Hayley Weddle, a La Cañada Flintridge native and UC San Diego doctoral student, has been nominated to be the 2019-20 student regent by a University of California Board of Regents special committee.
If approved this month, the 2007 La Cañada High School graduate would become the 45th student regent since the position was established in 1975. She would serve as the student regent-designate for the coming year and be able to participate in all deliberations, then will have voting privileges when her one-year term begins in July 2019.
“Serving the university and its students is an incredible honor, and I am committed to ensuring that decisions of the university are informed by students’ experiences,” Weddle said in a prepared statement. “I am dedicated to promoting policies and initiatives that ensure students across the state have the opportunity to attend and thrive at UC.”
Weddle graduated summa cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in sociology and economics from UC Santa Barbara, and earned a master’s in postsecondary educational leadership from San Diego State. She is expected to complete her doctorate in education studies in spring 2021.
Weddle is currently the chief of staff for the UC San Diego Graduate Student Association. She is also the co-chair of the university’s Basic Needs Committee, which develops strategies to address student food and housing insecurity. Additionally, she serves as a member of UC’s systemwide Student Advisory Board, providing student and campus perspective on recommendations and discussions about Title IX policies, procedures and support for the UC community.
Previously, Weddle served as an adviser and operations manager for the Associated Students of UC San Diego and as a member of that campus’ Student Fee Advisory and Community Standards boards. She also sat on an advisory board for the opening of a new K-8 school in Greater San Diego, recommending curriculum and best practices to address gender identity, sexual orientation and sexual harassment issues.
As student regent, Weddle would aim to address issues that include housing affordability, food insecurity, and sexual violence and harassment, with a special focus on aspects that affect vulnerable groups such as students of color, former foster youths and LGBTQ students.
This year, 40 students applied for the student regent position.
