August 8, 2026
2:15 pm, Forum 30130, Downtown Campus Room 200B, Zoom
In Attendance
Student Senators
- Senator- Alayna Smith
- Senator- Uruba Harris
- Senator- Josephine Pfenninger
- Senator- Sudan Gordon
- Senator – Amina Bachar
- Senator – Cassie Allen
- Senator – Christian Escalera Acevedo
President
- Gona Abdullah
Vice President of Governance
- Maniere Johnson
Vice President of Downtown Campus
- Anthony Flanders – Not present
Student Trustee
- Rusty Setanyak
Elections Coordinator
- Joyce Borbor
Office of Student Life
- Advisor: Jodi Oriel
- Faculty Advisor: Mark Sample
Visitors
- Ryan Messenger Academic & Student Services
- Dana Williams – MCC Student
- Ginny Geer-Mentry – MCC Association
- Eric Wheeler – Veteran Services
- Julie Babulski – Biology
Minutes
Call to Order (2:15pm)
- Roll Call (see attendance above)
Vice President Johnson called for a roll call to start the senate meeting. - Land Acknowledgement
Reports
-
President Abdullah
Hello, my name is Gona Abdullah. Over the past two weeks, I participated in Student Government Association trainings with the rest of the SGA team. During these trainings, we had the opportunity to set expectations for ourselves and each other, helping us build a strong foundation for teamwork and collaboration throughout the year. In addition, we worked together to establish goals for the 2026–2027 academic year, focusing on ways we can better serve the student body and make a positive impact on our campus. Lastly, we had the pleasure of organizing the upcoming September 11th Remembrance Ceremony, where we began planning a meaningful event to honor and remember those affected by the events of September 11th. Overall, it has been a productive and exciting start to the semester, and I look forward to working alongside my fellow SGA members to accomplish our goals and serve the MCC community throughout the year. - Vice President Johnson
Good afternoon, everyone, I hope all had a break this weekend and that we all engaged in some activities that were useful towards something meaningful to all. I had the opportunity to apply for the position of Vice President of Student Government, and then I had the pleasure of interviewing this lovely board. Each one of the members we interviewed was special and has a real mark that will make the student body better. I recently had the pleasure of training with my fellow Student Government leaders, and I enjoy learning about each and every one. I have hopes for the semester and the academic year of 2026-27. - Student Trustee Smetanyak
Good afternoon. My name is Rusty, and I have the privilege of serving as the Student Trustee for Monroe Community College and as a member of the Student Government Association. It is truly an honor to represent the voices of our students, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend my first Board of Trustees meeting. I look forward to serving in this role and contributing to the continued success of our students and the College community. Over the summer, Student Government Association leadership remained committed to preparing for a successful academic year through recruitment, training, and organizational development. I had the opportunity to work alongside Anthony Flanders, Vice President of the Downtown Campus, and our SGA Advisor, Jodi Oriel, to create and publish a Tribune message promoting Student Government Association involvement. This outreach initiative helped introduce students to the opportunities available through SGA and encouraged them to become engaged campus leaders. A significant accomplishment this summer was the successful recruitment and interviewing of prospective student leaders. Following a competitive interview process, we welcomed a new team of dedicated students who are eager to serve the Monroe Community College community. Throughout summer training, our focus was on building a collaborative and effective leadership team while preparing members for the responsibilities they will undertake during the upcoming academic year. I am excited to see the positive impact this new team will have on our campus. Looking ahead, SGA is preparing for the annual September 11 Memorial observance. This event serves as an important opportunity for our college community to come together in remembrance of those who lost their lives and to honor the courage and sacrifice of the first responders and all those affected by the events of September 11, 2001. We look forward to supporting this meaningful tradition and encouraging student participation. As Student Trustee, it is a tremendous honor to represent the voices of Monroe Community College students. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside such a dedicated Board of Trustees, whose commitment to student success and the mission of the College is evident in all that they do. It is especially meaningful to attend my first Board meeting as Student Trustee, and I look forward to learning from the Board’s leadership while contributing to discussions that help shape the future of MCC. I appreciate the confidence that has been placed in me and am excited to serve our students throughout the coming year. Thank you. - Club & Orgs Senator Harris
Hi, my name is Uruba Harris and I’m the Clubs and Organizations Senator. Hope everyone’s day has been going well! I am so excited to officially be part of this role and get a firsthand look at how the SGA runs behind the scenes. Our recent training sessions went really well, giving me a clear understanding of how SGA functions and how everything flows together to serve our campus. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to join such a dedicated group, and I am already enjoying being part of this team. I look forward to building on this momentum and working together to make a positive impact this year. - Diversity Senator Gordon
Good afternoon, everyone. I hope you have all had an eventful yet restful weekend. In the weeks leading up to the Student Government Association Commencement, I applied for a position within the Student Government Association for the upcoming academic year. Following my application, I had the opportunity to interview with Vice President Johnson and Student Trustee Rusty for the position. A few days after the interview, I participated in team-building exercises while learning the fundamentals and core responsibilities of the Student Government Association. - Health & Wellness Senator Bachar
Good afternoon, I hope everyone’s doing well. My name is Amina, Nursing major at Monroe Community College. I’m a Student Government Association Health and Wellness Center. Over the past two weeks I have continued to learn more about my role as a Student Goverrnment Association Health and Wellness Senator. I have had the opportunity to connect with other student government members and learn more about how we can support sudents at MCC. I’m expecially interested in listening to students and understand their health and wellness needs. I look forward to helping promote activities and resources that uspports student physical, mental, overall routine. I’m grateful the opportunity to present to students and bring their ideas and concerns for all. I’m excited to continue learning contribute and make a positive difference for the students at MCC as the Health and Wellness Senator. - Residence Hall Senator Allen
Hello Everyone, My name is Cassie Allen, I have been newly appointed as the Residence Hall Senator for the upcoming school year. I am a Health Studies student here at MCC, and this will be my third semester. I decided to join SGA so I could become more involved in the MCC community and learn more about what it means to be a leader. I attended training on July 29 and 30 to learn about my responsibilities within SGA. During the training, I learned what is expected of me by my advisors and fellow SGA members. We also reviewed the Student Government Constitution and Bylaws. I learned how to write reports and resolutions for the Tuesday meetings, as well as how those meetings would be conducted. In addition, I learned about the other meetings I am expected to attend. At the end of Thursday’s training, we discussed plans for the 25th Annual Remembrance Ceremony, including the program’s composition and whether there was anything the group wanted to add to it. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone who is a part of SGA, and I look forward to working with the team and seeing how we will all grow together throughout the year. - Student Relations Senator Smith
I am Alayna Smith. I am a criminal Justice major, and I am serving as the Student Relations Senator for the Student Government Association at Monroe Community College. I went through an interview process and after being accepted I underwent training for my position. I am attending all meetings and learning more about the role I will play in the student government. I hope to be a great resource. - Downtown Campus Senator Escalera Acevedo
Over this past week, I attended the Student Government Association training on July 29th and 30th. During the training I gained a better understanding of my responsibilities as the Downtown Campus Senator and learned how SGA operates to do the job of representing the student body at MCC. I also has the privilege of getting to meet the other members of the Student Government Association. - Elections Coordinator Borbor
Good afternoon, everyone, My name is Joyce Borbor, my major is Radiological Tech, I hope everyone had a productive week. Over the past few weeks, I have been training for my role as Election Coordinator and had the opportunity to be interviewed about my involvement in SGA. On Monday, August 3, 2026, I attended my first Board of Trustees meeting, where I learned about the many resources and funding opportunities available to support MCC students, along with other important information. I have also been learning the importance of teamwork and how SGA operates while working alongside my team to prepare for upcoming elections and engage with students by answering questions about the election process. Overall, it has been a productive few weeks, and I will continue to uphold the values of SGA, serve the student body to the best of my ability, and grow as a leader in my role as Election Coordinator. - Student Life Advisor Oriel
Good afternoon everyone. So congratulations to each and every one of you. This is their third day in training. Yesterday they practiced this and this afternoon they practiced this and they look pretty sharp, wouldn’t you say? I’m so honored to have an opportunity to be one of your advisors throughout this year, and I’m looking forward to watching you grow as leaders, and also for me to learn from you. So thank you so much for the opportunity to be your advisor. - Faculty Advisor Sample
This school hear beginning next moth is going to be th start of my 8th year being an SGA faculty advisor and I’ve worked at MCC for 25 years so I can tell you that outside of the classroom teaching this is my favorite thing to do on this campus. So it’s really a personal and professional pleasure for me to be doing this. I think that we’ve got a good crew this year. I’m enjoying getting to know all of you. Were gonna have a good hear, get a lot done.
Old Business
- There was no old business.
New Business
-
Resolution to approve Alayna Smith as the Student Relations Senator.
Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the appointment
of Alayna Smith as the Student Relations Senator
Vice President Johnson called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Allen so moved, seconded by Senator Smith.
Discussion: Alayna has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the appointment of Alayna Smith as the Student Relations Senator, effective 8/4/26, at Monroe Community College -
Resolution to approve Josephine Pfenninger as the Clubs and Organizations Senator.
Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the appointment
Discussion: Josephine has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
of Josephine Pfenninger as the Clubs and Organizations Senator
Vice President Johnson called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Allen so moved, seconded by Senator Smith
A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the appointment of Josephine Pfenninger as the Clubs and Organizations Senator, effective 8/4/26, at Monroe Community College -
Resolution to approve Uruba Harris as the Clubs and Organizations Senator.
Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the appointment
of Uruba Harris as the Clubs and Organizations Senator
Vice President Johnson called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Smith so moved, seconded by Senator Allen.
Discussion: Uruba has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the appointment of Uruba Harris as the Clubs and Organizations Senator, effective 8/4/26, at Monroe Community College -
Resolution to approve Amina Bachar as the Health and Wellness Senator.
Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the appointment
of Amina Bachar as the Health and Wellness Senator
Vice President Johnson called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Smith so moved, seconded by Senator Allen.
Discussion: Amina has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the appointment of Amina Bachar as the Health and Wellness Senator, effective 8/4/26, at Monroe Community College -
Resolution to approve Joyce Borbor as the Elections Coordinator.
Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the appointment
of Joyce Borbor as the Elections Coordinator
Vice President Johnson called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Smith so moved, seconded by Senator Allen.
Discussion: Joyce has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the appointment of Joyce Borbor as the Elections Coordinator, effective 8/4/26, at Monroe Community College -
Resolution to approve Cassie Allen as the Residence Hall Senator.
Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the appointment
of Cassie Allen as the Residence Hall Senator
Vice President Johnson called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Smith so moved, seconded by Senator Gordon.
Discussion: Cassie has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the appointment of Cassie Allen as the Residence Hall Senator, effective 8/4/26, at Monroe Community College -
Resolution to approve Christian Escalera Acevedo as the Downtown Campus Senator.
Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the appointment
of Christian Escalera Acevedo as the Downtown Campus Senator
Vice President Johnson called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Smith so moved, seconded by Senator Allen.
Discussion: Christian has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the appointment of Christian Escalera Acevedo as the Downtown Campus Senator, effective 8/4/26, at Monroe Community College -
Resolution to approve Gona Abdullah as the President.
Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the appointment
of Gona Abdullah as the President
Vice President Johnson called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Smith so moved, seconded by Senator Allen.
Discussion: Gona has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the appointment of Gona Abdullah as the President, effective 8/4/26, at Monroe Community College -
Resolution to approve Maniere Johnson as the Vice President.
Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the appointment
of Maniere Johnson as the Vice President
Vice President Johnson called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Smith so moved, seconded by Senator Allen.
Discussion: Maniere has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the appointment of Maniere Johnson as the Vice President, effective 8/4/26, at Monroe Community College -
Resolution to approve Amina Bachar as the Health and Wellness Senator.
Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the appointment
of Amina Bachar as the Health and Wellness Senator
Vice President Johnson called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Smith so moved, seconded by Senator Allen.
Discussion: Amina has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the appointment of Amina Bachar as the Health and Wellness Senator, effective 8/4/26, at Monroe Community College -
Resolution to approve Sudan Gordon as the Diversity Senator.
Resolved, the Monroe Community College Student Government Association approves the appointment
of Sudan Gordon as the Diversity Senator
Vice President Johnson called for a motion to approve the resolution. Senator Smith so moved, seconded by Senator Allen.
Discussion: Sudan has completed and met the requirements set forth by the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.
A vote was taken, and the resolution passed.
Be it resolved, the senate present and voting hereby approves the appointment of Sudan Gordon as the Diversity Senator, effective 8/4/26, at Monroe Community College
Old Business
- There was no old business.
Speak to the Senate
- There was no one registered to speak to the senate this week.
Adjournment
- Vice President of Governance Johnson called for a motion for adjournment.
- Senator Smith so moved, seconded by Senator Allen.
- Meeting was adjourned at 3:05 pm.
Respectfully submitted