Mary Walker (Student)

Psychology senior and Student Government Association (SGA) President Mary Walker is the smiling face you will see this year, ready to make changes for the betterment of the student body. But becoming SGA president was not initially on her radar when she transferred to Texas A&M University-San Antonio in 2015. Things quickly changed after a SGA recruitment flyer caught her eye. And the rest—as they say— is history.

“There were so many things that I saw that I felt like I could fix or make better for students,” she says. “So, I kept taking on responsibilities because I really want to make a difference.”

While serving approximately 6,000 students this year, Mary is also pushing through to the finish line of her graduation in spring 2018. Mary’s journey in the pursuit of higher education has not been easy. She admittedly stumbled at the start. After failing out of college her first semester and changing majors twice, Mary finally found her footing at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She now has the community of academic support she needs and is excelling in her classes.

Mary is now laser-focused on leaving a legacy at Texas A&M University-San Antonio through SGA. She recalls one of her favorite memories was establishing Jaguars Remembered – an annual campus ceremony to honor A&M-San Antonio students and alumni who have passed away.  

“The ceremony truly impacted our community and our students, which was completely amazing,” she said.

When Mary is not working in her various roles on campus, she finds time to work as an exhibit interpreter at the San Antonio Zoo. During her eight years of working for the Zoo, Mary says she’s found a hidden talent—handling tarantulas.

With her favorite animals and exhibits around her, Mary finds her job to be a stress reliever.

With her copious activities on and off campus, Mary hopes to make the 2017-18 academic year the best of all. When asked what advice she would give to students as they begin the semester, she said, “Never be afraid to ask for help. There are many outlets here on campus. Plus, professors here are incredibly kind and understanding.”