Success in graduate school requires self-motivation. From filling out applications to stepping onto the graduation stage, students must overcome countless obstacles, but they’re not alone.
Organizations such as Arizona State University’s Graduate Student Government (GSG) are part of a social infrastructure designed to support and guide students as they work towards degrees and career paths.
As GSG chair for the 2024-25 academic year, Ravi Teja Choparapu, a doctoral candidate in civil, environmental, and sustainable engineering in the Department of Sustainable Engineering and Built Environment in ASU’s Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering , has the following goals. Connect students to university resources and foster a community of independent thinkers and initiators.
“Graduate school teaches us independent study,” says Choparapu. “We learn to take initiative. We, students, should be the decision-makers in our own lives.”
Mr. Chopparapu has an interdisciplinary background in engineering and environmental microbiology through his partnership with the ASU Center for Water and Environmental Technology, which strengthens his perspective on improving the student experience at the Fulton School. Below, Chopparapu talks about leadership, initiative, and his vision for the school.
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What motivates you to pursue a leadership role?
My Indian parents taught me not to wait for someone else to change things for me. Our dinner table discussions focused on politics, public service, and education. They taught me to speak up when I think something is wrong and to push for what is right. I learned to follow my instincts and morals and become a trendsetter instead of following others.
This is especially important in research that seeks to discover something that is not yet known or established. It comes down to being the change you want to see. How did that impact your experience at ASU?
On my first day at ASU in December 2021, I was looking for an opportunity to invest my time beyond academics. What if every job applicant had a 4.00 GPA? I had to reflect on my values and what makes me unique. I knew the identity and community I wanted to build, and through GSG I realized I could achieve that on a university scale.
What aspects of your perspective and past experiences prepared you for this position?
My background in mechanical engineering and working in the field of environmental engineering with a focus on water treatment taught me to think multidirectionally. For example, mechanical engineering design can generate pollution, and its effects must be managed through sustainable procedures and environmentally friendly design. The chain reaction is also noticeable outside the laboratory.
When it comes to leadership, we deal with people who are like-minded and people who are not. I want my students to be able to observe the value of leadership as I guide them. I understand the responsibility and accept the challenge.
You’ve set some great goals for your presidency. What are your priorities during your term?
The Council of Presidents (CoP) identifies a list of priorities for the administration to address for the year, including improving mental health and access to resources. We’ve found that many first-year and international students often don’t know where or what to find. During my tenure as a member of the CoP, I hope to access resources and accelerate my learning curve to learn life skills.
We’re a nationally renowned university, so we started saying, “Why can’t we do this?” During a CoP meeting with President Michael Crow and other members of the ASU Executive, the idea of making swimming a more accessible skill for students was proposed. Why can’t this important survival skill be better codified and made available to all students?
Most full-time jobs and internships require applicants to have a driver’s license, even if there is no possibility of driving. Why don’t students have a clear path to meeting this requirement? We need to make sure that students have access to these things so that they develop the skills early and don’t face barriers.
You value independence and preparedness. How do you plan to prepare such a large and diverse group of people?
There are many directions you can take as you lead over 31,000 students at one of the world’s largest graduate universities. I want to give people the opportunity to develop skills to solve real-world problems and think independently. There is no one solution for everyone, but you can demonstrate values and morals through leadership and develop skills and values in others. I want my students to value spontaneity and explore their own lives and the resources available to them.
How will you measure success?
Through student participation. If you want proof that students are living their lives and participating in their communities, you will see it through participation. Our annual budget is approximately $2 million, the majority of which goes toward professional development grants and student engagement activities. I would like to take advantage of such opportunities. Since it’s student money, we want it to be used for student initiatives.
More students need to speak up and think bigger. When students participate, it means we are doing something right. When they share feedback, it shows their passion for improving the community. Praise and constructive criticism reflect their dedication to making a difference and their belief in the possibility of positive change.
Is there anything you want students to know?
Hold firmly to your values and act tenaciously.
Your values are a guide to knowing yourself and what you believe. The first step is not to have an opinion, but to take the initiative and be open to the world. Therefore, you can learn about yourself based on your own values. Success comes from being resilient and staying true to your principles even when faced with challenges.
