Students Unite '61

Cody Szell

Presidential Candidate

“After working a job while maintaining a full course load, I fully understand the difficulties of not feeling heard in the workplace. This administration of Students Unite hopes to bring far more representation to underprivileged student workers by providing them a proper representative body to better advocate for solving their more personalized grievances. I hope to be a lifelong advocate for working-class Americans and wish to further my advocacy as your Student Body President.”ORGS/INTERESTS
Co-Chair of the Young Democratic Socialists of America
Interested in Student Worker Advocacy and Academic Advancement
Chair of the SGA Academic Affairs Committee
Member of the Equity for Students with Disabilities Committee & the Faculty Senate Undergraduate Committee

Mohammad Tabbara

Vice-Presidential Candidate

“I was raised on the idea of advocacy, and helping out wherever I can. I believe that helping someone directly, even if it’s in a small way, is more impactful than a promise to be better. I’m running for Vice President because as much as I enjoy being part of the school community, there are avenues for improvement in the student experience. I’m passionate about community outreach and supporting mental health safety nets for students here on campus. It takes a village, but as my dad used to always say, “you help one person, you save a world”ORGS/INTERESTS
Former SGA Director of Multicultural Affairs
Former Co-Chair of MVP Hunger & Homelessness
Member of the MSA
Member of SPB
Member of MVP
Member of the Student and Gender Resource Center Advisory Board

Undergraduate at Large

Ian Kariuki

I’d like to begin on why I chose the University of Houston? I have always had a passion for leadership and advocating for the people. Houston being the 2nd most diverse school in the nation its filled with a bunch of different people from different areas with different beliefs, ideas and point of views. I knew coming here would help me understand various different types of ideas from people across the world. As I began to grow and enhance in my leadership skills I would like to advocate for ALL the people, whether that's a white, black, brown person. No matter who or where you came from I believe that all people deserve to voice their opinion and stand for what they believe is right, no matter your past or background. As your leader I stand firm in making sure ALL people are heard and understood. From the students, professors, custodians… ALL people.
I am a firm believer in all situations and arrangements that there's a small thin line where both sides of the argument can leave feeling accomplished and gained.That small thin line I am addressing is called compromising. I am not a problem solver but I can assure you that I am a problem compromiser. As your leader I will always strive to make sure everyone can win at the end of the day. I will always try my best to find that very thin line of compromising, in order for all of us as a school to feel accomplished and understood.

Mohib Awan

Savannah Bivens

I am excited to be a senator for UH because I truly believe in making student’s experiences in college more productive. I am passionate about helping students have better access to the jobs they want to have after college. I want UH students to have better control over their professional futures, and that starts on campus. As a senator, I want to empower my fellow students to feel that they can achieve the futures they dream of.
I want to make job fairs accessible to students based on the jobs they want, not the college they belong to. As an Economics major, I am unable to attend business job fairs due to Economics not being a part of Bauer college. This gatekeeping of job fairs depending on college instead of career goals, harms me and other majors that are underrepresented on campus. I want to advocate for my fellow students to have full access to all job fairs, and empower students to have control over their job opportunities at UH.

Karla Landa

Olivia Gerling-Perez

Following an unfortunate bout of food poisoning contracted from the campus dining commons, my commitment to championing health and safety for all fellow students has been reignited with fervor. It is imperative that every individual within our campus community feels secure in their environment, and I aspire to serve as a dedicated advocate for this cause. By aligning with Students Unite, I aim to provide a voice of representation for our student body, ensuring that their concerns are heard and addressed effectively.

Sahar El Hoderi

From Libya to the University of Houston, my journey has been more than geographical—it's been an educational odyssey. Serving as President of the United Student Council at HCC in 2022-2023 taught me the power of student voices in shaping university policies. This experience, combined with my personal transition from Sabha to UofH, highlighted the urgent need for immersive, hands-on programs that prepare students for the competitive job market.I am deeply committed to enhancing our academic environment with opportunities that foster real-world skills and problem-solving capabilities. Through the Student Government Association, I aim to champion initiatives that tailor education to our needs, ensuring we stand out as job candidates. My vision is clear: to create a university experience where every student has the chance to reach their full potential, supported by innovative programs that bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application.Joining the SGA is more than a role for me—it's an opportunity to continue my mission of empowering our community, ensuring our voices lead to meaningful change and our preparation for the future is unmatched.While I strongly appreciate the University’s continued support in addressing student concerns on campus, I see lots of opportunities for improvement in the student experience! An important reason we work on our academic journey is so we are prepared to have an impact on the real world. I am passionate to advocate for the development of programs that enhance our skills beyond the classroom, technical based competitions that fuel our passion, and an environment that influences all of us to succeed in our journey in this life and beyond!

CLASS

Meryem Farehan

Ibrahim Islam

Mihiseth Abeygunarathna

“Ever since I was young, I've wanted to do good things for my community and bring people together. Now that I'm here at the University of Houston, I want to make sure everyone feels welcome and happy on campus. As a senator, I'll work to make sure the university is a place where everyone can fit in and feel accepted. Let's make our campus a better, friendlier place for all students!”“My goal is to make the University a friendlier and more inclusive place for everyone! I also aim to improve parking and transportation so it's easier and cheaper for students. Plus, I want to create a campus that feels like home for everyone, making it simpler for students to settle in and feel comfortable!’’

Abdullah Soliman

As a Young Man, I have always wanted to make a positive contribution to my society and create a strong community where I am at. Coming to the University of Houston, I wish to create an inclusive environment where everyone can come and enjoy their time as students on campus. As a senator, I will help make the university a more accessible and accepting place for students.
I wish to make the University a more accepting and inclusive place for everyone! I also want to make sure parking and transportation becomes more accessible and affordable for all students!

Sebastian Ballesteros

I aspire to be your CLASS Senator because I am deeply passionate about advocating for my fellow students and effecting positive change within the Cougar Community. I believe that through active involvement in student government, we can play a crucial role in addressing the diverse needs and concerns of our student body. By serving in this capacity, I aim to amplify the voices of those who feel overlooked, working tirelessly to ensure that every student's experience at our university is fulfilling, inclusive, and supportive. Ultimately, student government is a platform not for the title, but to enact meaningful initiatives, become a strong voice for students, and create strong relationships between students and their student representatives.I want to advocate for the marginalized student, the one who feels isolated, hungry, and burdened by financial struggles. I aim to be their voice in ensuring equitable access to resources and services. My primary focus will be on addressing students' financial concerns, striving to ensure that every individual at UH can thrive financially during and after their academic journey. I am committed to implementing a comprehensive financial education program that empowers students with crucial knowledge about budgeting, taxes, saving, and financial behavior, thus fostering a more secure future for all.

Christian Escoto

Effective change of any kind typically begins small, and I believe that there is great power to change things as a collective. The Student Government is a collective force at the University of Houston that I want to be part of in order to create positive change for students on all fronts.HOW I WANT TO ADVOCATE:
- Have an open line of communication between all students and myself pursuant to pushing for changes both inside and outside of issues concerning CLASS.
- Push for greater financial transparency that is essential to all but especially working class students.
- Finding ways to fill the vacuum created by the defunding of DEI for students in the LGBTQ+ community.

Esther Gwa

“I have had a passion for representative leadership ever since I was younger, being able to voice out the concerns of people and see them get their hearts desires makes me happy. If I have learnt anything over the years, it is that to be a good leader you must take the position of your followers. So if we are to pick someone to advocate for us why not those among us”“I would love to do this by getting the struggles of both international students as well as students under class heard. I would personally say that these two groups of students are being overlooked in different aspects. I would use this opportunity to bring our struggles to the table of the University”

Bauer

Haley Salinas

Andrew Soto

Samia Winfield

I am a candidate for student government senator because I think advocacy and representation have great power. I am excited about having a positive effect because, as a student, I have seen both the potential and the challenges that our campus community faces. My goal is to give my peers more voice, listen to their issues, and collaborate with them to bring about significant change. As a senator, I want to promote a climate that is more welcoming, active, and encouraging so that all students can succeed intellectually, socially, and personally. In order to improve the entire student experience, I'm dedicated to being a proactive leader that interacts, listens, and acts. Let's work together to create a more promising future for our college community
Being a vocal and committed senator for the rights, needs, and welfare of kids is how I want to advocate as an advocate. As an advocate, I'll pay close attention to the worries of the students, raise their concerns with the appropriate parties, and try to put real solutions in place. This will entail promoting better mental health services, financial assistance options, academic support services, and safety precautions on campus. In order to generate support for change and bring attention to significant concerns, I also want to plan student-led campaigns, petitions, and rallies. Last but not least, I want to establish trusting bonds with educators, administrators, and other decision-makers so that I can successfully push for laws and procedures that put the needs of students first and foster a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.

Aniyah Hubbard

I am enthused to become a senator for our university. With the intent to bridge the gap between academic responsibilities and active engagement, regarding on-campus issues. Having personally experienced the challenges of managing a demanding course load, I am committed to finding efficient solutions that enhance students' academic experiences. I aspire to contribute to positive changes on campus, leaving a lasting impact and creating legacies that reflect my dedication to making a worthwhile difference. By serving as a senator, I aim to streamline communication, advocate for student needs, and foster an environment where everyone can thrive academically and actively participate in shaping the university's future

Aiden Tomes

NSM

Islam Sabtin

Yusuf Islam

Hai An Hoang

As many of us know, there are multiple improvement spots on campus. Each one of us is inevitably impacted by several…areas of contention. While I will do my best to promote and work for what I wish would change in an instant, realistically it could become a longer process if not enough people open up in their concerns. It is not easy being a member of SGA. There will likely be someone who antagonizes you for your views. However, I encourage everyone to become more involved with campus politics as it is a major determinant of many of the funding allocations and policies. As a commuter from Katy and an NSM student, I know how difficult it is to manage your time on campus. It can get incredibly isolating without a support system. To top it off, getting around parking enforcement is like walking on eggshells. It makes us want to just go home as soon as we can. And so I want to improve student campus involvement and to have a safe community in which ideas are shared and complaints are heard because we students at least deserve that.
HOW I WANT TO ADVOCATE:
- Better parking enforcement services (appeals for parking tickets addressed properly)
- Change in CASA’s current registration platform
- More investigation into possible contamination of food in dining halls

Gaurav Dutta

Engineering

Yusuf Kadi

Emmanuel Nwobodo

Grecia Ledezma

Jordan Jones

Jude Okonkwo

Shiza Ahmed

Graduate

Jesus Nieto

“During my time at the University of Houston-Downtown I learned how big decisions get made at the institution. I became Student Body President where I was able to effectively work on creating a safer campus, bringing more ways of transportation, and growing our campus culture. Now that I am a graduate student at the Hobby School of Public Affairs, pursuing my masters in Public Policy, I would like to use my skills and knowledge to advocate for graduate students across all colleges. The 9,000 graduate students deserve their representation at the University of Houston and with me as their representative they will get the representation they deserve!”“My plan as a GAL senator is to work alongside the other graduate at large senators to work towards graduate student unity. The time where graduate students at UH get their fair share of representation has been brewing for far too long. The time is here where we see graduate students across all colleges get paid higher wages for their work, where graduate students receive more resources to finish their graduate degrees, and have functioning spaces where graduate students can be part of a community of their own peers. Working towards these goals alongside other GAL senators and with the GPSA is how I will get this done.”

Talha Khan

By running as a Graduate at Large Senator for the Student Government Association (SGA), I am passionate to represent the diverse voices and perspectives within our graduate student community and make them feel heard and valued. As a graduate student, I am committed to enhance the graduate student experience by embodying the principles of inclusivity, equity, and progress. I am dedicated to championing initiatives that empower graduate students to thrive both academically and personally. Together, let’s create a more vibrant and enriching academic community that empowers every graduate student to reach their full potential.
As a GAL-Senator, I’ll tackle the critical issues faced by graduate students first and foremost-including advocating for improved funding opportunities, enhancing academic resources, affordable healthcare, raise mental health awareness and fostering a more supportive and inclusive campus environment. I’ll enhance communication channels between the SGA and graduate students to accelerate decision-making processes and ensure transparency and accessibility. I’ll work in close liaison with administration and faculty to address concerns related to academic policies, campus facilities, networking opportunities, and interdisciplinary collaboration, I will ensure that the voices of underrepresented groups within our graduate student population be heard, and the needs and concerns of UH graduate community at large be addressed.

Muhammad Haseeb Muktar

I am running for student government as a senator to advocate for the needs and concerns of graduate students. With a firm belief in the power of representation, I am committed to being a voice for our graduate community. My decision to run is driven by a passion for social justice, equity, organization - values that I will bring with me into this role. As a graduate student myself, I understand the unique challenges we face, and I am dedicated to addressing them head-on. Together, let's work towards building a more inclusive and supportive environment for all graduate students on campus.
I will achieve my goals by engaging with fellow graduate students to understand their needs and concerns. I will collaborate with student organizations, faculty, and administrators to develop and implement policies addressing challenges such as funding, housing, healthcare, and work-life balance. Prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, I will advocate for recruitment efforts and a supportive environment for all students. Additionally, I will champion mental health reforms, advocating for increased access to resources and reducing stigma. Through collaboration and action, I am committed to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all graduate students.

Lidya Mussie Weldehawaryat