Reason & Respect: Celebrating National Civility Month

This August, we celebrate National Civility Month by speaking with leaders of the Student Government Association (SGA) about what leadership and civic engagement look like at Empire State University. We invite you to read the Q&A below and engage in the conversation on our community discussion board.

Joshua Gale-Wilson is the president of the Student Government Association at Empire State University, a social science student, University Council representative, and aspiring attorney. As a first-generation graduate, Black gay man, and committed servant-leader, he is passionate about using advocacy, education, and civic engagement to create meaningful opportunities for students whose voices are too often overlooked.

Joshua Baker is the treasurer of the Empire State University Student Government Association.

How has serving in student government changed your understanding of leadership?

Gale-Wilson: Serving in student government has taught me that leadership is not simply about holding a title; it is about listening, remaining accountable, and having the courage to advocate even when the conversations are difficult. True leadership means meeting students where they are, turning their concerns into action, and being willing to do the work when recognition is absent.

Baker: Serving in SGA taught me that leadership means constantly checking my own assumptions against the people I’m representing. Empire serves such a broad population—students working full-time, raising families, coming back to school after years away—that no single perspective can speak for everyone, and part of my job is making space for that range of experience in every decision.

What motivates you to serve your campus community?

Gale-Wilson: I am motivated by the belief that every student deserves to feel seen, heard, supported, and represented, regardless of their background or educational journey. Empire State University has given me opportunities to grow academically and personally, and serving my campus community is my way of ensuring that other students have access to those same opportunities, and even greater ones.

Baker: Empire gave me a real path to finish my master’s while working full-time and raising four kids, and that kind of access isn’t something I take for granted. Serving in SGA is my way of paying that forward, making sure the processes and support are in place for students juggling just as much as I was.

What does civic engagement look like beyond voting?

Gale-Wilson: Civic engagement extends far beyond the ballot box; it is showing up consistently, educating yourself and others, attending public meetings, volunteering, organizing, advocating, and holding institutions accountable to the communities they serve. It is the everyday decision to use your voice, time, skills, and influence to improve the lives of others and help build a more just and equitable society.

Baker: For me, civic engagement beyond voting looks like showing up to the meetings that don’t get much attention—budget hearings, joining committees, PTA nights, the places where decisions actually get made. It’s staying involved between elections, not just around them, and using whatever skills you have—mine happen to be financial—to hold institutions accountable.

What commitment would you encourage every member of our campus community to make that would strengthen both our culture of civility and our civic engagement over the next year?

Gale-Wilson: I would encourage every member of our campus community to commit to listening with the intent to understand, especially when we disagree. When we lead with respect, remain open to different perspectives, and consistently turn conversation into meaningful action, we create a stronger culture of civility while empowering more people to participate in shaping our university community.

Baker: I’d encourage everyone to actually read the materials before they weigh in, whether that’s a budget proposal, a policy change, or a meeting agenda. Half of civility is just doing the homework so disagreements are grounded in facts instead of assumptions, and that alone would go a long way toward stronger, more respectful engagement.