A new academic year brings in fresh faces to the Student Government Association (SGA). After three days of voting, the campus community selected their 2025-26 SGA senators. To help students better learn about their student representatives, The Olaf Messenger reached out to the senators for introductions:
First-Year Class Representatives
Adam Benoit ’29
Benoit is from Port Byron, Ill., and plans to major in political science and Spanish with the goal of pursuing law school and immigration law in the future. His platform includes providing resources to help make the first-year transition easier, implementing activities in the first-year residence halls, and providing more mental health resources on campus. His favorite thing about St. Olaf is that the campus reminds him of Hogwarts.
Greta Stauch ’29
Stauch is from Niwot, Colo., and is majoring in psychology with concentrations in neuroscience and public health. She plans to open lines of communication within the first-year class to connect about projects they are interested in, alongside working on student life improvement projects to make the day-to-day on campus better. Her favorite thing about St. Olaf is the cereal smell from the Post factory.
Riley Schwinler ’29
Schwinler is from Brookings, S.D., and plans to major in social studies education and political science. This year, she wants to focus on getting first-years involved in Student Government Association (SGA) and plans to host a “performative male contest” to bring some fun to campus. Her favorite thing about St. Olaf is being able to walk everywhere.
Sophomore Class Representatives
Nima Dahir ’28
Dahir is from Rochester, Minn., and is majoring in computer science and statistics and data science with a concentration in applied linguistics. She plans to partner with SGA Senator Plocica and SGA Senator Mallick to start a resource rack in a centralized location for student access, and also plans to get more fruit in Stav. Her favorite thing about St. Olaf is the comforting feelings of seeing so many familiar faces wherever she goes on campus.
Usman Mallick ’28
The Olaf Messenger reached out for comment, but did not hear back in time of publication.
Junior Class Representatives
Declan Mears ’27
Mears is a philosophy and English major with an Asian studies concentration from Lawrenceville, Ga. He wants to connect the junior class with resources provided by the College, help students prepare for senior year, and host fun events. Mears’s favorite thing about St. Olaf is the campus environment.
Marea Nielsen ’27
Nielsen is from Northfield and is majoring in English education with concentrations in race and ethnic studies and English as a second language. In partnership with Senator Mears, she plans to connect the junior class with resources for their last two years on the Hill and their futures, as well as providing more programming tailored for juniors. Her favorite thing about being a St. Olaf student is the small community where people care about one another.
Senior Class Representatives
Garrett Fitzgerald ’26
Fitzgerald is a sociology/anthropology and mathematics double major with a statistics and data science concentration from Owatonna Minn. He plans to address public safety concerns following the emergency alert from September 4, and contribute to on-campus initiatives such as The Bird Alliance. His favorite things about St. Olaf are the architecture, working with OSA as co-director of the Programming Board, and SGA.
Aidan Mackie ’26
The Olaf Messenger reached out for comment, but did not hear back in time of publication.
Curriculum Senator
Arjîn Acar ’28
Acar is a political science and sociology/anthropology major with a concentration in race and ethnic studies and international relations from Istanbul, Turkey. She plans to stay in communication with faculty and be transparent with the student body. Her favorite thing about St. Olaf is the beautiful campus.
Disability and Access Senator
Alex Torstenson ’27
Torstenson is from St. Paul, Minn., and is pursuing an individual major titled Organizational Strategy and Social Impact. This year, she aims to create a strong and clear line of communication between Disability and Access (DAC) and SGA, alongside implementing plans for an on-campus shuttle. Her favorite thing about St. Olaf is the close relationships she is able to create with friends and professors.
Environmental Senator
Marit Dahlen ’29
Dahlen is from Saratoga Spring, N.Y. Her major is currently undecided, though she has interests in politics, international relations, environmental studies, and Chinese. This year, she wants to get students more involved in environmental affairs on campus through programming and events; for example, a 5k where participants pick up litter as they go, or a collaboration with the environmentally-focused organizations on campus. Her favorite thing about St. Olaf is having the opportunity to explore so many areas of interest through classes and student organizations.
Gender and Sexuality Senator
Spirit Sukut ’28
Sukut is a psychology and social work double major with a concentration in public health from St. Cloud, Minn. Sukut wants to work with other Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) senators to discuss intersectionality, and help give hope to students in the midst of the unstable political climate. Their favorite thing about St. Olaf is their wonderful friends.
Interfaith Senator
Nora Herring ’28
Herring is from Kansas City, Kan., and she plans to major in environmental studies. Herring wants to use her platform to create an inclusive space on campus for all students, religious or non-religious, to feel welcome and valued. Her favorite thing about St. Olaf is how nice Minnesotans are.
International Student Senator
Angela Jessa Hifume ’27
The Olaf Messenger reached out for comment, but did not hear back in time of publication.
Multicultural Senator
Diana Gutierrez ’27
Gutierrez is a political science and Spanish double major from Chicago. Her goals in SGA this year are to collaborate with the other DEI senators and promote intersectionality. Her favorite things about St. Olaf are the support systems and the chai from the Cage.
Student Life Senator
Elsa Plocica ’28
Plocica is from Asheville, N.C., and she plans to major in history and political science with a concentration in gender and sexuality studies. Plocica was a member of SGA last spring, and this year she looks forward to serving on the Academic Affairs and Student Life Committees, collaborating with the Programming Board, and hopefully providing more fruit in Stav. Her favorite thing about St. Olaf is the community.
