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Governance

The Student Senate is a student-led organization that depends on the service of active CGU students. The Student Senate membership is comprised by elected Executive Board members and School Senators. Each fall semester and spring semester, there are Senate elections to fill vacant roles.

  • The Senate abides by the official Senate Constitution.
  • The Sentate has multiple Standing Committees in which students can participate in seeing the mission to fruition for any given year.

25-26 Student Senate Members

Senate Executive Officers

President: Rai Ameli
Rai (she/her/they/them) is a second-year Ph.D. student studying Applied Social Psychology with an interest in labor, value, and the working class. Her goals for the senate revolve around inclusion of the student body, transparency of admin decisions, and hosting events for all types of students. Rai knows how to drive two types of Zamboni.

Vice President: JJ Mueller-Dombois
JJ (any pronouns) is a second-year Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology student. Their interests revolve around gender, education reform, labor, class, subcultures (specifically straight edge), and the role of media in informing perceptions on each of these. Right now, they’re really into midwest emo.

Treasurer: Suting (Lily) Chen
Lily is an Applied Social Psychology PhD student under Dr. Wesley Schultz. Presently, she is interested in understanding people’s judgement and decisions regarding sustainability and climate change through social psychology. She is also interested in how political identity influences this process. Lily used to be a game master in an escape room!

Secretary: Cliff Huang
Hello beautiful people! My name is Cliff and I really enjoy animal cafes and escape rooms! Free therapy if you ask me! I am also someone who will go out of my way to help others!

My background: Served as a prior Resident Advisor and Assistant Residential Director at UC Davis, directing Hall Council and creating numerous engaging activities tailored for student needs.

I value:
Being your voice and ensuring you are heard
Ensuring that our school resources and events are based on student needs
Working smarter to bring about effectiveness
Enhancing student involvement (I hope to see you at our events!)

You are my responsibility, so I take pride in looking out for your best interests! Come say hi and introduce yourself! I am always open to feedback and encourage y’all to email! If you got a point to say it, I got a job to make it! Let us change this school into our vision for CGU! I won’t leave you Cliff Hanging.

Senators

School Senators

School Senators are nominated to serve as student liaisons between the senators’ respective school and the Student Senate. The senators is charged with serving on the senate while also advocating for and furthering the interests of their school and its students.

Institute of Mathematical Sciences
Luisa Gianunca
Luisa Gianuca is a PhD student in Computational Science at CGU’s Institute of Mathematical Sciences.
Her research focuses on mathematical and computational modeling, using math to uncover patterns in real-world systems. Originally from Brazil, she values inclusive, collaborative communities and enjoys connecting people from diverse backgrounds. When she’s not studying, she enjoys surfing and aerial silks.

The Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management (Drucker)
Antonio Gaskin, EMBA
Goals / Event Ideas:
– Office Hours (Virtually / In-Person)
– Calendly
– Liaison between students and administration
– Meet with Dean Sprott monthly
– Collaborate with Cohorts 1 & 2
– Social Hours

Program | Year | Interest:
– PhD in Executive Management
– 2nd Year Student
– Uplifting Others, Building Community, and Leaving A Lasting Impact
– All Things Erykah Badu
– Summertime At The Hollywood Bowl

Mildred Gil

  • Second-year EPhD student at Drucker and a recent MBA graduate
  • Championing Social Responsibility and Empowering Leaders
  • A sucker for true-crime podcasts and live music
  • Fun Fact: I have a small baking business that focuses on sugar cookies and macarons

The School of Arts & Humanities (SAH)
Haley Freeth
Haley Freeth is a second-year MA student in Religion & American Politics at Claremont Graduate University. Her research focuses on how religious and political belief systems shape American responses to war, state violence, and social justice movements in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Haley is especially interested in the intersections of religion, morality, and public policy in the U.S., drawing on history, political science, and cultural analysis.
As a senator for the School of Arts & Humanities, she is committed to advocating for student needs, bridging communities across CGU, and ensuring transparency and equality in campus life. When not studying at CGU, Haley lives in San Diego with her pug, Bambina, and works weekends at a beachfront bar.

The School of Community & Global Health (SCGH)
Donna Jalai
Donna (she/her/hers) is a first-year M.S. In Applied Biostatistics student with an interest in public health, genomics, and data science. Her goals as senator for the School of Community and Global Health and as a member of the Events Committee revolve around inclusion of the student body in CGU Student Senate events and campus-wide gatherings. When she’s not studying, she enjoys learning music and trying new foods!

Tomi Obideyi
Tomi Mary Obideyi, MPH, CHES® is the founder and CEO of Tomi The Encourager, a heart-centered platform dedicated to educating, elevating, and empowering individuals to embrace their authentic selves. With over seven years of experience, she delivers dynamic keynotes and evidence-based trainings on mental health, compassion fatigue, suicide prevention, servant leadership, and community engagement. She serves as President and Strategic Engagement & Events Chair of the SCGH Student Association Board and as an SCGH Senator, where she advocates for student leadership and community connection. Passionate about mental wellness and uplifting BIPOC communities, especially women of color, Tomi supports individuals navigating leadership, career transitions, and entrepreneurship. Known for her warmth and energy, she is driven by a simple mission: to ignite hope, cultivate courage, and empower people to rise.

The School of Transdisciplinary Studies
Edwin Urbina
I’m Edwin Urbina, a master’s student in Community-Engaged Education & Social Change and Transdisciplinary Analysis. My passion is connecting education, housing, and community development so people have the stability they need to grow. In the Senate, I want to listen closely, represent my peers honestly, and work on solutions that make a real difference for students. I believe education should empower, and I’m committed to helping build a campus where students feel both supported and inspired.

The School of Social Science, Policy & Evaluation (SSSPE)
Matt Burt, MA
Hello! I’m Matt, a PhD student in the Division of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences. My research focuses on how humor and laughter can be used to reduce bias between groups and can be used to promote social identities. I work with Dr. Michael Hogg and serve as lab manager for the Social Identity Lab here on campus.

Norbu Dolma
My name is Norbu and I am a first-generation Tibetan raised in India, currently pursuing a master’s in public policy. I am passionate about learning and reading; one of my favorite books is “All about love” by bell Hooks. As a Student Senator, I hope to represent both DPE and international students, fostering a more inclusive campus environment and expanding opportunities for all. Beyond academic, I enjoy watching films.

The School of Educational Studies (SES)
Daisy Salazar-Garza
Daisy Salazar-Garza is a first year PhD student in the School of Educational Studies’ Urban Leadership program. She has been a teacher and leader in K-12 schools for the past 16 years. Currently, she is Director of Multilingual Learner Product Enablement in an  Ed Tech company. Her experience as a first generation MLL student in K-12 shaped her experience and perspective as a learner, educator, and advocate. Her goal is to create organizational and systemic change to ensure a more equitable, just, and empowering education for communities who are the most marginalized and oppressed within educational systems. Daisy also serves as a cabinet member for Doctorxhood, the only BIPOC doctoral student club that is open to all Claremont colleges and serves to inspire BIPOC Doctorates and Masters students. She is excited to serve as a Student Senator for the School of Educational Studies. 

The School of Botany
TBD – Interested in becoming a senator? It’s not too late! Email us at student.senate@cgu.edu.

Senate Committees

Committees are assigned to address specific needs and actions of the Senate. Committee members are student volunteers who are dedicated to pursuing and executing the respective committee’s goals. All Committees are expected to:

  1. Meet on a regular basis determined by the committee chair communicated to the Council
  2. Report on their activities to the Council on a regular basis
  3. Inform the Executive Board of current developments
  4. Maintain pertinent documentation
  5. Handle the responsibilities of distributing said documentation to the proper channels for student access
  6. Communicate with the CGU student body
Student Affairs Committee
The Student Affairs Committee is expected to connect with different student-led groups and organizations across campus to find opportunities to promote campus-wide events and collaborate when possible. The Student Affairs Committee serves as a touchstone for student orgs to communicate with the larger Student Senate. All members of the Student Affairs Committee are equal contributors to the process and mission. The Student Affairs Committee can raise questions or recommendations to the Executive Board by requesting additional meetings to discuss these matters by connecting through the direct reporting line. The Committee Chair serves as the liaison to the reporting line.
Reporting Line: student.senate@cgu.edu
Chairs: JJ Mueller-Dombois
Members: Edwin Urbina, Donna Jalai, Tomi Obideyi, Norbu Dolma, Kailani Tokiyeda
Election Committee
The Elections Committee is charged with preparing and executing Senate Spring 2026 elections. The Chair cannot be someone looking to run for elected office. The Elections Committee should work together to establish all vacancies and develop their timeline. All members of the Elections Committee are equal contributors to the process and mission. The Elections Committee can raise questions or recommendations to the Executive Board by requesting additional meetings to discuss these matters by connecting through the direct reporting line. The Committee Chair serves as the liaison to the reporting line.
Reporting Line: president.senate@cgu.edu
Chairs: Rai Ameli
Members: JJ Mueller-Dombois
Budget Committee
The Budget Committee is charged with maintaining a balanced Student Senate budget. The Treasurer is automatically the Chair of the Budget Committee. All members of the Budget Committee are equal contributors to the process and mission. The Budget Committee can raise questions or recommendations to the Executive Board by requesting additional meetings to discuss these matters by connecting through the direct reporting line. The Committee Chair serves as the liaison to the reporting line.
Reporting Line: student.senate@cgu.edu
Chairs: Suting (Lily) Chen
Members: Mildred Gil, Antonio Gaskin, Matthew Burt, Daisy Salazar-Garza, Norbu Dolma, Luisa Gianuca
Commencement Student Speaker Search Committee
The Commencement Committee is charged with reviewing student speaker applications and determining a pool of candidates to go before the larger Commencement Committee for final decision-making. The Commencement Committee must send all relevant communications out to students on time. All members of the Commencement Student Speaker Search Committee are equal contributors to the process and mission. The Commencement Student Speaker Search Committee can raise questions or recommendations to the Executive Board by requesting additional meetings to discuss these matters by connecting through the direct reporting line. The Committee Chair serves as the liaison to the reporting line.
Reporting Line: student.senate@cgu.edu
Chairs: Cliff Huang, Rai Ameli