Sacramento State student and student trustee Nicole Anderson keeps her schedule busy with politics, military training and preparing for law school.

Anderson, who was recently appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the California State University Board of Trustees, has spent her time at Sac State achieving one of her goals after another. Her choice to join the Marine Corps is often seen as unexpected, she said.

“I don’t have a military family, so a lot of people are kind of surprised when they find that out,” Anderson said. “I had a fascination with law and crime scenes. I saw military as a good starting ground for whatever career I wanted to go into.”

Anderson, an honors program student and junior international relations major, is one of two students appointed by Schwarzenegger to the 25-member board. The board handles the CSU’s issues and makes policy decisions for all 23 campuses.

Anderson will be serving a two-year term. For her first year, Anderson will be a non-voting trustee. After that, she will be able to vote on board issues and have full board privileges.Schwarzenegger spokesman Mike Naple said Anderson was a prime candidate.

“Nicole Anderson’s experience and involvement as a student leader in the CSU higher education system make her an excellent choice to serve on the Board of Trustees,” Naple said. “The governor is confident in her abilities to serve on the board and perform the necessary duties required of this position.

Sac State”s location in the state’s capital has provided opportunities for Anderson to become involved with leadership roles and experiences not possible for other CSU students.

Anderson went to the Capitol 26 times last year to advocate for Sac State students and network with the Legislature.

Anderson’s previous position as the secretary of state affairs for Associated Students Inc. sparked her passion for working at the Capitol.

Her experiences there helped her identify what area of politics she cared about the most, Anderson said.

“I became fascinated with the policy making aspects because I wanted to help as many students as possible,” she said. “I had a lot of leeway in the direction I took the position, so it helped me find what my passion was and lead me to the Board of Trustees.”

During her year as ASI secretary of state affairs, Anderson received the Student Advocate of the Year award.

The California State Student Association gives the award annually to one student who has shown leadership skills and has advocated for students on issues affecting them.

California State Student Association President Steven Dixon said he is confident with Anderson’s ability to fulfill the trustee seat.

“I think Nicole is going go be a breath of fresh air for the Board of Trustees. She’s a good listener, a thoughtful person, and she rather listen to you than tell you what to think,” Dixon said.

Besides working her way into politics, Anderson is working to be a judge advocate in the Marines.

A judge advocate is a military lawyer dealing with cases such as defending and prosecuting military personnel and advising on foreign affairs.

“It’s a military lawyer and with the Marines their biggest field would be criminal law and international law,” Anderson said.

Anderson is also a member of the Marine Officer Candidate School, which is not affiliated with Sac State.

“I’ve done officer candidate school in the summer of “08 and I go back this summer for six weeks. It’s essentially boot camp for officers,” Anderson said.

Ten percent of Marines are officers and only 10 percent of those officers are female. Anderson said this makes being a Marine officer more appealing to her.

“I don’t want to say I’m overcoming adversity, but I like challenges,” Anderson said.

Dixon said Anderson will be successful in any field she chooses to pursue.

“Her experience with ASI and CSSA fit well in the military,” Dixon said. “She’s disciplined, she will do whatever is necessary (and) she will take orders to what she was asked to do.”

As an international relations major, Anderson studied abroad from June to November last year through one of Sac State’s programs. She studied at Belgrano University in Argentina.

While studying abroad, Anderson participated in relief work with children in the slums of the city of Buenos Aires.

Anderson hopes that after she graduates in spring 2011, she can enlist as a non-active duty member of the Marines while she completes her law degree. After she passes the bar exam, she said she plans to become an active-duty member.

“I really like giving back, which is why I like public service and politics and the military,” Anderson said.

Cahil Bhanji can be reached at [email protected].