After weeks of campaigning, speeches, and a run-off election for both president and vice president, we now have our 2017-2018 Student Senate. Let’s meet this year’s group of world changers!
President: David Shirzad
- Experience: Cox Senator, Student Representative to the Board of Trustees for Athletics, AARO leader, IFC Vice President of Operations, SMU Student Conduct Board Member, SMU Ambassador, Tower Scholar
- Campus Involvement: Peruna Handler, Philanthropy Chair and member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, member of Best Buddies
“I am very excited to work with all parts of the student body over the next year to help find solutions to issues all around campus,” Shirzad told HCSMU. “We are going to focus on bringing concrete change that all students can see and embrace. My plan is to work on accomplishing everything that I outlined in my platform and more. This includes allocating more resources to the health center to improve our counseling services on campus, making it easier for students to get mob tickets and building a centralized database for students to find research opportunities. It is an honor to be in the position, and I will always work for the people who put me here: the students.”
Vice President: Nathan DeVera
- Sophomore majoring in engineering and math
- Experience: First Year Senator, Lyle Senator
- Campus Involvement: SMU Mob member, Southern Gentlemen Acting President, SMU tour leader, Rugby team player
“To the SMU community and the Student Body, I promise to continue to give you my all in everything that I do,” DeVera says. “The Student Senate has an immense amount of potential that I aim to further bring out in this upcoming year. From the individual senators to the body as a whole, I cannot wait to see what we do. Again, thank you to everyone who has endlessly supported me throughout these past few weeks and throughout my life leading to where I am today. I am indescribably grateful. PONY UP!”
Secretary: Davis Wells
- Sophomore finance major
- Experience: Pre-Major Senator, AARO leader
“I am so excited to be able to extend my reach to the entire student body as Secretary,” Wells says. “I’m honored to work alongside David and Nathan as servant leaders and I know that we will accomplish our goals to better the University. I am for every student on this campus and I encourage all of you to reach out to me regarding any of your concerns. Thank you so much for electing me to serve you!”
Graduate Affairs Officer: Blake Rainey
Cox Senators: Maggie Shmidt; Will Jones; Charles Woodside; Paxton Clark; Phillip Spencer
Dedman Senators: Arthur Troy; Nancy Gracen Klein; Kelsey Shipman; Hayley Halliburton; Isabelle Carlin
Lyle Senators: Matthew Lucci; Aleena Taufiq; Cory Mitchell
Meadows Senators: Claire Hermeling; John Bookas
Pre-major Senators: Christine Hensley; Zach Kosub; Helena Burns
Simmons Senators: Cayenne Price; Margaret Wilbanks
African American Senator: Cecily Cox
Asian American Senator: Amanda Oh
Hispanic American Senator: Victor Hugo Sanchez
International Senator: Sam Koshy
Queer Senator: Ray Cipriano
MILVET Senator: Nicholas Smith
Athlete Senator: Casey Rose