Davis, Jacob take SGA win, turn focus to student needs

April 17, 2026 The Parthenon

Marshall University’s newly elected Student Government Association president and vice president say their campaign may be over, but their work is just beginning.

After running on a platform centered around student engagement, wellness and success, Alissa Davis and Jimmy John Jacob are now shifting from campaign promises toward implementation. Both say their leadership approach is rooted in experience, consistency and a willingness to adapt as they take on their new roles.

Davis, junior political science and communication studies major, brings multiple years of SGA involvement to the presidency, including serving as vice president and chief of staff. Jacob, sophomore broadcast journalism major, offers a different perspective as a newer leader who has quickly become active across campus. Together, they say their backgrounds allow them to better represent a wide range of students.

“We bring two completely different experiences to the table,” Jacob said. “She’s local; she’s been involved for years. I’m from out of state, but we both care about the same thing: making campus better.”

Davis said her experience working within SGA has shaped how she approaches change, emphasizing progress often takes time and persistence rather than quick fixes.

“There’s a building block system to this,” Davis said. “Not everything happens in one year. Sometimes, you have to keep pushing for something before it finally gets implemented.”

Their campaign focused on improving everyday student life, from increasing events on campus to addressing larger concerns, like mental health and academic resources. Davis said student engagement means creating more accessible opportunities for students to get involved, whether through free events, campus programming or partnerships that connect students with the community.

Jacob said student wellness is a key priority, especially when it comes to mental health services, noting many students have expressed concerns about long wait times at the counseling center, sometimes waiting weeks for an appointment.

“We want to look at what’s actually causing that delay,” Jacob said. “If students are reaching out for help, they shouldn’t have to wait weeks to get it.”

Davis added wellness also includes access to food and inclusive dining options for students with dietary restrictions. She said students should not have to leave campus to find meals that meet their needs.

“No student should have to leave campus just to find something they can eat,” Davis said.

The pair also pointed to student success as a major focus, particularly when it comes to improving academic resources. They highlighted issues such as outdated systems, double-booked study rooms and a lack of awareness surrounding tutoring services. Davis said one goal is to make those resources more visible, so students can access help before they begin to struggle.

“We want it to be something that finds you,” Davis said. “You shouldn’t have to go searching for help when you need it.”

Both Davis and Jacob say their past leadership experiences show their ability to follow through on their goals. Jacob helped organize a toy drive that collected more than 250 donations for children in the Huntington community while Davis has played a role in planning major campus events and working directly with administrators.

They acknowledge challenges will come with the position, including budget limitations and the reality not every initiative can be implemented immediately. Davis said many decisions involve collaboration with university leadership and boards, where student leaders advocate but do not always have final authority.

Despite those limitations, both say communication and consistency will be key to their administration, emphasizing the importance of listening to student concerns, whether through direct conversations or feedback shared online.

“It’s hard to fix a problem if you don’t know it exists,” Jacob said. “We want students to come to us and be part of that process.”

For Davis, the role is not about titles or recognition, but about impact.

“I want to be able to walk around campus and know that I made a difference in someone’s life,” Davis said.

As they prepare to take office, both leaders say their goal is simple: to make campus better in ways students can actually feel.

“If we can make campus even 1% better every day … Then we’re doing what we set out to do,” Jacob said.