Advancing Texas A&M

By Sara Munoz ’23

Texas A&M University embraces its traditions, values, students, students’ backgrounds, and their goals to achieve excellence. For years past, students have elected leaders of their class to represent them and help each other reach beyond their dreams. This year’s newly elected student body president, Case Harris ’23, is ready and eager to help his class achieve, together. Harris is a Mays Business Honors and Finance major, a faith-driven intellectual, and a down-to-earth leader who is setting goals for Texas A&M and its students to advance the future, enhance tradition, and invigorate their unity.

Building the Dream

Since first stepping foot on the Texas A&M Campus at the beginning of his undergraduate career, Harris was inspired. As an ambitious student and dedicated Fish Aides member, he determined that while attending Texas A&M, he would one day run for election for student body president. “Listening to members talk about how we, the students, can be heard and how we can advance the university, I thought to myself, if I were given the chance, I would want to do this one day,” he shared. Harris bought into his dream. Now elected and ready to serve, he reflects on the investment he was given and how he can pay it forward.

Harris had been poured into by others in more ways than one – time, talent, and treasure just skims the surface. By learning from older students, professors, and other leaders on campus, he understands a single person cannot work alone to achieve big goals for the greater community. “Mentorship is huge. Always being willing to help is how I have learned if I want to look like this, we can look like that.” A team is consistently working together to advance achievement—and Harris’ relationship with his parents, his peers, and the Aggie community in addition to their investments, have equipped him to lead the greatest team. Harris embraces Texas A&M’s core values, and from his peers lending him a hand, and their time, he has built upon his talent to benefit the student community and traditions.

Here’s to the 12th Man

Before leading the student body, Harris had to learn two crucial skills—leading well and following better. With his grit and determination, Harris has held multiple internships, including working under Senator John Cornyn and as an investment banking summer analyst at Raymond James. “I have learned to become more analytical and pay more attention to detail. Mays Business School has helped me build my skill set—I just needed to use it.” Harris felt it was his calling to run for student body president, and he knew he could do so by working hard.

Putting his knowledge, experience, and ambitions to use, Harris stepped onto the playing field, ready and passionate to serve the 12th man and their dreams. Harris recognizes that every Aggie has taken a different path to get where they are now, and he is determined to unify the campus—enhancing the relationships and collaborations between his peers. “Texas A&M stands for something, and I want to define what it truly means to be an Aggie.” As he nears the start of his term as student body president, Harris has big-time goals for the student body, and he plans to lead them to excellence with grace, trust, and confidence.

With the help of the student government and the student body, Harris plans to make the campus an open community—an environment where every member feels a sense of belonging. By embracing the Aggie Core Values, Harris wants to advance the status of Texas A&M. “I want to involve students with the student government to work together and solve problems, to ultimately be an open, honest, and collaborative environment.” Passionate about working with students and members of his cabinet to enhance the heart of every Aggie, Harris has laid the foundation to advance the culture of Texas A&M, allowing students to open their hearts and minds to tradition and teamwork.

The Future of Texas A&M

As any great leader, Harris has ideas, dreams, and goals. Along with his team, Harris has developed and inspired a form of communication that is transparent and accepting for all students to listen to and have a voice on campus. Harris plans to implement a drop box at the John J. Koldus Building, where students can submit their thoughts and ideas to the student government directly. At the Memorial Student Center, Harris imagines a “Table Talk” set up in the foyer, where students are invited to stop and talk to members of the student government about their passions and opinions to advance the university together. “I want to involve the students and find a greater way to work together.” Above all else, Harris wants the future of the university to be more than welcoming—he wants it to be a collaborative team.

Some of Harris’ other goals include:

• Unity through traditions: Traditions give us all something to rally around and a chance to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Let’s unite the student body by enhancing buy-in and accessibility to our traditions.
• Connect Aggies to involvement: Every Aggie deserves to take advantage of the vast number of resources at Texas A&M. Let’s increase clarity and bridge gaps in involvement opportunities.
• Advocate for the support Aggies need: Every Aggie should be set up for success. Let’s work to increase awareness and resources for mental health, increase sexual assault prevention measures, grow the Open Education Resource program, find better parking solutions, establish the roadmap to virtual student IDs, and more.

In fifty years, Harris wants Texas A&M not only to be the best university but to continue to advance the future. His sense of togetherness allows every member of the university to play a part in the team and honor each other by working together. To Harris advancing Texas A&M means—remembering being an Aggie and representing the unity on campus for years to come. Through collaboration, transparency, and promoting the Aggie Core Values, Texas A&M continues to be the best and lead by example. Harris believes in his university, and with the help of the student body, together, they can enhance the heart of every Aggie.

Dig deeper into Case’s story on Mays MasterCast