Member

Estefany Gordillo-Rivas, of Knoxville, Tenn., serves as an ex officio member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Her term will end with the 2023-24 academic year.

A senior at Western Carolina University, Gordillo-Rivas is pursuing dual degrees in cultural anthropology and political science and a minor in leadership. She currently serves as the student body vice president and as a chancellor's ambassador at WCU. She is a former student body president at the university and former member of the Western Carolina University Board of Trustees.

Gordillo-Rivas is currently president of the of the UNC Association of Student Governments, the student-led governance body for the 240,000 students and 17 institutions in the UNC System. As part of her service on the Board of Governors, she wants to represent the needs and interests of students regarding mental health resources and accessibility on the campuses. She also hopes to encourage civil discourse at universities across the UNC System to enrich the student experience for all.

Gordillo-Rivas was the recipient of the Catamount Spirit Award at Western Carolina University. She enjoys hiking in the North Carolina mountains, running, collecting movie posters and spending time with her labradoodle, Highly. She is an avid reader, and her favorite author is Charlotte Bronte.

Her advice for other college students:

Get involved early and invest in the relationships around you - you never know what doors will open. She offers a quote from David Bly: "Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted."