Law student appointed to represent the UMass Dartmouth student body
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Shalyn Peterbark, 1L at UMass Dartmouth's School of Law, has been elected as a Student Trustee to represent the student body on the University of Massachusetts System Board of Trustees for the 2026-27 academic year. Peterbark is currently earning her law degree with a special interest in corporate law.
"The common theme throughout my resume is service. My first ever job was at McDonald's, and since then I've been serving my community and trying to make the world around me better. My role as Student Trustee is a continuation of that," said Peterbark.
What does being elected as Student Trustee mean to you?
"I'm honored that my peers believe in me and trust me to take their ideas and run with them. There's so much possibility, and the students see that. That's something that is unique to the UMass Dartmouth campus; people are so willing to listen to your vision and be a part of it."
How do you connect with students across campus?
"I participated in the UMassD Women Lead program, and that gave me the opportunity to connect with a lot of faculty, staff, and undergraduate students.
"When I first started campaigning, I wasn't sure if people would want to talk to me or if I'd be bothering them. But students would often stop and have a conversation with me. People are so ready to engage, and everyone is eager to connect, which helps me create those relationships.
"I want to continue fostering that connection, and I'm going to be even more intentional about reaching out to people going forward."
Why is connecting with the student body important to you?
"It's important to connect with students because even though a lot of ideas overlap, there's always going to be one idea that you've never heard before. Oftentimes, it's a concern that many people share, but it never occurred to them to voice it.
"If you don't talk to different people, you don't hear the ideas that are never brought up. The more connected you are, the more ideas you have. It also helps in understanding which ideas are most important to the student body."
Lessons from earning a law degree
"It's my first year of law school, and I'm already seeing my mind change. The way I view situations has evolved in terms of spotting issues, understanding what potential policies could develop, and knowing how to set a tone. I'm excited to see how that continues to develop and aid my understanding of policy for the university.
"I also think that being a zealous advocate is important, which is something that comes from law school. I'm learning how to shape the way I'm speaking and working with people, so I'm excited to see how that will help me communicate with trustees."
Connect with Shalyn
If students have a concern or idea they'd like to raise to Peterbark, they can fill out this form.