the general legislative team, a member of executive board committee, and the chair of Budget Committee. His duties range from chairing meetings, to moving the status of an event from one stage to the next, to meeting with Student Development about issues that students are facing on campus.  

With Brandon’s infectious smile, charming personality, and huge involvement on campus, he is most certainly a Campus Celebrity!

HC: How did high school prepare you for your success at WPUNJ?

BP: High school has helped me see that if I want to be known or if I want to be an active part of anything, I must be social, work well with others, and if I do not know something, then ask! I learned not only how to be an active student but a leader as well.  The experience that I gained will carry itself with me until I graduate and for the rest of my life.

HC: What has been your biggest accomplishment thus far?

BP: My biggest accomplishment so far was becoming a member of the executive board as a freshman.  I became the SGA Treasurer, and during that semester others saw my work with SGA.  I won the Rising Star Award at the SGA Awards Dinner.

HC: Who inspires you the most?

BP: My mom has to be the one person who inspires me the most.  She has some serious dedication and puts others before herself all the time. I feel like these are traits that I was lucky enough to receive from her.  She knows not just how to be a leader but a member of a team as well.  I feel as if she is who I model my leadership role after.

HC: Do you have any special talents?

BP: I’m not sure if I would consider being tall a talent, but I wouldn’t consider myself a talented person!  I have interests here and there, but I am not sure if I could pinpoint something in particular that I would call a talent.  However, I do have great social skills so I guess I can consider that a talent!

HC: What is your favorite thing about WPUNJ?

BP: I enjoy the campus, for the most part. I always wanted to go to a school that’s in the woods where I can feel submerged in my campus life.  I enjoy the fact that after staying on campus for a while I forget that there are things off the university grounds.  I also enjoy the fact that at William Paterson I feel like I know everyone.  I’m not just a face or a number.  I am a person with a personality, and I am known for what I do.

HC: What goals do you want to achieve in your future?

BP: I hope to graduate William Paterson as a Public Relations major.  I would like to work with people since I love interaction.  I am aiming more for publicity like working with the celebrities and such, but as long as I am able to meet new people, I think I can go for any part of PR.  I would also love to graduate William Paterson Cum Laude, which is a great honor for a student to receive.

 

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar
Jenna is the Co-Founder, President and Social Media & Events Director of the WPUNJ branch of Her Campus.  She is a senior Marketing major with a minor in Public Relations.  In the fall 2014 semester, she interned with In Touch, Life & Style and Closer Weekly at Bauer Publishing in the public relations department.  In the spring 2015 semester, she is interning with Jaguar Land Rover North America in the network development department.  She is the Student Representative for the PR & Marketing Committee of WPUNJ, a MTV Trendspotter for MTV Insights and blogger of collegiate advice.  She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Lambda Pi Eta honor societies, and will graduate Magna Cum Laude.  Previously, Jenna worked as a Student Ambassador and Tour Coordinator in the Admissions Office at WPUNJ, was a member of the Student Public Relations Association (SPRA) and was a publicity intern for Kim "Kim D" DePaola, owner of POSCHE Boutique in Wayne, NJ, who is featured on the Real Housewives of New Jersey.  Jenna's interests include dancing, shopping and hanging out with friends.  She loves everything pink and Britney Spears!