David Hickman Email & Phone Number

La Jolla, California

Enacted several comprehensive policy changes and introductions benefiting students as the primary student voice in the San Diego Division of the University of California Academic Senate. Successful amendments included revisions and updates to the UCSD Policy on Integrity of Scholarship, course policies in the Divisional Senate Regulations, and committee representation within the Divisional Senate Bylaws.• Notably, I successfully lobbied for a series of Pass/No Pass and Withdraw restriction reductions during the COVID-19 Pandemic, many of which remained in effect after the Pandemic. • Additionally, I proposed and formulated much of UCSD's first policy mandating course syllabi. My efforts also shepherded revisions and introductions at other Divisional Senates.Actively deliberated in meetings of numerous Academic Senate Standing Committees to ensure sufficient discussion of students' interests and needs as pedagogical, budgetary, admissions, and equity priorities were being reshaped by faculty and senior administrators at a time when it was especially important to alleviate the academic impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In addition to ad hoc and work group meetings, regularly participated in the Undergraduate, Educational Policy, Admissions, Academic Freedom, and Undergraduate Scholarship Standing Committees.Managed a staff of 10 student employees. Supervised 8 Undergraduate Representatives that would attend meetings of other Senate Standing Committees and work groups, often as the only student present. Coordinated with 2 support staffers to manage all undergrad representation and present a uniform student voice to all elements of the Divisional and Systemwide Academic Senates.Furthermore, served as the student body representative on the Summer Session Advisory Committee to ensure informed reactive planning and proactive forecasting of 2020 and 2021 Summer Sessions to most effectively distribute classes to professors and promote course modality situations.

Sacramento, California

As the Legislative Director of the Associated Students of UC San Diego, represented the Association on the UC Student Association Board of Directors. Additionally sat on the Government Relations Committee of the UCSA Board, administering the legislative agenda of the 501(c)(3) that represents 245,000 University of California students.Set legislative priorities for the UC Student Association and for the ASUCSD Office of External Affairs, in consultation with the ASUCSD External Vice President, UCSD Government and Community Relations, and other stakeholders, on issues that impacted students and the university at the state and Federal levels.Oversaw a team of student leaders who assisted in the advocacy work of the UCSA and ASUCSD Office of External Affairs by lobbying legislators on various bills, giving public comment, and taking part in social media campaigns.Orchestrated coalition-building among student groups on campuses and with external community groups to ensure students' legislative priorities were given crucial status as legislative asks.Trained student volunteers in the process and art of lobbying California state leaders at UCSA's Student Lobby Conference.

La Jolla, California

Spearheaded efforts to enact a single-term policy to allow students to retroactively change Fall 2020 grading options through an expedited petitioning process. The policy was completed at the height of COVID-19’s impact on higher education, overcoming dozens of logistical barriers and receiving universal praise from the student body.University Committee Assignments (Abridged): Educational Continuity Task Force, Teaching & Learning Commons Senior Council• As one of the primary students involved in the work of the Educational Continuity Task Force, under UCSD's model "Return To Learn" Program, developed guidance to support UCSD's educational mission during the COVID-19 Pandemic, specifically regarding academic standards and student-focused communication, alongside infectious disease, public health, and other medical experts and key members of campus administration.Supplementing the full-time work as the Principal Undergraduate Representative to the Academic Senate, served in the following capacities on behalf of ASUCSD:• Primary Advisor to the Senate Representative Assembly• Liaison to the Academic Senate Chair• Liaison to Committee Chairs & AnalystsAs a Primary Advisor, I presented all student initiatives that required the consent of the full faculty, conveying student opinions and campaigning on the ideals of student-centered change. As such, I defended policies I had championed to the Representative Assembly (the legislative body of the Divisional Senate).Directly oversaw an office staff of 9 and further oversaw an additional 5 ASUCSD Senators. Delegated office work between advocacy and programming teams, supporting more than 1,000 unique interactions between the office and the student body.Acted as an intermediary between students and their professors to aid in the resolution of students' academic issues relating to imperfect policy implementation and equity disparities (primarily related to the remote coursework abilities of international students).

La Jolla, California

Administered the 2021 ASUCSD Campus-Wide and seven College Elections with the purpose of ensuring a representative election of student leaders by UC San Diego's nearly 32,000 undergraduate students.Chaired the Elections Committee, providing rulings on the Election Code, conceptualizing and providing election programming for students, and performing direct and indirect outreach to ensure turnout during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

La Jolla, California

Represented campus interests across and around the local community through the oversight of the Office of Local Affairs, which was composed of a staff of legislative aides, community representatives, and planning directors.Expanded the Office’s footprint to extend representation to various additional community, quasi-governmental, and government agencies which allowed increased visibility and standing of the Office and Associated Students throughout San Diego County.Revised the Standing Rules, in consultation with ASUCSD Executives and the ASUCSD Senate, to make the Office more efficient and effective in its efforts to create more relationships with the surrounding community and take legislative action in bodies which voted on relevant issues to students.Acted as the ASUCSD Vice President of External Affairs' proxy at UC Student Association Board Meetings in their absence.Worked closely with all branches of the Office of External Affairs as the senior Associate Vice President under the Office, assisting in policy work at state and Federal levels, focusing on basic needs, funding for the UC system, and voter outreach.Traveled extensively across the greater San Diego region and the State of California to brief, audit, and consult with community, local, regional, student government, UC, state, and Federal partners.

La Jolla, California

Represented all of UC San Diego’s more than 30,000 undergraduates on the ASUCSD Senate by launching popular policies, events, projects, and initiatives on their behalf and by advocating for the needs of all students in internal ASUCSD matters and elsewhere on campus.Transformed the accessibility of the Associated Students Senate, working directly with campus administrators, professional staff, AS Executives, and constituents to usher in new Senate priorities. As the longest tenured campus senator, greatly expanded the role of ASUCSD Senate President Pro Tempore, which resulted in the formalization of the position in the subsequent session.ASUCSD Committee Assignments: ASUCSD Finance Committee (Vice Chair), ASUCSD Standing Rules CommitteeUniversity Committee Assignments: UCSD Campus/Community Planning Committee (Primary ASUCSD/Student Representative), UCSD Student Conduct Standards Group (Student Advisor), UCSD Course Materials and Services Fee Committee (Student Commissioner), San Diego Divisional Academic Senate Undergraduate Scholarship and Honors Standing Committee (ASUCSD Representative)

La Jolla, California

Served as the primary representative between Model UN at UCSD and other UCSD and UN Association entities. Across multiple terms as Vice President, assisted Presidents in their roles by overseeing the activities of the Executive Board. Established a formal Mentorship Program involving alumni, members, and prospective members.

La Jolla, California

Headed a staff of 50+ Model UN at UCSD Students hosting multiple seasonal conferences for hundreds of regional high schoolers in venues at UC San Diego and in the nearby region. Directly supervised a staff of 5–9 Under-Secretaries-General and Deputy-Under-Secretaries-General across multiple conference planning terms. Pioneered many conference practices and efforts that were made standard for future Model UN at UCSD events. Strengthened the financial position of the organization by planning multiple of the highest-netting conferences in the club's history. Expanded the powers and scope of the conference teams within the organization.Fully initiated the planning of a conference for college students that was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic (GPSMUN).

La Jolla, California

Supported the TritonMUN Secretary-General with all staffing logistics relating to the Club Members of Model UN at UCSD who were volunteers for MUN@UCSD’s TritonMUN Fall and Spring Conferences for regional high schoolers. Revitalized internal staff structures and West Coast MUN procedures that widely appealed to area high school teachers and club advisors.

La Jolla, California

Supervised operational logistics for events at UC San Diego's International House Great Hall. Assisted event and facility management with a small team of other dedicated individuals at events ranging from small student meetings to bilateral conferences between American and Mexican Diplomats to large forums with panels consisting of high-level government, cultural, and education leaders.

San Diego, California

Facilitated 10 on-campus dialogues per quarter as a team and 2-3 per quarter in the local community. Used community building practices (modeled after restorative justice circles) to engage students and the community on issues with the goal of creating a higher level of social understanding among diverse communities. Facilitated group activities and discussions related to diversity and social justice issues, including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious, and class background. Led circles to train other campus leaders on these issue areas and the processes themselves. Secured the program's inaugural $65,000 renewable annual grant as a member of the Center's presentation team.

San Diego, California

Worked with constituents of California's 52nd Congressional District to meet the needs of those requiring assistance from the Federal Government in a timely and effective manner by working directly with constituents on issues requiring basic research or connecting them with the appropriate staff member. Also worked with regional Congressional District Offices to ensure corresponding communication and the proper directing of out-of-district constituents.Performed online research to gather time-sensitive and local data and compiled research and statistics from the Congressional Research Service and the Congressional Budget Office to provide analysis on assigned topics that were of interest to the District, relating to healthcare financing and reform, veteran's wellness, urban and transportation development, and higher education.Wrote content for speeches, newsletters, and correspondence delivered by the Congressman and staff. Assisted in the coordination of Town Halls for the Congressman.

San Diego, California

Facilitated general event programming and student bonding activities to promote friendships among students of diverse backgrounds in high school youth programs across San Diego.Assisted the Aaron Price Fellows Program's Program Director, Program Manager, and Program Coordinator, in addition to others from Price Philanthropies, in event and program planning. Planned and organized events from the stages of selection to evaluation for between 30 and 120 Aaron Price Fellows and Aaron Price Fellows Alumni. Helped to staff and coordinate similar and larger-scale events.

Master Of Public Policy - Mpp, Social And Education Policy

Part-Time MPP Student, Completing In-Person Expected Graduation: Summer 2025

Graduate Certificate, Public Policy Analysis

International Studies - Political Science (Ba), Asia-Pacific Economic Development (Field), Latin American Studies (Region)

Activities and Societies: Associated Students, Model United Nations, College Democrats, International House, Delta Alpha Pi

Undergraduate Researcher, The Politics Of Religion In Africa

Subject: Presence of Mosques Across Africa Faculty: Professor Clark Gibson, Center Director

Fellow, Community Responsibility And Engagement

This extracurricular program brought together an ethnically and economically diverse cohort of students from San Diego public high schools.

Education record

Activities and Societies: Aaron Price Fellows Program, Model United Nations, Academic League, California Scholarship Federation, Tea.

High School Diploma

Activities and Societies: Model United Nations, Academic League, California Scholarship FederationAwards: Social Sciences Department Award.