About Us

Wanika Fisher – President

Wanika – I am a junior, Government and Politics/African American Studies double major. I grew up in New York and decided to attend the University of Maryland due to its diverse student body. In my time here at Maryland, I have been in the CIVICUS living-learning program, a Rawlings Undergraduate Leadership Fellow and a Beyond the Classroom Associate. I have a strong passion for social justice and political mobilization stemming from my diverse background. I am half Nigerian Yoruba Nigerian and half Indian South African. Having two parents from two different countries and races has helped me relate to others and bring a different perspective to problems facing the University and has led to a better understanding of different people, cultures, and community issues. I have an older sister, a younger sister and brother. Being a middle child in a large family has taught me a lot about sacrifice and how to balance school life and family. Every student has a family, a background, a story, and it is here at this university that I have had the privilege to experience students just like me who want to find out who they are and what their purpose is in this world. My background as a BSOS major has taught me what it feels like to not forge a personal student-professor relationship, not get into upper level classes and not believe that my education is equal to that of my fellow students. These inequalities prompted me to serve the UMD community through many organizations throughout my time here. As the current President of NAACP, I have seen how much student groups do to make our campus community strong. But without an SGA that supports student groups beyond the traditional financial means, student-led community progress will not be seen.

All of my experiences in the last three years at the University of Maryland have given me the skills and vision to lead the student body. When I was growing up, my parents would always say “charity begins at home.” This has always stayed in my heart when serving my community. One has to make sure those closest to them are being taken care of before they can do anything else. As such, it is my belief that my campus and fellow students need to be the priority. I can ensure this with my background in political mobilization which has been a major influence in all of my experiences. I have worked at Emily’s List, a political action committee in Washington, DC as well as working in the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis, previously for Delegate Victor Ramirez and currently Delegate Jolene Ivey. My Annapolis experience has taught me much on how to get bills that affect tuition, textbooks and affordable housing to become priorities for state officials. Political action and lobbying, which are both based in the art of building relationships, are required to achieve these goals.

Finding commonalities amongst students is the only way to truly communicate the needs and wants of the entire student body. Representation should be the voice for the people, an avenue of expression. Not only I am a voice for the student experience but I am someone who recognizes what students need to combat their problems: a student government that provides tangible resources and solutions. Building coalitions and relationships across campus with students and administrators will help make that student voice a reality on campus. The current state of the university needs to be shaken up and given a fresh perspective on student life, that is what I can bring to the table. I will always keep students and what they want at heart in anything that I do. The University of Maryland has helped me to develop in the leader that I am today and I will do everything in power make sure students have an impact in the decisions that are made at the campus that I love.

Debbie Kobrin – Senior VP
Debbie is sophomore Government and Politics major and is a member of the CIVICUS living and learning program, the Weekday Players theatre group, a senator in the RHA, and she works at the OIT. She has represented both North Hill and Commons working on transportation issues, including motor scooter safety, a biking initiative, and in creating a bus route to BWI airport for breaks.
Debbie will continue to work on transportation issues, including improving parking and exploring sustainable transportation like the further purchase of hybrid buses, and developing a bike friendly campus.
Debbie believes that there needs to be greater transparency in the SGA’s actions, and an ongoing dialogue between the student government and students as well as between SGA legislators and their respective constituencies to create better solutions. She will work to unite the SGA and other student governing bodies to create a clear student voice.

Dien Nguyen – VP Finance

Dien is a sophomore finance and molecular biology major originally from Vietnam. He is currently the VP of Programming for the Asian American Student Union, a brother of Pi Delta Psi Fraternity and the Philanthropy Chair for the United Greek Council. In addition, he serves on the SGA Finance Committee, participating in the Student Activities Fee allocation process. If elected, Dien intends to increase communication with student groups in order to help simplify the budget process and provide useful feedback on student group budgets. He will work with groups to help them understand how to create a strong budget and understand the way the finance process works in order to increase confidence in the process as well as a better relationship between student groups and the SGA.

Brian Burrell – VP Academic Affairs

Brian Burrell is a sophomore English major running for Vice President of Academic Affairs. He has worked for MaryPIRG for the past year, working on various student issues including registering voters, and public transportation. This semester, he is working to bring open textbooks to campus and increase faculty member’s use of digital resources as alternatives to textbooks. Brian’s primary focus is the issue of textbook costs which he will address through the use of existing digital resources to help reduce the costs of textbooks through communication with administration and faculty. He also aims to improve student’s knowledge of what they can do with their major after college by holding more workshops and panels in each department to educate students and connect them with alumni. In addition to these new initiatives Brian will work to improve the faculty-student dinners and the First Look Fair.

Barbara Brennan – ARHU

Barbara Brennan is a sophomore American Studies major and Leadership Studies minor from Chappaqua, New York, running for the position of Arts and Humanities Legislator. As ARHU legislator, Barbara will be dedicated to serving her constituents to the best of her ability in representing the needs and voice of her ARHU peers to the SGA. Barbara is involved in other campus organizations such as the Peer Leadership Council, the Help Center Hotline and Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and will use the experiences that she has had in those organizations to better serve on SGA. Barbara will work as ARHU legislator to connect the student voice to her work within SGA and will work to get every voice heard. In her free time Barbara enjoys traveling and photography. She is looking forward to the upcoming SGA elections and hopes that you’ll get CONNECTED!

Matt Adler – ARHU

Matt Adler is a junior Communications major from Rye Brook, NY, who has been interested
in politics since he won his first election in 4th grade as a class representative. Adler volunteers with his local soup kitchen as well as Habitat for Humanity. Currently holding the position of musical arts director for Student Entertainment Events, he will be next year’s concert’s director, Adler has much experience with event programming and production and budget management. Besides SEE, Adler is also an active member of the fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon, and was their philanthropy chairman from 2007-2008.

Adler will work to improve ARHU in the areas where change is needed including allocating a larger budget, advocating for new materials, and CHEAPER textbooks, Adler will go out of his way to ensure that the student’s experience becomes more enjoyable. Vote for Matt Adler and the CONNECT party ticket to have your voices heard.

Sal Miragliotta – BMGT

Sal is a junior pursuing a dual degree in Logistics, Transportation, & Supply Chain Management and Information Systems with a minor in Spanish. On campus, he is involved in several student organizations, which include Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, where he serves as Treasurer on the executive board, the LTSCM Society, and the LTSCM Fellows Program. As a Business School Legislator, he will work to increase awareness of business school issues, provide resources to current and aspiring business school students, and enhance our already strong alumni relations.

Erik Mass – BMGT

Erik Mass is a sophomore Finance major at the University of Maryland. Through his work with the Residence Hall Association, Erik has a great deal of experience in handling legislative matters. During his time with the RHA, he served as Senator and member of the Residential Life Committee in addition to the Transportation Committee. As a Senator and area council member he was able to utilize his position to advocate for students’ issues. He will use his background in finance and his experience from working at a prestigious accounting firm by joining the Finance Committee.

Casey Anis – BSOS

Casey is a rising junior majoring in Government and Politics. While he is new to the Maryland SGA he’ll bring three years of high school student government experience. Casey’s primary goal is to continue to push for more BSOS funding. The efforts made so far by the SGA to increase funding for BSOS, the most underfunded college on campus have been both inefficient and ineffective. Casey will implement new ideas and strategies that will remedy this situation. Casey is running to represent the people of BSOS and is always willing to take time to meet with anyone individually to discuss any problem they may have to help solve the problem. He would love for you to contact him with anything you wish to discuss. Casey is a huge fan of most Terrapin sports and broadcasts both baseball and women’s lacrosse for the campus’ sports radio station, WMUC Sports.

Brandon Cuffy – BSOS

Brandon Cuffy is running for your BSOS Legislature on the Connect Party ticket. Hailing from Prince Georges County, Maryland, he is a sophomore Government and Politics major with a concentration in International Relations and a Philosophy minor. Other than being a candidate for the BSOS legislature position Brandon is the Vice President of Finance of the Black Student Union, the chair for the BSU Finance Committee, a member of the Hip Hop Conference Committee, and a member of the Student Entertainment Evolvement financial review board. With aspirations of going to law school upon graduation he hopes to one day work in the field of international law for the betterment of the global social structure and economy. With your support Brandon Cuffy will use the position of BSOS legislator to serve the campus to the best of his abilities.

Amanda Pleasant – BSOS

Amanda Pleasant is running for BSOS Legislator! She is a freshman, Government and Politics major. She will dedicate herself to and will work with BSOS and SGA to ensure that students’ concerns with BSOS are heard. She has served on the Campus Affairs Committee of SGA since last semester, so she has learned some things about how SGA works. As a member of the CIVICUS Living and Learning Program as well as the Model U.N., she has gained several qualities that a legislator should have. She will work to solve the problems in BSOS, such as large class sizes, and she will continue and expand on the work of the current BSOS legislators. So elect Amanda Pleasant for BSOS legislator!

Nathan Schoenkin – ENGR

Nathan Schoenkin is a Junior Aerospace Engineering major running for engineering legislator. As an engineering major he knows what it means to stay up all hours of the night, a testament to his recycling bins being constantly filled with cans of different caffeine filled beverages. Nathan is a member of the Kedma (Orthodox Jewish Community), and he is the founder and President of JEngA, the Jewish Engineering Association, which focuses on professional networking. He advocates the importance of gaining direct work experience while in college as well as networking. Nathan also tutors high school student in Calculus and Physics through an online tutoring company. Nathan plans to set up a professional social network amongst current engineering students – a very important resource to help all of us in making the right educational and professional decisions.

David Lai – ENGR

David Lai is a freshman Bioengineering major from Baltimore City, Maryland, where he is an alumnus of the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Service and leadership have always been his passions which he displays through his participation in a variety of activities on and off campus, including the HighRiser program in which he hosts perspective students. He is also the 2008-2009 At-Large Senator for the Residence Hall Association, where he is currently the Vice Chair of the committee that created the new on-line room selection process. A brother of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, David dedicates several hours a week to community service. As an Engineering Legislator, he will share his passion and experience to enhance the academic experience for his constituents. His goal in the SGA is to make the university an open, safe, and fun living-learning environment, through promotion of campus social and extra-curricular activities and health awareness.

Michelle Chan – JOUR

Michelle is a freshman Print Journalism and International Business double major at the University of Maryland. She is also in the Honors Humanities program, in addition to several student groups including the Diamondback General Assignment Desk, Unwind! Magazine, the Public Asian Newspaper, and Habitat for Humanity, where she serves as Sponsorship Officer. She also works on the SGA’s Public Relations committee to publicize events and campaigns sponsored by the SGA. Michelle promises to use the connections she has built across the campus through her involvement to represent the needs of Journalism students. Two of the events that she plans to hold are a panel of journalists for students to talk with concerning the changing industry and an introductory workshop to multimedia studies, a skill that will help all journalism students. Michelle has a strong work ethic and promises to build strong positive connections between the Journalism students and the SGA.

Rene Argueta – PUBH

Rene Argueta Jr. is a junior Public and Community Health major here at the University of Maryland. He is an alumnus of the College Park Scholars Program, recently completing the Advocates for Children program. He has served as a member of Freshman Council and Vice President of Finance for Latino Student Union. In addition, he has been an OA in the South Campus Community office, a member of Dynamic Hip Hop Dance Team, and a member of Eta Sigma Gamma, the National Health Education Honorary. He is proud to be part of the School of Public Health, and of the work the faculty has been doing. He has become aware of several issues and concerns within the School of Public Health. He hopes to become Public Health Legislator in order to tackle these issues, including improving the connection between faculty and students.

David Bransfield – Ellicot

David Bransfield is a freshman living in Hagerstown Hall. He is majoring in English and is a member of the Maryland chapter of the Public Interest Research Group. He is currently leading a campaign in the Maryland General Assembly which would allow for election day registration. David is determined to create a strong sense of community in the Ellicott area, as well as continuing to make the campus a better place to live by creating a dialogue between the student body and the local governments. David looks forward to serving you in the Student Government, so please do not hesitate to call or email him with any questions or concerns.

Victor Adebusola – Denton

Victor Adebusola is a junior Government and Politics major and Leadership Studies minor at the University of Maryland. He served as President of Hagerstown Hall last year and serves as both a RA in Denton Hall and RA Liaison for Denton Hall Council. In commendation of his involvement, he recently became Recognition Chair of National Residence Hall Honorary. In addition to being involved in residence life, he is an OA in the Denton Community Office, a START intern, a member of the Black Political Student Association, and Dynamic Hip Hop Dance Team.
Working as an RA and OA in the Denton Community, he has become aware of several of the issues and concerns of Denton Community residents. As the Denton Community Legislator he will tackle these issues, including keeping construction noise of the new Oakland Hall to certain hours and ensuring the implementation of the Denton Community Initiative.

Bill Braun – North Hill

Bill is a freshman journalism major who currently resides in Somerset Hall on North Hill. He is a member of the CIVICUS Live/Learn Program and currently serves on two SGA committees, Campus Affairs and the Programming and Traditions committee. If elected, Bill would work to host more activities between the residence halls on North Hill, as well as holding a monthly forum to hear what North Hill residents have to say. When not in class, Bill can be found watching reruns of Friends and playing Nintendo Wii.

Haniaya Gholson – South Hill

Hanaiya Gholson is a junior Broadcast Journalism major, with a minor in Spanish Languages and Cultures, running for the position of South Hill Legislator for the Connect party. A native of New York, she embraces her culture as a Panamanian-American, and is involved with a diverse assortment of student organizations on campus. She is currently in the university’s Honors program, a member of Primannum National Honor Society, and a member of the Maryland Association of Black Journalists. She has a vested interest in giving back to the campus community and has been thoroughly involved through her positions as: treasurer of the Black Honors Caucus, public relations and fundraising chairs for the Theta Nu chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and public relations director of the OMSE Academic Excellence Society. She is excited about working with the South Hill community and its residents to make the neighborhood a better place.

Lauren Shipton – Commons

Lauren Shipton is a junior Government and Politics major campaigning to be the next SGA Commons Legislator. She has received a citation for the College Park Scholars Environmental Studies program and is currently working on a project with the Office of Sustainability and Public Policy Dept. to reduce the University’s energy consumption. She has two years of experience with the RHA, in which she tackled tough issues such as the housing crisis and housing selection priority. In Fall 2007, she fell victim to a peeping tom incident in Hagerstown Hall. The infraction inspired and empowered her to become a student leader so that she can work to ensure student safety, security, and convenience. She knows what it takes to effectively lead and serve in a residential community and as the next Commons Legislator, she will work to solve the needs of all Commons residents.

Kimberly Goodwin – Courtyards

Kimberly Goodwin, is a junior Communication major on the Pubic Relations track,
running for Courtyards Legislator. Kimberly is from King of Prussia, PA. She is
involved on campus in several organizations. She is a member of the Black Student
Union and has worked with the Kids 2 College program. She has a strong desire to
volunteer and frequents the DC Central Kitchen weekly to volunteer her time and
feed the less fortunate. She has a strong interest in helping the campus community
and helps through her involvement as the financial secretary of the Theta Nu
chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is very excited to voice the
concerns of her fellow residents of the Courtyards community as well as represent
all her fellow Terps.

Alyssa Perrone – Neighboring

Alyssa Perrone is a junior Government & Politics and Criminology & Criminal Justice double major. She has lived off campus for the past two years and understands how disconnected commuters can feel from campus. She will work to improve bus routes as well as bike and walking paths for near-by commuters to create stronger physical connections with the university. She also will work on safety measures including better lighting and more blue-light emergency stations in residential and high-traffic areas. Alyssa is looking forward to connecting commuters to the on-campus community.

Sam Dunietz – Neighboring

Samuel is a rising senior Sociology major who for the past two years, has lived as a neighboring commuter, currently at Rhode Island Ave. He is currently working on a campaign with MaryPIRG to make textbooks more affordable for students, which has given him experience working with elected officials in order to affect change. His time living as a neighboring commuter has made him aware of the issues facing students living in areas surrounding the campus. As a legislator, he would push for increased UMD shuttle bus coverage and more frequent bus routes, especially in the late night hours and on weekends. In addition, he will work to expand facilities for bicyclists both on and off campus, in order to make it safer and more convenient for students to ride their bikes to and on campus.

Katie Sylvester – Greek

Katie Sylvester has been a member of her chapter since spring 2007 and will use her experience serving on the ritual committee, new member committee, Standards Council, as a Rho Gamma for spring 2009 formal sorority recruitment and as the Executive Vice President of her sorority to serve as your Greek Legislator. She will work to sponsor inter-chapter programs to bring everyone together for service projects and social events and to make our residential community safer by implementing lighting by the Book Exchange and increasing the visibility of the streets in the Graham Cracker area. She will also work to better unite PHA, IFC, PHC and UGC as one cohesive Greek community. Forums with local law enforcement and community officials will ensure that our safety concerns are voiced and that they can help us make our living community a better place.