SGA president goes to Washington

Photo by Cora Bishoppetty: Brayden Woods, current Student Government Association president, reminisces over his time at ASU. Woods is enthusi­astic to start his new phase of life in Washington D.C.

SGA President Brayden Woods accepted a position in U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway’s office in Washington D.C. to serve as the new staff assistant.

“I’ll help with the legislative office,” Woods said. “So, one day, I might be help­ing with legislative stuff or communications and press conferences, but my primary role is overseeing the interns in that office.”

He said he spoke to the state Rep. Tom Craddick his freshman year.

“It was a leap of faith,” Woods said. “I reached out to Kate Huddleston as well and I got an interview with Joanne Powell and I got the job.”

He said he has worked with Conaway since his freshman year, interning in his San Angelo and Midland offices, as well as an in­ternship in D.C.

“They asked me to be on his cam­paign team, so I’ve seen a little bit of every­thing,” Woods said. “I pretty much started from the bottom and worked my way up to full-time staff in D.C.”

Woods said as a child, he wanted to do something that would help people.

“I think the biggest way you can im­pact someone’s life is in politics,” he said. “When I did my internship, one of the best things we did was constituent casework. It’s the role of the office and the district employ­ee to help fight for that constituent. That’s the part that I really enjoy.”

Woods said even though he is excit­ed, he is feeling nervous, too.

“I think I’ve been to D.C. five times or so,” he said. “It was for vacation or my in­ternship, so it’s going to be a little bit differ­ent. I’m excited to see where it’s going to go.”

He said although he is not graduat­ing from ASU until May, he is moving right after Thanksgiving break.

“This is my last full week here,” Woods said. “I’ll take some of my exams on Monday and Tuesday and then that Sunday after Thanksgiving, I’ll be on a flight to D.C. I will be finishing up my classes online.”

“It’s coming up really quick,” he said. “It’s exciting.”

SGA Vice President Austin Habeck­er will become the president of the student body. Habecker has already named Dylan Sanders as his acting vice president.

“My resignation wont take effect until Dec. 15,” Woods said. “I’m still filling in that role until then, when Austin Habecker will take over.”