Candidate Profile

Melony Esquivel

(She/Her)

Greetings, faculty members and fellow students. Hello! My name is Melony Esquivel, a student of the Class of 2027, and I would love to announce with great pleasure that I propose my candidacy for the role of Student Representative at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES). First and foremost, I will love to explain my devotion towards the College of ACES, despite only being a freshman. When I was younger, I developed a deep awareness for the role that agriculture plays in our daily lives while growing up in Chicago, as I am a native from the beautiful Windy City. you may believe that because of my city background my knowledge in agriculture may be limited, however I would like to say that is not true. During my junior and senior year, I conducted research with politicians in the City of Chicago that examined green spaces, which we found were sparse due to the expansion of urbanization, which left me shocked. At that moment, it became clear to me that maintaining the fundamentals of agriculture is essential as we navigate a technologically driven future. With this given experience, it drove me into this department to be the next leader for change. Now you may be wondering: Melony, what are your qualifications? I will now explain. Over the past two years, dating back to junior year of high school, I have immersed myself in the realm of lobbying and campaigning on the public policy level, through drafting policy changes in our juvenile policy system, which have allowed my voice to be represented in City Hall in Chicago, as well as being heard by the Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. While this may not relate to agriculture, this experience has equipped me with the skills necessary to effectively communicate the needs and aspirations of our diverse student body. As your Student Representative, I will leverage this experience to articulate the concerns and ideas of ACES students at the decision-making tables, ensuring our perspectives are considered in the broader context of university policies. My dedication to promoting an inclusive atmosphere at the College of ACES is motivated by my passion for advocacy and fair representation for all people. Every person, regardless of background, is impacted by the subject of agriculture, and I sincerely feel that everyone should be heard and represented in this regard.I hope to elevate the voices of all students and provide a forum where a variety of viewpoints may enrich the rich fabric of our academic community. Innovation in agriculture is not only vital in this era of rapid technological development, but it also presents an exciting opportunity. In order to lead us into a sustainable and forward-thinking future, I see the College of ACES at UIUC as a central location where tradition and technology come together. By working together, I promise to all students that your voices will be heard by me.

Sincerely, Melony Esquivel