Meet WWU’s new student trustee, Ashlynn Tibbot
Western’s Board of Trustees is the governor-appointed group tasked with providing oversight of the university, and each year a new student is appointed to serve as the student trustee, representing WWU’s student body.
The student trustee fulfills the same function as all other trustees, focusing on the needs of students, staff, faculty, and community members, albeit through the unique lens of the current student experience.
The student trustee for the ‘25’26 academic year is Ashlynn Tibbot, a senior from Milton pursuing a double major in Women, Gender and Sexuality, and English with a Creative Writing and Teaching Endorsement.
Over the summer, we chatted with Ashlynn about her goals for the upcoming year as a trustee, what made her decide to apply for the position, and more.
Western Today: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Ashlynn! The first question is an easy one: What made you decide to apply for the student trustee position?
Ashlynn: "I have wanted to be the student trustee since I saw it advertised my first year at Western. It intrigued me that WWU had a position that gave a student tremendous voice in such a pivotal role for the university.
In a way, I have spent the last three years preparing for this role as it was something that would be a huge milestone in my current and future goals of political engagement and human services. Of course, the scholarship that comes with it is also a nice bonus, but I would have done it for free to serve my community and do everything in my power to improve the campus and the school that means so much to me.”
WT: What are you most passionate about, in regard to representing the student body on the Board of Trustees?
AT: “I think I’m most passionate about the interactions I'll have with upper administration, along with the decisions and ideas that I can contribute to committees and the Board as we move through challenging political and financial times at present. I look forward to being a fresh set of eyes on the Board that can contribute relevant anecdotes, problems, and solutions as a student and community member. Besides all of this, I am just excited to be able to represent the student body as best I can.”
WT: What do you love most about Western?
AT: “I have always loved Western's focus on inclusivity and diversity. College is a time where you get to interact with so many different people to gain a better understanding of the world, and I appreciate that Western has created a space for people of all walks of life to come and study, build community, and have a place to call a second home. Additionally, I love all of the amazing leadership opportunities students have to do important research, have their voices heard, and showcase the strengths of our campus.”
WT: What do you hope to learn as a member of the BoT in the coming year, that you can take with you when you graduate?
AT: “I hope to learn better ways of asking questions and analyzing important data to contribute to problem-solving conversations. I think, adding onto this, being able to balance personal stories of both me and students on campus with more statistical evidence is something I hope to gain.
Both of these things are important to me in being able to move forward as a critical scholar and future educator, and even further in the future, being a political advocate of large communities and organizations.”