Governor Gary Herbert appointed Ty Aller, a PhD student at Utah State University, as the 2016-17 Student Regent. Mr. Aller is majoring in Family and Human Development and previously earned a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a bachelor’s degree in both Psychology and Political Science—all from USU. He will serve one year as a voting member of the Board of Regents.

“As a first-generation student, I recognize the unique  challenges that students without family that have attended a university face. Many of these challenges center around accessing funding. Additionally, many of our students are now facing mental health problems that affect their personal life and schooling career requiring immediate attention.” Ty said. “I believe that my unique experience as a first-generation student, having attended both undergraduate and graduate programs in Utah, and being in both professional and research programs in graduate school have provided me with a very diverse experience to advocate for all students of Utah.”

Ty has been involved with the Utah Student Association as well as several on-campus initiatives at USU, where he has served as the Graduate Studies Senator, sitting on other committees including the USU Fee Board, and Faculty Senate. He has also been heavily involved with the Utah Student Association’s mental health awareness initiative that will continue this year for the third consecutive year.

The Student Regent plays an important role to the Board in representing the student voice in the Utah System of Higher Education. The Student Regent works with the Utah Student Association whose leadership is comprised of the Student Body Presidents of Utah colleges and universities. Mr. Aller is the 39th Student Regent since the student position on the Board of Regents was first established in 1977.