Video by Zach Burnett and Cameron Johnson

Community can create a positive and lasting impact in a variety of ways. And that’s one reason why Daniel Martin ’26, a Diplomacy and Global Politics and History double major, chose to attend Miami University. He felt that at Miami he’d be more than just a number, the campus was the ideal size to get to know his fellow Miamians, and the red brick gave him a sense of home — reminding him of attending athletics games while growing up in Atlanta. “I could really thrive here, and I feel like I have,” he said.

Martin’s family also played a major role in why he chose Miami. “I ended up choosing Miami because they gave me enough scholarship to where my parents could retire fully. I'm a first-gen American, so my dad's a human refugee, and my mom's a Colombian immigrant. And so, they sacrificed their whole lives for my brother and I to have the opportunities we have now,” he said. “And I thought, at the very least, I could give back to them in some way. That way my university and my college experience wouldn't be a hardship. And so, Miami really made that possible for them to retire and take on less work.”

Making connections and leading change

Martin got involved in Associated Student Government (ASG) during his first year at Miami, initially running for a senator-at-large position and then becoming a senator. He then joined several committees and continued his role in student government in various capacities, including while he was abroad in Luxembourg, eventually running for — and being elected as — student body president in spring 2025.

Building on the community sentiment that means so much to him, as the president of ASG, Martin aims to be a friend and a resource on campus to make sure everyone feels heard and is represented.

Fueled by their campaign slogan of “your voice, our mission,” Martin and Kirsten Osteboe, the vice president of ASG, have outlined some major initiatives for the year:

• Connections dinner: Student organizations come together to network, receive a free, three-course dinner, and learn about essential hard and soft skills that will help them advance in their future.
• Philanthropy-fest: All of the philanthropic organizations on campus will join together on Cook Field to raise money for charities and bring awareness to those philanthropic efforts — similar to a Mega Fair-type event.
• Out-of-office hours: These sessions provide students with an opportunity to chat with Martin and Osteboe about their concerns, highs, and lows. “We really want to be that friend on campus. And I think that really gives us a shot to do that,” Martin said.
• ASG newsletter: This upcoming communication will highlight what the student body president and vice president actually do across campus. He said, “We really want to highlight that, to make sure people really understand what the role is — so they don't think it's just a class president or it's just a fancy title.”
• Nurturing Oxford ties: “We really try to meet with the city of Oxford and the mayor and the council and just really try to make sure that the connections between students and Oxford itself can really coexist and even at times help one another,” Martin said.

If students are struggling with something at Miami — or just want to have their voice heard — Martin encourages them to check out the student government website to submit a student concern form. The student government will then consult with each other, their advisor, staff, and faculty, aiming to find solutions to those concerns. “I think it's just a great way to kind of give back to Miami. I think it really hones in on the honor part of love and honor, because I think we're really trying to honor the Miami experience as much as possible by making these improvements,” he said. “And so, I think that's how you make community.”

His top takeaways from being involved in ASG are that it’s a great way to make friends and it can lead to participating in other organizations and leadership opportunities. “In addition to being in ASG, I'm also in my fraternity. And I've had a bunch of leadership positions there as well,” he said. “And I wouldn't have been able to have gotten the courage to run for these things if I hadn't been in ASG first.

Daniel Martin, Associated Student Government president, works in the ASG office in Armstrong Student Center. (Jeff Sabo photo)

Embracing academics, study abroad opportunities, and internships

When he studied abroad in Luxembourg, Martin was amazed by all the history he discovered — all while building relationships and a core group of friends in the process. “It really shows that while exploring new places and having all these trials and tribulations, those feelings of fear and excitement — and everything in the middle — really builds camaraderie and friendship. And I wouldn't have known that and known them without the study abroad experience,” he said. “I feel like I have grown exponentially since my experiences abroad.”

During summer 2024, Martin began his first of two internships in Washington, D.C., working as a staffer in Congress for the House of Representatives. In addition to learning more about that role, he was excited to interact with students from across the country and also see that Miami students and graduates are great representatives of Miami. “We really show up and show out for the university whenever we can,” he said.

This past summer, Martin learned the value of connections — beyond just networking — and being a team player during his second internship.

Preparing for the future

Martin appreciates that he’s been challenged, expanded his horizons, and had such a well-rounded experience at Miami — so he’s delighted to pleasantly surprise future employers with the breadth of his academics, study abroad experiences, and leadership roles.

He said, “I almost surprise people that I'm not just a diplomacy person in national politics. I'm not just a historian. I'm not just someone that knows the Spanish language. But I have this kind of holistic view of the world, and they sometimes feel that it's very surprising — and I really like that.”

After graduating from Miami, Martin is open to the possibilities that come his way. He mentioned that while the current plan is to work for Congress, he may go to graduate school. “Because of Miami, I'm unafraid to tackle whatever life may throw at me,” he said.