Faith Van Hoven has been elected next year’s Associated Students, Inc. president and after being involved within the senate for a year, she plans to bring her knowledge and experience to the role.

Van Hoven has worked to be an active and involved member of her community, working at Break the Barriers, the Marjaree Mason Center and currently as an ASI senator for the College of Arts and Humanities.

“I’ve seen this community from different aspects,” Van Hoven told The Collegian. “I’ve realized that Fresno is entirely what you make of it and I tried my best to make it exactly what I wanted it to be for me.”

Van Hoven said the reason she joined ASI was ultimately because she believes that anyone should be able to take advantage of all the opportunities that are presented to ensure the best college experience.

Throughout her academic career, she has been involved in multiple clubs and organizations, but Van Hoven wasn’t a member of any leadership body during her time at Clovis North High School because she felt that at the time, it was just a “popularity contest.”

When she began attending Fresno State in the Fall 2021 semester, she wasn’t sure what ASI was.

Van Hoven said that her application for ASI senator happened out of chance and constitutes it as being in the right place at the right time. She said that the position was initially overwhelming when she was elected.

She continued by explaining that she hadn’t realized how much power the organization held on campus nor how many organizations went into making decisions that affected the campus.

“For me, that’s probably one of the best parts about being in ASI,” Van Hoven said. “Being a part of what creates our school.”

The appreciation for Fresno State as a whole was something that Van Hoven had to grow into.

Her parents both attended the university in the 80s, something Van Hoven mentioned in her campaign, emphasizing that she’s bulldog born and bulldog bred.

Even as a legacy student, Van Hoven found herself taking classes in high school that would get her out of Fresno, something she says is a common theme among students in the Central Valley.

After careful consideration, she realized Fresno State was where she wanted to go, especially after noticing a key difference between it and many other universities.

“I always tell everyone that, you know, even if I didn’t want to come here, it’s been the best choice and the best answer to all of the things that I wanted to do,” Van Hoven said. “If we’re looking at a cost-benefit analysis, Fresno State is the better option with just how much higher education has become.”

While at Fresno State, Van Hoven has stated that the different organizations that she’s been a part of have helped her grow as a leader in various ways.

ASI Director of Operations James Martinez has seen her growth firsthand. As director, he helps manage the department and advises student leaders, such as Van Hoven.

“I met her when she first ran for ASI, and I knew then that she was going to be a valued member of the organization,” Martinez said. “I knew that if she put that much work into her campaign, she would do the same as a senator representing the College of Arts and Humanities.”

Martinez said that as a senator, he has valued Van Hoven’s abilities as a leader, organizer and involved student.

He equally admired the campaign that she put together while running for ASI president and stated that he’s excited to see what she’ll bring to the role.

“She’s going to be active,” Martinez said. “She’s going to be a huge advocate for ASI and students. I think that she’s going to be a very strong voice on the initiatives that she’s prioritizing. I have no doubt that she’s the right one for the position.”

Both Sydney Firstman and Van Hoven will serve on the ASI board next semester.

Firstman, a newly elected senator-at-large and Van Hoven’s roommate, had a similar expression as Martinez, stating that no one could fit the role of president quite like her.

“She’s the type of person who can dedicate everything to everyone and be everything to everyone,” Firstman said. “She’s able to pour her heart and soul into her work.”

On top of how Firstman had already seen her lead as a member of the mock trial program, a club Van Hoven is a part of, she said that it was easy to vote for Van Hoven when she found out what her campaign goals would entail.

“One of the biggest reasons I voted for her was the safety clause,” Firstman said. “I’ve been harassed on campus before and I want it to be safer for other people so they don’t have to experience some of the things I’ve experienced. That is the biggest thing I would like to see Faith carry out during her presidency.”

Van Hoven’s goals, previously mentioned in her campaign, are safety, access and student involvement.
“Access starts with availability,” she said. “We see that we have all of these [resources] are available and the problem is not creating more, the problem is making them sustainable and open to students.”
Current ASI President Karen Carrillo also met Van Hoven through the campus mock trial program. It was in the program that Carrillo stated that she admired her tenacity and dedication.

“She comes with a lot of surprises,” Carrillo said. “She is a leader who keeps you on your toes, and you should never underestimate her.”

Carrillo feels reassured, knowing that Van Hoven will be supported by a credible team of executives and staff members in her role.

“Two of our current executives will continue serving for another year,” Carrillo said. “I am confident that these executives will remain valuable assets to the organization and will offer the same support to Faith.”

Student involvement is another goal shared by both the president and president-elect in their campaigns. Carrillo said that she hopes Van Hoven can build upon the foundation that has been laid.

Van Hoven also says that she anticipates the collaboration between her and her colleagues.

“I’ve found probably the most selfless people at Fresno State,” Van Hoven said. “I’m just really excited about what we can do together.”

For Print

Faith Van Hoven has been elected next year’s Associated Students, Inc. president and after being involved within the senate for a year, she plans to bring her knowledge and experience to the role.

Van Hoven, currently an ASI senator for the College of Arts and Humanities, said the reason she joined ASI was ultimately because she believes that anyone should be able to take advantage of all the opportunities that are presented to ensure the best college experience.

Throughout her academic career, she has been involved in multiple clubs and organizations, but Van Hoven wasn’t a member of any leadership body during her time at Clovis North High School because she felt that at the time, it was just a “popularity contest.”

Van Hoven said that her application for ASI senator happened out of chance and constitutes it as being in the right place at the right time.

While at Fresno State, Van Hoven has stated that the different organizations that she’s been a part of have helped her grow as a leader in various ways.

ASI Director of Operations James Martinez has seen her growth firsthand. As director, he helps manage the department and advises student leaders, such as Van Hoven.

“I met her when she first ran for ASI, and I knew then that she was going to be a valued member of the organization,” Martinez said. “I knew that if she put that much work into her campaign, she would do the same as a senator representing the College of Arts and Humanities.”

Van Hoven’s goals, mentioned in her presidential campaign, are safety, access and student involvement.

“I’ve seen this community from different aspects,” Van Hoven told The Collegian. “I’ve realized that Fresno is entirely what you make of it and I tried my best to make it exactly what I wanted it to be for me.”

As she gears up to begin her term, she says she is excited to work with the other members in the campus community.

“I’ve found probably the most selfless people at Fresno State,” Van Hoven said. “I’m just really excited about what we can do together.”