Get to Know MSA VP-Elect Helena Kooi

Xavier Billingsley and Helena Kooi are the new Missouri Student Association (MSA) leaders! Students voted for these two to take initiative in the name of every student on campus. Helena and Xavier won't take office until the new semester, but they already have big plans for Mizzou. We sat down with Vice President-elect Helena to talk about her position.

Her Campus Mizzou: How does it feel to be a new face of MSA?
Helena Kooi: I could not be more excited! Serving as vice president of MSA is an incredible opportunity, and I take my responsibilities as a representative of the entire student body very seriously.

HCM: Can you tell me a little about Xavier and yourself?
HK: Xavier and I come from very diverse backgrounds but became good friends working as Summer Welcome leaders together this past summer. Xavier is a junior Sports Management major from Blytheville, Ark. He has been involved in a variety of activities at Mizzou, including Homecoming Steering Committee and serving as MSA Chief of Staff. I am a junior Strategic Communication and International Studies major from Tucson, Ariz. I am a campus tour guide and am currently a student coordinator for Mizzou's new student orientation program, Summer Welcome. We are both greek and have served in executive positions in our respective chapters.

HCM: Why did you run for MSA?
HK: I decided to run for vice president of MSA because I realized that out of all the organizations at Mizzou, MSA is the one that has the most profound impact on student life. I wanted to put my love of all things Mizzou to work, and I saw student government as the best outlet in which I could make a difference.

HCM: Why do you think Mizzou students picked you?
HK: I think many students voted for us because of our previous leadership experience at Mizzou. Xavier and I have been involved in a wide variety of organizations on campus that give us a strong understanding of the needs and interests of our diverse student body. Our previous involvement also provides us with the knowledge and skills needed to best serve as leaders in MSA.  

HCM: How will you elevate Mizzou?
HK: The theme of our campaign was "elevate." We choose the word elevate because our mission is to build upon the success of current MSA programs and see what we can do to improve, or elevate, the typical Mizzou student experience. Our platform had three main parts: elevate through efficiency, elevate through unity, and elevate through general improvements. Xavier and I plan to elevate Mizzou by carrying out the ideas we expressed in our platform. These ideas range from big tasks like improving recycling in the residence halls to smaller things like putting a Redbox in the Student Center.