Tempe Undergraduate Student Government President Jordan Davis and Graduate and Professional Student Association President Megan Fisk answer questions from students during an open forum at the Memorial Union. (Photo by Shawn Raymundo)In her seventh year at ASU, Graduate and Professional Student Association President Megan Fisk is showing no signs of slowing down.
Since transferring from Glendale Community College to pursue an undergraduate degree in communications and political science, Fisk has been involved in student affairs at the Tempe campus, and that involvement has only grown over the years from a member of the Tempe Undergraduate Student Government to president of GPSA.
She became involved after she couldn't find many programs for transfer students, and her goal ever since has been to make sure every student has a way to become involved, she said.
“I want to make the student experience better and make sure students have a seat at the table,” she said.
Fisk and her team have lofty goals, including a 10-year plan to double the number of graduate students by 2020, establish campus councils and get more involved in the local community.
Fisk dealt with many challenges during her time as president, but she meets each new experience head-on.
“Some challenges include student involvement,” she said. “We have 35 seats graduate students can be on, but it is difficult to fill those seats.”
Student involvement is important to Fisk, and she continues to work to make sure students are involved.
“(The) Arizona Students' Association is restructuring this semester to get more students involved throughout the state,” she said.
Adam Monroe, director of Legislative Affairs for GPSA, and doctoral candidate in chemistry and biochemistry, said one of Fisk’s greatest attributes as president is her ability to communicate.
“Megan is really good at communicating with everyone at every level,” he said. “No matter how busy she is, she always has time to listen to what is going on.”
James Alling, assembly president and biomedical engineering doctoral student, said Fisk’s ability to embrace diversity in opinions and positions creates a healthy working environment.
“Megan is capable of creating a healthy working environment even when those around her disagree or have different ideas,” he said.
Through good days and bad, Fisk is always professional, Alling said.
“I share an office with Megan, so I get to see her on good days and bad days,” he said. "Megan is consistently professional with those around her, and constantly in tune with her duty to graduate and professional students at ASU.”
Outside of her work as GPSA, Fisk is highly involved in the community and continues to work on her doctoral degree in organizational communication with a focus on religious extremist organizations.
“My mom and I have a nonprofit (organization) that is part of Project Linus, where we donate blankets to kids in hospitals,” she said.
After finishing her doctorate, Fisk wants to be an advocate for public universities.
“I really want to advocate for public universities and will probably do that as a professor,” she said.
Fisk is looked at as a great leader by her colleagues and only has more to come during her presidency.
“As her colleague in GPSA’s other branch, I find myself holding high esteem for Megan,” Alling said. “I consider Megan an excellent leader, often by example.”
Reach the reporter at jshanco2@asu.edu or on Twitter @Joey_Hancock
