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Aaron Barker Named as CBPP Delegate to Union of Students

February 18, 2021
Aaron Barker Aaron Barker

First-year MBA student Aaron Barker has jumped into UAA feet first. Just weeks into his first semester, Barker has been named as a student delegate representing the College of Business and Public Policy (CBPP) on the Union of Students (USUAA). He will also serve on the CBPP Dean’s Advisory Board, bringing a student voice to a group that consists of business and community leaders.

Barker is originally from the San Francisco bay area. He completed undergraduate studies at Arizona State University, majoring in kinesiology with a minor in business. He then moved to New York City to work in digital media consulting. “I worked with a few start-ups in various industries and the experience led me to understand that at the end of the day, every organization is a business, and there are economic implications to every decision.”

Barker came to Alaska in 2017 with the U.S. Army. He wanted to get a head start on his graduate degree this semester as he transitions out of active duty. Pursuing an MBA will give him a deeper understanding of the economic impacts of policy decisions, he says. It will also apply broadly to his ultimate goal of getting into politics at the state or municipal level. Serving in student government with USUAA provides good experience too.

One of the things Barker appreciates about Alaska is the opportunity to make an impact. As a service oriented person with high interest in public policy, he is a member of Alaska Common Ground and the UAA Student Veterans Association.

He wants CBPP students to understand the role he can play in bringing their questions, concerns, and feedback to administration. “My job as a delegate is to represent the specific needs of CBPP students. In order to do that effectively, I need input from my cohort. I’m trying to reach out to as many people as I can within the College and the UAA community to ensure all voices are heard. I would encourage my peers to take advantage of the resources and personnel who are committed to their success. If you have a concern or an opinion or solution that you think is viable, I’d love to hear it.”

“If it’s not an issue that the student government can address, we will connect you to the right resources within the university. From educational needs to student rights and general welfare, we can be the one stop shop for students to share their ideas and take part in improving the collegiate experience for all students at UAA.”

As a delegate to the USUAA, Barker holds office hours on Zoom on Mondays between 5-6 pm. Stop by to meet him, or email ambarker4@alaska.edu.