Henry Siravo has been named President of the Roger Williams University Student Senate after former President Emma Morin stepped down from the role earlier this month. The transition was announced at the weekly Student Senate meeting on March 2.
The appointment caps a rapid rise for Siravo, who had only recently been elected Senate Vice President after former VP Avery Williams stepped down. He now leads the Senate’s Executive Board and will be responsible for ushering the body through the remainder of the academic year.
“It was definitely a surprise. It was not something I, or frankly anyone I think, was expecting to happen,” Siravo said. He credited the Executive Board with moving quickly to ensure a smooth handoff. “I stepped into a group that is incredibly smart, prepared, and dedicated to the Student Senate.”
Siravo, a political science major and president of Campus Democrats, said the demands of the role have been a significant step up from his previous leadership experience as student body president at his high school, where he estimated spending four or five hours a week in that capacity.
Still, he said the workload has been welcome. “While my Google Calendar is certainly more colorful than it was two months ago, it is time I am so happy to give,” Siravo said. “These are good conversations and I have a lot of hope for what the next year will look like.”
Siravo said he feels confident in his ability to lead the Senate forward, citing the support he has received from Adrienne and the broader Executive Board. He said his goal is to lead a Senate that “starts conversation and enacts tangible change.”
