Jen Abrams and Jefferson Losse serve as the 2015-16 undergraduate Student Government Association (SGA) president and vice president. Aside from the responsibilities of being Tech students, Jen and Jeff represent Tech and serve as liaisons between students and the administration. They lead the 300 students currently involved in SGA.

The Student Government Association is involved in all aspects of academic and student life, often working behind the scenes to make sure that Tech offers the best campus services and resources to undergraduate students on campus. 

Jen is a fourth-year public policy major and global development minor from Lawrenceville, Georgia. Jeff is a fourth-year student from Charlotte, North Carolina, majoring in mechanical engineering with minors in chemistry and biomedical engineering.

Why did you decide to join SGA?

Jen: I think I joined mainly because I like to help people, and I love Tech, and those usual reasons of why you want to make a difference on campus. When I got really involved I stuck with it, seeing how much work we do but also how much influence we actually have, which was more than I had even understood.

Jeff: I was really heavily involved in student government in high school and so I was interested in that path. I really got hooked on it when I joined sophomore year as a representative because that’s when I realized how much influence we had as an organization. If you wanted to change something on campus or saw an issue that you wanted to fix, then SGA could help with that effort.

After being in office for a few months now and seeing what you can realistically accomplish, what is your main goal for this semester?

Jeff: We’re juggling a lot of different things. We knew what was feasible before we ran because we were involved in exec last year. We think we can accomplish everything in our platform.

Jen: There are two sides to this: We have goals for SGA externally and internally. Outside of SGA, we’re focusing on the learning environment at Tech. Specifically, working with the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and the faculty student agreement.

Jeff: I’m working heavily with Greek Affairs to strengthen the partnership between SGA and IFC [Interfraternity Council] and CPC [Collegiate Panhellenic Council]. We’re also continuing things that were started last year, like the Mental Health Task Force and Sexual Violence Advisory Board.

Jen: Internally, we’re working to empower our members who aren’t on Cabinet or who are first-year representatives. We want to make sure that we’re using our entire organization to be the voice of the students.

What other campus organization or involvement has helped you develop your leadership skills?

Jen: FASET. I was first a leader and then on Cabinet. I think back to my first year on FASET and remember at the end of the summer how I felt so much more confident than at the beginning of the summer. I don’t know what I would be like if I hadn’t done FASET because it gave me so many great leadership opportunities. Also, I know everything about personality tests now.

Jeff: I did a lot of research on campus, and it wasn’t necessarily a role I was a leader in, but I loved my boss in one of the labs I worked in. I learned from the researchers and they mentored me. I saw how they treated people that worked for them and it had a positive impact on me.

What do you want to do after you graduate?

Jen: I want to go to grad school but first want to do some work. I’m passionate about health policy and higher education policy. I definitely have the D.C. itch, so I’m all about going to D.C. whenever I can, but mainly just helping out with health policy in America.

Jeff: That’s a tough question. I’m looking at going into consulting or maybe a grad program, depending on what I want to do. I’m thinking about getting a doctorate in electrical engineering or computer science and going into robotics automation.

What’s your favorite Tech memory?

Jen: My first and second year I was on the drum line. I spent a year on cymbols and a year on bass drum. I was the only girl on drum line my second year, and they called me “Mama Jen.” Also, we went to the Sun Bowl my freshman year, and that was great because whenever the team is excited the band is excited.

Jeff: One of my favorites was being part of the Yellow Men, the guys who dress up in neon yellow jumpsuits at the front of the Swarm section at football games. I did this with my friends from freshman year, so when we all went our separate ways sophomore year we’d all come back together for the games and don the yellow suits. We were highlighted on ESPN one time.

What’s one personal goal you have for yourself this semester?

Jen: Working out and running. It’s important to me that I run a lot. I run a race with my family every month. My favorite race is the Peachtree Road Race. My two favorite things are America and running, so when they’re combined it’s great. But the Hot Chocolate 5k is a close second.

Jeff: Sleep more. The worst is when you put on your calendar when to eat.

What does your day look like? How is it different from when you weren’t SGA president and vice president?

Jen: I get up at 7 a.m. and go to bed around 1 or 2 a.m. I usually have an early morning meeting, then go to class, and then head to the SGA office and then send emails. Around midnight or 12:30 a.m. is when I start homework. … Maybe every three days or so I see my roommates so they know I’m still alive.

Jeff: It’s a lot more structured now, and there’s a lot less free time. You have your classes and fill it up with meetings in between. Also, it takes us longer to get across campus when we’re walking together because she goes off to say hi to someone, and then I go say hi to someone else, and before you know it about an hour and a half later we’ll get where we were going.

What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?

Jen: I like to run, clearly. And I have this thing about coffee shops. My favorite coffee shop right now is Chattahoochee Coffee Company. I also like to read, and I’m currently reading Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman, Bossypants by Tina Fey, and The Residence by Kate Andersen Brower.

Jeff: My free time is at the end of the day. I read a lot too, but I don’t read the typical fun stuff. You’ll probably fall asleep when I tell you this, but I’m reading about investment strategies right now. I’m reading Warren Buffet’s classic investment book. In my fraternity we have a book club, it’s like a book exchange, and I’m also reading a collection by C.S. Lewis.

What’s your favorite thing about Atlanta?

Jen: One of my favorite things about Atlanta is that you can be in the city but it won’t feel like it. It’s such a gorgeous city. I love the history of Atlanta. There’s always something going on and I love the diversity of the city.

Jeff: My alarm clock, which is actually fire trucks at 3 in the morning .… But, I like eating in Atlanta. There are a lot of good barbecue places, so I like to try a new place whenever I go out with friends.

If someone wanted to bribe you, what could they do it with?

Jen: Snickers.

Jeff: Snickers — this must be the reason we work well together.

What’s the best thing about working together?

Jen: I ran with Jeff because I wanted someone who balances me well. On the surface Jeff is much more chill than me. He’s also a really hard worker. My favorite thing about working with Jeff is that everything I need to improve on, Jeff has that.

Jeff: Jen complements me really well. Before I came to college I was much more reclusive, but Jen is a very “in-your-face, I’m so excited” person. Even in the last 12 months I’ve noticed a change in my persona and that I’ve grown a lot as a person over the last year.

Anything else you want to tell the student body?

Jen: The SGA Office is across from the Subway in the Student Center. Lots of people who walk in the office are just lost, but we actually hold office hours for students. Our secretary is a notary, and we have a lawyer if you ever need one. Feel free to drop by sometime.

To learn more about SGA visit www.sga.gatech.edu.