The newest member of the Iowa Board of Regents is ready to offer a student’s-eye view of higher education.
Hannah Walsh, a University of Iowa political science major from Spirit Lake, Iowa, was appointed to the board Nov. 30. Her focus: keeping college affordable.
“I have a couple of different ideas of how we can begin to work on getting students out of college with the smallest amount of debt possible,” Walsh says.“My first priority, however, is maintaining our regents universities affordability and high-quality education right now, as well as for future generations.”
The regents govern Iowa’s three public universities, as well as special schools for children who are deaf or visually impaired. The nine member board includes a student seat that rotates among the universities.
Always interested in politics, Walsh was a UI Student Government senator during her first year at Iowa. She also was selected to participate in the President’s Leadership Class led by UI President Sally Mason.
“The other regents are incredible people with amazing backgrounds. I’m trying not to be intimidated,” Walsh says of her new role. “I’m the voice of so many students, and I’m ready to get started.”