He is “La Salle”: Student Government President Ricardo Johnson Tells Incoming Students to Make a Difference

Ricardo Johnson admitted to feeling a bit nervous as he walked on stage to address the La Salle University class of 2009 and their families during freshman convocation last month.

“The President of the University, Brother Michael McGinnis, had just finished delivering his speech, and I was supposed to follow him,” said the senior and new president of LaSalle’s Students’ Government Association (SGA). The Baltimore native was no stranger to public speaking, but said, “This was the first time I had spoken before a group of my peers in such a large number.” It turned out that his worries were groundless.

“I had students come up to me afterwards and tell me they really enjoyed my speech,” he said. “Several of them said it really spoke to them, and several administrators said it was a good introduction to the University.” In his speech, he urged the incoming freshmen to be ready and willing to make choices that could change their lives:

“Through cooperation we can build a better community, we can improve the world around us, we can choose to show up, we can choose to be a part of our learning community, we can choose to tell our stories, we can choose to let ourselves grow, we can choose to act with integrity and most importantly, we can choose to be La Salle,” he said.

Johnson arrived at La Salle from Mount Saint Joseph High School in 2003, uncertain about where college would take him. “I’ve always had a legal mind and love analyzing,” he said. “I also love talking with people and serving people.

“I had thought about majoring in international business and going into law, but coming to LaSalle, experiencing it and the people, I now feel I can make a huge impact if I were to run for elective office or participate in a government initiative or some sort of public service.”

As a sophomore, he ran for and won a seat as Executive Sophomore Senator on the La Salle SGA. In his first year, he spearheaded a campaign to improve school pride and spirit. The “I Am LaSalle” campaign, now in its second year, focuses on the people of the University and their accomplishments Students and faculty embraced the idea.

As President of the SGA, Johnson plans to keep promoting LaSalle pride and to continue work begun last year on a campus-wide code of academic integrity. His efforts have made him a well-known figure on campus.

“Ricardo is a very intelligent student who has a strong interest in politics and also in trying to improve the overall community,” says Ed Turzanski, who teaches Political Science at La Salle. “He is well-liked by his peers, active inside and outside the classroom, and appreciates all the ways in which students can shape their environment and contribute to the overall improvement in the quality of life.”

In addition to running the SGA, Johnson is also a member of the La Salle Gospel Choir and the African American Student League (AASL); last year he was president of the LaSalle College Republicans. AASL President Lasella Hall encouraged Johnson to run for the SGA. “We talked about things that could make the school better; now we have the chance to work together and see them come to fruition,” he said.

Sandy Smith 215.951.1085