Student Government: President brings a global perspective to his post

By Michael R. Malone[email protected]08-29-2024

To say that Roy Carrillo Zamora has a strong bond to his home country of Costa Rica would be an understatement. He credits the small Central American nation with infusing his values, its leaders with inspiring him, and even its remoteness from the world stage with instilling in him a longing to join it.

As the fall semester launched, Carrillo Zamora had just returned from a visit "back home" to Costa Rica, where he concentrated on law school applications and preparing for the year ahead. A senior majoring in legal studies and business analytics and minoring in health management and policy at the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School, Carrillo Zamora knows he has a full slate of responsibilities between his new post and his studies this academic year. Still, he's already set his long-range sights.

"As a freshman, attending law school was never on my radar, but my time at the U made me believe that I could aspire to that and more," said Carrillo Zamora. "Finding the legal studies major in the business school was super interesting-I see the legal field as an opening to the international sphere. I want to do something that brings people together from different areas-that's what really calls me."

Costa Rica has no army, and the characteristics and culture of peace are prevalent.

"That culture is part of me and how I was raised-with the idea of sharing those values and connecting with the rest of the world," Carrillo Zamora said. "Still, Costa Rica is the start, but not the end; there's something bigger out there."

Carrillo Zamora came to Miami and started at the University as a first-year international student. He and Josh Abel collaborated as part of the Student Government First-Year Leadership Council, and the two teamed up to develop the LAUNCH Leadership Summit. Zoe Motumbo was a participant at the event.

"We all met and then grew closer during our sophomore year. When it came time to either run alone or build a ticket to run for Student Government, my mind immediately went to Josh for vice president and Zoe as treasurer," Carrillo Zamora said. "I knew they were the right people for the job because of their experience, and it's been such a full-circle moment."

From his initial foray in Student Government (SG) on the Leadership Council, Carrillo Zamora applied to join the Academic Liaison Council, which connects different areas of the University with SG. On the council, he was assigned as the liaison for the Office of Academic Enhancement. He worked on a number of projects, the most important one reviewing the Foote Fellows Honors Program. The project lasted two years, and some of the recommendations have been integrated into the program.

In his junior year, he applied to join the Student Government Executive Board in the position of director of academic affairs. This past spring he was part of the winning team to form "The Big Three" of SG. As SG president, Carrillo Zamora also serves as the student trustee on the University's Board of Trustees.

"I'm confident that Josh, Zoe, and I are in this for the right reasons," Carrillo Zamora said. "We recognize and appreciate the access and privilege that we have being part of an organization like SG and that motivates me to do a great job.

"When administration wants to know what students are thinking, we're the people that get that call," he added. "It's a lot of responsibility to gauge what 12,000 people are thinking at a certain moment in time. The first step is just recognizing the responsibility that the position holds."

Carrillo Zamora is a strong supporter of Mutombo's efforts to improve training for treasurers and budget-managing competency for organizations big and small.

"It's one of the larger issues we've heard about," Carrillo Zamora said. "Student organization-hosted events are among the most memorable experiences that students talk about when they graduate-whether it's Homecoming, 'A Taste of Africa,' or a club trip to nationals to compete. Student orgs are vital to UM and the UM experience."

To that same end, Carrillo Zamora is also intent on launching a presidential fund, which could help fill a financial gap for an organization that needs additional monies to bring off an event.

"We want Student Government to be seen as a resource in terms of information, access to administration, and also for events," Carrillo Zamora said. "If there is any way we can help student orgs and student leaders make students' experience at the U even better, I'll be incredibly happy."