University of the Virgin Islands junior Dwayne Petersen was elected to serve as the 2007-2008 student representative on the University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees. In elections held on Oct. 17 on the St. Croix and St. Thomas campuses, Petersen topped LeRue Browne and Athaliah Edwards – the two other candidates running for the position. Petersen will also serve on the Board's Academic Research and Student Affairs Committee and the Buildings and Grounds Committee.

A voting member of the Board, Petersen hopes to bring student issues to the forefront. "I feel that students need proper representation in letting the Board know that students are first," he said. He also plans to enlighten students about the Board's role. Petersen said he is approachable and will be as transparent to students as the rules of the Board allow.

Petersen hopes to one day see the VI Code amended to allow a student representative from each campus to serve on the Board simultaneously. Currently the position alternates between UVI's St. Croix and St. Thomas campuses, with the candidates for this term coming from the St. Thomas campus. Petersen would also like the term of the student trustee to be extended to two years. Student trustees currently serve one-year terms. The three scheduled meetings per year do not allow sufficient time to get things done, Petersen said.

"I have a lot of love for this University," Petersen said. "I promise, to the students, to represent them to the best of my ability."

A social science major, Petersen hopes to one day work for the federal government as a diplomat or ambassador. He is a two-year resident assistant in the dormitories; holds memberships in FBLA, the Alcohol and Drug Prevention Committee, the Psychology Association and the Debate Team; and serves as a monitor in the Freshman Center computer lab and the Student Activities Center.

Weena McFarlane, from the St. Croix campus, was the previous student trustee.