When Rayne Rivera-Forbes decided to come to Towson University, the first-generation freshman knew she wanted to get involved right away.

Little did she know that by the end of her first year on campus she would be representing many of Maryland鈥檚 college students in Annapolis.

This spring, Rivera-Forbes was named student regent for the . She will be sworn in later this year.   

Rivera-Forbes will be a full member of the USM board for two consecutive terms. She will serve on committees and work with higher education officials, state and local policymakers, Maryland business and civic leaders, and her fellow students to help steer higher education policy in the state.

She will also work with student government programs from the USM鈥檚 12 institutions to discuss how she can help their student bodies. 

鈥淚 think the biggest thing you can have, especially when it comes to advocacy, is a voice,鈥� Rivera-Forbes says. 鈥淔or me to have this opportunity, to represent so many students and see what our different schools have to offer here in Maryland, that's all I could ask for.

鈥淚 love Maryland. I'm Maryland strong, so to represent Maryland students, it's amazing.鈥�

This isn鈥檛 the first time that Rivera-Forbes has advocated for peers. In high school, she was part of the Maryland Association of Student Councils for Prince George鈥檚 County and testified that a student representative should be able to vote in Maryland鈥檚 Board of Education meetings.  

I love Maryland. I'm Maryland strong, so to represent Maryland students, it's amazing.

Rayne Rivera-Forbes '28 University System of Maryland Board of Regents member

One of the reasons she came to 精选麻豆二区 was because she could get involved right away. So far, Rivera-Forbes is a senator in Towson University Student Government Association and the chair for the appropriations committee. She鈥檚 also the fundraising chair for the .

鈥溇÷槎苟�檚 student body, and our entire university community, benefit from the tremendous service of our student leaders,鈥� Vernon Hurte, senior vice president for student affairs and university life, says. 鈥淩ayne is an outstanding example of the quality people we have among our student leaders, and I鈥檓 excited for our entire USM to benefit from her energy and expertise to flourish in this new role.鈥�

She likes to joke that after high school she wanted to take it easy her freshman year of college, but instead she had her first SGA meeting before she turned 18.

鈥淚鈥檝e had equal access to really explore myself and highlight my leadership abilities,鈥� Rivera-Forbes says. 鈥淎nd that's something I was able to do by being able to immediately get involved. It also allowed my peers to see my potential to excel and to encourage and mentor me.鈥� 

Getting involved with SGA helped lead Rivera-Forbes to the board of regents鈥� nomination. SGA President Edmund Rhynes and Director of Student Activities and SGA adviser Carolyn Harris recommended she apply.

鈥淩ayne has been an amazing young student to work with in SGA,鈥� Harris says. 鈥淪he arrived as a student senator and impressed everyone with her professionalism and keen mind for policy and advocacy. She builds relationships with care and is always thoughtful when she shares her opinion.

鈥淩ayne has made a big impact on SGA in her freshman year, and I know she will do even bigger things representing all students in the USM.鈥�

Growing up in Prince George鈥檚 County, Rivera-Forbes has always been interested in politics. She is currently a law and American civilization major in the College of Liberal Arts and plans to go to law school with a focus on immigration law.

Rayne has made a big impact on SGA in her freshman year, and I know she will do even bigger things representing all students in the USM.

Carolyn Harris, Director of Student Affairs and SGA Adviser

But her ultimate goal is the United States Congress. In fact, Rivera-Forbes is the first USM student regent from Towson University in 16 years. The last person to represent 精选麻豆二区 in the position鈥攃urrent U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth.

鈥淚 was fangirling when I was going through the former student regent list and I saw her name on there,鈥� Rivera-Forbes laughs. 鈥淭he fact that she attended 精选麻豆二区, I was just like, 鈥榃ait a minute, this could be me one day.鈥� 

鈥淚 don't think she knew that in that moment when she became student regent, she would inspire other people to become student regent as well. But it just shows how a legacy can be left behind even so many years later.鈥�