NHCC students, cast your vote for the 2025-26 Student Senate. Check your NHCC email on Monday, April 7 for a link to vote by April 10, 2025.
What is Student Senate?
Student Senate is a group of students who are elected to represent the NHCC student body to continuously improve the student experience at both the college and state level. For example, this past year Student Senate advocated for a new food service vendor in Campus Center, advocated for changes in the Food Cupboard and a clearer policy on bookstore returns and buyback, and pushed for additional support for student parents.
2025-26 Student Senate Candidates
Here are the students who are running for Student Senate. Scroll down to read more about them to help you make an informed vote.
President:
- Gabriel Alagha
Vice President:
- Saif Marza
Secretary:
- N/A
Treasurer:
- Houreratou Bande
- Amira Jama
Public Relations Coordinator:
- Muna Wazwaz
Legislative Coordinator:
- Bailey Eaton-Bromley
- Mark Olaru
Diversity & Equity Coordinator:
- N/A
Ombuds:
- N/A
Senator At-Large:
- Denisha Thomas
- Kristel Knealing-Obando
Meet the Student Senate Candidates
President:
Gabriel Alagha
What skills will you bring to the Student Senate?
- I bring strong leadership, strategic decision-making, and problem-solving skills, along with experience in community building and event organization. As the acting Vice President of the Student Senate, I have developed excellent communication and teamwork abilities, ensuring that student concerns are effectively addressed. Additionally, my background in data science enables me to analyze issues logically and propose data-driven solutions that benefit the student body.
What area of concern would you like the Senate to focus on?
- What area of concern would you like the Senate to focus on? I would like the Senate to focus on strengthening student connections and fostering a sense of community. Many students, especially commuters and international students, struggle with feeling isolated on campus. By organizing more student-centered events, improving club support, and creating spaces for social interaction, we can build a more engaging and supportive campus experience for everyone.
What personal/professional gains do you hope to receive from the Senate?
- Serving on the Student Senate allows me to strengthen my leadership and advocacy skills while making a meaningful impact on campus. Professionally, I hope to enhance my ability to collaborate with diverse groups, negotiate solutions, and manage projects effectively—skills that are essential in my field of data science and AI. Personally, I look forward to connecting with students from different backgrounds, understanding their experiences, and working together to improve our college community.
Vice President:
Saif Marza
What skills will you bring to the Student Senate?
- I can offer solid leadership and good communication skills, plus I work well with others and can tackle problems effectively. I really care about standing up for student needs and planning events to make sure everyone’s voice is heard!
What area of concern would you like the Senate to focus on?
- The Senate should pay more attention to student mental health. This means making counselling more accessible, and establishing policies that promote students’ health.
What personal/professional gains do you hope to receive from the Senate?
- I would like to improve my communication skill.
Treasurer:
Houreratou Bande
What skills will you bring to the Student Senate?
- I bring strong organization, communication, and leadership skills. I am responsible, a team player, and good at problem-solving. I will work hard to support students and improve campus life.
What area of concern would you like the Senate to focus on?
- I would like the Senate to focus on improving student engagement, better communication between students and faculty, and creating more opportunities for student involvement on campus.
What personal/professional gains do you hope to receive from the Senate?
- I hope to gain leadership experience, improve my communication and teamwork skills, and make a positive impact on the student community. Being part of the Senate will also help me grow professionally by learning how to work with different people and solve problems effectively.
Amira Jama
What skills will you bring to the Student Senate?
- So, I have been treasurer for spring semester and was the previous student senator before that. My ability to communicate within the community in our school to get effective feedback for student senate to use had been found very helpful because I was able to open doors of opportunity for the Muslim community to be able to have an easier Ramadan and come up with creative ways to promote different clubs to join through incentives and assisted with tablings during my free time and I am always in office for student senate Monday through Thursday. As an active member I have been able to advocate for ways to market our school as well through posters and events that we could do outside of school, and I always try to participate to events outside of school like LeadMN. My leadership skills are still in development but have so far improved since joining student senate. Besides my work in student senate, I am a board member of Salaam club which contributes to bringing in our school’s community to divulge themselves in fun events like Henna and fundraisers which brought awareness of people being interested of what we represent of a club. Before becoming a board member, I was encouraged to because of the Ideas that revolved around the club helped bring in some peoples’ interest in do fun activities with club members. My strategic thinking and problem solving with issues, creativity, conflict resolution, and adaptability to unforeseeable situations (which we Salaam club have experienced after miscommunication) that I have experienced make me fit for such a role.
What area of concern would you like the Senate to focus on?
- One of them is promotions and getting more student activities. We see a lot of students roaming round campus center and want to include them in our school community so it became student senate goal through events to bring students together while promoting our club so we can get more students feedback and fill in leadership goals. One of the other things I have been interested in is voicing out our concerns as members of LeadMN so the senate of Minnesota can hear our voices and concerns.
What personal/professional gains do you hope to receive from the Senate?
- I hope to further develop my leadership skills since I had experienced what it was like for the first time when attending student budget meeting. It was a wonderful experience to be able to be a part of big decision revolving the organizations in student life. I want to harness some delegable qualities for the future to be able to step out of my comfort zone.
Public Relations Coordinator:
Muna Wazwaz
What skills will you bring to the Student Senate?
- I would bring my advertising skills that I have practiced on with events on campus, plan, organize events, Persistence and determination, social media platforms advertisement by Mastering social media platforms, creating engaging content, and monitoring online conversations. great communication with faculty and board members, writing skills, problem-solver skills from student ambassador job.
What area of concern would you like the Senate to focus on?
- None, everything now is well organized and up to date Appreciate the Student senate board for all the hard work!
What personal/professional gains do you hope to receive from the Senate?
- Problem-solving skills, creativity by making projects to do to acquire personal/professional gains and marketing skills.
Legislative Coordinator:
Bailey Eaton-Bromley
What skills will you bring to the Student Senate?
- Skills that I can bring to Student Senate are leadership skills, communication skills, collaboration and organization skills. I can also ensure that I would bring problem solving and teamwork skills. I as a student at NHCC, was a part of getting the parent space on campus approved. I have taken on the role to help open the space and develop it into an opportunity for parenting students to thrive and feel supported on campus. This space allows parents to bring their children on campus to study and get work done while being safe and having the ability to focus. As a parent student myself, I have loved to watch this come to life and see NHCC grow. I have a background in business and communications. Communicating with any and everybody is a strong suit of mine and keeps me open to new connections on and off campus. My business background has made my imagination and goals grow and change over the years to push myself into new things and support those around me who are doing the same, or need the drive to begin. I have helped Marketing at NHCC create a video for Pathways Days and found that collaborating on campus and sharing my story gave me a new purpose to continue to share and make new connections.
What area of concern would you like the Senate to focus on?
- I would love the Senate to focus on mental health resources, parenting resources, first generation student resources. I would like to see the Senate shine light on diversity and inclusion in a world that can sometimes feel very divided. I would like to see the Senate find more ways that students can come together and feel like a strong, supportive community at NHCC. I would like to engage in social events on campus and encourage other students to join.
What personal/professional gains do you hope to receive from the Senate?
- Professionally, I hope to continue making connections on campus and be a stronger and more powerful voice. I am studying to be a paralegal so I would enjoy learning more about the laws and rights students have on and off campus and how I can be more of a support to them. I hope to be involved as much as I can be on campus as a part of the Senate in more decision-making opportunities and inspiring stories. Personally, I would love to make new friends and being a part of a powerful community on campus with Senate.
Mark Olaru
What skills will you bring to the Student Senate?
- I'm someone who values integrity and service, which are both really important to me as a Christian. I'm a strong communicator and I like to stay organized. I've had leadership experience in student groups, and I've learned how to listen to others, keep things on track, and create a positive environment. I'm excited to bring these skills to the Senate and work with others to make a real difference.
What area of concern would you like the Senate to focus on?
- I'd like to see the Senate focus on creating more opportunities for student engagement and involvement. As a Christian, I believe it's important to build a strong, supportive community where everyone feels valued and included. Whether through more events, clubs, or ways for students to have a say in decisions, I think the Senate can play a key role in helping everyone feel connected and like they belong.
What personal/professional gains do you hope to receive from the Senate?
- I hope to grow as a leader and as someone who can serve others. My faith motivates me to lead with humility and a heart to help, and I want to use this role to improve the student experience and build a sense of community. I'm excited to develop my skills in communication and teamwork, all while making a positive impact on campus.
Senator At-Large:
Denisha Thomas
What skills will you bring to the Student Senate?
- I am always friendly, energetic, and ready to assist in whatever needs attention. I am a problem solver, a critical thinker, and I have great listening and communication skills. Most people here know me to be an advocator. You will typically see me interacting with fellow students all over campus as it is something I enjoy doing most.
What area of concern would you like the Senate to focus on?
- I would like to see NHCC Student Senate continue to focus on economic stability for us as students because it is important in today's society with our current conditions. I would also like to see us continue to keep public health and safety as a core value.
What personal/professional gains do you hope to receive from the Senate?
- I have met many great people by being involved here at NHCC. I know that Student Senate helps to improve the overall college experience for the entire body as a whole. I hope to continue to network, build strong bonds with students and faculty, and continue to advocate for us overall.
Kristel Knealing-Obando
What skills will you bring to the Student Senate?
- Tech-savvy, flexible, fast response, creative, different perspectives, communication skills.
What area of concern would you like the Senate to focus on?
- I would like to support the hierarchy of the Senate. I consider myself a hands-on person.
What personal/professional gains do you hope to receive from the Senate?
- Experience and being able to connect with the students Participation certificate.
Good luck to all of the Student Senate candidates!