Ryan H. Nelson
(813) 625-4408 · 2800 SW 35th Pl, Gainesville FL 32608 · rynelson@ufl.edu
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Student Senator (elected 9/04 – 9/05; elected 9/05 – 9/06)
· Elected to District B with the Access Party (Fall 2004) and re-elected with the most votes in District B with the Gator Party (Fall 2005)
· Authored bills limiting the speaking privileges in chambers (SB2004-1114), amending the SBS 800 codes (SB2005-1053), granting a special request to Theatre Strike Force (SB2005-1127), allowing funding of Florida Players (SB 2005-1129), amending the Transportation Advisory Commission (SB2006-1019), and codifying SG Awards (SB2006-1058)
· Authored resolutions opposing the Academic Freedom Bill in the State Senate (SB2005-1046), demanding journalistic responsibility in response to the Independent Florida Alligator (SB2005-1095), advocating for a Sunday Bus Service (SB 2005-1128), and advocating for a Hurricane Hotline (SB2006-1049)
Judiciary Committee (elected 10/05 – 9/06)
· Researched State Law and it relates to University Regulations such as the UF Constitution and Student Body Statutes
· Reviewed SG Funded Organizations’ Constitutions to ensure compliance with SAC Standards as well as National and State Law
Information and Communications Committee (elected 8/05 – 10/05)
· Wrote the Introductory Skit for Fall 2005 Senate Orientation
Chair, Transportation Planning Ad-Hoc Committee (appointed 10/05 – 2/06)
· Ran meetings addressing the need for a Sunday Bus Service, increased bus routes, and presented to the Transportation Advisory Commission
Member, Online Voting Committee (appointed 5/05 – 8/05)
· Led the small group researching Intranet Voting (later implemented by the Supervisor of Elections for the Fall 2005 and Spring 2006 Election)
PHI SIGMA KAPPA FRATERNITY
President (elected 11/04 – 11/05)
· Presided over weekly Chapter Meetings, Executive Board Meetings, and bi-weekly Committee Chair Meetings
· Created a new Scholarship Plan, raising New Member GPA from below average to the Highest New Member GPA on campus in Spring 2005
· Appointed a new Alumni Corporation President and Housing Board Director to begin maintaining all finances internally
· Organized and implemented “Face the Hate” Philanthropy, engaging over 5,000 students in a 24-hour period
Secretary (elected 5/04 – 11/04)
· Served as liaison between National Headquarters and the Local Chapter
· Created a Webmaster position to regularly update the website and listserv, and Communications Chair to correspond with Alumni
Judicial Board (elected 5/04 – 11/05)
· Chaired Judicial Board for all Alumni Judicial Referrals, and served as a voting member on all Undergraduate Judicial Referrals
Philanthropy Chair (appointed 11/03 – 5/04)
· Planned Phi Sig Spike, a 4-vs-4 Beach Volleyball Tournament - Phi Sigma Kappa’s first philanthropy in over 6 years
Scholarship Chair (appointed 11/03 – 5/04)
· Renovated Study Room by getting 2 computers donated, wiring the room for electricity and Internet, tiling the floor, and creating a test bank
Webmaster (appointed 11/03 – Present)
· Created a new layout for the webpage, and established a Java Script Template for interaction between the chapter and potential new members
Organizational Representative (appointed 9/03 – 9/04)
· Served as Student Government Liaison between the house and the Ignite Party (Fall) and Innovate Party (Spring)
· Doubled voter turnout over a one-year period (30-35 voters Spring 2003; 81 voters Spring 2004)
INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL
Director of Campus Involvement (appointed 12/05 – Present)
· Created and carried out an inaugural mission statement and annual budget
· Prepared and distributed to all 27 IFC Chapters bi-weekly packets including on all campus opportunities and applications
Member, President’s Council (elected 11/04 – 11/05)
· Reviewed and approved IFC’s annual budget, a new IFC Constitution, and updated policy recommendations regarding philanthropic events
J. WAYNE REITZ UNION
Chair, Marketing and Finance Committee (appointed 8/05 – 8/06)
· Reviewed and audited an annual budget of $6.2 million
· Reviewed the rates of the Reitz Union Hotel, Do It Reitz Copy and Fax Center, Bowling Alley, and the Game/Billiard Room
· Set specific annual rates and marketing strategies based on customer surveys and mass email questionnaires of students, faculty, and staff
Student Member, Board of Managers (appointed 8/05 – 8/06)
· Reviewed and recommended financial distribution, mid-term goals, food recommendations, policy changes, and allocation of space
INTER-RESIDENCE HALL ASSOCIATION
Member at Large (elected 5/06 – 8/06)
· Served as voting member for IRHA general body and committee meetings including IRHA Judiciary Committee and Movie Selection Committee
General Staff, Writing on the Wall Project (appointed, 12/05 – 1/06, 12/06 - 1/07)
· Aided in publicity for and construction of the wall and held “wall watch” hours after its construction
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Theatre Strike Force (1/05 – Present)
· Performed monthly Short-Form and Long-Form Improv Acting in comedy shows in the Gainesville Community
· Taught Improv to high school students as part of the Student Science Training Program during Summer 2005 and 2006
· Served as Student Government Liaison for TSF, as well as between TSF and its Umbrella Organization Florida Players
Florida Players (9/05 – 9/06)
· Orchestrated an amicable split between Florida Players and their largest subsidiary organization Theatre Strike Force
· Aided in the preparation of a $38,000 annual budget
Student Honors Organization (8/03 – Present)
Institute of Industrial Engineers (8/03 – 5/05)
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND WORK EXPERIENCE
Keynote Speaker for Duke Talent Identification Program Ceremony (7/05)
· Spoke at Duke TIP Recognition Ceremony for the Southeastern United States, hosted by UF at the O’Connell Center
· Chosen to open the ceremony by speaking in front of 4,000 middle school students and guests on leadership, service, and scholarship
Center for Precollegiate Education and Training
· Academic Counselor, Student Science Training Program (5/05 – 8/05)
o Aided in teaching a dual-enrollment course (IDH2931) on modern scientific research topics including genomics, bioengineering, and biomedical ethics and how they relate to the legal system
· Program Assistant, BioTRAC and SSTP (5/06 – 8/06)
o Planned the BioTRAC Program for under-privileged high school students hosted by the Miami Museum of Science
o Aided in the planning and programming for the SSTP
Customer Service Representative at Pita Pit (6/06 – Present)
· Filled customer orders and worked the cash register in food service
Environmental Engineering Intern (5/03 – 8/03; 5/04 – 8/04)
· Reviewed Annual Operating and Visual Emissions Reports from industries in the Greater Tampa Bay Area permitted for hazardous air pollutants and volatile chemicals
· Created a new Standard Operating Procedure for calculating Annual Operating Report emissions involving standard VOC pollutants
Aerospace Engineering Laboratory Research (5/02 – 8/02)
· Aided in construction and documentation of a multi-processing, High-Speed Computational Network used in the Computational Laboratory for Electromagnetics and Solid Mechanics under Dr. Loc Vu-Quoc PhD.
HONORS AND AWARDS
IRHA Presidential Commendation (Spring 2006)
Order of Omega Greek Honorary Society (Fall 2005)
Zilgitt Emerging Leaders Conclave for Phi Sigma Kappa (Summer 2005)
Phi Sigma Kappa Brother of the Year (Spring 2005)
University of Florida Presidential Recognition (Spring 2005)
US Marine Corps National Scholastic Excellence Award (Fall 2003)
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship (Fall 2003 – Present)
National Merit Scholar (Spring 2003)