Alyssa Tomins
Bowling Green State University
Alyssa Tomins is a junior double majoring in Political Science and Economics, a Sidney A. Ribeau President’s Leadership Academy scholar, and a highly involved student leader with our BGSU Votes student-led initiative. During her time at BGSU Alyssa has been a community-committed student leader devoting her time to increasing student voter and political engagement, removing voting barriers for students, engaging campus, community members and elected officials in dialogue around social issues and political participation, and organizing events to assist students on campus and across the state of Ohio to explore leadership and public service. As an Andrew Goodman Foundation Vote Everywhere Ambassador she has helped lead a team of students with BGSU Votes who increased student voter participation by 23 percentage points in the 2018 midterm election compared to the 2014 midterm election. These efforts have lead to BGSU being designated as a 2019-2020 Voter Friendly Campus and a Silver Seal Award from the All In Campus Democracy Challenge.
Personal Statement
My passion for voter engagement began my junior year of high school when I cast my first ballot in the 2016 Presidential Primary election. I voted because I wanted a say in America’s leadership, and I’ve spent my time at BGSU helping other students access this right through registration and education. As a double-major in economics and political science, I have focused my internships and involvement in areas that promote civic engagement. I joined the BGSU Votes team at BGSU, and together we have interacted with thousands of students at our registration drives and events. I’ve become a Vote Everywhere Ambassador with the Andrew Goodman Foundation and participated in a group-fellowship with Campus Election Engagement Project. With these resources, our team has increased the voting rate at BGSU by 23.1% from the 2014 midterm to 2018 and has helped make BGSU a more civically engaged community. I have personally been involved in various service projects, dialogue events, and other causes at BGSU, all focused on increasing education for social issues. I one day hope to hold office so that I can further advance voting rights and civic engagement.
