2025 Officer Elections: Fayed Khan
- Grant Berg
- Mar 24
- 3 min read
Fayed (he/him) is a student at St. Cloud State University and is applying for the position of State Chair.
The responses to the application questions are unedited and are written by the candidate. Why are you interested in this specific officer position?
I am interested in the State Chair position because I want to make a bigger impact on students across the state. As Vice Chair of Student United, I visited 7 campuses every semester, listening to student concerns and working to improve their experience. I also joined advocacy conferences and Lobby Day, where I learned how to represent student voices effectively.
As President of BSA, I successfully organized 3 major events in 5 planned over 3 years, gaining leadership experience and teamwork skills. Now, I want to use my experience to lead Student United at the state level, ensuring all students have a strong voice and better opportunities.
Please describe your understanding of Students United Students United is a student led nonprofit organization that represents and advocates for students in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. It works to ensure student voices are heard at the campus, state, and national levels. The organization focuses on important issues like affordable tuition, student rights, and quality education.
As a member, I have seen how Students United empowers students through leadership opportunities, advocacy training, and events like Lobby Day. It connects students from different campuses to work together for positive change. I believe it plays a crucial role in making education more accessible and improving student life across the state Please describe your understanding of the role officers play at Students United Officers at Students United play a key role in leading the organization and representing students across the Minnesota State system. They work to ensure student concerns are heard and addressed by policymakers, university leaders, and legislators.
Their responsibilities include:
Advocacy & Representation: Officers attend meetings, conferences, and events like Lobby Day to push for policies that benefit students.
Leadership & Coordination: They guide student leaders, plan initiatives, and ensure smooth communication between campuses.
Decision-Making: Officers help shape Students United’s policies, goals, and campaigns, making sure they align with student needs.
Event Planning & Engagement: They organize events, campus visits, and outreach programs to keep students informed and involved.
What goals do you have for this position and/or for Students United?
As State Chair of Students United, my main goals are to strengthen student advocacy, increase engagement across campuses, and push for policies that improve student life.
My Goals:
Stronger Student Advocacy:
Expand participation in Lobby Day and advocacy conferences.
Work closely with lawmakers to fight for affordable tuition, mental health resources, and student rights.
Better Campus Engagement:
Increase campus visits beyond the 7-per-semester model.
Host student forums to hear concerns directly from students.
Create more leadership opportunities for students in Students United.
Inclusive & Impactful Events:
Organize meaningful events that address student needs, like financial literacy workshops and career networking.
Ensure all student voices, including underrepresented groups, are heard and valued.
Transparency & Communication:
Improve communication between officers and students through regular updates and open forums.
Work with campus leaders to make Students United more accessible to all students. Is there anything else you would like the Board of Directors and the public to know? Yes, I would like the Board of Directors and the public to know that I am fully committed to serving students across all MinnState universities. My experiences as Vice Chair of Students United and President of BSA have given me the leadership skills, advocacy experience, and deep understanding of student concerns needed for this role.
I have traveled to 7 campuses every semester, attended advocacy conferences and Lobby Day, and successfully organized major student events. These experiences have prepared me to take on the responsibility of State Chair, where I will work hard to ensure that every student’s voice is heard and that Students United continues to be a strong force for positive change.
I believe in teamwork, open communication, and action-driven leadership. If elected, I will dedicate myself to strengthening Students United, increasing student engagement, and making sure that our advocacy efforts lead to real results. I am excited for the opportunity to serve and make a meaningful impact
