DURANT, Okla. – Being a student leader on a college campus carries a certain responsibility.

That responsibility has perhaps never been greater than this year as colleges and universities throughout the country begin the semester amid the concerns and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anna Antuono is a junior at Southeastern Oklahoma State University majoring in special education. She fills numerous leadership roles, including that of Student Government Association president, Sigma Sigma Sigma president and senior resident life assistant. She is also a graduate of the President’s Leadership Class, a participant in the Alumni Legacy Leadership program and a past member of the George and Donna Nigh Leadership Academy.

As SGA president, Antuono has championed the cause of continued low tuition, more involvement from graduate students on campus and additional mental health resources for students.

In her role as senior resident life assistant, she works with many students, including those in the President’s Leadership Class. “The best thing I can do is to offer them a listening ear – and then maybe some advice,’’ Antuono said, “For those students who might be homesick, I tell them to get involved on campus as quickly as possible and make friends. And they will then find their home and place at Southeastern.’’

Her most unique position has been serving on SE’s COVID-19 Recovery Task Force, a group that includes faculty, staff and community members who have worked with SE president, Thomas Newsom, to establish guidelines for a safe return to face-to-face instruction this fall.

“Honestly, that (serving on the task force) was stressful,’’ Antuono recently stated, “But at the same time, it was very rewarding doing work that really mattered and impacted the lives of students, families, faculty, staff and the community.’’

As a representative of SE, she can be found at various functions and doing an occasional interview, where she may be seen on the local news stations speaking about the university.