When Christopher Bailey was elected the 76th Student Government Association (SGA) president for the 2025–26 academic year at the University of Memphis (UofM), it marked more than just a personal milestone, it marked history. Nearly three decades earlier, his father, Andrew “Drew” Bailey (BBA ’00, MBA ’05), served as the University’s 49th SGA president.
Together, they are the first parent-child, father-son duo to lead the student body in UofM’s history. “It makes me proud,” Drew said. “Sometimes it brings a tear to my eyes. Because he truly is cementing my legacy. I did my part but now — I’m stepping into his shadow.”
For Drew, that legacy includes being named the 2015 Distinguished Young Alumni, serving as an advisor to the board of the University of Memphis Alumni Association, serving as adjunct professor for nearly 10 years for the Fogelman College of Business & Economics and involving himself with three local boards including Reach Memphis.
But for Christopher, this legacy is less about following in his father’s footsteps and more about building something of his own. He expressed being grateful for what his dad built, but this is a new generation with new challenges. He wants to lead in a way that reflects who he is and who students are today.
The Power of Community
Christopher, a senior business economics major with a minor in philosophy and legal studies, believes in being a servant leader. “I think being a leader is as simple as serving others,” Christopher said. “Not everybody is a servant leader. When you are leading, you’re not ordering people around. You’re doing it with them, for them or for another group of people.
Part of his vision is to give students a better introductory experience to the University over the summer, preparing them to get connected, orientated, organized and relaxed to start their college journey.
“I think we’re at a place right now where it’s like, if I’m going to accurately represent all of these different communities, then they need to be connected,” Christopher said. “They need to be in a place where they are actively talking to each other and engaging with each other and collaborating with each other.”
That perspective echoes Drew’s own journey, though his path was shaped by challenge and resilience.
In 1993, Drew began his UofM career as a first-generation student. When his daughter Alexis was born and his father passed away soon after, Drew stepped away from school.
“I was working as a manager at Mrs. Fields in the Mall of Memphis. Life was heavy,” he recalled. “But that’s when community stepped in.”
Two of Drew’s close friends, Kristee Bell and Katrina Jones, pushed him to return. “They told me, ‘You’re too smart to be sitting on the sidelines.’ They gave me a place to stay. That support, that’s what brought me back,” Drew said.
So, Drew came back to school, bringing Alexis to class.
“Alexis actually learned how to count on the steps of the old University Center,” he said.
Eventually he would become SGA vice president and later president — winning by seven votes.
Drew helped launch Project Unite, a diversity and inclusion initiative that brought student groups together, culminating in a joint “prom” like event, supported by the Student Activities Council, Black Student Association, International Student Association and all the Greek Councils. He also established long-standing structures like the Freshman Senate and the funding model for Frosh Camp, traditions that incoming students still experience today.
“That’s what I love about student advocacy,” Drew said. “You can build something that grows beyond you. Now, as a parent, I ask Chris: What do you want your legacy to be?
Establishing a New Legacy
For Christopher this means building connections through weekly or monthly events that are visible to the student body to partake in such as a Spring Fling or Spring Fest at the Maxine A. Smith University Center, the Student Plaza and the Alumni Mall.
Among his favorite moments as a student is experiencing Homecoming from the field and he hopes as SGA President to be able to give that experience to others.
“Students need to be connected to athletics, so that the football team feels the support from us,” Christopher said. “We need to bring back the traditions that we used to do with the football games.”
He also plans to establish a President’s Council for student group leaders to regularly meet, brainstorm ideas and generate funding opportunities.
In addition to serving as SGA President, Christopher is involved with the Empowered Men of Color, the Black Student Association, Memphis Institute of Leadership Education and was a past Frosh Camp Counselor and Orientation Guide.
“I want every student to feel like they have the same opportunities and the same doors and the same ability to be successful on campus as the SGA president,” Christopher said. “I want that to be a unified experience, the same way that I’m able to come into the Administration Building and feel comfortable, they should be able to as well.”
Drew sees his son’s leadership as a continuation of their family’s evolving story and a bold new chapter for the University. “We’re both part of something bigger,” he said. “And now it’s Chris’ turn to lead.”
