Attorney General Jason Miyares visits campus, participates in student roundtable

Radford University welcomed Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares to campus on Friday, Oct. 18, for a student roundtable, a TRIAD rechartering ceremony and a law enforcement roundtable. Assistant Secretary of Education Zach Jacobs joined Miyares on the visit.

Twelve Radford students representing six of the university's seven colleges and several student organizations and clubs participated in the roundtable with the elected officials and university leaders, including Provost Bethany Usher, who welcomed guests and introduced Miyares.

Donning a red and blue Highlanders tie, Miyares brought a unique perspective to the student roundtable discussion as the first Hispanic American to be elected to a statewide office in Virginia and the first child of an immigrant to serve as attorney general.
Miyares talked about working in dining services throughout his undergraduate studies at James Madison University, including two jobs during the summer, and graduating with a small amount of debt. Though he did not come from a family of lawyers and says he did not even know anyone who was a lawyer, he went on to earn his law degree from the College of William & Mary.

"College affordability has always been a big issue for me," he said. "My peers never had to deal with that, but I did. I had anxiety over the tuition increase announcements. Massive amounts of college debt can be crippling for a young student."

Participants addressed a range of topics during the roundtable, from college affordability to work-based learning opportunities.
Miyares also emphasized the importance of making connections in college. "One of the big challenges we have, and a big push - I wish we had when I was in college - is paid internships," he said. "That would have been a game-changer for me. It's not always what you know; it's who you know. It's those connections and relationships that you build, and you build them in internships. I interned with the attorney general's office [while attending William & Mary], and we have a robust program now to give students those opportunities."

Forging university-business partnerships that provide work-based learning opportunities for students, such as internships, is one of Radford's strategic priorities.

Students came away from the roundtable feeling grateful for the chance to voice their opinions to elected officials in the commonwealth.

"The roundtable discussion was a great opportunity not only to meet the attorney general, but also to discuss what Radford can work on to continue to excel as a university," said Carrie Brown, a Madison, Virginia, native studying foods and nutrition. "I was proud to be able to represent the College of Education and Human Development and gather with other students to represent Radford University. We engaged in insightful conversation that I'm hoping will lead to meaningful improvements and collaboration moving forward."
Brown is secretary of health and wellness for the Student Government Association, a public network officer for the Student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a member of Radford Women's Club Soccer.

Dominika Butler of Ashburn, Virginia, also appreciated the chance to advocate for her fellow students.

"As an emerging social studies teacher, I stress the importance of speaking and talking to your elected representative officials," she said. "I respected how Attorney General Miyares spoke about his story, background and family."

Butler is studying middle school education-social studies with a minor in special education. She is a Highlander tour guide, Floyd Hall resident assistant, Honors College liaison, citizen leader ambassador for the College of Education and Human Development, and vice president of programming for College Mentors for Kids.

"When I spoke about affordability, especially from a first-generation perspective, I felt heard by Attorney General Miyares," she said. "Although it was a bit nerve-wracking, it was a great experience to interact with an elected official and speak about topics that he also cares about."

Following the student roundtable event, a rechartering ceremony was held for TRIAD, a partnership among local law enforcement, senior citizens and senior service providers working together to reduce crime against the elderly. City of Radford Sheriff Mark Armentrout welcomed attendees, and Miyares gave remarks before TRIAD leaders signed the official charter document. The attorney general's visit to campus wrapped up with a closed-session roundtable with New River Valley law enforcement officials.

The trip to Radford was one stop on Miyares' Annual Southwest Virginia RV Tour. This year, in addition to visiting communities throughout the region to learn more about people's thoughts on important issues, Miyares loaded a recreational vehicle with supplies for residents throughout the region in need of assistance in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

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