On Oct. 8, Missouri Students Association President Xavier Billingsley appointed Luke Blackburn from seven other candidates as his new chief of staff.

“I think he will be the best person to learn in this job and also gain the skills he can … as chief of staff,” Billingsley said.

Blackburn will take over for Steven Dickherber, who became [the legislative advocacy officer, a newly created position](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2012/10/5/msa-senate-confirms-steven-dickherber-first-lao/), on Oct. 3.

In his first two weeks as the chief of staff, Blackburn has focused on doing research.

One of the projects Blackburn said he wants to focus on is connecting undergraduates with upperclassmen, teachers and student organizations.

“It’s a good resource that students in (Freshman Interest Groups) have right now, but it is exclusive to them,” he said. “I’m looking to spread that through other organizations that are already in place.”

Blackburn said he also wants to revamp the Student Leadership Advisory Council, which provides MSA members with students’ feedback.

“We want to make that more of a two-way conversation because I think that (students) have great ideas,” he said.

The chief of staff’s only requirement is to perform the duties assigned by the MSA president, according to the MSA bylaws.

“It’s a very open role, and that’s what has made it good,” Dickherber said. “Traditionally, a good chief of staff leads a project.”

Blackburn’s focuses as chief of staff are different from those of years prior.

“(The job details) change every year,” Dickherber said. “It depends on who the president is.”

Some have helped with specific projects, such as Billingsley helping with the development of the goMizzou smartphone app as chief of staff for Tim Noce, Dickherber said. Others have acted as speakers on behalf of the president, as Nick Droege did for Eric Woods.

Dickherber said he worked as an administrative assistant during his time as chief of staff for Billingsley. He was also one of the leaders of the 2012 More for Less campaign, [according to a previous Maneater article](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2012/9/18/maas-geyer-award-given-three-msa-students/).

Before getting the position as chief of staff, Blackburn attended Columbia City Council meetings with Dickherber. Blackburn said he plans to continue that involvement.

There is a difference between the chief of staff and legislative advocacy officer positions, so Blackburn will work on different projects than Dickherber, Billingsley said.

Though Blackburn’s term is officially completed in January, Blackburn, a sophomore, is not limited by his time constraint, Billingsley said.

“Luke … knows how to really take his opportunities and gain from them the best he can,” Billingsley said.