Changing Sun Devil lives through student government

For the students who work with Associated Students of ASU—otherwise known as ASU student government— their roles as executives, chiefs of staff, directors and interns are launching pads into many paths and opportunities: futures in politics, at prominent companies or nonprofits, or in higher education.

But they do have a common denominator: a great experience and a great mentor in Jaime Ingrisano. In February she received the Frank Harris Outstanding Government Advisor Award at the National Association of Campus Activities national convention in Columbus, Ohio. The award recognizes individuals who have an extraordinary impact on students’ lives in their roles as student government advisors.

She was nominated by a group of approximately 75 students that she advises in any given semester, from student body presidents to marketing staff to student senators to interns to bike co-op leaders.  

Junior public service and public policy major Hanna Salem, who helped nominate Ingrisano, is an engagement director with Undergraduate Student Government.

She nominated Ingrisano because of her invaluable guidance and leadership.

“Jaime has been one of the most supportive advisors and mentors throughout my entire college career. … I have learned so much from working with her and continuously ask her for advice on how to improve as an individual, a leader and produce the best quality work for students,” said Salem.

Ingrisano said she’s humbled that ASU students nominated her for this award and that she’s proud to work with them at ASU in particular, because student government’s role is taken seriously here.

Jaime Ingrisano, 2019 Frank Harris Outstanding Government Advisor Awardee

“I love that this institution’s values put students in a place where they get to be real stakeholders in their experience. That’s not true at every school,” she said.

Ingrisano’s path in higher education was forged by her own college and graduate school experience at the University of Northern Colorado. Before that, while growing up in the Chicagoland area, Ingrisano saw herself as a future principal.

In college, she started to get involved as a resident assistant and then became student body president of her Graduate Student Association.

“I had a lot of really great advisors who brought out the best in me and really helped me come out of my shell,” she said.

Since arriving at ASU in 2014, Ingrisano has made her own indelible mark on the students who have worked with her.

Brandon Bishop, a 2017 ASU graduate in political science, worked with Ingrisano as an intern, chief of staff and eventually USG Tempe president. He said Ingrisano was someone who helped him grow.

“I loved my experience in student government. I felt like it was one of the most pivotal experiences I had in undergrad,” he said.

His time in student government was his introduction to managing people, large budgets and difficult situations.

“Jaime helped me grow in a lot of ways,” he said. “She was there to help me process all of that and help me understand what I was doing but then also push me to grow and push me to think about different topics and issues that I never really thought about before. So I appreciated that.”

Ingrisano also helps to make sure that the ideas and policies of one student leader’s administration doesn’t end with their graduations.

“She was great about continuing that knowledge and continuing that learning between new people and student government,” he said.

Bishop is planning on pursuing public policy that focuses on higher education when he graduates with his master’s from the University of Denver this spring.

Current ASU students agree that Ingrisano plays a pivotal role in their student experience and future careers.

Jamila Rahim, a junior business major and leadership business minor, is the  USG chief of staff. To her, Ingrisano has been a friend and mentor who models relationship building and shows people their potential.

“She sees people for who they really are — their strong suits, their quirks, their passions. She has seen me this past year as first a director and then chief of staff, but only because she saw my abilities well before I did,” said Rahim.

“Her constant encouragement in my endeavors has pushed me to reach new heights that I never imagined would be a part of my Sun Devil experience. This last year within USG and working with Jaime, I have discovered my power as a leader to spread positive change and liven the spirits around me, and I will continue to carry this trait well into my future career,” said Rahim. She hopes to pursue global management after graduation.

Salem said that Ingrisano’s leadership helped her realize that her passion is in higher education.

“Jaime has had a tremendous influence on me and my career. ... She has helped me seek out higher educational opportunities and is always willing to share her story as to why she decided to pursue a career in higher education,” said Salem.  

Ingrisano loves knowing that her students’ experiences prepared them for the future. She cites a former chief of staff who is now a leader at Airbnb, who told Ingrisano that her work in Undergraduate Student Government was what paved the way for her stellar career.

Though she doesn’t seek awards or the spotlight, Ingrisano said it is humbling to be nominated by the students she has dedicated her career to.

“I feel very special and very touched. I’m so proud of all the students I have worked with and what they have been able to accomplish inside and outside of student government. It is rewarding knowing that others can see the value of the work I do with the students and made a difference in their lives,” she said.