With congratulation balloons in one hand, Ashley Rasmussen wears her blue Moorpark College Outreach shirt, and a bright smile. As she walks through the nearly empty campus center, a student emerges from the bookstore. Ashley strolls over to him and strikes up a conversation. The two end up talking for nearly ten minutes.

Rasmussen, the current Director of Constitution and Standing Rules for the Associated Students, has been elected as the next A.S. president, winning by 18 votes.

Although she begins her term in fall, Rasmussen has a clear idea of where she wants start.

Campus events, healthier food, suggestion boxes, and athletics promotion are all in the works, but for her it starts with interaction with the students.

“I want to talk to the students, whatever they want, I want to make [it] my goal,” Rasmussen said. “I want to have a table out there at least once a month. If it takes classroom visits, I’ll do that.”

Rasmussen has been a part of A.S. for a year, which has given her an extensive amount of knowledge the rules and guidelines.

She has served on the Food Advisory Committee in which she brought student suggestions to the VCCCD Board of Trustees.

Sharon Miller, adviser for the Associated Students, expressed support and faith in Rasmussen.

“Ashley is very much a team player,” Miller said. “She is willing to advocate on behalf of students, and can see the larger picture when planning for the future of the Associated Students.”

Rasmussen has begun to familiarize herself with authorities such as the VCCCD Board, President Sanchez and other key administrative personnel to help her get a running start.

She feels that the student government has grown distant from students, and wants to bring them closer together. She plans to introduce an A.S. newsletter as a way to talk to students and suggestion boxes for students to talk to the A.S.

“I don’t want us to be the only ones creating the agenda,” Rasmussen said.

She enjoys being involved on campus and is a member of various clubs including the Honors Club, Biology Club and Chemistry Club. She discussed a recent trip to UCLA for the Chemistry Club.

“We got to see all the labs, put on blue lab coats, I was totally nerding out,” Rasmussen said. “It was a lot of fun.

Having taken part in club activities and events, she promises to support all the clubs.

“Whatever the clubs need, I’m here,” said Rasmussen.

Rasmussen has five siblings and was constantly moving growing up. She attended numerous elementary and high schools before graduating from Camarillo High School in 2013. Now she has settled and found stability in the college.

“Moorpark is like a second home to me, I practically live on campus,” Rasmussen said.

She has combined her interest in science and law with the hope of going into Patent Law, dealing with biochemistry. In her free time, she likes to swim and write, and is currently working on a book.

Rasmussen also looks after patients in St. John’s Hospital in Camarillo, where she interns in the Subacute Unit, a unit treating patients who are unable to talk. All communication is non-verbal, using everything from eye movements to lip-reading.

For her, it is about making the campus and experience the best it can be, despite it being a two-year community college. She stresses the importance of an honest, candid relationship with the students.

“You can just walk in and talk to me, or just hang out,” Rasmussen said. “You can even just e-mail me.”

For Rasmussen, Moorpark is more than just a school.

“It’s my home away from home.”