Justin Calhoun/SHSU Communications
SHSU president Alisa White, left, and psychology major Jackelin Balbuena swapped places in the latest installment of the university's SamSwitch tradiation
“Our president serves our students and staff on a daily basis. I admire the Sam Houston Community she has inspired through her work and advocacy of all students. As a first-generation, I would be honored to fulfill the footsteps our president has placed for the day!”
These were the words that landed psychology major Jackelin Balbuena in President Alisa White’s shoes on March 25.
As part of over a 10-year-old tradition, SamSwitch gives students the opportunity to swap places with the president. They fulfill her duties for the day, while she attends the students’ classes and other involvements.
“[SamSwitch] is one of my favorite things,” Dr. White said.
To be considered, students had to create a post on X, with a 280 character limit, explaining why they would like to be president for the day. From those entries, the Department of Campus Activities and Traditions narrows down the list to students they believe would be the best candidate. That shortlist is then shared with the president’s office, where it is further refined before Dr. White makes the final selection.
“I wanted to be president for what she is, not who I am,” Balbuena said. “When I wrote my tweet, I wanted to focus it on her, rather than my accomplishments.”
During their busy day, Balbuena had a seat in cabinet meetings, a private tour of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, visited the Student Affairs Office, and also met with the CHSS dean, the Chief Strategy Officer and others. Dr. White attended two psychology classes, tabled with Alpha Omicron Pi, sat in on Smith Huson Scholar interviews and had lunch with other students.
“I like to participate in classes, and that’s why I’m here,” White said. ‘That’s why I went to school. That’s what I’m trying to facilitate now. I enjoy interacting with students outside of classes.”
Balbuena is the Vice President of Community Relations for AOII, a CHSS College Ambassador, a House Coach for the Smith Hudson Scholars, as well as a member of the athletics marketing team, Order of Omega and Bearkat Orientation.
“I’m very blessed to be a part of organizations on campus and be around people that are involved and engaged; it makes me want to do the same myself,” Balbuena said. “Who you surround yourself with will end up reflecting you and your goals, so surrounding myself with people that believe in me more than I believe in myself is important because they were the ones that pushed me to do this.”