ASI President Earns New Role

Public Administration master’s student David Lopez had Cal State East Bay in his “top five” schools, but it wasn’t until he set foot on campus during his first tour that he knew he’d found his new home. 

“I fell in love with it and so did my family,” Lopez, 23, said. “The sense of community here is very strong, there’s a lot more going on than just coming to school.”

Lopez became determined that day to entrench himself in CSUEB campus life and, now three years later, is the Associated Students Inc. president. ASI is the university’s student government body that advocates at the federal, state and campus level, and provides funding and services for programs that enhance student success.

In July, Lopez will transition from his on-campus role to a statewide position as president of the California State Student Association. He’s hopeful the new role will help him make even more of a positive difference in the lives of his fellow students.

A self-proclaimed “Pioneer for life,” Lopez said he’s come to love Cal State East Bay and its student population even more. Having lived on campus all three years, he said he has a different perspective on what makes CSUEB unique. 

“We’re growing in terms of numbers and I love that we’re very diverse,” Lopez said. “Just walking from my office (in the University Union) across campus, you see a huge difference in people.”

Lopez, who was appointed to his new position on the CSSA board by a vote of support from 17 out of the 23 CSU campuses, said he ran on a three-topic platform that he plans to implement once he starts in July.

First, he wants to work on communication. Lopez said many of the schools don’t have a streamlined way of staying abreast of developments at other campuses. 

“I’ve told the other schools I’m willing to call all 23 campuses before a meeting, that’s how important communication is to me,” Lopez said.

In addition, he wants to bring the entire organization more in line with the new CSSA constitution, something he said needs to be done because the whole constitution was recreated this year. And finally, he wants to help new members transition into their roles — a struggle he experienced firsthand when he joined the organization mid-term. 

After he finishes his master’s degree, Lopez hopes to attend law school and focus on either corporate or labor law. And while he’s looking at both private and University of California law schools, he said he’s a lifetime CSU fan.

“We’re more connected than the UCs, the city colleges and private schools — there’s a sense of community here,” Lopez said of the CSU system. “I love our diversity and we serve the majority of jobs in California.”