The results of the Andrews University Student Association (AUSA) cabinet election were announced via email to the wider campus on Feb. 27, 2026. After campaigns, speeches and anticipation, the newly elected officers were confirmed and will begin their term serving the student body for the next school year.
Junior Seth McKelvey, who campaigned on building a campus community, was elected president. With experience as a senator, months of planning before his election, and meetings with members of the current AUSA team, he is excited to start the year off strong. Interviewed for any comments on his position, McKelvey stated, “I wish to close the gap between the students and the administration with AUSA as the bridge connecting the two.” He wishes to make campus not only a safe space, but a place for connection amongst fellow students and friends.
Working alongside Seth McKelvey is the newly elected executive vice president, junior Mariann Forbes. As executive vice president, Forbes sits between the concerns of the students and the decisions made in the cabinet. Her platform in the campaign was for the voice of the students to be heard. She intends to do this via anonymous concern stations and anonymous digital platforms for students to voice their worries and concerns that will be addressed. Building the infrastructure to meet them where they are instead of waiting for them to come forward.
Junior Augusta Larrondo has been elected as executive secretary with her main promise to make the student body’s concerns tangible and support the choices that will help everyone. “I strive to support in the best possible way I can,” Larrondo said in her speech on Feb. 19, and she is stepping into the office with that promise in mind.
Junior Audrey Lim will serve as vice president of the interior, focusing on her promise of showing the diversity and inclusivity on campus. “I am looking forward to getting to know the new cabinet members, and making student voices heard and to advocate for said voices whenever I get the chance,” Lim said.
Sophomore Dale Patalinghug was elected as vice president of religion. His campaign centered around restoring daily lived faith among students. He plans to do this with growing united prayer, expanding digital evangelism, and introducing a three-day fasting initiative ahead of finals week. As Patalinghug said in his speech, “It’s not always about more events, it’s about more encounters.” Faith on campus isn’t measured in headcounts for him, but in the quiet and everyday moments where students connect with something greater through prayer.
Sophomore Denisse Mortera Chavira will serve as vice president of public relations. Her campaign announced three key initiatives: club features, faculty spotlights and a visual rebrand of Andrews University. She wants AUSA’s public presence to better reflect the campus that it represents. Mortera Chavira made it clear in her campaign that differences would be celebrated as strengths under her leadership. “Representation matters,” she said in her speech, a statement speaking to a broader vision of campus where each student sees themselves reflected in the community around them.
The upcoming school year looks promising with the six newly elected officers stepping into their roles, marking a fresh chapter of Andrews University’s student body. From rebuilding the community to amplifying student voices, the new AUSA cabinet has a clear sense of purpose and a shared vision to make campus life more connected.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.