Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.

In its inaugural meeting, Syracuse University’s 69th Assembly Student Government Association appointed and swore in members to executive, assembly, cabinet and finance board positions for the 2025-26 academic year. The session followed the final meeting of the 68th assembly.

Returning SGA President German Nolivos expressed optimism about what he called a “new era” for the association, remarking on the diverse perspectives among the newly sworn-in assembly and cabinet members.

“These new people, new faces,” Nolivos said. “At the end of the day, (the executives) are all graduating next year, so this is an opportunity to bring in future leaders.”

Following a record number of applicants for appointed positions and record-high undergraduate voter turnout in spring elections, Nolivos said he expects the new assembly to “hit the ground running” in the fall.

Among its first legislative actions, SGA appointed SU freshman Emily Castillo-Melean as speaker of the assembly. In her new role, she will preside over the association’s weekly meetings. Max Lachut will serve as speaker pro tempore.

Both Castillo-Melean and Lachut highlighted their prior experience in SGA as preparation for their new responsibilities. Castillo-Melean formerly served as chair of the Freedom, Accountability, Inclusion and Rights ad hoc committee, as SGA’s representative to University Senate and on SU’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. She said her involvement reflects her enthusiasm for SGA and will continue in her new role.

Lachut, a freshman biotechnology major, pointed to the successfully implemented Walnut Park Farmers Market on April 13, an initiative he led. He said his work with former Speaker Pro Tempore Tim Wong has positioned him to continue his predecessor’s efforts in the coming year.

As the association prepares for the fall semester, Castillo-Melean and Lachut emphasized the need for improved training procedures for the 32 newly sworn-in assembly members. Castillo-Melean highlighted the importance of teaching assembly members procedural rules, while Lachut encouraged voting members to draft and submit proposed bills in the future.

“We will host a required training session for assembly members again before we get back to campus so they really just understand how the organization works,” Castillo-Melean said. “Having assembly members well trained prior to starting the 69th session in the fall will help (the assembly) become more engaged once we could get back to campus.”

The 69th assembly also appointed the following students to Nolivos’ executive cabinet:

• Thalia Benton-Dinneen, sophomore studying policy students and information management and technology, board of elections chair
• Diana Bonilla-Prado, freshman studying political science, vice president of academic affairs
• Luis Gomez, sophomore studying international relations and policy studies, chief of staff
• Asher Gonzalez, sophomore studying political science and television, radio and film, vice president for university affairs
• Alani Henderson, junior studying policy studies and government, student advocate
• Kenneth Lanterman, freshman studying political science and government, vice president of community and government affairs
• Anna Mirer, junior studying policy studies, neuroscience and psychology, undergraduate representative to the SU Board of Trustees
• Darren Murphy, sophomore studying applied mathematics, director of internal operations
• Amaya Saintal, junior studying policy studies and social work, vice president of diversity & inclusion
• Valeria Serrano, junior studying advertising, vice president of communications — spring semester
• Tim Wong, sophomore studying economics and television, radio and film, vice president of communications — fall semester

Newly appointed cabinet members identified campus and community engagement as top priorities in their leadership roles, aligning with ongoing goals set by Nolivos and returning Comptroller Alexis Leach to expand collaboration with the undergraduate student body.

During their final executive remarks to the 68th assembly, Nolivos and former Vice President Reed Granger celebrated SGA’s improvements in student engagement under their administration.

Nolivos said SGA partnered with over 40 registered student organizations over the past academic year, completing over 55 initiatives and events. He also reported they engaged with over 13,000 students, and noted the spring election’s 14% participation rate was a historic benchmark for the association.

“This was the first time since I’ve been here that we got more than 6% in voter turnout,” Nolivos said. “So, huge shout out to the communications team and the board of elections … this was the first time since 1998 that we’ve been able to change our name.”

The assembly also appointed Brianna Barragan, a freshman studying policy studies, and Thamia Romani, a sophomore studying marketing, to the Board of Elections. Bijan Starr, a sophomore pre-law student, will serve as chief justice in SGA’s judicial branch for the fall semester, before former Onondaga Community College student body president Anthony Mancini, a recent SU transfer, will take over in the spring.

They will be joined by four associate justices: Yogesh Mohapatra, a junior studying political science and international relations, Jasmine Nixon, a freshman finance major and varsity women’s soccer player, Juno Walker, a sophomore studying political science and creative writing and Trinity Jennings-Pagan, a sophomore studying political science and fitness administration.

Other business:

• SGA will host a formal next Monday as an end-of-year celebration for the 68th assembly and to officially welcome the 69th, former Speaker Kennedy Williams said. The event will be held in the newly renovated Miron Victory Court.
• The assembly will meet next when classes resume for the fall semester. Nolivos said SGA leadership will meet regularly throughout summer break to prepare for the coming school year.
• As one of its final legislative acts, the 68th approved stipends ranging from $1,500 to $3,000 for deputy executives and executives.

Published on April 22, 2025 at 2:15 am
Contact Duncan: digreen@syr.edu