ASA Alumni

If you an alumni of the Arizona Students’ Association and would like to get more involved with the organization, please send an email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call the Central Office at 602-294-6900.  Please join our LinkedIn group to connect with other ASA alumni.

ASA is proud to have the following people currently serving on its Alumni Advisory Council:

Erin Hertzog, Chair

Erin was the Arizona Students’ Association Government Affairs Director.  Prior to that, she was the Campus Organizer for ASA at the University of Arizona.  Erin graduated from the UA with a degree in Political Science and was motivated to start to career with ASA after spending four years as a student advocate, working on issues such as tuition, textbooks, course availability, and academic advising.  Erin’s major leadership roles included serving as the ASUA Student Body President and as an ASA Board Member. IN 2007, a scholarship was named after Erin in recognition of her student advocacy work.

Lindsay Bayuk, Vice Chair

Lindsay Bayuk is a Sales and Marketing Manager for Whale Hunters.  She is passionate about education, entrepreneurship, and business, and an avid networker, which makes her a perfect fit for her position at The Whale Hunters.
During college, Lindsay utilized her leadership and networking skills to co-found an organization that connected business executives with students. She first learned how to overcome startup challenges through this experience.

She was first appointed to the ASA Board in 2006 and was Board Chair from 2007-2008.  Lindsay was instrumental in getting increased resources for ASA, and working on a long term strategic vision for the organization.

Patrick McWhortor

Patrick McWhorter is the President of Alliance of Arizona Non Profits.  An ASU grad with a degree in political science, most of his career has been in the non-profit arenas.  In the past Patrick was a part of N Power of Arizona who provides technology for non profits.

Christine Thompson

Christine is currently the Assistant Executive Director for Government Affairs for the Arizona Board of Regents. Christine was also the Director of Government Relations for the State Bar of Arizona and served as Assistant Director of Development and External Relations for the University of Arizona College of Law and as an intern for the Arizona House Committee on Education.

Christine was the Student Regent from the UA during the 1999-2000 year.  Prior to that, she served as a Board Member and as the Executive Director of ASA from 1995-1998.

Mary Venezia

Mary is currently getting her masters in Higher Education at the UA.  Mary served as the NAU Student Regent from 2006-2008 and planned the 30th Anniversary of the Student Regent for ASA.  Mary has experience fundraising for ASA for the anniversary and the 40% = Death Protest.  Mary also served on the ASA Board in 2008-09 as a director from the UA. 

Rich Williams

Rich Williams is the Higher Education Advocate for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) and the Student PIRG’s Higher Education Project.  Since 2008, Williams has worked to represent college students before the White House, Congress and the Department of Education.  Williams served as a negotiator representing students on the Department of Education’s 2009 and 2010 Negotiated Rulemaking teams that worked to create regulations around federal student loans and program integrity issues.

A first generation college student, Williams started organizing for higher education while a student at Coconino Community College and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. He Became a Board Member in [date] and while with ASA he spearheaded a statewide affordable textbooks campaign, organizing public university students, professors and Regents to introduce and pass a bill in the state legislature making textbooks more affordable. He graduated in 2008 with a degree in history.

Sam Chang

Sam Chang is an associate in the Lewis and Roca law firm’s Real Estate practice group.  Sam Graduated from the University of Arizona Law School where he received the Dean’ Recognition Award, which is awarded to only two graduating law students each year.  He was also the recipient of The University of Arizona Robert L. Nugent Outstanding Graduating Senior Award.

Ed Hermes

Ed currently works on the Navajo Nation as the Dean of Students at the Chinle High School.  Prior to that Ed ran for County Board of Supervisors and worked for the Governor’s Office as Director of External Affairs for the Arizona Department of Agriculture, where he strived to promote local agriculture and ensure food safety while protecting our natural resources.  Ed was first appointed to the ASA Board of Directors in 2005 and served as Student Regent from 2005 to 2007.