Miguel Hornedo Takes Reins as USD President for a Day
“We have to be open and welcoming to everyone,” University of San Diego senior and President for a Day winner Miguel Hornedo states with conviction to a group of university administrators gathered before him.
It’s the first meeting of a very busy day for Hornedo, 27, a Psychology major, Theology minor, assistant at the USD Commuter Commons and, for the next eight hours, president of the university. He sits confidently at the head of a wooden table inside an office in Founders Hall, flanked by five members of the Mission Integration division.
Dressed in a pressed black suit, white shirt and a Torero Blue USD tie — a present from USD President James T. Harris III PhD — Hornedo boldly describes his vision.
“For me, the Horizon Project is my biggest passion,” he tells them. “We need to recognize and appreciate diverse identities. I want to change as many minds as I can [today] so that we can change more minds [together].”
The Horizon Project is designed “to move USD into the forefront of Catholic higher education by following Pope Francis’ guidance that, as a Catholic community, we must be more open, expansive and welcoming.” For Hornedo, the project goes beyond providing scholarship and academic opportunities to underserved populations.
"USD as an institution in San Diego owes the San Diego community help and aid to its most complicated issues: issues of race, poverty and food security," he says.
President for a Day started in 2016 as an annual event with the goal to give interested undergraduate students the opportunity to serve as university president. Hornedo was selected out of a pool of more than 30 applicants. The application process for the program includes questions about extracurricular activities, student affiliations and leadership qualities, as well as an inquiry into a specific issue each candidate would like to address at USD.
Hornedo is a first-generation Mexican-American college student and also identifies as a commuter student — another topic for which he holds a deep passion. The Commuter Commons, located in the Hahn University Center, is its own mini community, where students who do not live on campus can relax, study and meet peers who also make their daily trek to campus.
But the space is in need of additional resources to grow and meet the needs of USD students without a personal space like a dorm room or apartment, he believes. This group of students are often at a disadvantage, a message Hornedo communicates to several important figures around campus throughout his day as top boss.
“We need to create a level playing field for all students,” he says.
Following his morning meeting with Mission Integration, President Hornedo heads to his office in the Hughes Administration Center, where he meets his new staff and reviews his daily schedule. He sits momentarily in his chair, commenting on how it’s much more comfortable than his usual desk chair, before pausing with a smile to admire his new nameplate.
A quick cup of coffee follows before it’s time to continue on with his whirlwind journey.
Throughout the day, Hornedo meets with leaders from Undergraduate Admissions, University Operations, University Advancement and The Mulvaney Center for Community, Awareness and Social Action.
He is tasked with several presidential responsibilities, including reviewing an undergraduate application, receiving updates on the master plan of an upcoming capital project, and touring the Linda Vista neighborhood to learn more about USD’s growing partnerships with organizations like the Bayside Community Center and Montgomery Elementary School.. He also gets a crash course in the food scene, urban agricultural opportunities and a new community housing development that makes Linda Vista one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in San Diego.
“I see my family and my culture represented in Linda Vista,” Hornedo says. “It’s important that USD continues to be a good neighborhood partner.”
Along with the perks of being President for a Day, Hornedo also has the opportunity to enact real change. During lunch, he presents university administration with a $1,000 check, which the university will donate on his behalf to the San Diego Hunger Coalition
During an afternoon meeting with USD Trustee and Professor of Practice Tom Lupfer, Hornedo is able to advocate for his peers — including two of his best friends — in the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering (SMSE). He convinces Lupfer to renew his annual donation of $5,000 to each of three student organizations — the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
The funding, Hornedo believes, will help off-set the cost of engineering students hoping to attend important conferences that will broaden their professional network.
Finally, Hornedo met virtually with Diana Lara, District Representative, in Senate pro Tem Toni Atkins' office to discuss current priorities and projects at the university, including College Corps at USD and the goals of the Horizon Project, as well as to advocate for an increase to the Cal Grant to help students with affordability of college.
After graduation, Hornedo plans to enter a masters program in student affairs, and one day, believes he will return to work at USD.
“As President for the Day, it’s been humbling to hear everyone’s story,” he says. “As a first-generation college student who felt intimidated by USD when I first came here, I’m so happy to use this platform to advocate for other students. I’m realizing now that my voice matters because it could be anyone sitting here.”
— Matthew Piechalak