Meet the driven and diverse executive board members of PC United, Phoenix College's official student government on campus. From planning community service projects to advocating for student voices, these student leaders are making an impact on campus and beyond. Learn how they’re shaping the future of student leadership at Phoenix College and how you can get involved!
The executive board of PC United is comprised of five positions. Meet your 2024-2025 PC United Board - Damaris Cano Martinez (President), Eden Jackson (VP of Communications), Briseida Nevarez (VP of Involvement), Ana Braswell (VP of Academics), and Martin Magallanes-Cruz (VP of Advocacy).
Eden Jackson
Major: Paralegal Studies “I did an internship at a legal firm when I was 17, and my aunt was a paralegal, so I knew a lot about it, and it was, it seemed like a good fit.” After graduation, Eden plans to find employment at a legal firm.
What inspired you to go into student government?
Eden is confident that she can make an impact on students. “I wanted to be a part of what was going on in the campus because I'm only going to be here for a short amount of time, and I want to have at least some say while I'm here.” Her goal this year is to make sure PC United’s service projects (e.g. street cleanup/beautification, St. Mary’s Food Bank and other student service opportunities) have a true impact on the community. “We try to partner with different people when it comes to events so that we can make the most impact when we work together with a different club, so sometimes it'll be connecting with them for service projects, for fundraisers like Monster Ball (where student government partnered with Phi Theta Kappa) which is what actually started Monster Ball.
What does the VP of Communications do?
“I’m communicating with other clubs and some PC faculty, but I'm also reaching out [to other campus groups]. I'm kind of a go-between for everybody. I also manage PC United’s social media, trying to reach other students. I'm just trying to make sure everybody's voices are heard.”
What do you like to do outside of school and work? "I love to refurbish furniture."
Briseida Nevarez
Major: Business & Entrepreneurship “When I was a little girl (maybe around 10), I always wanted to open up my own little business for catering or other personal business.” After graduation, Briseida hopes to finalize her plans at ASU for a year before opening up a little internet cafe by a school. “It’s something I know that is needed and I’ve seen everywhere but less so here in Phoenix.”
What inspired you to go into student government?
Briseida is interested in helping students find their own voice. “I was a very closed person. I didn't speak much, I didn't want to make friends much, I didn't want to participate in a lot of things. But after I came to one of the meetings in student government, It's like I found my mission, and they were able to bring me out of my comfort zone, and I was actually able to start talking more, and now I'm the person that does not shut up!”
How do you envision the future of student government at PC?
“In my opinion, we want it to be a lot more open. We want a lot of people to know that Student Government is here, Student Government is active, and Student Government is willing to hear and willing to act.”
What do you like to do outside of school and work?
“I like anime, Marvel, and I’m multicultural in music. I love everything from Mexican, English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, to Italian music.”
Ana Braswell
Major: Forensic Science “I want to work for the FBI. I had 10 brothers growing up and I’d always figure out who stole what, especially my snacks!” After she graduates, Ana plans to work through all the requirements of joining the FBI, grow her family, and move out of state. “Arizona is just too hot for me!”
Other Club Involvement:
American Sign Language Club
What do you like to do outside of school and work?
I watch a lot of anime (especially Haikyuu), and listen to K-pop songs.
Martin Magallanes Cruz
Major: Business (Emphasis in Marketing) “I hope to work in the world of sports marketing. I've gotten amazing opportunities throughout my time. In addition to my job at Nike, I got to work the 2024 Men's Final Four here in Arizona, and also be a part of the 2024 WNBA life convention.” After graduation, Martin plans to travel the world to assist in large-scale sporting events. “One of my biggest goals is to work for the Super Bowl.”
What inspired you to go into student government?
As a business major, Martin is interested in networking with fellow students. “It’s a good opportunity to network with other schools and people around our campus because you never know who you might run into in the future.”
What challenges have you faced in your role in PC United?
Last year I struggled with actually connecting with the team and knowing who is who. That's why this year, when we started [we participated in] officer training. I really liked that we all got to know each other, got to share what everyone was studying, what everyone was here for, and why they joined Student Government. And I feel like that brought us so close together and made connections between us.
What do you like to do outside of school and work?
“I love anything baseball. I’m a season-ticket holder and I love going to baseball games and collecting baseball cards with my brothers. We've been getting cards and having the players sign them, and then we started on our own collection. And now we have a team ball that we have everyone sign.”
Damaris Cano Martinez
Major: General Business with a Certificate in Social Media Marketing “I want to open my own cosmetic products business and do social media marketing while finishing up my bachelor’s degree at ASU.”
What are your main goals for student government this year?
“My main goal is to connect more, not just with the students, but with the other sister colleges. We've seen a lack of communication in these past few years, and our goal is really to connect them. You can have events with other clubs and also with other schools, like the spring dance. We want to partner with other Maricopa student schools.”
What issues/concerns are you hearing from students?
“The big one is communication. I’ve had a lot of students say to me, ‘Oh, I didn't know that was going on, or I really wish I would have known about [event/activity]’. Damaris elaborated that many students don’t check their emails; therefore, getting the information to them in person while they are on campus is vital.
What do you like to do outside of school and work?
"Watch horror movies and scary stories! I’m very excited for this season!"
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PC United Exec Board, Do you have any advice for new students on campus?
Ana and Damaris say in unison - “Get involved!”
“It really does help, not just getting to know people, but getting to know what kind of resources are on campus, because then you know who to ask and where to go,” Damaris elaborates.
“Network with your peers. Get to know people in your class, because you never know if you will cross paths throughout your lifetime. If you are all studying in a business class, you could all make a business together, whatever it may be. Get to know people in your class. Create connections,” Martin encourages.
“Study groups are really helpful. Look into the different scholarships that are available. You're eligible for a lot more scholarships than you probably think, and definitely look into the different clubs, and look at the different job opportunities. Take advantage of all the resources that you have.” (Eden)
PC United Exec Board, what big events do students need to know about that are coming up this year?
“The biggest one of them is Monster Ball. We want to make it a permanent event here at Phoenix College. I know last year was very successful. We had a lot of people, and this year we just hope to have a lot more, and we hope to extend it out throughout the year so it gets recognized as an annual Phoenix College event.” (Damaris)
“Another event that we as PC United have done is our spring formal. It's normally done around the end of the school year and it's something that we are planning on doing, and we're already coming up with themes and decorations. We are already setting things up so that we can have enough time. And we're also going to spread out the word. So if you are ready to party, stay tuned until spring!” (Briseida)
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From service projects to exciting events, PC United’s student leaders are paving the way for a vibrant college community. Learn more about PC United and how you can become involved in shaping the future of PC!