June 1, 2021
Written by University Writer Betsy Mans
Augustana University students elected Courtney Chrystal ‘23 and Mekhi Moore ‘23 as the Augustana Student Association (ASA) president and vice president for the 2021-22 academic year. Chrystal and Moore bring a host of ideas, goals and skill sets to the table, with an important shared qualification: experience.
Chrystal and Moore’s time with ASA began their freshman year when they ran for the same office. It was Chrystal who was elected freshman finance committee senator.
“Last summer, I worked on the academics working group with the Viking Flex Plan for a safe return to campus,” explained Chrystal.
“We helped work on contact tracing with QR codes and sanitization between classes.” Moore, a native of Woodbury, Minnesota, still served his freshman year as an ex officio member for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Office.
“I sat in on faculty meetings and observed what came out of them. Once a month, I would meet with the ASA Executive Committee and share those plans with them,” he explained.
In their sophomore year, Moore and Chrystal were elected to the same Co-Curriculum Committee.
“It was then that we started talking heavily about projects and initiatives,” said Moore. “We paired up for different projects and had the same views on any changes we’d like to see in Augustana policy. We have a strong connection and work relationship, and I’m so grateful for it!”
Through working together in ASA, Chrystal and Moore also got to know each other’s strengths. They are both communicators by nature with plans to put their education to use in the legal realm.
Moore is a Fred C. and J. Marie Christopherson Scholar majoring in sign language interpreting and plans to go into government interpreting in the courtroom for the criminal justice system.
“Mekhi’s future job is based on an ability to listen. That’s one of his biggest strengths, listening to ASA senators for what projects and initiatives are important,” said Chrystal.
Hailing from Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, Chrystal is a Niebuhr Scholar, Civitas Honors Program student and a pre-law major hoping to work in the medical malpractice field, as one option. Her passion for health care stemmed from supporting her mom through breast cancer treatments in high school.
Moore also faced a challenging decision during his time at Augustana. He had considered transferring to another university, but said Chrystal “gave me some amazing advice and found more funds to allow me to stay. I’m excited to be here and use the opportunity ASA provides to be a leader on campus to serve the student community.”
Moore isn’t wasting any time, either. Over the summer, he called Chrystal and asked if she knew the ASA Constitution. He had an idea that hadn’t been done in ASA history before — adding another committee to bring the total to six with a new Diversity Committee.
“It’s my passion to make sure people who look like me feel like they are at home at our university,” Moore said. “If you build a platform and put in the hard work to make it happen, you can do anything you put your mind to. While I didn’t win the election my freshman year, I have followed through and have seen results.”
Chrystal has also been hard at work with the creation of a well-being model that will launch in August on the new Augustana app, as well as ensuring mental health resources are listed in course syllabi for easy reference.
Other initiatives on the duo’s docket include expanding accessibility for those who use wheelchairs or have injuries, the hiring of a mental health specialist and housing changes — including those that will be seen on campus throughout Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030. Moore has been actively working on sustainability efforts, such as acquiring Augustana branded water bottles to further reduce plastic water bottle use on campus.
Augustana reaps the benefit when leaders are willing to use their gifts — such as Moore’s intensive listening and Chrystal’s ability to move ideas to action — in service to the student body and the university.
Additional 2021-22 ASA Executive Board Members include:
Gedion Alemayehu ‘23
Position: ASA Treasurer Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Major: Data Science, Mathematics and Business Administration
Sara Alhasnawi ‘23
Position: ASA Secretary
Hometown: Sioux Falls
Major: Biochemistry and Spanish
Members chosen in the fall include freshman senators, affinity senators and a technical director this summer.