Tim Scalona, a graduate student at the School of Public Policy, has been elected student trustee for the Amherst campus on the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees, where he plans to advocate for first-generation and low-income students, among other issues.
His priorities on the Board of Trustees include the creation of a first-generation student support center on every campus in the UMass system, advocacy for unions that represent student workers and expanded support for BIPOC students and campus cultural centers.
As a UMass undergrad, Scalona was active in in the Student Government Association, the Center for Education Policy and Advocacy, campus cultural organizations, the Greek system and campus media, including as an op-ed writer for the Daily Collegian.
Scalona is the third consecutive SPP student to hold the Amherst trustee seat, following Jacob Binnall (MPP ’20) and Derek Dunlea (MPPA/MEd ’21).
Scalona is enrolled in SPP’s Master of Public Policy program. He received his undergraduate degree in political science, policy, journalism and storytelling, with a minor in Spanish, this spring.