The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, one of the nation's largest public universities, elected its first gay student body president on Thursday.

Chris Armstrong, a junior majoring in sociology, became the president of the Michigan Student Assembly on a platform of advocacy and activism. Armstrong had pledged to support gay rights on campus; he previously helped bring the 2011 Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Ally College Conference to the University of Michigan. Armstrong also interned last summer at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund in Washington, D.C.

"The significance of this event really demonstrates the diversity of this University," Armstrong said in a statement. "The ability of this campus to elect an openly gay president to lead them is something that students should be proud of, and the LGBT community should be proud of."