Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name for the respective positions.
Admissions & Financial Aid Committee (AFAC) Liaison
- Juan Garcia Reyes ’26
Gender & Sexuality Center (GSC) Liaison
- Anne Lehr ’26
Office of International Student Life (ISL) Liaison
- Narjis Nusaibah ’26
Education & Curriculum Committee (ECC) Liaison
- Allison Penn ’25
Physical Education, Athletics, & Recreation (PEAR) Liaison
- Mark Fernandez ’25
Information Technology Services (ITS) Liaison
- Jackson Eippert ’27
Sustainability Working Group (SWG) Liaison
- Alex Dudnyk ’27
- Ian Rothfeld ’27
Chaplain’s Office Liaision
- Isabel Intrater ’26
Residential Life Liaison
- Victoria Kindall ’25
Inter-Campus Liaison
- Ashton Macklin ’27
Office of Health Promotion (OHP) Liaison
- Meg Frost ’27
Center for Communicty & Civic Engagement (CCCE) Liaison
- Sunny Sun ’26
Office of Intercultural Life (OIL) Liaison
- Ian Chang ’27
Juan Garcia Reyes ’26
My motivations for continuing my tenure as the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee (AFAC) Liaison remain as they were when I first started. I am still strongly compelled to ensure that the voices of low-income and first-generation students (as well as all the other buckets of diversity Carleton likes to use) are given more than a token weight in the discussions that most concern them. Given my pedigree as a Questie (QuestBridge Scholar) who is also fortunate to be in the ranks of TRIO and FOCUS, I am well-placed to both listen to and understand the hopes, fears, and grievances of my communities. The personal salience of admissions and financial aid varies across campus, so I cannot make the false claim that I can represent everyone equally. I am ultimately guided by my sense of obligation to give back and improve the circumstances of current and future under-resourced students.
In my two years in AFAC (one as a student-at-large member and one as CSA liaison), I have had the opportunity to cultivate personal relationships with many of the AFAC members. My consternation with filing taxes and my current FAFSA frustrations have also buoyed my relationships with the financial aid office. Being the class of ’26 representative for the QuestBridge board has also given me ample excuse to visit some of the admissions peeps (shoutout to Renee and Ziyen 😊). Even outside of these friendly relationships, I have grown comfortable with speaking up in rooms with the big wigs.
Aside from lived experiences, I am also well-versed in the jargon of admissions and financial aid. I have gained some institutional knowledge about Carleton’s decision-making strategies and am growing my competence in navigating real students’ perspectives into it.
Where I have fallen short in my work as a liaison is in being an open resource for other students. While I have solicited input on multiple occasions (POSSE scholars, you might remember my emails to y’all), I have not advertised this position as one that can offer direct and immediate help. So take this acknowledgment as a step towards that. Often, Senate duties run in different directions from my duties on AFAC. My existence may be familiar from my part in the current CSA senator project to improve local transportation options. I doubt that this project will see a close this term, so I am certainly happy to continue it next year. Otherwise, it is somewhat difficult to say what I plan to accomplish. CSA meetings generally have a consistent agenda that, on the whole, can be classified as administrative (barring some exceptions). This is, as I see it, an inherent drudgery to institutions of bureaucracy. Regardless, the only accomplishment I can guarantee is that I can continue to carry over my positionality, as I do in AFAC, to the Senate.
Anne Lehr ’26
As the current GSC liaison, I am eager to run and be elected into the position again because of the relationship I’ve established and knowledge I’ve gained in collaboration with the GSC in the past year. As an office that is currently going through a lot of changes, I feel as though electing and having someone who had experience with the office as it was and as it is now is important so that the needs of the GSC can be best met. Additionally, while being a member of CSA as this new exec board comes into fruition, I know the effort and dynamic that is needed to meet both the expectations of Carleton students and the senate of CSA. Having elected experience, in combination with being a queer member of the Carleton community, I know that I can and will be the best person for the position.
Currently, I am working to create a new talent show tradition at Carleton along fellow senate member Rahim. I hope to not only establish the show this year, but make sure it is continued throughout my time here and beyond. With the existence of committees within CSA, I hope to be able to get involved in efforts regarding sustainability and one of our newest pilot programs, Generation Conscious. I aim to solidify the presence of these accessible detergent sheets so that all students at Carleton, now and in the future, can have one less thing to stress about.
Narjis Nousaibah ’26
I’ve served as the ISL Liaison for CSA for the past year, and I feel very prepared to continue this position. I’m running for re-election because I believe in the importance of continuity and building upon the foundation I’ve laid during my current term. Over the past year, I’ve cultivated strong relationships with various offices, which I aim to leverage for the benefit of the student body in the coming year.
As an international student myself, I have a good understanding of the needs and challenges faced by the ISL target student body. I am confident that I can effectively advocate for their concerns and issues, using my communication skills to convey their needs to the CSA.
One concrete project I’m actively working on is securing funding to cover the Optional Practical Training (OPT) fee for these students. Additionally, I’m committed to exploring avenues to mitigate tax burdens on this demographic, ensuring that they can fully benefit from opportunities like OPT without undue financial strain. My aim is to finalize these initiatives before the end of next year
Allison Penn ’25
I have enjoyed this position for the past year and want to run for another term. I have added a valuable student perspective to the ECC and have enjoyed communicating between my committee and CSA.
I hope to continue working on my ECC related-project of combining the process of applying for a 13th term with the financial aid office to create a more streamlined and clear process for students who are applying for a 13th term, as this has been a complicated experience in the past. Outside of this project I hope to continue working with the voting access/participation group.
Mark Fernandez ’25
Athletics are the one thing that have made me feel at home at Carleton. If I can help make this a reality for any other Carleton student, then I feel it is my duty to do this.
Look to expand the classes and options given to physical education classes (such as open rec center times) and to promote and market our student athletes better for the both the athlete and school’s benefit
Jackson Eippert ’27
I am running for this position because I currently occupy it and have enjoyed it thus far. I’m only just getting my bearings in CSA, but I think I’m starting to understand how it operates. In addition, I think I am specifically fit to be the ITS liaison because I am generally knowledgeable about technology.
I continue to plan working on communications issues, especially related to club communications around presence. In addition, I want to work more in the future on some of the transportation issues. Finally, I just generally want to act as a student voice in the community.
Alex Dudnyk ’27
I’m a co-leader of Energy Club and a sustainability assistant (starting next study year). These roles provide me with the necessary insight to effectively understand and convey the importance of sustainabilities group’s policies and actions to other students, who are passionate about sustainability just like I am.
I plan to expand Carleton’s solar energy program. Next year when I’ll be stepping in my role of sustainability assistant, I’ll be directly involved in all the projects, which will allow me to promote the sustainability agenda more efficiently, including the solar program expansion. I already have some plans in the works, only a matter of time to put them into action.
Ian Rothfeld ’27
I would be thrilled to apply my experience as CSA Secretary to support the Sustainability Working Group in the CSA Senate. The skills and knowledge I have gained as Secretary and, more recently, as a College Council liaison, put me in the best position to carry out this role — throughout the past year, being a CSA Executive has exposed me to every aspect of college governance and student government, has given me a deep understanding of how committees across the college operate, and has shown me the best ways to create and enact change. I’ve seen how student government — when used correctly — can make a real difference on campus, and I believe I can help the CSA can find ways to follow those methods of governing more consistently.
(This is long, so here’s a summary: I want to help the CSA communicate better — which will amplify student voices and create more dialogue with the admin — get more fruit in the dining halls and talk about dining plans, and make transportation to the Cities not bad.)
While I’m on Senate, I would like to expand the utility and transparency of the CSA, create more ways for students to engage in discussion with the admin, continue the work of ongoing senator projects and propose new ones to address other campus problems, and support and represent the Sustainability Office as it implements its soon-to-be-unveiled sustainability plan:
1 – CSA Communication: One of the best ways to support the Sustainability Working Group would be to improve communication between it, the CSA, and other groups on campus. Many see the CSA as just some distant organization, but having been on it (and written its minutes to create more transparency) for almost the entire year, I understand how it genuinely impacts student life — it provides almost $1,000,000 in funding to every club on campus, hears important presentations from the administration about everything from dorm improvements to dining, and it is the best place for students to bring attention to problems on campus.
2 – Dining but Fruit: The dining halls need more fruit (the dining hall apples don’t count). Not-morning people find it hard to go to breakfast, and brunch isn’t offered every day — those are the only two meals with fruit, and as a result, fruit isn’t very accessible. From personal experience, fruit is lighter than other foods offered, makes me feel healthy, and makes yogurt less boring — I’ve heard many students agree with me, and I think expanding fruit options should at least be considered!
2 – Dining but dining: There should be a better way for students, Bon App, and the admin to have sustained discussions about what students want in their dining system — very few freshmen are happy with the 20-meal plan, nobody is happy with the new 7-plan, and many are unhappy about the dining hours (for example, my 3a, 4a, 5a schedule doesn’t give me time to get lunch.) The CSA should facilitate conversations between the creators of these systems and the students who are affected by them, both to change policy and spread an understanding of why the system is how it is.
3 – Transportation: This is already a senator project (see the Senate minutes for more context!), but I would love to participate in it — Carleton, despite its frequent emphasis on its proximity to the Twin Cities, doesn’t have a way of accessing them. There’s no direct bus line to the cities, no good bus schedule that works for everyone even when more busses are offered when leaving for break, and it costs $70 just to get to the Mall of America and back. It’s an accessibility problem, an environmental problem, and everything in between.
These are just some ideas about initiatives I would like to create or join during my time as a liaison, but I would be happy to discuss any ideas anyone else has!
Isabel Intrater ’26
I am incredibly delighted to be running again for the Chaplain’s Office Liaison. I have held this role for the past year and would be incredibly excited to continue to serve CSA in this position. I have worked in the Chapel as a Chaplain’s Associate (CA) since my Freshman year, and will be continuing to work there next year as well. In my role as a CA, I meet with the Chaplain, and other CAs every week to discuss and plan events, and thus will be able to communicate needs and concerns of the Chapel and religious life on campus to CSA and keep the Chapel’s office informed of pertinent discussions and decisions of the CSA. Also, at the Chapel we plan all sorts of campus wide and community events, which has allowed me to interact with and support a lot of different student groups. I also serve on CSA’s Budget Committee, which has brought me a lot of experience in understanding how CSA supports student organizations. Between all of these experiences and knowledge, I am well qualified to act as a liaison between the Chaplain’s Office and CSA, as well as advocate for the needs of student groups.
I am really excited about the work that I, along with some other senators, have started in CSA to advocate for more accessible, convenient, and affordable transportation options to get from campus to the cities. I would hope to continue this work with CSA, and also in collaboration with the Chapel which has been advocating for this change for the past year. I would like to find student consensus and opinions together in order to work with administration to actualize student’s desires to access all of the culture, food, sports, medical appointments, family and friends, and other colleges in the cities. In addition, I would like to work on getting student feedback on and making changes to the vending machines on campus. I think there is significant room for improvement in making sure that the options available to students are actually desirable.
Victoria Kindall ’25
I am running for this position because I would love to be an active member of CSA and I know with my experience working as an RA will help me understand the procedures and environment of ResLife. I hope to improve the communications between ResLife and CSA. If elected, I also hope to be a representative voice to address any concerns there may be with residential spaces.
Ashton Macklin ’27
Having worked with various faculty and staff between St. Olaf and Carleton that have organized or desiring to organize inter-campus projects, events, and more, I believe that the resulting familiarity with administrative dynamics and bureaucracy makes me more comfortable taking upon the needs of the CSA to facilitate the dynamic necessary to build inter-campus coordination on both the student and faculty/staff level. I have experience in positions that require intermediation, and comfort working with new groups of people with unfamiliar or differing interests. I find myself often between the two campuses for a variety of reasons, and am willing to accomodate how CSA.
I plan to expand ways students between both St. Olaf and Carleton could be made aware of, and participate in events, gatherings, and life between the two campuses. There exists a bounty of collaborative opportunities and desires from students on both ends, and an ever-present wish to participate in the opposing campus’ academics. For this, I would want to organize an event that brings St. Olaf campus organizations who already do, or wish to engage with Carleton students, (such as the St. Olaf Jewish Student’s Organization), facilitating connections between each counterpart. Faculty also desire this collaboration, sometimes hindered by scheduling or lack of outreach. Coordinating with the Provost’s Office to allow an opportunity for St. Olaf and Carleton faculty to familiarize themselves with one another could create those same conditions for academic exchange as well.
Meg Frost ’27
I have worked this year as OHP liaison and through my role I have gotten to know OHP’s staff, mission and role on campus. Next year I will be working more closely with OHP as a SWA, and through my direct interaction with and knowledge of OHP’s goals, programs and staff I will be able to work as a strong advocate for OHP’s goals on CSA. Additionally, I am passionate about healthcare and wellbeing, specifically mental health and psychology and will use this knowledge and passion to more effectively promote OHP’s goals through CSA.
I hope to work more with sleep and mental health, possibly with class guidelines regarding extensions, absences and sickness protocols. I aim to use my connection with OHP and job as a SWA to seek the resources and appropriate background to bring these changes to CSA. I also hope to act as an advocate for student and staff health and wellness on CSA, through my voting, contributions and actions.
Sunny Sun ’26
I have been worked as a CCCE fellow and CCCE liaison in CSA for the past year, which gave me familiarity with both the office I represent and the CSA. I am returning to work in the CCCE next year, which enables me to stay on top of events happening in the office.I highly value the student initiatives being supported by CSA and recognize the collective voice that CSA has on creating a more inclusive and supportive campus environment. My direct involvement and close relationship with CCCE enables me to be the bridge between CCCE and CSA, who understands CCCE’s tasks from firsthand experience while having the support from CSA. Aside from working in the office, I am also actively involved in leading volunteer programs at CCCE, which allows me to experience firsthand how the community-campus partnership is going on and how students’ involvement in volunteering has been changing. My experience of working as a Senate in the CSA throughout the past year are also valuable in helping me understand the scope of issues that the CSA could make an impact and think of meaningful ways to use campus resources to make positive impact.
I am currently involved in the CarlsVote working group and the AI Coordinating team as a student representative. I hope to continue bringing back insights from these working groups to the CSA and foster meaningful collaboration between related campus offices to support student civic engagement and improve education experience that incorporates AI-programming.
Ian Chang ’27
I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve as the OIL Liaison at Carleton, driven by a commitment to foster an inclusive and supportive campus environment.
In high school, I held significant leadership roles in the International Club and Asian Culture Club, where I was instrumental in organizing a school-wide multicultural assembly and various cultural potlucks celebrating Asian and other international holidays. These events not only educated our student body on diverse world cultures but also encouraged students to share their heritage, enhancing our community’s inclusivity and dialogue.
During my time at boarding school, I organized a quarterly “Salsa Night,” collaborating with a Mexican dorm parent to prepare traditional salsas. This event, a favorite among students, was more than a social gathering; it served as a cultural exchange that deepened attendees’ appreciation for Mexican culture, reflecting my capability to host events that foster cultural awareness and community engagement.
As OIL Liaison, I plan to leverage my rich background in cultural programming to enhance inclusivity in campus activities at Carleton. By fostering improved communication and collaboration between OIL and the broader Carleton community, I aim to create a more understanding and authentically inclusive environment. As a member of the Senate, I hope to initiate projects that enhance student life and foster a more inclusive and connected campus community at Carleton. My first goal is to launch “Cultural Exchange Weekends.” Drawing on my experience with cultural clubs and events, these weekends would invite students to celebrate and learn about different cultures through food, music, and workshops, thereby fostering a more inclusive campus environment. Additionally, I propose the development of enhanced student communication platforms. Recognizing the need for more effective channels for dialogue, this initiative aims to create or improve a digital communication platform that not only centralizes essential information but also provides a structured forum for students to express their concerns and suggestions. This would facilitate a more direct and ongoing conversation between students and administration, helping to close the disconnect and ensuring that student voices are heard and considered in campus decision-making processes.