Jelma Flores-Mota

Serving on the SGA helped Jelma Flores-Mota learn to speak up, and led to her election as the first president of UNG's unified SGA. Now she gives voice to students across all five campuses.

After receiving emails seeking freshman and sophomore representatives for the Student Government Association (SGA) at the University of North Georgia (UNG), Jelma Flores-Mota decided to attend a meeting.

"They were discussing what to name the new street on UNG's Gainesville Campus," said the junior pursuing a degree in political science with a prelaw concentration. "It was really interesting, because you don't think as a student that your voice will be heard. But UNG students do have a chance to be heard."

At that moment Flores-Mota decided to voice her opinion and represent her fellow students on SGA.

"Being in SGA has taught me to speak up and make sure that your voice is being heard," said the 21-year-old from Gainesville, Georgia. "SGA also has taught me about teamwork and delegation."

During the 2020-21 academic year, Flores-Mota became the first president of the unified SGA for all five UNG campuses. Flores-Mota used her newly elected position to help her fellow students.

"My advisers and mentors have told me that a student's voice is more powerful than we think," she said. "So if you express yourself clearly, the people will take you more seriously and you can get things done in SGA."

Flores-Mota has proven she can accomplish difficult tasks. As a member of SGA's summer 2020 council, she helped craft the new SGA structure of one unified president and one vice president on each campus.

Flores-Mota also knows how to work with other student organizations. Earlier in her college career, she was a member of the Latino Student Association and Nighthawks Entertainment.

Flores-Mota also continues to work in the Student Involvement Office on UNG's Gainesville Campus.

Flores-Mota said her involvement forced her to step out of her comfort zone and into leadership positions. However, the self-proclaimed introvert keeps a humble attitude.

"No matter how many years you have been in a role and leadership position at work, you learn new things," she said.