On September 4, 2024, Marlee Williams stepped up to the podium to give her speech as the 13th Howard University Student Association (HUSA) Senate Chairwoman.

Williams, a Junior political science and sociology double major from Lakeville, MN, stood tall when addressing her fellow peers and the administration at the State of the University Address.

The room was full of people waiting to hear what the Chairwomen would say. When asked how she felt before giving her speech, Williams stated:  

“leading up to the State of the University Address, I was a little anxious, because not only was it a large event, but it was my first time leading a Senate meeting as a Chairwoman.” During her speech, she spoke about finding a balance between recognizing the achievements the Senate had made in the past and knowing that there is still room to grow.  

For William’s, this meeting was a full-circle moment. Her vision for the Senate started early, when she was an intern and senator for the College of Arts and Sciences. She realized then, that in order to bring forth meaningful change, she needed to be in a leadership position. This led Williams to run for Senate Chairwoman, where she found herself in a position to aid the Senate with a renewed mission and perspective.

One part of that mission, Williams outlined, is “communicating to the student body about the resources they have available.” This year, HUSA has worked to develop both their on campus and digital presence by hosting events like “ Senate on the Yard” and creating more engaging social media content.

Along with outreach, communication and advocacy, Williams highlighted one of her main goals for the school year in her address: working with the administration to aid students struggling to find housing. She acknowledged that although every student can’t live on campus, it’s crucial that the university provides adequate support for off-campus housing opportunities.

‘No student should feel abandoned,’ she declared. 

As Chairwoman of the 13th administration, William’s focus is not on her legacy, but on continuing to build a Senate that communicates, advocates, and works for the students of Howard University, one that students can look back on and know that they received the very best.