Below are the Executive Council candidates for the 2025 Spring General Election.
President
Lucy Bonhaus
I write to humbly announce my candidacy to serve as your 114th Student Government Association President. As a Tuscaloosa native, I am a life-long witness to the impact that our University community has on the state of Alabama. It has taught me an important lesson: a successful campus makes a successful community.
My platform is built on five key pillars: community connection, academic achievement, student opportunity, campus experience, and internal transparency – each designed to create lasting, positive change at The University of Alabama. I am committed to fostering meaningful relationships with the student body, ensuring that every voice is not just heard, but truly represented. Together, we will enhance academic resources, expand equitable opportunities, strengthen community collaboration, and enrich campus life for every student at the Capstone.
Throughout my time at The University of Alabama, I have witnessed the power of student leadership and the impact we can create together. Growing up minutes from Bryant-Denny Stadium, UA has shaped my education and my life, providing invaluable opportunities for growth, development, and mentorship. My journey through SGA has fueled my passion for giving back, strengthening my commitment to ensuring every student has access to the same opportunities that shaped my own.
If given the privilege to serve as your next SGA President, I can promise you that this will be a year of action – for the new students finding their way, for those searching for their place, and for voices that have gone unheard. It will be a year of progress and commitment to every student’s success. Together, we will work to transform our campus into a place where concerns turn into solutions, inspired by the 40,000 students who call UA home.
I am truly honored for the potential opportunity to continue serving The University of Alabama. My passion for leadership and dedication to student advocacy have prepared me to lead with integrity, vision, and a commitment to real progress. I hope to earn your trust and your vote. Lead with Lucy on February 25th from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM on myBama.
All my appreciation and gratitude, Lucy Bonhaus
Executive Vice President
Aubrei Grisaffe
Hello, UA! My name is Aubrei Grisaffe, and I could not be more excited to announce my candidacy to be your Student Government Association Executive Vice President. I am a junior from Tulsa, Oklahoma majoring in Political Science and pursuing a Master of Public Administration through the Accelerated Master’s Program, as well as a member of the inaugural class of the Shelby Scholars program.
Throughout my time in SGA, I have been challenged to seek out creative and effective ways to embody our motto of being “Student’s Serving Students.” Over the past year as Vice President for Belonging and Wellness, I was met with some the most challenging circumstances faced by our SGA in recent history. Though SB-129 and the implications of its passage spelled out immense uncertainty, through addressing its challenges, I have developed cross-campus relationships with students and administrators, and my passion for student facing service has grown immensely.
In each of the positions I have held in SGA, I have become intimately familiar with the internal processes that help our SGA find success, but also highly aware of the broader campus community. These experiences understanding both SGA’s internal needs and deep devotion to campus affairs have spurred my pursuit of the role of Executive Vice President
Whether working towards compliance with state legislature, or launching a new initiative, it is critical for all members in our community to align on a vision for what is to come. To create a better, brighter future for our incredible University, my platform is to ADVOCATE for student needs, LAUNCH future leaders toward success, INFORM students of the resources around them, GROW a more efficient and supportive SGA culture and NAVIGATE our campus, community, and civic life.
I hope you will choose to #AlignWithAubrei on Tuesday, February 25th from 7am-7pm on MyBama!
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Samantha Simmons
My name is Samantha Simmons, and I am humbled and overjoyed to announce my candidacy for SGA’s Vice President for Academic Affairs. My journey within SGA began as a First Year Councilor and grew after I became Chief Administrative Officer of SGA’s Academic Affairs Cabinet, where I worked alongside our team to maximize SGA’s impact. My inspiration for running comes from the time I’ve spent across campus, engaging with students from all walks of life.
During my time as a member of UA’s Advisory Council on Student Wellness, I have listened to students struggle to access UA’s academic resources, and I’ve heard the concerns of those who feel isolated and disconnected from campus. These experiences have shown me that we must do more to provide students with the support they need to succeed.
From serving on UA’s Core Curriculum Oversight Committee to gaining valuable leadership experience as a Blackburn Institute member and Shelby Scholar, I am confident that my time on campus has equipped me with the skills and perspective necessary to lead with purpose and intentionality. My team and I understand that a successful UA leads to a thriving Alabama. We are committed to creating an academically successful student body.
My team and I have designed a platform that meets the needs of students from across campus. We will strive to provide students with credit-bearing experiential learning opportunities and utilize the Tuscaloosa community to incentivize academic success. We will continue SGA’s involvement on UA’s Core Curriculum Oversight Committee, ensuring that students are represented on UA’s largest general education change since the 1980s. We will support students through faculty partnerships that celebrate academic victories. We will sustain critical SGA programming and visit with organizations across campus to address student needs face-to-face. I am committed to ensuring that every student’s voice is heard, their needs are met, and their success is celebrated. Let’s get to work.
All of my gratitude, Samantha Simmons
Vice President for Belonging and Wellness
Hannah Hurd
Hello, UA! My name is Hannah Hurd, and I am honored to be running for SGA’s Vice President for Belonging and Wellness. I’m a junior from Tampa, Florida, majoring in biology with a minor in social innovation & leadership. Throughout my time as a Witt Fellow at the Capstone, I have engaged in conversations and worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds, deepening my passion for learning about the variety of lived experiences of students.
On campus, I serve as the Vice President of the Honors College Assembly, overseeing committees focused on cultural engagement, scholarship, and student life. Through this, I help plan outreach events that build community and enhance social and academic wellness. I also serve as an Undergraduate Research Assistant, studying traumatic brain injuries and their effect on behavior. This research, with its focus on brain and human health, has sparked my enthusiasm for two more dimensions of wellness: physical and psychological.
For the past two years, I have served as an Associate Justice in the Judicial Branch of SGA, where I’ve worked to advocate for student safety and well-being. This role has strengthened my commitment to student advocacy and justice, allowing me to connect students in need with Collegiate Recovery and Intervention Services, which has contributed to mental health advocacy becoming a core component of my college experience. I believe every student should have access to affordable mental health services, and I am dedicated to fostering open conversations about mental health on campus.
These experiences have equipped me with the skills necessary to bring UA forward. My platform focuses on three areas: Advocacy, Engagement, and Community Cultivation. I look forward to sharing more about these key goals throughout my campaign. If elected, I will promote the seven dimensions of wellness in the Alabama Model for Student Health and Wellbeing through programming and initiatives that ensure every student finds community and support at Alabama. I want to amplify student voices and create an environment where all students feel seen and heard.
I hope you’ll join me to #BeHeardwithHurd and make our campus a place where everyone can thrive.
Vice President for External Affairs
Freddie Nelson
Hello UA! My name is Freddie Nelson and I’m running to be your next SGA Vice President for External Affairs. I am a sophomore from Birmingham, Alabama majoring in Biology on the Pre-Physical Track. I currently serve as an SGA Senator of the College of Arts & Sciences and as Pro-Tempore to the Speaker of the Senate. This opportunity has allowed me to not only grow as a leader and individual but also accumulate even more ambition to serve my school and community.
During my time in SGA, I have been able to co-author legislation for the new Belonging & Wellness initiative, establish a UA Hydrates Day, and initiate an SGA Senate Survey for constituents to easily voice their opinions, thoughts, and ideas to the Senate. As Vice President for External Affairs, I intend only to grow my work in student government and maximize SGA’s potential for the University of Alabama. With my platform, Forward With Freddie, this opportunity would grant me to uphold SGA’s motto, “Student Serving Students,” while also advancing SGA’s mission to serve the Tuscaloosa community. Furthermore, I am confident in my notable progress for the University that I will fulfill and exceed the many responsibilities of Vice President for External Affairs, including overseeing Lobby Board and managing all external-related concerns, initiatives, and projects.
It is my priority to strengthen this momentum and service to the University of Alabama, which is why I would be honored to serve as your next Vice President for External Affairs. Thank you, and Roll Tide.
Vice President for Financial Affairs
Conner Forbes
My name is Conner Forbes and I am a Junior here at The University of Alabama, double majoring in Finance and Economics with a minor in Value Investing. Throughout my time on campus I have gained valuable experience in a wide variety of organizations including The Business Honors Program, The Capstone Asset Management Society, and The Student Government Association, where I served as a Senator for The Culverhouse College of Business and the head of The Financial Affairs Committee. I have learned so many things during my time in SGA, and I am honored that I was elected last semester. After implementing multiple pieces of legislation throughout my term, I believe that the next step for me is to run for the Vice President of Financial Affairs. I have so many ideas to help the student body for my final year at Alabama, so I can leave this campus better than when I arrived as a freshman.
As the VP of Financial Affairs, I plan to work for and represent the student body as a whole. This is only possible by implementing the most transparent and efficient policies. Engaging with my fellow students on campus to get a better understanding of the demands needed will be my utmost priority. By using the leadership and collaborative skills I have gained throughout my time here, I will work with my fellow SGA members to build a better campus for all. The role the Vice President of Financial Affairs plays within SGA is extremely vital, and demands someone who is willing to give their all. I am fully prepared to do anything in my power to fill the duties of this position and give back to the campus that has given me so much. While in this role, I hope to oversee many new objectives such as creating a public channel for announcing funding uses, hosting multiple seminars for financial literacy, organizing events with UA alumni to promote career readiness, as well as developing and maintaining an online portal for Culverhouse with applications for internship, programs, and jobs.
Vice President for Student Affairs
John Michael Chandash
Hey UA! My name is John Michael Chandash, and I am honored to announce my candidacy to be your next Vice President for Student Affairs. I’m an honors college student majoring in Political Science and German on the Pre-Law track. During my tenure at the Capstone, I have discovered that my passion is serving my fellow students.
Starting my freshman year, I began representing the student body as a member of the First Year Council, where I implemented initiatives, advocated for student needs, and developed valuable leadership experience. Driven by my passion for leadership and service, I later ran for and was elected as a Senator for the College of Arts and Sciences, a role in which I currently serve. On the Senate, I ran for and now lead the Student Affairs Committee, where I work to enhance campus life by addressing student concerns.
As your Vice President for Student Affairs, I plan to practice SGA’s motto of “Students Serving Students” to its highest intent. I intend to achieve this through my REACH platform, aiming to Reinforce, Expand, Achieve, Connect, and Heal the student body. Each pillar of REACH represents a commitment to enhancing student life. REACH plans to Reinforce block seating rules and regulations, Expand on past successful initiatives, Achieve more for students through my Crimson Life Skills Series, and Connect students with fellow entrepreneurs to foster career growth and innovation and Heal by prioritizing student health and well being. Through these initiatives, I will work to create a campus where every student is empowered, supported, and set up for success.
I kindly invite you to #ChooseChandash from 7am to 7pm on February 25th!