The Executive Cabinet is in charge of acting as a liaison between Student Government and many different entities on campus.
Student Body President Jess Errico, a fifth-year studying mechanical and aerospace engineering, meets with the Cabinet every week on Wednesdays from 6-7:15 p.m. and receives weekly and biweekly updates from the departments, while the Chief of Staff and Student Body Vice President oversee the day-to-day tasks of cabinet members.
Director of Athletics: Daniel Mock, a fourth-year studying computer engineering, typically manages the parking pass distribution for football games and loyalty point appeals, focuses additionally on concerns students may have with Club and Intramural Sports.
“They liaise with Athletics with anything that students want to see look differently,” Errico said. “Any time students want to affect change on anything Athletics-related, the Student Athletics Director typically is somebody who’s part of that conversation each year.”
Director of Communications: Taylor Pulliam, a fourth-year studying political science, and the department focus on external-facing communication to inform the student body about different executive branch initiatives. According to Errico, they focus on graphics and media creation, including videos, and manage their social media accounts.
“They are in charge of not only creating things to face outwards, but also being creative and brainstorming what else we could be doing to one reach students to gather concerns, but two, share updates and things that are different,” Errico said. “We can change things, all that we want in response to student needs, but if they don’t know that they’re different, then it doesn’t really serve them good.”
Director of Diversity Outreach: The co-directors, Sam Chan, a third-year studying political science, and Shelsey Hall, a fourth-year studying political science and philosophy, act as liaisons on topics that surround inclusion and equity at NC State and work with campus community centers to make sure the student body is well-served and represented.
“They plan each year, typically, Respect the Pack, which is a kickstarter community expectations celebration of inclusion and equity at State, but also a reminder of what our standards are and what our community expectations are,” Errico said.
Director of Government Relations: This year, the government relations director, Andrew McDonald, a fourth-year studying aerospace engineering, co-chaired Pack the Polls and worked closely with Errico to advocate for an early voting site to come to campus, and also helped build student voter turnout.
“They also go on to do a lot of helping to understand the implications of things that are happening in government and how it might implicate and impact the students on campus,” Errico said.
Director of Graduate Student Relations: A dual position, the director of graduate student relations serves as a liaison between Student Government, undergraduates and the Graduate Student Association. The director, who is currently Mike Madden, a graduate student studying marine, earth and atmospheric sciences, attends GSA meetings, works to maintain direct lines of communication between graduate and undergraduate students and looks for anything that will positively impact graduate students.
“They work on all things grad-related,” Errico said. “Right now, that includes helping in the efforts to better understand what the mental health of our graduate students looks like through putting out surveys, and they’re working on a graduate student town hall.”
Director of Sustainability: According to Errico, the director of sustainability acts as a facilitator of conversations of eco-friendly initiatives on campus. The current director is Jimmy Donovan, a fourth-year studying chemical engineering.
“It attracts leadership from other organizations on campus whose themes include sustainability and provides a space for them to collaborate and work together, and to ensure that they’re not working on the same initiatives and they’re using their resources the best they can,” Errico said.
Director of Traditions: Abby Verchick, a fourth-year studying biological sciences and sports science, is in charge of working with The Brick app, which tracks the various Traditions students have completed. Additionally, the department manages Campout and the Last Lecture Series and keeps track of medals that recognize students who have completed the Traditions.
Director of University Affairs: Alex Obiol, a third-year studying textile engineering, advocates for changes Student Government would like to see, such as working with NC State Dining for more vegetarian and vegan options and other campus partners.
“They do a lot of collaboration with other departments that doesn’t necessarily fit in to the other executive departments,” Errico said.
Director of Student Wellness: The Student Wellness department was created through an executive order issued by Errico at the beginning of the academic year. The department director is Mitchell Morovec, a graduate student studying public administration. According to Errico, the responsibilities of that position include being a liaison to Student Health, Wellness and Recreation, University Dining and other campus groups that impact student wellness on campus and making sure Student Government is advocating to promote holistic student wellness.
Association of Student Governments Delegates: The ASG Delegate and alternate delegate, Naila Segule, a third-year studying biomedical engineering and self-design international health development, and Jake Petrillo, a second-year studying international studies and accounting, manage Student Government’s relationship with the Association of Student Governments (ASG). They do this through writing and advocating for legislation, as well as budgetary management of student requests for funding through ASG.
Executive Assistant: Isabelle Babson, a fourth-year studying psychology and sociology, works to do background research on executive orders that are issued and provides research support to other department members. Babson is also in charge of administrative support, taking meeting notes and managing attendance documents, and is a key figure in the Student Organization Roundtable meetings.
Chief of Staff: The current Chief of Staff, Ryan Dunn, a third-year studying political science, is in charge of advising a portion of the departments, making sure programs and initiatives are running smoothly. Additionally, a large part of the role is making sure every department is focused on accountability to Errico’s platform.
“Double-checking that progress is being made on platform and helping brainstorm ways we can keep moving in those areas,” Errico said.
Errico said that the directors are critical in the advancement of the executive branch, because they are able to be representatives in different aspects of the campus community.
“We have this platform that we told students that we would work on and be working to accomplish in office, and that’s what we were elected on,” Errico said. “Through these directors each helping carry that load, we’re able to one, better meet the needs of students and two, it opens the door to have other conversations as they arise, as well.”
*Editor’s Note: The graphic originally accompanying this article was taken down because it was inappropriate and insensitive.
