About 79,000 and counting.

That’s the number of voices expressing their needs and desires in order to have the best educational experience possible.

More than 79,000 voices, all channelling through one person.

Rachael Johnson is the student member of the Board of Regents, the governing body that serves all three of Iowa’s public universities, as well as the Iowa School for the Deaf and the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School.

She is also a sophomore and full-time student at the University of Northern Iowa.

Johnson said she has served on the board for a little more than five months. She has full voting rights as a member, despite the fact she is still working toward her degrees in elementary and middle level education.

Since her appointment as a regents member in May 2015, Johnson has taken on the full duties of her job. This includes serving on the various committees and making policy for the higher education institutes in Iowa.

Johnson said she is constantly talking with students and student leaders, trying to best represent all 79,000 students.

Iowa State Student Government President Dan Breitbarth said Johnson is the organization’s main contact point with the regents.

Johnson met in person with Iowa State’s student leaders earlier in the semester, as well as the leadership at the University of Iowa and UNI. 

“That was an opportunity for me to meet people and learn about what the people on the campus are feeling and help to better reach them,” she said.

Breitbarth said she and the organization often go back and forth on topics, especially if Johnson is asking about student opinion on an issue or if Student Government is working on a topic it is passionate about.

Johnson agreed that she and the institutions’ student governments have a very interactive relationship.

“I’m very comfortable going to them with issues, and they’re comfortable coming to me with their issues and giving me their stance,” Johnson said.

Not only does Student Government discuss topics of importance with Johnson, but also with the rest of the Board of Regents.

Members of Student Government, including Breitbarth, Vice President Megan Sweere and Finance Director Hamad Abbas, have breakfast with the board before meetings. 

Katie Mulholland, president pro tem of the Board of Regents, said these breakfast meetings are opportunities for the board members to formally meet with student leadership from both undergraduate and graduate student governing bodies. 

Mulholland said student representatives at the breakfast give a presentation of accomplishments they’ve seen, as well as any issues that need to be addressed on campus.

“We do hear from each of the student representatives of the universities on a wide range of things,” she said.

Mulholland said Iowa State has raised issues about transportation on campus, the testing centers and other problems from overcrowding.

Mulholland said other informal opportunities are available for students to talk with Board of Regents members about specific topics or issues.

Mulholland, who is a former superintendent of Linn-Mar Community School District, said she enjoys talking to students and takes every opportunity to do so. She said graduate students in particular are the best resources because of their honesty. 

“Whenever I get an opportunity to talk informally, I really relish it,” she said.

Both Johnson and Mulholland take student opinion seriously, particularly about the things they can change as a board. Johnson and Mulholland both said student input on specific topics has influenced the decisions of board members.

For example, the board discussed at the Sept. 7 and 8 meeting raising tuition for in-state students at the three public universities in Iowa. The student government presidents from Iowa State and UNI encouraged an increase, while the UI president did not.

In the end, Iowa State and UNI received an increase in spring tuition, while Iowa did not.

Mulholland said tuition was a really unique situation, and student representatives informally advised the board about tuition outside of the meeting.

Breitbarth said he thinks the Board of Regents members really do value the student leadership’s opinion on any matter.

“It was really cool, especially when we talked about tuition, that our voice actually made a difference on the decision that they made,” Breitbarth said.

Johnson said after listening to each president’s statement, the board voted 6 to 3 to exempt the University of Iowa from the tuition increase.

“It was a truly organic action and we decided to increase the tuition at UNI and Iowa State based on what the presidents had said,” Johnson said. “Definitely, their input is valued when making decisions that affect students and all of our constituents.”

Johnson said student leadership input and input from the rest of the student body is important.

She said she and other board members are constantly in contact with students to get their input about the decisions they make.

But Johnson said she takes all of the students’ input into account when voting and serving on the Board of Regents.

“I do my best to represent all 79,000,” she said.

So how does Johnson maintain two full-time tasks as a student and board member?

She said it’s a balance, and making sure her time is balanced and prioritized is key.

But she said it hasn’t been too much of a challenge for her.

“I really enjoy it, so I treat it as something I enjoy rather than work,” Johnson said.

Johnson said she plans to continue to serve on the board throughout her entire undergraduate career.

Since she was elected to a six-year term, Johnson will graduate before her time ends as a member of the Board of Regents. At that point, she can decide to give up her position. But if she pursues a graduate degree at one of the three public universities, she will be able to keep her position.

Until then, Johnson said she will enjoy the time she has as a member of the board.

“It’s a great opportunity, and the people I’ve met are incredible so far,” she said. “I’m excited for my future on the board and the different things I’ll be able to work on.”