The Senate Education Committee on Friday, May 9, voted to forward Fernando Escobar’s nomination for student regent on the University of Alaska Board of Regents to a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature for final consideration.

Escobar, who introduced himself as a first-generation student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, told the committee he would “voice my concerns and my opposition for any motion that could negatively affect the system” while focusing on representing the student voice. He said the role is to make the regents understand “what 18,000 or more students are saying, or majority of them are saying.”

The committee heard three minutes of public testimony in support of Escobar. Eleanor Guthrie, associate director of the University of Alaska Honors College, said she first met Escobar during an Honors College orientation and called him “a future leader,” describing his work in legislative meetings on climate and renewable-energy issues. Pat Jacobson, a retired teacher and former regent from Kodiak, told the committee Escobar has “a level of maturity I have not often seen in a teenager.” Betty Walters, a Kodiak community member and educator, urged the committee to confirm Escobar and described him as “admirable, capable, observant, inquisitive, dependable, committed.”

President of the Senate Peter Stevens moved the committee recommendation. The committee’s formal report states: “The Senate Education Committee has reviewed the qualifications of the governor's appointee to the University of Alaska Board of Regents and recommends that Fernando Escobar's name be forwarded to a joint session for consideration.” The report also notes the recommendation “does not reflect the intent of any of the members of the Senate Education Committee to vote for or against this individual during the joint session to consider confirmations.” Committee members were asked to stay after adjournment to sign the committee report.

Escobar told the committee he is from Kodiak and described his campus service at UAF, including roles in student government and as Director of Student Advocacy and Public Relations. Committee members praised his credentials and asked how he would work with the generally older regents; Escobar said he would prioritize collaboration while speaking up for students’ concerns.

The nomination will be considered next in a joint session of the Alaska Legislature; the committee record requests members sign the committee report after adjournment.