SGA Elections
Vote for the future of the Student Government Association!
Meet the Candidates
Every April, the Student Government Association hosts a week-long, open election where students can vote for the next set of SGA officials who will represent them for the next academic year. Students can vote online on Connections or can vote in person on the first floor of the Student Union. Keep in mind that students can only vote once. Below are the names of individuals currently running for various positions in the SGA.
Please don’t vote for someone because they are your friend. Vote for someone because you believe in them and their ability to represent you and your fellow peers. Read their biographies. Get to know the candidates. Be informed. Good luck, and may the Force be with you.
- Elections are start at 8 a.m. EST on Monday, April 1st and end at 5 p.m. EST on Friday, April 5th.
- Voting ballots can only be submitted once
- Students can only vote for representatives for the college they are enrolled in
(i.e. Aerospace Engineering students can only vote for COE Representatives) - The number of representatives per college is determined by each college’s voter turnout
(Minimum of 1 representative and a maximum of 3 representatives)
Executive Ticket Candidates
The Executive Ticket comprises of the Student Government Association President, Vice President, and Treasurer. These three individuals will represent the SGA as a whole, as well as uphold its values and ethics.
Katherine Jones is from Friendswood, Texas and is majoring in Aerospace Engineering with a concentration in Astronautics and a minor in Business Administration. As a student, she holds many leadership positions and on campus jobs.
She is currently Vice President of Tri Sigma, a Resident Advisor in O’Connor Hall, a writing tutor in the Academic Advancement Center, and is the Housing Representative for the Student Representative Board.
Her passion is sparking change for the students and wants to actively be a resource for all students on campus, along with being a voice for their needs.
Madison Patrick is from Daytona Beach, Florida and majoring in Aviation Business Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Management. She is one of the College of Business Representatives for SGA and serves on the Marketing Committee. She is also part of the Orientation Team and Tri Sigma Sorority.
While not at school, she works part time at Publix. She enjoys being on the Student Representative Board because she likes serving in organizations that are bigger than herself and has a commitment to making change.
She wants to be Vice President so she can expand student services and further the transparency of the SGA.
Angus Leung was born in Kowloon City, Hong Kong but grew up in Ashburn, Virginia. He is currently enrolled in a dual degree program pursuing a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and a B.S. in Aviation Maintenance Science with a minor in Business Administration.
He is currently an official of the SGA as the Chairperson for Touch-N-Go Productions. He also is a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, and a student assistant of the SGA. Previously, Angus served as the Budget Manager and the Security Coordinator for Touch-N-Go Productions and has also interned at Textron Aviation and also SpaceX. He hopes to bring the skills he learned to the SGA Treasurer position.
He hopes to provide a more transparent process for budget packets as well as find ways for the SGA to provide a better college experience for students. He also hopes to voice the concerns of branches and divisions within the SGA in regard to the budget guidelines and bylaws and to focus more on utilizing the student finance board liaisons as the primary contact for all student organizations.
Scott Oakley is the president on this ticket. A Global Conflict Studies major with a 3.5+ GPA, Oakley was recruited to Embry-Riddle to be a member of our basketball team. As a native of the area, and with parents who both have close ties to ERAU, Oakley now wishes to serve our student body and uphold the outstanding reputation of our university in the best way he knows how; by running to become the first ever student-athlete president.
Oakley has spent his time so far at ERAU heavily involved in all facets of our student body, from membership within multiple clubs and SGA branches, to showing support for all of our athletics, to engaging directly with the community as the basketball team’s chief community service organizer. Oakley’s qualifications for operating within a political environment should be noted as well, since last summer he worked in the U.S. Congress in Washington D.C.
Having been selected for a highly competitive internship program with none other than Congressman Ron DeSantis, who was recently elected governor of the great state of Florida, Oakley even has a personal letter signed by Governor DeSantis himself, expressing his support for Oakley and his future political career. It is with this unique political knowledge, a personal connection to the governor of Florida himself, and a message to unify all sections of the ERAU student body in a way that’s never been done before that Oakley hopes to set himself apart and bring in a new dawn for ERAU.
Chris Wikoff is the vice president on this ticket, and a highly qualified one at that. A proven leader already, Wikoff is the president of Pi Kappa Alpha here at ERAU, and studying to become a pilot. Additionally, he serves as a representative for the COA on the Student Representatives Board, and has been heavily involved within the SRB over the past year, thus making him an incredibly logical choice to become the next vice president, since the primary obligation of the position is to oversee the SRB.
As a prominent figure with many connections within Greek life and ROTC, students of those groups looking for an SGA to represent them fully should look no further than Chris Wikoff.
Audrey Hallam is the treasurer on this ticket, and also just so happens to be the most qualified in the race for the position. A member of Sigma Sigma Sigma, Hallam is studying to become a pilot as well. Her qualifications however come from the fact that she served as treasurer for Project: Haiti as well as Women in Aviation, and currently serves as a member of the Student Finance Board.
Similarly to Wikoff, Hallam is an incredibly logical choice to be our next treasurer, since it is the primary obligation of the treasurer to oversee the SFB. As someone with incredible attention to detail and experience in all levels of money management within ERAU, anyone who is looking to elect the most experienced and qualified treasurer should unequivocally support Audrey Hallam.
Student Finance Board Candidates
Student Finance Board members work with the treasurer to manage and allocate the finances of the SGA. Student Finance Board members also act as liaisons to various registered student organizations (RSOs) on campus. This relationship is meant to help RSOs effectively manage their finances and financial relationship with the SGA.

My name is Chenge Liu, and I am running for Students Finance Board. I am studying in Mechanical Engineering with Applied Mathematics and Business Administration minors. I am currently on the Student Finance Board and I would love to be re-elected again to continue helping student organizations.
I am on the campus event committee for Society of Woman Engineers. And I am also a part of Theta Phi Alpha, Pi Tau Sigma, and Omicron Delta Kappa. My goal is to help student organizations to allocate money and get funding from SGA to help them achieve the organizational goals.
I want to help communicate between SGA and the student organizations, which will help organizations to have more events and to help them grow as an organization.

Deyanne “Dee” Charles is a student from New York City majoring in Aerospace Engineering concentrating in Aeronautics with a minor in Applied Mathematics.
She is currently a Resident Advisor on campus and has recently joined the Orientation Team. She is a collegiate member of the National Society of Black Engineers.
She has a passion for being the voice of organizations who feel overlooked.
If Deyanne was to become a member of Student Finance Board, she would aim to facilitate outreach to smaller organizations on campus who contribute to the ERAU family by advocating for their funding.

My name is Kenneth Sampson, I am a junior majoring in Aerospace Engineering (Aeronautics Track). I am from Nigeria and was previously President of the African Students Association at Embry Riddle. Having this position as president of an RSO on campus taught me the skills of delegating tasks, budgeting and conflict resolution.
Currently, I am a Propulsion Engineering Co-Op at Delta Air Lines and the Communications Chair of the Co-Op Committee at Delta TechOps. This opportunity has enabled me work in a diverse environment and gain skills relevant to my career especially when communicating ideas or relaying plans. I am running to be a member of the financial board of the SGA. This is because I am interested in learning how an organization the size of Embry Riddle is run behind the scenes and my leadership experience from my on-campus involvement has exposed me to the roles that the finance board plays for SGA.
My goal is to get students more involved in the SGA as well as understand better how the finance section of the SGA works. I also aim to ensure that there is clarity in way the finances are distributed to the different organizations as well in the record keeping. On the other hand, I enjoy playing and watching soccer, Kerbal Space Program and interacting with decimals. They always have a point!

Hey, Riddle! I am Aahil from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. If you’re wondering why I look Indian, it’s because my parents are from Mumbai, India. I am currently a sophomore in Aerospace Engineering with a concentration in Aeronautics. For the last year and half, I have been observing how the Student Government and other organizations around campus work and what goes into keeping up the great systems we have in place for our students.
I believe that now is the time for me to step up and bring in to play my diverse background and leadership skills. Throughout my life, I have been exposed to the rich culture, history, and traditions of the East African region, along with the fact that I lived in a household that, at its core, was based on Indian traditions and values.
Prior to starting my college career, I had the opportunity to visit over 17 different countries around the world. I believe that my background is what makes me different and a valuable asset for the SGA. An important role of the Student Finance Board is impartial service to all organizations on campus, which can be done even better when one has the ability to think and reflect upon ideas from different perspectives.
My main objective is to support the organizations to better meet their goals, all while maintaining the board’s budget. Happier organizations mean happier students and ultimately a better campus environment. Lastly, having been the president of a community service group for two years, the secretary general of a Model United Nations program, and a student representative on my school’s Board of Directors, I know I have what it takes to understand organizational needs. Thus, I am here to serve to the best of my ability.

My name is Kaitlin Dobesh and I am from Santa Fe, New Mexico. I am currently a junior studying homeland security with minors in terrorism studies and finance. Currently I am a Student Representative for the SGA.
Having that position has allowed me to learn a lot about the operation of the Student Government. Last year I served as the treasure for Alpha Xi Delta, so I understand what clubs go through when they are trying to get money from the SGA. I want to help clubs get more funding by being an available resource and assisting clubs throughout the allocation process.
I work at the front desk in the Student Government office, so I will be present in the office and available to help anytime that I am working. I hope you will consider voting for me to be on the Student Finance Board, and I look forward to helping the student body.

My name is Cassandra Harrison, and I am currently a junior in Engineering Physics.
As a member of several SGA funded organizations, I understand the impact SGA funding has on campus life and would like to ensure that the money is used to enrich all students’ campus experiences.
If I were elected to serve on the SRB board, I would do my best to ensure that each organization received the funding they needed to perform to the best of their abilities.

My name is Samantha Villagran and I am currently a student representative for the College of Engineering.
If I were to be elected to be a member of the student finance board, it will be my goal to assume the responsibility of making sure every student body organization receives the monetary needs they deserve to achieve their academic goals.
My sole purpose will be to be at service to the students and adequately place the resources needed by every organization first and make the students of Embry Riddle the priority of this campus. For the 2018-2019 academic year I have been a student representative for the Student Government Association and I have been able to learn what it is the students need the most; money.
I am capable and willing to make sure every student organization that needs money to reach their potential, will be met with equal and fair standing. There are many resources available for the students to be successful and the finance board is another strong resource we all need, which is why I would like to be elected to become a member of the finance board.
Student Representative Board Candidates
Student Representative Board members work closely with the SGA Vice President to address the needs and concerns of the student body. Additionally, Student representatives are the voice of their respective colleges and advocate on behalf of those enrolled in the college.
College of Aviation Representative Candidate

My name is Austin Greene and it is my greatest desire to become a Representative for the Student Government Association and embody not only the College of Aviation but its diverse group of students as well. I am a Spaceflight Operations major, from Hawai’i, however I intend to represent the seven other bachelor degree programs, and the associates, masters, and doctoral programs as well. I am currently conducting research with the Embry-Riddle S.U.I.T. laboratory and I am the Chairman of Fundraising for the Spaceflight Sciences Policy and Operations Club which are both within the College of Aviation. I am also a member of the Army ROTC Program and I intend to use all of my leadership training to the best of my ability in this position.
I will be an efficient liaison between the College of Aviation faculty and its students, so that each student feels connected to their professors. I also intend to work in the Progress committee so that I can directly address the student’s needs and make the necessary improvements. Also in this position, I intend to work with the individual degree coordinators/deans and hold forums for each degree within the College of Aviation. It is my goal to effectively enhance student life by listening to students concerns, suggestions, and needs and thus become the voice of these students to the Student Government Organization. I am here to serve you!
College of Aviation Representative Candidate

Daniel Byrnes is a rising senior in the Spaceflight Operations Program. He was born in California but has lived in England and Italy. He is a Private Pilot and currently is the first officer of the Embry- Riddle Eagles Flight Team.
After graduation, he hopes to join the United States Navy as an officer. In his time at Embry-Riddle, he has only wanted to better the institution, and sees this as the best means to do so. Additionally, he hopes that his international perspective and his knowledge of the flight department and the College of Aviation can better the university of his peers.
College of Aviation Representative Candidate

My name is Lindsay Cosby and I would like to be your College of Aviation representative on the Student Government Association. Aside from having an individual that is productive and responsible in their own life, you need someone that will stand up for you and speak your voice in your absence.
As the COA SGA representative, it is my goal to bridge the gap between the needs of students and the administrative requirements of the our university. Many students do not know how to voice their opinion or communicate their needs in order to effectively advocate for themselves.
If elected, I will be an effective advocate for students so they can focus on their educational studies and their path to success. As a sophomore and a soon to be commercial pilot, I know how pertinent it is to have a way to express your opinions and beliefs here at Embry-Riddle. As a result, I will not let you down as your elected board member for the 2019-2020 school year.
College of Arts and Sciences Representative Candidate

Hello, I am Johan Restrepo. I am majoring in Global Conflict Studies with minors in Arabic and Mandarin, I’m also in Air Force ROTC.
My goal as a student Representative is to have Embry Riddle host/have the Dance Marathon event here on campus. Dance marathon is chance to fundraise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. This unique way encompasses every organization on campus, Dance Marathon is way of donating money for a wonderful cause and you have fun during the process.
Having this program at embry riddle will make us part of a selective few in Colleges in Florida that fundraise towards this cause. I want to give ROTC a voice, no matter what ROTC branch you are a part of. There’s a famous quote by Walt Disney “if you can dream it, you can do it” and I dream of a future where Embry Riddle will be one of four colleges in the state of Florida to be doing Dance Marathon.
I am from Colombia, so having me on board would provide a sense of cultural transparency which provides a new perspective towards the organization that can be beneficial. But most importantly I dream to give students a voice that didn’t have one before.
College of Arts and Sciences Representative Candidate

Hey guys! My name is Meagan Carpintero, I am a sophomore, and I was born and raised in Miami, Florida by my Cuban family. On campus, I am involved in Greek Life (Sigma Sigma Sigma).
I would like to be your COAS representative because I believe every student’s voice deserves to be heard. As your student representative, I would ensure that the forums were not only fun and interesting, but also constructive. Representing the COAS would allow me to combine my passion for helping others with my love for this program!
College of Business Representative Candidate

Hello! My name is Alexis Guerrero and I am from Orlando, Florida. I am in my sophomore year studying Aviation Business Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Management. Throughout my time here at Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University, I have focused on challenging myself by being highly involved in campus activities and organizations.
Outside of classes, I work as an administrative assistant for the David B. O’Maley College of Business and the Career Services office. Currently, I am a member of the Student Advisory Board for the College of Business, as well as an Ambassador within Career Services. In the past, I have participated in programs, such as Emerging Leaders and LeaderShape. I am also an active military member of the United States Air Force Reserve.
I have strong discipline and passion for the things that I do, and by adapting to changing environments and facing obstacles, I have understood what it takes to become a leader. As a member of the Student Representative Board for the David B. O’Maley College of Business, I not only hope to boost the reputation of the college by planning a college-wide engagement event, but also be an advocate for change and collaboration from the faculty and my peers.
College of Business Representative Candidate

Hi, my name is Craig Osborne and I’m a sophomore studying Aviation Business Administration. I’m involved in Greek Life, O-Team, and the College of Business as a student assistant. I’m running for Student Representative Board for the COB as I feel I’d be a great fit. The COB is my college and I care deeply for how it’s run and how it affects me, as I’m sure many students do.
If elected there are goals that I have and would like to accomplish. I want to expand the use of student resources such as career services to help students succeed in and outside of class. As an assistant to the faculty I want to improve the relations between students and staff. As a smaller college on campus we should be working with the staff as much as possible to assure student success. Embry-Riddle and the College of Business offer many activities for students, if elected I’ll do my best to improve student involvement particularly in the COB. I want the COB to be a friendly environment for students where they feel comfortable and at home, not a drab work environment.
If elected these are my goals. I will do all I can to achieve this. A vote for Craig Osborne is a vote you won’t regret.
College of Business Representative Candidate

Hello! My name is Jim Myers, I am currently a Freshman studying Aviation Business Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Management. Other than classes I am likely serving the student body!
Already I have gotten very involved to best understand the environment I work to change. I filled the College of Business vacancy at the end of last semester and have taken on multiple roles in SGA. I am a current COB Representative, I serve as Secretary on the Student Representative Board, I help lead the Progress Committee, and I serve on the Marketing Committee.
I also work for Campus Safety and Career Services. At a young age I knew public service is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. In high school I was a four-year Class President, Student Body Vice President and President, and served as a Congressional Intern this summer. I hope to continue to embrace the closeness of the COB so we can accomplish any project. I have no problem talking to anyone and my vast connections allow for work to be done quickly.
I like to make things happen overnight and many times I do! I only think about SGA on days that end in “y”. There is no limit to the work I am willing to do for the student body! Let me continue to share my passion and servant leadership with SGA, I would be humbled to be re-elected as your COB Representative. Don’t say no to Jimbo!
College of Business Representative Candidate

My name is Mariana and I’m a freshman Aviation Business Administration student from Marco Island, Florida. During my first semester here at Riddle I joined SGA’s First Year Initiative (FYI) program and sat in many SGA board meetings.
I joined FYI because I wanted to learn more about the SGA, become involved and learn from our current leaders. I have always been a big believer in collaborating across disciplines and working hard to make a difference, and FYI gave me the tools to learn how to achieve both goals. This year I would like to use those tools and put them to use as a Student Representative for the College of Business.
I have experience working on campus and interacting with students at the Student Union Gaming Desk as well as volunteering to make my community a better place. I believe these experiences will benefit me substantially as a SGA student representative. As a Student Representative, my goal is to bridge the gap between students and the administration. I would like to serve as the voice of the students in the College of Business and have that voice heard.
College of Engineering Representative Candidate

My name is Mahteme Desta. I am currently enrolled as a junior majoring in Aerospace Engineering. About two years ago, I moved from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Jacksonville, Florida to pursue my college level education at Florida State College at Jacksonville.
At FSCJ, I worked as a foreign language tutor in French where I provided one-on-one supplemental instructions for more than 60 new and advanced college students. Apart from tutoring, I volunteered for campus events and was a part of FSCJ’s soccer club. I was also recognized in the President’s and Dean’s list for excellence in academics. Transferring to Embry-Riddle was the best decision I have made in my life.
Being part of the College of Engineering for almost three semesters as a trilingual has exposed me to various opportunities and has made me grow into the person I am today. In my first semester, I was awarded the Most Sophisticated Design Award of 2018 in Graphical Communications. After attending my first Career Expo in my second semester at ERAU, I received several internship offers, and will be working as a Flight Engineer for the summer of 2019 with The Boeing Company.
My current positions at the College of Engineering are Engineering Teaching Assistant for EGR 120 and MATLAB tutor. Besides these engineering experiences, I am active in the National Society of Black Engineers and the current President of the African Students Association, where I manage the association in terms of organizing beneficial content for the members, prepare and budget events, propose creative ideas for fundraisers, and organize professional advancement workshops, among other responsibilities.
My goals for the college of engineering are to improve the resources available for engineering students by organizing better tutoring services for upper level classes, more exposure to laboratory experiments and real-life applications of theories, and try to establish fair employment opportunities for all majors within the engineering department.
College of Engineering Representative Candidate

Hey Guys! My name is Soham Bahulekar and I am a junior majoring in Aerospace Engineering. I am a CATIA V5 tutor in the College of Engineering and I work as the Gaming Floor Assistant in the Student Union.
As the College of Engineering representative, I will work towards better academic services provided in the form of extended hours of tutoring for the A2 lab and the CATIA V5 tutoring lab. Also, I will work with the engineering professional organizations like AIAA, NSBE, SHPE and ERFSEDS to be more approachable to students in the form of open houses, project displays and social events.
In addition, I plan on reaching out to professors to assist students to help develop their professionalism for getting internships and full-time opportunities. So, I would really appreciate it if you would vote for me. Thank you for taking the time to read about me! May the force be with you.
College of Engineering Representative Candidate

Hi all, my name is Sonjia Blake and I am a junior in Aerospace Engineering here at Embry-Riddle. I was a member on the College of Engineering Student Representative Board for the 2018-2019 school year, and I would like to continue serving the students for the foreseen future.
It is my vision that all College of Engineering students understand what the Student Government does and how it benefits them personally. I am here to tend to the needs of the students and am more than willing to listen to every matter and proposition that comes my way.
Student satisfactory within the College of Engineering is one of my main priorities; I want students to realize that their opinions, concerns, and suggestions are all valuable towards a better college experience. Here’s to a new and improved school year!
College of Engineering Representative Candidate

My name is Taylor Johnson and I am pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a focus in Robotics. On campus I am part of Touch-N-Go Productions and Pi Tau Sigma Honor Society, and recently joined Student Representative Board for the Spring 2019 semester.
I am running for Student Representative Board again because I feel that is the strongest way I am can utilize my talents to serve others. For the upcoming term, my goal is to continue to make a positive impact around campus, promote new ideas to implement around campus, and be attentive to concerns and issues that arise from both students and staff so that I may serve as an effective voice for those I represent.
Creative thinking and taking on large projects is not an undertaking I find daunting. I apply my creative skills and unique perspective to come up with new ideas, solve problems, design events, and elevate the overall quality of the educational experience on campus. If you have any questions or want to talk, please feel free to approach me! I am always willing to make time to have a conversation!
Graduate Students Representative Candidate

Hi everyone! My name is Abrielle Otero and I am running for the Graduate Representative position on the Student Representative Board. I am currently a senior studying Human Factors Psychology and will tentatively be starting my Master’s in Human Factors in Fall 2019 with a concentration in User Experience (UX).
I have been in the Student Government Association (SGA) in the past by being on Touch-N-Go Productions’ Executive Board and would love to come
back in a new light. I have also been working at the SGA front desk for almost two years now and thus I am very familiar with the SGA and how it functions. If I were to be elected as the graduate representative a major goal of mine would be to foster and encourage unity between the degree programs I represent.
I would like to do so by encouraging graduate students from different programs to work on projects together as well as encourage them to join organizations that allow them to do multi-disciplinary projects.
Something I would like to keep going if I am elected is to always be available for students. I am on campus most days of the week from 8 a.m. to the late afternoon and I do not believe that will change next academic year. Thus I will be readily available to receive student feedback and concerns.
Graduate Students Representative Candidate

Hello! Thank you for your time and consideration in me to serve as your Graduate Student Representative! My name is Priyanka Patel and I am a Systems Engineering Masters student; my undergraduate background is in Mechanical Engineering from Embry-Riddle.
I am the current Graduate Student Representative; I recently applied and was elected into the vacant position in February 2019. In my few weeks with SGA, I have been preparing for a Graduate Student Forum and working diligently to make myself and the SGA more attentive to your needs. An SGA representative should be responsive to their peers, have the ambition and competence to accomplish their peers’ needs, and effectively branch initiatives between SGA and the Graduate student body.
I embody the skills necessary to fulfil these needs, and more. If elected, I would like to lead 2 main initiatives: increasing career and networking opportunities for Graduate students and offering more accessibility of myself and the SGA. In my 4 years at Embry-Riddle, I have served as an effective leader for several organizations, previously with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Indian Student Association, and currently with the Women’s Ambassador Program and Engineers Without Borders.
I bring professional experience to my platform, by building relationships for Embry Riddle students with industry professionals through Career Services and supporting prospective students on behalf of the ERAU Admissions team. I sincerely hope my platform aligns with your priorities for this position. I would greatly appreciate your vote and thank you for your consideration.
Housing and Residence Life Representative Candidate

My name is Christopher Desjarlais. I am currently in my Sophomore year studying Aeronautical Science with minors in Air Transportation and Applied Meteorology. I am a brother of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), and a member of the Community Outreach Committee within FIJI. I pride myself as a Resident Advisor in Doolittle Hall and am honored to be the Vice President of the National Residence Hall Honorary Society.
I also work on campus within the Housing and Residence Life office. I am excited to run for the Housing Representative position on the Student Representative Board as I am ready to give a voice to those students who reside on campus. My goal is to be the bridge between the students who live on our beautiful campus and the Student Government Association.
As a Resident Advisor, I respond to many issues and hear many ideas and complaints about what students might want to change or see come to the campus, and I would like to be the person that helps implement those changes. My goal is to create more communication with resident students and staff and create a continuing positive experience for life on campus. I am ready to make a difference.
Housing and Residence Life Representative Candidate

Hello, my name is Kunle Ajao and I am running for the housing position on the Student Government Association representative bored. I plan to use this position to increase the quality-of-life of every student living on campus.
This includes having more late-night food options on campus and getting better study/lounge areas in the halls. This also means talking with the students and understanding what it is they want in the halls to improve their time here at Embry-Riddle. Please for free to come up and talk to me at any time about anything.
International Students Representative Candidate

Hello Eagles! My name is Dhafer, my major is MS Cybersecurity Engineering, and I am running for the International Representative position. I am a current International Student Programming Council E-board member, Saudi Association President, and SGA Progress Committee member.
It is important to have a competent leader, that can bring all the international students together, and furthermore introduce our multi‐cultural diversity, into this American community. And I believe I possess the following qualities of such an international representative. First of all. I have lots of ideas for fun activities we could do.
I will organize different kinds of activities that are fun and exciting, and I assure you that they will not be limited to international students. Secondly, I am sympathetic and helpful. As an international student, I understand the problems and challenges that you might face. Whether it is a school‐related problem or a personal problem.
I have my experience as current ISPC mentor for all international students. I will try my best to provide better conditions and opportunities for all ERAU international students. Lastly, I will plan to make all international organizations get together and organizing such amazing events by attempting to enrich the entire school with diversity and distinctiveness we have for all ERAU students. Thanks for taking a time to read my biography.
International Students Representative Candidate

Hello! My name is Fawzan Firoz and it would be a great honor to serve as an international student representative if elected. I am currently working on my bachelor’s in aerospace engineering. I am from Kuwait City, Kuwait but I call more than 3 countries including the United States my home.
I have been to 5 continents and more than 20 countries where I have lived and adapted to the culture. I usually get along very well with people from any culture around the world. I believe this is a trait I have developed from my passion of travelling.
As a student on campus I have been actively involved with various student organizations on campus like the International Students Programming Council (ISPC) as a mentor. I am also an Orientation Leader with the Orientation Team assisting first time students coming on campus.
Although I was born and brought up in Kuwait, I’ve had heavy exposure to the American Culture. Since Kuwait doesn’t have their own army the US army is responsible for that role in Kuwait. Due to this I have lived in close association with a lot of American families and a part of that has helped me understand the American Culture very well.
On campus, I could say that I have equal amount of International as well as American friends. Even though a lot of students come from countries half way across the world I believe that cultural difference between us does not exist. We all have the same attitude, behavior and respect and over all we harvest the same interest that makes us one; Aviation!
International Students Representative Candidate

I was born and raised in a bustling African city in the heart of Kenya, known as Nairobi. Driven by my love for aviation, I moved to the United States to pursue a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Aside from my education, I am involved in other organizations such as the Student Government, African Student Association and National Society of Black Engineers where I have had the opportunity to meet and work with an array of people from diverse backgrounds.
This opportunity has helped me learn a lot about different cultures and has inspired me to run for international student representative. As international student representative, I’ll aspire to better represent and cater to the international student community through, increasing recruitment, study abroad opportunities and hosting more international events.
Additionally, I’ll endeavor to provide more local and global career opportunities on a national and global level for international students. Lastly, I will use my platform to voice the concerns of the international student community as well as work with the school to help Riddle be a home away from home.
Veterans Student Representative Candidate

My name is Chris Walsh, I served for five years in the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Analyst. My degree is Homeland Security with the minors of Forensic Accounting and Occupation Safety. Currently I am the Public Relations Officer for the Student Veterans Organization.