Many know that Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and former University President Judith Rodin headed up the student government at Penn during their time as undergraduates.
But they are not the only student government alumni to enter public service following graduation.
Jobs that former Undergraduate Assembly chairs are now engaged in range from campaign manager to political spokesman.
"I've always had a motivation to make a difference," former UA Chairman and Class of 1996 Wharton graduate Daniel Debicella said, "and the UA is a part of that."
Already heading into politics, former UA member Samara Barend is currently running for U.S. Congress in New York's 29th District, having swept all eight counties in her district for the Democratic primary.
The Class of 1999 College graduate may have been inspired by her work on Sen. Hillary Clinton's 2000 campaign. Former Vermont Gov. and presidential candidate Howard Dean and Rendell have both endorsed her.
While not candidates themselves, a few former UA members are involved in the current presidential campaign.
In addition to his work as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company in Stamford, Conn., Debicella also serves on the Connecticut Republican State Central Committee and is the state "Get Out the Vote" coordinator for President George W. Bush.
Debicella has also been campaign manager for state Sen. George Gunther -- the oldest member of the Connecticut State Senate -- for several elections.
The Harvard Business School graduate spoke about the influence of the UA on his current endeavors.
"You're dealing with so many different constituency groups when you're on the UA," Debicella said.
"Dealing with that kind of complexity and trying to make change is definitely challenging. ... [It] helped me develop as a leader."
On the opposite side of the campaign is former UA member and Class of 2001 Engineering alumnus Theo LeCompte.
LeCompte is now doing press advance for Democratic candidate John Kerry's campaign, making logistical arrangements for the stops along Kerry's campaign trail.
LeCompte also worked on the gubernatorial campaign of Carl McCall, who ran against current New York Gov. George Pataki in 2002.
Former UA Chairman and Class of 2001 College alumnus Michael Bassik is indirectly involved with the Kerry campaign as well. In February of this year, Bassik became vice president of Internet advertising at the leading firm Malchow Schlackman Hoppey and Cooper. He oversees all of the online advertising for Kerry and the Democratic National Committee, as well as other candidates and nonprofit organizations.
"It's really the breakthrough year of online political advertising," Bassik said.
He also noted that the UA "taught me many of the skills that I needed once I went into the workplace."
Class of 1987 College alumnus Michael Gordon, a former UA chairman, worked on the campaign of another Democratic presidential hopeful in the early '90s.
Gordon began work on former President Bill Clinton's first campaign at the end of 1991, "when no one really knew who he was," Gordon said.
After Clinton's victory, Gordon went to work on the presidential transition, analyzing candidates for sub-Cabinet-level positions.
He then focused on educational policy during Clinton's first term, and was spokesman for Attorney General Janet Reno during Clinton's second term in office.
While Gordon acknowledged the practical applications of skills learned on the UA, he was particularly enthusiastic about the bonds he formed with fellow members.
"I made a lot of good friends, who I'm still really close with today," Gordon said, noting that the entire UA Executive Board from his term as chairman was invited to his wedding earlier this year.
