Cesar Esmeraldi and Elizabeth Volmy, USF College of Public Health (COPH) health sciences majors in their senior year, were recently elected to lead the USF student government.

Esmeraldi is student body president while Volmy serves as student body vice president.

The duo, who won in a runoff election last spring, ran on a platform they dubbed M.O.R.E.

“M is for mental health, O for opportunities, R for rides, parking and transportation and E for empowerment,” Volmy, a first-generation American, explained. “I believe that each letter of the acronym is relevant to issues we students face on campus.”

Volmy, who also minors in nutrition science and biomedical physics and has plans of attending medical school after graduation, said the pair’s background in public health helped them shape their M.O.R.E. platform.

“Research, data, community and environmental health—these things were all crucial learning points that helped strengthen and frame the platform,” Volmy said. “Being able to implement my knowledge and passion for health sciences into the platform to help make an impact and create positive change was truly amazing. My positions [in student government] have taught me to use my knowledge of public health to support, promote and create initiatives that enhance the wellness and overall health of my peers.”

“We decided to run with this platform after we spoke with students from around all campuses and heard their main thoughts and concerns,” added Esmeraldi, who came to the U.S. from Brazil at the age of 15 and hopes to attend law school once he graduates. “Mental health is an essential pillar of our platform that we want to emphasize. And we think it has everything to do with our experience as members of the COPH. We find it a great asset that we’re both health sciences majors.”

In keeping with the M.O.R.E. platform, some initiatives Esmeraldi and Volmy are kicking around are creating the HERD CARE mental health program, which will include monthly mental health check-ins with students, and promoting the availability of resources. As a way of improving opportunities for students, they have led the installation of 40 new computers and monitors in the Student Government Computer Services computer lab. The goal, said both Esmeraldi and Volmy, is making sure every student feels heard and represented.

“Student government and public health are about taking care of people,” Esmeraldi said. “Service to others is key for both.”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health