Governor Hobbs Chooses Gun Control Champion for Arizona Board of Regents

By Staff Reporter |

Governor Katie Hobbs has appointed Felipe Garcia as the new student regent for the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). Garcia, a Tucson native and rising junior at the University of Arizona (UofA), is pursuing a degree in political science and creative intelligence and innovation. He succeeds Arizona State University (ASU) student David Zaragoza in this vital role.

Governor Hobbs expressed confidence in Garcia’s ability to advocate for Arizona’s public university students. “Felipe Garcia is committed to ensuring students succeed, and I am proud to appoint him to the Arizona Board of Regents,” Hobbs stated. She emphasized the importance of having a student voice involved in university decisions.

ABOR Chair Cecilia Mata also praised Garcia’s appointment, noting his role in shaping student-centric policies. “Student regents serve a crucial voice in shaping policies that directly impact students,” Mata remarked. “Felipe’s perspective and dedication will be invaluable, and we eagerly anticipate his contributions.”

In addition to his academic pursuits, Garcia is a “Courage Fellow” with the gun control advocacy organization Giffords, where he received six months of training. His leadership experience includes roles on the Arizona Model United Nations, UofA’s Associated Students, and the Governor’s Youth Commission.

“I am incredibly honored to be chosen by Governor Hobbs to represent Arizona students,” Garcia said. “I am excited to work with the Board to be a valuable resource for Arizona’s public universities.”

Student regents hold two-year terms, initially serving as non-voting members. Garcia will collaborate with Northern Arizona University (NAU) student Jadyn Fisher, who also shares a commitment to gun control activism.

Recently, the pair met with only Democratic members of Congress during their inaugural National College Attainment Network (NCAN) Leadership Summit. Discussions included federal financial aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and student mental health.

Garcia and Fisher played key roles in persuading ABOR to allocate more resources toward mental health initiatives. They helped establish ABOR’s Mental Health Workgroup, which will organize listening sessions at Arizona’s public universities to improve mental health services tailored to student needs.