Jeremiah Johnson sits at his desk in the Center for Student Involvement office.
Jeremiah Johnson’s run as Murray State’s Student Government Association president has come to an end after three years.
Johnson, who first came to Murray State in the fall of 2008, got involved with campus quickly by joining a fraternity, SGA and Murray State’s collegiate FFA chapter.
Winning the election for the third time has put Johnson on an exclusive list of presidents who have held a three-year term. There has only been one other to do so at Murray State – J. Eddie Allen in 1988.
Johnson said one of the things he will miss most about Murray State is the family atmosphere and the students and the way everyone interacted with each other.
While he does not have set plans for life post-graduation, he said he is pursuing a few job opportunities.
“Ultimately I want a career path where I can help foster positive growth within our youth in agriculture, whether it is through policy making or day-to-day educational opportunities,” Johnson said.
Some of Johnson’s favorite memories of college life include going to the lake with fiends over the summer, Midnight Breakfast and All-Campus Sing.
While he said he had many great times during his tenure at the University, he said he also had to deal with his fair share of adversity. Johnson went through former President Randy Dunn’s contract non-renewal, the proposal of a student-funded library that failed and many student deaths.
“I’ve had to deal with the state requiring the University the make budget cuts,” Johnson said. “That’s been hard. I’ve been trying to help make cuts, but also make sure students are not affected as badly.”
He said some of his mentors and biggest influencers during his time as a student and SGA president have been the consistency regents, SGA adviser Jeanie Morgan, all of the faculty, staff and students in the Hutson School of Agriculture, President Tim Miller, Don Robertson, vice president of Student Affairs, Jay Morgan, vice president of Academic Affairs and interim vice president of Finance and Administrative Services Jackie Dudley.
“I am also extremely thankful and respect our former SGA presidents for their continued support over the years,” he said. “I couldn’t have made it where I am without the support of my fraternity Alpha Gamma Rho, and I am very thankful for my brothers.”
As SGA adviser, Morgan has worked closely with Johnson through the years.
“I’m really glad Jeanie is here,” Johnson said. “She has been a guiding light when things get rough and a rock to help support me and SGA when we need advice on tough decisions.”
Morgan said Jeremiah have been an outstanding supporter of students.
“The decisions he has made have always been made with the students’ welfare his first priority,” Morgan said. “Jeremiah has been accessible to students at all times. The students of Murray State have greatly benefited from Jeremiah’s dedication and hard work.”
For the 2014-15 school year, only one student is running for SGA president. Michael Dobbs, junior from Winchester, Ky., is the sole candidate and said he nervous and excited to start his tenure as SGA president and Student Regent.
Morgan said she is excited to work with Dobbs.
Said Morgan: “I have had the privilege of working with 22 Student Government Association presidents over the years and I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with Michael.”
Story by Meghann Anderson, News Editor