On the April day Camden Layton assumed his role as student body president, the campus was gearing up for a major townhall meeting with students and administrators addressing pressing concerns regarding campus sexual assault and Title IX policies. Things haven鈥檛 slowed down since: Layton鈥檚 presidency has been filled with additional new challenges鈥攁nd exciting changes鈥攆rom the first moment he took office.
In addition to dealing with the daily dilemmas and dramas thrust upon him as Mason鈥檚 student body president, Layton plans to improve the school鈥檚 relationship with the community, protect minority students, and push the administration to take more rigorous action against sexual assault on campus.
As a senior major in the , Layton has found his calling in higher-education policy. 鈥淎fter taking education policy course, I realized my passion for improving the quality of student life and education on campus,鈥 he said.
鈥淥ur faculty [in the Schar School] is legendary,鈥 he added. 鈥淭he professors have taught me so much about how higher education is tied with Congress.鈥
Layton is using his coursework to better understand issues in higher education policy to prepare for January鈥檚 annual event. Students will head to Richmond to voice their concerns to statehouse representatives on issues such as college affordability and financial aid to students, among other topics.
As student body president, Layton will be developing new strategies to improve student life with Adia McLaughlin, vice president and a major. 鈥淲e are starting a new video series called 鈥楶atriots in the City,鈥欌 he said. 鈥淲e want to improve communication with the community through introducing students to local restaurants and businesses.鈥 Watch episode one .
鈥淭he biggest challenges in my presidency so far has been that first week with the sexual assault townhall and the week President [脕ngel] Cabrera left,鈥 he recalled. 鈥淭he student body president works closely with the campus president, and with Cabrera gone, it felt like our plans had been thrown out the window.鈥
Layton鈥檚 outlook began to improve when none other than Schar School Visiting Professor was announced as interim president. 鈥淪he has been so easy to work with,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he school could not have gotten a better replacement.鈥
鈥淚 was delighted to have Camden in my class and even more delighted to see him in this leadership role at Mason,鈥 Holton said in an email statement. 鈥淗e will go on to do great things in Ed Policy!鈥
Layton suggested being a Public Administration major in the Schar School is a benefit to his position as a student leader.
鈥淭he connections I have gained through the Schar School have been awesome,鈥 he said. 鈥淎ll of the professors are willing to give advice and career help.鈥
After graduation in May of 2020, Layton plans to attend law school or pursue a with an emphasis area in higher education policy at the Schar School.