While it is one of the most important student positions on campus, the job of student regent is often overlooked and the purpose of the position is unfamiliar to many students. Created in 1998 as a way to include a student point of view during board meetings, Jenny Faubion is the latest in a long line of student regents who have upheld this honor.

Faubion has been involved in student government since middle school. She was on the Student Senate for four years as an undergrad at the UW, received a bachelor's degree in history in 2003 and, after taking a year off, returned to the UW to attend law school. As a culmination of her years of experience and her deep admiration for the UW, she was selected as student regent for the 2006-2007 school year.

"I get to be on campus all day, every day and I think that gives me a unique perspective when it comes to making fiduciary decisions, policy decisions and helping to run the University of Washington," Faubion said. "It gives me a perspective that maybe some of the other regents who aren't on campus every single day wouldn't have."

The entire Board of Regents may even be a mystery to some. The 10-member board — primarily composed of local businesspeople and UW alumni — meets once a month to discuss campus issues and was responsible this year for passing the Students First and Husky Promise plans.

As part of being the student regent, Faubion is not only required to attend the monthly Board of Regents meetings but also has regular discussions with campus organizations and concerned students, faculty and staff. She tries to stay as involved with the students as possible by going to sporting events, drama productions and concerts, such as Lupe Fiasco earlier this month.

After completing her undergraduate education in 2003, Faubion worked for a year at the King County Council, which allowed her to gain a new understanding of the UW community. She knew when she returned for law school that she wanted to stay involved and make a difference.

"I had the opportunity to see the university from a different perspective and how it affects the entire region. I gained a whole new appreciation for this place," Faubion said. "It wasn't just a place where I went to college. It's a place that's on the leading edge of finding cures for incurable diseases and for helping people who are needy."

It's a long path to become the student regent. The application process begins during spring quarter and involves answering many short-answer questions and essays about who students are and what their roles are in the University. A student committee then reviews the applications and selects 10-15 people to interview. After meeting with the students, they send three to five names to Gov. Christine Gregoire, who makes the final decision. Gregoire appointed Faubion in July and will appoint a new student regent next July.

Faubion's prior participation in campus activities provided her with a good background for her position. In addition to being on the UW Student Senate, she served one year as the legislative director for ASUW and spent two years as a residence hall advisor. But the position has also forced her to shift roles from campaigning for change to being the decision maker.

"For years I served as a student advocate. I was pushing a position, I was pushing an issue. I was pushing a direction," she said. "In this position, it's not my job to be a student advocate. It's my job to be somebody who takes in information from everywhere and tries to come to a decision."

She believes the change has been a good challenge and allows her to view things differently than she has in the past.

"I thought I knew enough about the University that I can intelligently make decisions and communicate with students to find out what's going on and try to do that in a conscientious way," Faubion said.

Although the student regent position is a job, it's also expected that the student maintains full-time status. Faubion spends between 20-25 hours a week dealing with University issues, including meetings. She also works part-time at a prosecuting attorney's office in Tacoma. Balancing her time between all these competing priorities is difficult.

"You have to find a balance somewhere between maintaining your studies and doing a good job and also having enough information about the University so when it comes time to make important decisions you can do that in a way that you can feel good about," Faubion said.

She feels, however, that the hectic schedule is worth it as it gives her the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to the UW community. The chance to facilitate change and make the university a better place by simply showcasing a student perspective makes it a satisfying job.

"It's a wonderful feeling to know that if a student comes to me with a concern or if I observe something on campus — good or bad — that I'm in a position where I can do something about it," Faubion said. "I can't tell you how many conversations I've had with faculty, administrators and even other regents where they say, 'Really? I had no idea that student felt like that.'"

Faubion will graduate in June with a law degree and plans to be a clerk at the Washington State Court of Appeals in Tacoma for two years. Eventually she hopes to pass the bar exam and become a lawyer.

But for now, she's happy with her UW experience and the positive contributions she has made during her final year on campus.

"It's my last year here, and it's nice that I can leave on such a good note," Faubion said.

Reach reporter Abby Walker at abbywalker@thedaily.washington.edu.