Advocating For Maryland Student-Athletes: Zoe Huang Leads SAAC

Hi Terps Athletics,

As a Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) member for the past two years, I am excited to take on more responsibility as this coming year’s SAAC President. I will strive to advocate for athletes' voices to be heard, and I am prepared to work hard for the athletes at the University of Maryland. 

Being a part of SAAC and Maryland Made as a whole has given me confidence in myself and the growth that the school can provide for us. I hold myself to a high standard and promise to be committed to the school and all the student-athletes competing for Maryland. Logan Anderson, last year’s president, became a friend of mine and has shown me what a great SAAC president looks like. I hope to show the same Maryland and SAAC pride she did and hope to achieve the same success we did last year.

This year, I am excited to focus on enhancing student-athlete engagement. Fostering a sense of community among student-athletes from different sports is crucial. While informative SAAC meetings will remain important, I am particularly enthusiastic about the growth potential of bringing athletes together. 

SAAC will collaborate closely with Worldwide Terps and Pre-Health Terps to create a more unified Maryland Made that strives to make a difference. Our board aims to emphasize our community and social relationships within our immediate community and other Big Ten schools. With events like Terpsgiving and Terps Around The Holidays, we can continue to give back to others and raise awareness for different projects.

Coming into a new environment can be scary as a freshman, and it can be easy to simply focus on your sport and grades. I was that kid. But being involved in SAAC has helped me grow and realize that we are more than just athletes. 

Everyone at Maryland wants to help and see us grow, but we must take advantage of those resources. I have participated in various programs and meetings for Maryland and the Big Ten these past couple of years. They have taught me about the professional world, DEI, and myself and what we can do to support others around us and the world. 

The SAAC executive board and I are all willing to put others before ourselves and want to help others as best we can. I am so excited to see how far we can go to improve the student-athlete experience for all Maryland athletes.

Go Terps!
Zoe Huang

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) plays a crucial role by actively representing the interests of the student-athletes experience. Composed of two or more representatives from each varsity sport, SAAC meets monthly to foster a strong and supportive community. In addition, these meetings are instrumental in developing leadership skills, addressing potential concerns, and enhancing opportunities for growth as student-athletes. The committee’s commitment to advocacy extends beyond campus through community engagement initiatives. For example, SAAC’s collaboration with Share the Shell on events like Terpsgiving and Adopt-A-Family demonstrates its dedication to service and outreach. By integrating these community-focused events with their advocacy efforts, SAAC not only improves the student-athlete experience but also strengthens their connection to the broader community, showcasing their commitment to making a positive impact both on and off the field.