Student Government

The President and Vice President lead the executive branch and include the cabinet, which consists of the Chief of Staff, Treasurer, Secretary, committee heads and any additional positions deemed necessary. Executive officers are elected annually by a majority vote during student body elections and selected from the student body. The President and Vice President must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).

• John Squier
  President

• Demilade Babarinde
  Vice President

• Kimberly Pelagio-Luis
  Chief of Staff

• Taona Namalima
  Secretary

• Sharon Daminabo
  Treasurer

• Clariana Moona
  ASG Liaison

• Dalton Allen
  Academic Affairs Chair

• Elijah Griffin
  Government Operations Chair

• Madison McNeill
  Public Relations Chair

• Owen Phillips
  Student Affairs Chair

• José Ortiz-Rojas
  University and Community Relations Chair

• Kyle Smith
  Advisor
  Phone: 910.521.6304

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The legislative branch consists of the Student Senate, a body of elected student senators. The Student Senate serves as the supreme legislative authority of the SGA. To learn about the election processes, check out our electoral code.

Freshman Senators (6 seats)

• José Ortiz-Rojas
• Nuzhat Tabassum
• Haider Ali
• Annas Hashmi
• Emily Campbell-Tyler
• Vacant Seat

Sophomore Senators (6 seats)

• Ariana Oxendine
• Fardin Samin
• Sebastian Kalajdzhyan
• Dustin Barnes
• Bryan Ramirez-Jackson
• Bethany Locklear

Junior Senators (6 seats)

• Aziza Matos
• Isaac Bustos De Luna
• LaNiya Harris
• Elijah Griffin
• Johnathan Galindo Aquino
• Prabina Shrestha

Senior Senators (6 seats)

• Tanzimul Fahim
• Mariam Kwapong
• Jessica Obi
• Claire Moona
• Rebecca Sexton
• Madison McNeill

College of Arts and Sciences Senators (3 seats)

• David Haltom
• Chinecherem Okorie
• Chantal Fountain

College of Health Sciences Senators (2 seats)

• Mary Guzman
• Alyson Murray

School of Business Senator (1 seat)

• Owen Phillips

School of Education Senator (1 seat)

• Dalton Allen

Graduate School Senator (1 seat)

• Kimberly Pelagio-Luis

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Greetings BraveNation,

I am John Squier, and it is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 2025-2026 Student Government Association (SGA) President. On behalf of Vice President, Demilade Babarinde,  and the 78th session executive team and senate, I am beyond ecstatic to welcome you to UNC Pembroke. We are excited that you have chosen to be a part of the one-and-only BraveNation as you take your next step in this ever so important path of your journey in life.

First, I’d like to recognize the SGA’s support of UNCP acknowledgment, which reads “That the lands within and surrounding present-day Robeson County are the traditional homelands and gathering places of many Indigenous peoples — notably the Lumbee (LUM-bee).” SGA strives to ensure its policies and practices promote our shared responsibility “to safeguard these lands and to respect the sovereignty of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.”

University of North Carolina Pembroke was founded in 1887 with the goal of preparing American Indian students to educate other American Indians. We are proud of UNCP’s founding and its mission of education. UNCP has been recognized as one of the most diverse universities in the Southeast region. With a student population of nearly 8,000 students, UNCP continues to provide a distinctive personal experience, while cultivating knowledge and education through close relationships between students, faculty, staff and administration.

The Student Government Association “exists to champion the concerns and rights of the student body,” thus it is our goal to engage with the student body to ensure that your concerns are heard and properly addressed. You all can be a part of the change we make by coming to SGA’s weekly meetings every Wednesday at 5:15 PM in James A. Thomas Hall, room 130. Practically all of our advocacy can be seen through legislation, town halls, senate meetings, committee meetings and more. Furthermore, as your Student Body President, I have the opportunity to serve on the Board of Trustees as a voting member to empower the student voice to our university leadership. I encourage you all to stay connected with SGA, as it is paramount for ensuring the strong connection between the student body and administration. Remember, a bridge is useless if nobody crosses it.

UNC Pembroke has over 100 recognized student organizations, a thriving fraternity and sorority life atmosphere, and 200 community partners. I strongly encourage you to make the most of your college experience by connecting with different organizations, departments and community partners that fit your interests. I highly recommend utilizing the free resources available to you on campus to assist you during your time in Pembroke. Some of these resources include the Writing Center, Tutoring Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, Career Center, Brave Resource Center and much more. Always feel free to reach out to SGA if you need assistance identifying any of these resources or any other resource you may need to assist your success.

Lastly, my advice to all students: These next four years will be the most consequential four years of your life thus far; it really is what you make of it. Do not come to UNCP with a fixed mindset, because it will only keep you stagnant. Find your “why” and hone in on it, discover what you like to do and what you value, try new things and, most importantly, enjoy yourself.

Go Braves!

John T.B.O. Squier

 

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