Danielle Floyd (she/her)

Board Candidate
Elevate Slate
Columbia, MD
Economics

My name is Danielle Floyd, and I'm a sophomore studying economics with a global health certificate on a pre-med track. I am humbled and eager to be running for Student Government Board. My entire undergraduate career, I have been involved in student government board: a member of the First Year Council and Wellness Committee Chair for this year. As Chair, my biggest accomplishments include organizing and planning Mental Health Awareness Month and establishing mental health liaisons in student groups. I am also a sister of Rho Psi Eta (pre-health sorority), a Mental Health Student Coalition member, and a member of Black Action Society. I’m running for Student Government Board because I believe the University of Pittsburgh should work to empower student voices to prompt the university to take action on issues that have been brought to light, especially supporting students amid the pandemic. I have seen first hand the toll that the pandemic has taken on our students. In my position as the Wellness Chair for SGB, I have been sitting in on meetings around mental health. I have come to the realization that the pandemic was not the trigger for the current mental health climate on campus, but has exacerbated it. This has given me insight into how students' mental health is often overlooked, and the knowledge of resources is not well known. With this understanding, I have taken steps to establish mental health liaisons in student groups, through the mental health student coalition, with the hope of bridging the gap between resources reaching students. I also wish to create a space where underrepresented students can have open conversations about what’s affecting their communities and build solidarity. I believe this is necessary because while our separate groups have their differences and needs that have to be addressed, there is strength in numbers and for advocacy. As Chair, I have seen the overlap of how students of color are treated on campus, and bridging the gap between all underrepresented groups will help strengthen our voice to create real change. Finally, I want to bring awareness of the prevalence of sexual assault on our campus. I want to provide support to ALL survivors of sexual assault. I look to continue this work with the help of the student groups and the Sexual Assault and Prevention office by providing survivors a space for peer-to-peer connection. I also want to work to destigmatize survivors speaking out and educating all students about sexual assault on our campus. Above all, I am running for Student Government Board because I believe the University of Pittsburgh should work to empower student voices to call the university to action on issues that have been brought to light, especially supporting students amid the pandemic. In all the work that I do, I want to make students a priority and meet their needs. I intend to be an advocate for all students and meet them where they are in my capacity as an SGB member.