During its first meeting under the new administration, the 2025-26 Student Government Association swore in new members, assigned senate committee positions, reviewed resolutions for grammar — including the budget — and settled committee chair appointments.

Jake Williams, SGA president and sophomore business administration major from Piggott, Arkansas, said the new administration is filling big shoes, but they have initiatives in the works. 

“We’re putting our energy towards creating a great senate atmosphere. That is something me and Kate have really been excited about doing,” Williams said. “That’s what SGA is about, representing people and students.”

He said he got involved as a freshman senator and has always wanted to advance within SGA. 

“I feel very prepared. This has been a long time coming and I’ve definitely gotten a lot of advice, it’s been a really good transition,” Williams said. “I just couldn’t be any more proud to represent and be the voice of the students.”

He said a concern he has regarding being president is keeping senators and staff focused on SGA as they are also in other campus-related initiatives.

“I really want to make SGA for senators and everyone, something they’re really excited and passionate about, and make sure every senator is here for a reason and that they’re fulfilling their obligations,” Williams said. 

He said a big talking point among the administration has been about improving transportation for international students, particularly how there are not enough transport buses to and from the Memphis airport. 

“That’s a real issue, because it kind of puts international students at a danger risk for taking rides with people they’re not sure of. So we really want to offer more opportunities for rides,” Williams said. “For example, they use a shuttle service and so we’re definitely wanting to sponsor a couple extra buses to help within that.” 

He also said they’ve also discussed financial transparency and their readiness to initiate their campus connection meetings next year. 

In addition, Vice President Kate Malone said the new administration will put their energy into collaboration meetings across campus. Malone said it’s a passion project for the administration and will be possible without taking money from the budget.

The sophomore strategic communications major from Germantown, Tennessee, said creating a more efficient campus is also a priority, from better transportation, to financial transparency, to  campus collaborations and communication.

She said she ran for the vice president position because she saw how the previous staff worked behind the scenes and thought she would excel. 

“I feel like I’ve been in SGA for a very long time so I kind of know how to run things and that has made me ready to be a vice president,” Malone said. “So I just decided to run for it and I found Jake and it was a great pair. It works out well when you have a great running partner.”

Malone said although she feels overwhelmed, she feels as if she’s proven herself since the Williams/Malone campaign. She said she is excited to see the future changes from her new administration and the community they’ll cultivate. 

“I know it’s possible and I want us to make it happen. I think A-State is a great campus.” Malone said.

In addition, Williams said he will continue within SGA’s constitution and his goal is to listen to his constituents. 

“I’m always open to changes and I would love to be a beacon for that,” Williams said.

In other business, SGA appointed senate committee positions at this meeting.

Nico Mata, a junior finance major from Jonesboro, was elected president Pro-temp. 

Mata said although he’s taken a lot of responsibility this past year from his participation in fraternity chapter Lambda Chi, serving as vice president of finance for the Interfraternity Council and for the Leadership Center, he is excited to serve in SGA. 

“I plan to take initiative with resolutions and be intentional with students, whatever request they have. I’m here to serve them and help them and I just love to continue to get to be involved on campus in a larger way,” Mata said. 

His previous run as parliamentarian for the Gonzalez/Betts ticket initiated his approach to assure any scholarship resolutions to be more transparent. 

“Really just making sure that everything is set in place for scholarships and funding for various student organizations and just making sure that everyone is informed as well,” Mata said. 

During the meeting, Senator Sidney Green, a first-year finance major from Bryant, Arkansas, was elected to be campus collaboration chair. This role keeps the senate up to date regarding on-going campus events as well as keeping in touch with other registered students organizations (RSOs). 

Green said fostering campus connection is important because the student senators are the liaison for the student body. She said her main ideas for campus collaboration is to keep the students up to date and informed. 

“It’s super important for us to collaborate and be involved within campus because that’s the only way that we will be able to hear what the student body has to say,” Green said.“It can be really hard with our busy college schedules and I also plan to reach out to the other organizations not only getting dates, but seeing what SGA can do in order to aid and help with whatever events that they’re throwing.”

In addition to swearing in new senators and staff, SGA reviewed the annual budget for grammar. 

Williams said the budget remains the same as the previous years. 

“It allows us to, if we need to, take any executive action within the budget. We have enough to do that and everything goes great,” Williams said. 

Even though the budget remained the same, Malone said they plan to look into scholarships and helping out different clubs.

“We want to continue the conversation about scholarships and we want to be looking into different clubs that we can be helping out and probably moving over some money into the Action Fund to help out more RSOs,” Malone said.

She said students can suggest resolutions to SGA.

“Find a senate member and they can make it happen. Or find one of us. We’re gonna have our office hours here soon and come find us in the SGA office,” Malone said, “We want to get resolutions out and on campus.”

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