Voting 101: SGA Spring 2021 Candidate Bio's

Hello Pioneers! My name is Anisa Kamara but everyone calls me AJ. I'm a sophomore going on junior, double major in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies with a minor in Social Justice. I'm also a sister of Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Incorporated and the current President of Student Government. I enjoy being outside, skateboarding, playing the guitar, and writing poetry. I am running again because I believe my work and service to the William Paterson community is not over. I want to continue to fight for the student body and make a difference within the community. If re-elected I will continue to put my best foot forward when it comes to the interests of students and faculty alike at William Paterson University.

Hello everyone! I'm an Environmental Science major with a minor in Criminal Justice and part of the honors college doing the Global Public Health track! I am currently in the Executive Vice President position, and I love every second of it. While it isn't easy, I am determined to play my part and really help our campus. I have been trying to get more people to present to club council, and really include club council in certain decisions that are made. It is important that everyone gets an opportunity to play their part and become amazing leaders!

Howdy! I'm Shawn Gaffney, a long time senator and junior economics and geography major.As EVP, I will spread more inclusion on campus, specifically by holding difficult conversations in Club Council. I want non-latinos/as to know about the "Latinx" debate. I want to talk about police presence at Black club events. I want to talk openly about how the university helps us students with stress and mental illness. Every day is a day for comfortable and safe people, it's not a weekly theme. Vote me in and we will have these conversations.As EVP, I would like to educate the student body on how to access administration as well as make access easier for us. I would like to teach you how to walk up to the President confidently. In doing so, I would also like to change the way that the university offers their time and ear because the university is still not reaching students in the way we need them to. Elect me and I will help.As EVP, I will advocate for visibility of faculty's actions on student life. Professors are our club, program, and personal advisors. They can also be our greatest obstacles as students. How they speak to us in the classroom carries with us everywhere. I want to encourage a more personal relationship between faculty and the student body in events and for students to take these conversations into the classroom.Thank you for your time and for voting!

"My name is Genesis Gonzalez, I am a proud sister of Chi Upsilon Sigma and as well currently a senior. The reason I am running for the position of Vice President of Academic Affairs is to branch off and hold a higher position within SGA and have a voice for student concerns when it comes to academics. I previously was a senator of Public Relations for a year. Not only did I find a purpose in SGA but I also found a family. Throughout COVID, many have needed to prioritize social issues that have been coming to light, and this position gave me the opportunity to promote SGA affairs, promote Senate vacancies & recruit students to join Student Government to make a difference, and to create new ways to promote a positive public image of the SGA. In the same way, use my platform and position to continue to advocate for my community and more specifically on the side of academics. Academics have always been important to me and I want to make sure the rest of the student body receives an equal and proper education."

I am a junior with an accounting and finance major, as well as a sales minor. I have been in sga for two semesters as a senator, and I plan on using what I have learned to make an impact on the allocations committee and the school as a whole.

I am running for this decision because I want to continue to grow in the student government. From the very beginning that I have been in the student government, I have lead with my heart. I understand what it means to be in this position. I want to be here because I want to help clubs thrive, and I want to continue giving back to the school, and this is the best way I know how this is the best way I can give back to my community by being a part of the student government.

My name is Joselito Paz, Jr and I am a Junior at William Paterson University. I am a Public Relations major with a minor in Visual Communication. I have been a member of the PR committee since my first semester here at the university. I aim to contribute all my knowledge that I have acquired over the past few years from my experiences in my respective major, as well as my experiences in the PR committee to run for the Vice President position for the Public Relations committee. In addition to, I am also a Peer Leader for the Will Power 101 program and an Orientation Leader. My understanding of networking students on campus as well as hands-on knowledge of doing PR-related tasks propel me to run for this position. Because I not only want to connect and network with students outside of SGA, I also aim to do the same for our organization internally. Since the pandemic, there has been a shift in personal communication. I want others to feel comfortable in the environment that they're in. Whether it's at a senate meeting, committee meeting, event, or just decompressing on campus, I aim for people to nuance their bonds to cultivate a greater understanding. A greater understanding for our students, and for the community.

Hi everyone! My name is Nour and this will be my third consecutive time running as VP of this amazing committee, I want to give students the comfortability and the voice here on campus and alleviate all the issues they are having. I want William Paterson to be their home away from home! So vote for me and I will continue to make you proud!

Hi! My name is Terrence Morris I am a senior Finance and Management Major with a minor in Economics. I join SGA because it’s a great way to help my peers who are going through the same or similar challenges as myself. It’s also a great way to meet new people, and to develop great interpersonal skills, communication skills as well as working in a team. I am running for the position of Academic Affairs Senator where my aim is to be your voice of change!A vote for Terrence is a vote for Change.

Hello! My name is Emma Dodson, and I am a junior who majors in Business Management with a Minor in Accounting. I decided to join SGA during the beginning of our Spring 2021 semester, and became intrigued to learn more about the academic affairs committee. Since joining, I have immersed myself into a different aspect of student life and involvement, which I truly love taking part in! Beforehand, I was involved on campus, but I didn’t feel as if my actions were making an impact on others in a positive way. Today, I can say that SGA has helped me become a more independent individual, who is focused upon forming connections with others, as well as promoting the well being of my student peers in regard to academic affairs. If I had the opportunity to be a part of the academic affairs committee again next semester, I would hope to further my capabilities of what I can do to advocate for my peers.Thank you!

I love staying connected to my community and my JRB family! I'm running to be a senator of Judicial Review Board again this year because I am dedicated to working towards making this campus a place where every student feels welcome, and clubs and organizations are a great way to find friends and get involved. I want to be there for students who wish to form these communities as well as those who want to find one.

My name is Lindsey Giordano and I am going into my senior year at William Paterson and I'm expected to graduate Fall 2022. I am a Secondary Education and History major. I am currently and at large member of the SGA Public Relations Committee and I am the Secretary and SGA Representative for WPUNJ Her Campus chapter. This past semester I was an at large member of the SGA Public Relations committee and I enjoyed every part of being involved. This next upcoming semester I am running to be a senator of the SGA Public Relations committee to hopefully be more involved on campus and help create a better environment for all students!

My name is Julianne Zmuda and I am a freshman and a resident here at William Paterson. I really want to make a difference on our campus and try to make William Paterson a more welcoming and fun place for residents and commuters alike. I have seen the issues on our campus and in our administration first hand and I want to work with you to fix them. This would be my second term as a senator for Public Relations and the work we were able to complete this year was amazing and made our COVID campus a little better. I hope I can continue to change our campus so that every person who comes here feels they have a home and can actually participate, regardless of whether or not you're a resident.

I'm Aida Reynoso; an EOF student, a junior majoring in English writing, minoring in health studies, and a first generation Dominican American college student from Newark, New Jersey. I want to nominate myself for Senator for Student Life Committee for the purpose of being able to enhance student life and make an impact on campus, help alleviate problems students may have whether it’s about reslife, dining services, campus police, or other things on campus. I want to find my voice within SGA, gain leadership skills, and stay connected with students and be able to advocate for their needs in all areas of student life.

I feel as though this position is a great opportunity for me to remain expanding my credentials and experience here at the University. I look forward to working collaboratively amongst all fellow members (both E-board and the senate body). In great strides towards having Student Government and the Student Life Committee continuously grow off of what it already is.

I'm running for the position of a senator for the Student Life Committee because i want my voice to be heard, I want to make a change on campus and I want to make sure that my peers voices are also being heard and that they're comfortable on campus, also I want to grow my leadership experience and meet new people and I believe this will be the best way to do it.