Get to Know Elijah Griffin: UNCP’s 2026-27 SGA President

When Elijah Griffin arrived at UNC Pembroke as a freshman, he wasn’t exactly sure what his college experience would look like. He knew he wanted to study broadcasting and eventually pursue a career in political commentary. He also knew he wanted to get involved.

He did just that.

Four years later, Griffin has become a familiar face across campus through student government, orientation, campus leadership roles and the Spirit of the Carolinas Marching Band. Now a senior, he is taking on one of UNCP’s highest student leadership roles as president of the Student Government Association.

A native of Oxford, North Carolina, Griffin is majoring in mass communication with a concentration in broadcasting while pursuing minors in business administration and political science. He also serves as the student representative and ex officio member of the UNCP Board of Trustees.

“When I arrived here as a freshman, I excelled. I got involved. The rest is history,” Griffin said.

That involvement began during his first year when he joined the marching band and SGA. Since then, he has served as a peer academic leader, an orientation leader for three years and a member of the Student Conduct Board. He has also served as associate vice president for external affairs in the UNC Association of Student Governments and held positions with the university’s Department of Information Technology (DoIT) and Hawks Nest.

Griffin credits his upbringing for helping shape his approach to leadership. Growing up in a family and church community where he was given leadership responsibilities, he learned early that leadership was about more than holding a title.

“Leadership runs in my family,” Griffin said. “They were also servant leaders, so I wanted to make sure I embodied what it meant to be a servant leader.”

That philosophy is central to his approach as SGA president. Working alongside SGA Vice President LaNiya Harris, a senior from Savannah, Georgia, Griffin wants his administration to strengthen communication between students and university leadership and create more opportunities for students to engage in campus life.

Their campaign theme, “Every Student, Every Voice – One BraveNation,” reflects that goal.

“Getting students in front of the administrators and letting them tell their story, their experience,” Griffin said. “It is all about forging relationships and building connections.”

One of Griffin’s primary initiatives is student wellness, particularly mental health. He hopes to identify spaces across campus where students can take a break, decompress and have access to a quiet environment without having to return to their residence halls between classes.

He also wants to increase student engagement by creating affordable campus events that reflect students’ interests and provide opportunities to build relationships.

“Students are here for education, but they are also here for the college experience,” he said.

Making student organizations more accessible is another priority. Griffin wants students to understand the value of getting involved while ensuring a broader range of organizations and student perspectives are represented.

“One of our pillars is collaboration,” Griffin said. “Especially with groups and student groups that are not represented well on campus.”

For Griffin, involvement has been a defining part of his UNCP experience, and he encourages other students to find ways to connect while keeping academics at the center.

“If I could leave the student body with one message: Get involved,” he said. “Stay on top of your studies, but get involved. College is about what you make it.”

He encourages students not to wait until their senior year to participate.

Todd Allen, director of New Student Programs, has worked with Griffin for the past three years through his role as an orientation leader. Allen said Griffin’s energy, compassion and commitment to serving others have made him a natural leader.

“Elijah is outgoing, witty, and brings positive energy to every interaction,” Allen said. “Elijah has a genuine passion for serving others and leads with enthusiasm and compassion.”

Allen said he expects Griffin to keep students’ interests at the forefront of his administration.

“I know he will focus on what is best for all students and advocate for initiatives that make UNCP an even better place,” Allen said. “I look forward to seeing the positive impact he will have as SGA president.”

Griffin’s vision for student government is also rooted in the culture that first attracted him to UNCP.

“Here at UNCP, we do it our own way,” he said. “We have a rich culture at UNCP. We don’t forget about our roots. We incorporate it in everything.”

Griffin hopes to help more students discover the sense of community that he found when he arrived at UNCP.

“I knew I was destined to do something great,“ Griffin said of his freshman year. “I wasn’t sure what it was.”

Now, he has a clearer idea of where that path may lead. After graduation, Griffin hopes to work as a field reporter for a television news station and eventually pursue a career in politics. For now, his focus is on representing BraveNation's students.

“Don’t wait,” Griffin said. “Get involved. Start a club. Do something meaningful. Live your full college experience.”