Patrick Mason is a 21-year-old Indianapolis, Indiana native and the son of Alisha Cobb. He currently attends Alcorn State University (ASU) where he is a Senior Biology Pre-Med major with dreams of becoming a Pediatric Oncologist. Mason is currently serving as Alcorn’s 2020-2021 Student Government Association (SGA) President. While attending Alcorn, Mason has accomplished numerous goals such as being a two time Presidential Scholar, becoming a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and becoming the Vice Master Alchemist of Alpha Chi Sigma Chemistry Fraternity.
While attending North Central High School, Mason did not experience what a Student Government Association was and never gave thought to being a part of it. It was not until he was a member of the SGA Board his Sophomore year at Alcorn that he knew he wanted to become the SGA President. Mason gives credit to former SGA President, Robert Tatum, for encouraging him to know the Constitution of the University and the proper protocols that should be taken in a given situation. It was under Tatum that Mason learned exactly what it would take to become the SGA President and once achieved, the efforts it would take to lead a student body.
On April 28, 2020 Mason was selected as the new SGA President. The campaign that he ran on was “Reaching New Heights” and with his hard work, dedication, and an open-mind, he is doing just that. Mason stated, “I am open to change different aspects of the Institution. I want to lead the student body with purpose and by being a great role model.” He believes that the communication between the student body and the University staff is a change that needs to be improved upon. Mason is working to change that by keeping students updated through social media, group chats, and word of mouth of any announcements that the University makes. Covid-19 has somewhat rerouted the plans that he had for the Fall 2020 semester, but he does not want that to delay events and ideas for the Spring 2021 semester. To get a better idea of what the student body wants for the Spring semester, the SGA Board is planning to have an online voting and suggestion poll which will allow students to give their opinions on events that they want to occur during the Spring 2021 semester. The polling is set to happen before the Thanksgiving break.
Mason’s involvement as a student for the past 3 years and now as SGA President has allowed him to experience Alcorn to the fullest and has taught him a great deal about patience and responsibility. After graduation in May 2021, he hopes that the efforts that he has put forth while serving as SGA President will not fade away but become a beckon of motivation to continue the push for improvements and change.