Meet the 2015-2016 Rice University Student Association officers

The newly elected Student Association (SA) officers participated in a Q&A to help the Rice community get better acquainted with them. Their responses appear below.

Jazz Silva

Name: Jazz Silva.
Office: President.
Class: 2016.
College: Sid Richardson.
Major: Cognitive science and computer science.
Hometown: Washington.
Why I came to Rice: I came to Rice mainly because of the small size. If you’re ever walking around campus, every face is familiar and welcoming. Although I moved across the country to go to school, Rice has always felt like home to me. 
Why I joined SA: I joined the SA because I have a passion for community building. I genuinely love Rice, and I wanted to leave a positive legacy on the community. When I first started working in the SA, I served on the parking committee. Although I was making small changes across campus, it empowered me to move on to bigger projects.

Joan Liu

Name: Joan Liu.
Office: External vice president.
Class: 2017.
College: Jones College.
Major: Mathematical economic analysis.
Hometown: Shreveport, La.
Why I came to Rice: I love the mobility between the different academic schools and a chance to take advantage of the different distribution requirements. It’s a nice chance to explore a field I’ve never had exposure to.
Why I joined SA: I think it’s important to understand different student perspectives of the Rice experience and also to take steps to make it a positive experience for everyone. I joined the SA to continue keeping it an open resource for students and a vehicle for student initiatives/projects to enhance the Rice experience.

Peter Yun

Name: Peter Yun.
Office: Internal vice president.
Class: 2017.
College: Hanszen.
Major: Biochemistry and cell biology.
Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas.
Why I came to Rice: Honestly, because Rice is so close to home, Rice was not in my original top three choices. But when it came time to final decisions and tours, I felt that Rice was the perfect fit. I toured on a Friday and several colleges were having their college nights. There were water slides, the music was playing and everyone seemed to be having an amazing time. As a prospective student back then, it was great to see that Rice students had their lives in balance. They work really hard and excel in all their amazing extracurriculars, research, etc., while still having a great time during their college years. Also, the trees. I love the trees. There are days where campus is just so beautiful it takes me a minute to take it all in.
Why I joined SA: I joined the SA because I knew I was going to be invested in Rice from the beginning, and I wanted to make sure that I could help make this campus better for others. I honestly went in and applied to be a new-student representative with no expectations, but through the New-Student Rep (NSR) Program, I had the opportunity to grow as a leader and develop in a professional/business setting through meetings with administration. I came to love being able to have thorough discussions about how this university can grow and the issues it is currently facing. I specifically love being the internal vice president because one of my roles is to facilitate and lead the NSR Program. I’m very excited to “pay it forward” and give incoming new students the same opportunity I had to build confidence in themselves as leaders and professionals.

Brianna Singh

Name: Brianna Singh.
Office: Secretary.
Class: 2018.
College: Hanszen.
Major: Chemical engineering.
Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas.
Why I came to Rice: Aside from the great academics and unique extracurricular opportunities, what I love most about Rice (and what convinced me to come here) are the great people and welcoming community that I’ve found in my residential college. Also, the beautiful campus is a huge bonus.
Why I joined SA: Within the SA, you can find a wide variety of people with an even wider variety of passions and interests. I love that so many students are interested in changing Rice, and I’m excited to play a part in that in the coming years and find my own passions!

Sai Susheel Chilakapati

Name: Sai Susheel Chilakapati.
Office: Treasurer.
Class: 2017.
College: Hanszen.
Major: Chemistry and policy studies.
Hometown: Fremont, Calif.
Why I came to Rice: I came to Rice for its unique culture and opportunities. I really appreciated how the college system fostered a safe and family environment and after hearing about Beer Bike, I knew that I was going to have a really enjoyable yet productive time at Rice. Furthermore, the numerous opportunities available as a pre-med student with the Texas Medical Center right across the street convinced me that at Rice I would have all the resources I need to excel and achieve my goals. I have never looked back since at my decision!
Why I joined SA: Ever since O-Week, I knew I wanted to get involved in the Student Association and create a positive impact at Rice. As a freshman, I was selected as a new student representative, which jump-started my involvement with the SA. Ever since, I have been working on various projects, from my involvement with the Student Life Committee as an NSR to the Student-Calendar Initiative as the chief of staff (during) the previous term. Now as the SA treasurer, I look forward to setting precedents as to how the Blanket Tax is conducted under the newly approved process and helping fund various projects, initiatives and organizations through the Student Initiative Fund.