Arel Gutierrez knows the value of connection, and especially what can happen when it’s missing. Growing up in a military family, Gutierrez experienced frequent moves and witnessed how easy it can be for people to stay within their own circles. When his family first relocated to Alaska, he didn’t fully realize the opportunities available to him, including those at UAA. That early lack of awareness is part of what now drives him to make sure other students are informed, involved and heard.

“There's many things that divide us when in reality there's no need, and I’ve always wanted to be engaged with how we can improve our community,” said Gutierrez. 

Describing himself as a Renaissance man, Gutierrez’s interests span both the arts and sciences. His first academic path was engineering, drawn by its problem-solving and technical nature. But after exploring political science, he found a deeper sense of fulfillment advocating for others and shaping the structures that affect student life.

Beginning his political involvement at UAA as a delegate representing the College of Engineering (CoEng), it didn’t take long for Gutierrez to rise through the ranks. After one year and at the encouragement of the outgoing president, he ran for president of the Union of Students at UAA (USUAA), winning in spring 2025. 

“It was the fastest promotion I ever got,” Gutierrez joked.

Building a platform on engagement and efficiency, Gutierrez and his vice president, Emily Hufford, campaigned on five core values, which they more catchily refer to as the five Cs: community, connection, compassion, cultivation and catalyst. 

“Community is helping each other and is what makes students want to stay at UAA. Connection is involving students and being their voice. Compassion is providing the health services needed for students. Cultivation is engaging students in the classroom if they prefer synchronous learning. And catalyst is making sure we stay who we are — being a diverse, welcoming university for all students,” Gutierrez explained.

In the short time since getting elected, Gutierrez worked with the Office of the Chancellor to pass the Menstrual Product Resolution, which ensures the availability of free menstrual products in all women’s restrooms across the Anchorage campus.

Next on the agenda is campaigning the deans to prioritize selecting student delegates — like Gutierrez had been for CoEng — to represent their respective colleges in governance. Gutierrez understands that without representation, communication, no matter how transparent or frequent, will fall on deaf ears, leaving opportunities to pass students by, just as they did for him when he arrived in Alaska. 

“Students need to use their voice whenever there’s an issue,” said Gutierrez. “Otherwise, student government will need to form our own opinions, and that's not what any government is supposed to be. Our goal is to listen and figure out how we can make things happen.”

Gutierrez’s ambitions even go beyond UAA’s campuses, as he plans to strengthen ties within the statewide student government, the UA Coalition of Student Leaders. Currently, the coalition meets face-to-face only once a year with biweekly Zoom meetings in the lead-up to their spring trip to Juneau to connect with Alaska state legislators. Gutierrez hopes to increase the frequency of coalition meetings to more effectively collaborate and strategize.

Overall, Gutierrez aims to make student government more accessible, not only through official meetings, but by showing up in spaces where students already are — whether that’s campus events, club meetings or casual social settings. For Gutierrez, leadership isn’t about staying behind a desk; it’s about being visible, approachable and actively engaged in the conversations that matter most to students.

“If students ever need to talk about anything, we're here for them,” he said. “All we ask in return is that they be a part of the conversation.”