What is the greatest accomplishment of the average 19-year-old? Graduating high school? Getting accepted into college?
What about being selected to represent 78,000 college students on the Iowa Board of Regents?
That’s the case of Sioux City North graduate and University of Northern Iowa freshman Rachael Johnson. Johnson, a double major in elementary and middle level education, acquired her position thanks to a nomination by her recently met mentors.
“There are tons and tons of incredible people who’ve inspired me, but the ones who have made the biggest impact on my appointment to the Board of Regents are Kevin Gartman, Paul Andersen and Blake Findley,” Johnson said.
The daughter of Darrin and Suzanne Johnson is a senator for the College of Education for UNI’s student government, of which Gartman is president, Andersen is vice president, and Findley is a former vice president. The three nominated her for the six-year position on the Board of Regents.
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From there, she interviewed with the president of the college and then went on to interview with Gov. Terry Branstad, after which she was selected out of a field of nine finalists. She was unanimously approved for the position on April 8.
“They’re so awesome and driven in everything they do,” Johnson said of Gartman, Andersen and Findley. “They see the potential in me that I don’t see in myself which is incredible since I haven’t even know them a year.”
“I’m just honored to have them think this highly of me,” Johnson said.
As a member of the Board of Regents, Johnson will attend board meetings and take part in sub-committees that govern the state’s public colleges and universities.
“I’m so excited to make a difference at UNI and across the entire state,” she said. “I think being on the Board of Regents will give me that voice and allow me to make a difference.”
She also will get perks like sitting on stage at UNI’s graduation ceremony in May.
“My sister will be graduating from UNI this May,” she said. “That’ll be cool for my family.”
The best part of the job, though, is the leadership role she will have to take.
“Getting to represent 78,000 students is the greatest perk as I see it,” Johnson said. “That’s amazing.”
Johnson described herself as a natural-born leader, having held several leadership positions while attending North High School.
“Being the leader has always been one of my favorite things,” she said.
Having been appointed as a freshman is unusual, noted Johnson, who said that the past several appointments have been juniors and seniors.
“I’d like to think they saw something special in me,” she said. “Another reason is I think they wanted someone to finish out their full term.”
Often, the six-year term isn’t completed due to the member graduating from college and moving away to a new job, making being on the Board impossible, explained Johnson.
Her mentors are no strangers to leadership roles, having served in several leadership capacities themselves. Being a few years older, Johnson said they had some advice for her.
“They told me to stay true to who I am and don’t let politics get in the way of what’s best for Iowa students,” she said.
And more concrete advice?
“They also told me to utilize my Google calendar. That thing is like my Bible every morning,” she joked.
