Here are the candidates for the 2022 Young Alumni Trustee election, in alphabetical order, and the information they submitted to accompany their candidacy: Reade Ben, Francesca Block, Jesse Brewer, Daniella Cohen, Zizi Coleman, Justin Curl, Josiah Gouker, Rebecca Han, Naomi Hess, Sean Horton, Pranav Iyer, Allen Liu, Ashwin Mahadevan, Rachel McQuigge, Christian Potter, Hannah Reynolds, Sally Jane (Sarah) Ruybalid, Will Stocovaz, Keely Toledo, Valeria Torres-Olivares, and Claire Wayner.

Reade Ben, Loudonville, NY
Concentration: SPIA with certificate in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
Residential college: Rockefeller
Favorite class: RUS 305: Russian Humor
Extracurricular activity: I served as a 2022 Class Senator. I investigated Social Contract related discipline.
Most meaningful Princeton experience: As a Class Senator, I investigated the disciplinary process for Social Contract violations last fall. I interviewed students impacted by harsh punishments and investigations. I presented my findings to my peers on USG last semester. This experience was meaningful because the conversation surrounding discipline is ongoing. I learned advocacy requires persistence and passion for service. I was humbled by the trust my peers placed in me when they told me their stories. As a trustee, I want to continue to make sure that Princeton University will always be striving to be better than it was yesterday. 

Francesca Block, Sanibel, FL
Concentration: The School of Public and International Affairs with certificates in Journalism and Chinese Language
Residential college: Rockefeller
Favorite class: Investigative Journalism
Extracurricular activity: Orange Key Tours, Princeton Figure Skating, The Daily Princetonian
Most meaningful Princeton experience: My most meaningful Princeton experience has been leading Orange Key. As a tour guide, I have had the distinct privilege and responsibility to help shape the next generation of Princeton students. I am honored to have led an incredible team of guides and to continue to share why I love Princeton with families around the world. Giving tours allows me to give back and show gratitude to Princeton for all the opportunities, experiences, and memories. 

Jesse Brewer, Princeton, NJ
Concentration: Molecular Biology
Residential college: Forbes
Favorite class: Modern Genetics and Public Policy
Extracurricular activity: Matriculate Advising Fellow 
Most meaningful Princeton experience: Dancing, shouting voices, blasting music, orange, black — and the scent of Vienna lager. Sensory overload in the best way possible describes my experience working at the 55th tent during Princeton Reunions 2019. Despite the physical labor of moving hundreds of tables and chairs (and learning how to tap open a keg), some of my most treasured conversations took place with these Alumni who returned to campus even 50 years after walking out the center gates.

Daniella Cohen, Highland Park, IL
Concentration: Neuroscience major with certificates in African American Studies and French Language and Culture
Residential college: Rockefeller
Favorite class: Diseases in Children: Causes, Costs, and Choices
Extracurricular activity: Investing in Princeton founders with Rough Draft Ventures
Most meaningful Princeton experience: My most meaningful Princeton experience has been serving on the National Board for the Princeton Prize in Race Relations. I received the Prize in high school for a cross-cultural pen pal letter writing project and have served on the board since 2017. I cherish the opportunity to work with Princeton administrators and alumni to award and support high school students around the country who are working to advance racial equity.

Zizi Coleman, Mays Landing, NJ
Concentration: Astrophysical Sciences with certificate in African-American Studies
Residential college: Forbes
Favorite class: Media, Sex, & Racialized Body
Extracurricular activity: Bicker Chair for University Cottage Club
Most meaningful Princeton experience: While my four years at Princeton has been full of great moments, my most meaningful has been serving as a Head Fellow for SIFP. Being able to directly impact and mentor incoming first years and watching them blossom throughout their time at Princeton has truly been unmatched!

Justin Curl, Los Angeles, CA
Concentration: Computer Science with certificate in Technology & Society
Residential college: Butler
Favorite class: Electing the President: Voter Psychology and Candidate Strategy
Extracurricular activity: Princeton Model United Nations Conference (PMUNC!!!)
Most meaningful Princeton experience: This question is tricky. As I reflect on all that Princeton means to me, I can’t help but feel that by choosing one experience, I’m selling the others short. How can I describe feeling connected with others because of PMUNC without mentioning pickup basketball, OA, or my eating club? I don’t think I’m alone in this either. Experiencing meaningful moments with incredible people is the heart of Princeton and something I wish deeply to preserve.

Josiah Gouker, Yucca Valley, CA
Concentration: African American Studies with certificates in French and Gender & Sexuality Studies
Residential college: Rockefeller
Favorite class: Race Is Socially Constructed: Now What?
Extracurricular activity: Residential College Adviser at Rockefeller College
Most meaningful Princeton experience: One of my friends extended an invitation to spend the holidays with their family when I was unable to go home during the pandemic. While spending that time together, we grew much closer, and we were virtually inseparable by the time we were back on campus. My best memory at Princeton is when my new sibling and I treated ourselves to a fancy dinner to celebrate them finishing their thesis and me completing my JP.

Rebecca Han, Tuscaloosa, AL
Concentration: Politics with intended certificate in Journalism
Residential college: First
Favorite class: International News: Reporting on Rising Nationalism in Europe
Extracurricular activity: Whig-Cliosophic Society
Most meaningful Princeton experience: The summer after my freshman year, I spent six weeks in China (including Beijing, Shanghai, and elsewhere) with some of my closest and soon-to-be closest friends through the Global Seminar Contemporary Chinese Society. It’s easy to become stuck in the Orange Bubble, but being able to explore and see firsthand what we talked about in the classroom with friends gave me a greater perspective on how Princeton—and what we do after graduation—fits into the world. 

Naomi Hess, Clarksville, MD
Concentration: SPIA with certificates in Journalism and Gender and Sexuality Studies
Residential college: Butler
Favorite class: Education Policy in the United States
Extracurricular activity: I was an Associate News Editor for The Daily Princetonian.
Most meaningful Princeton experience: My most meaningful Princeton experience was becoming the first wheelchair user to enter Nassau Hall without assistance. This represented a culmination of the advocacy I’ve done to make Princeton’s campus more accessible and inclusive. As I rode the newly-installed elevator in the 265-year-old building, I thought of the generations of disabled students who could not enter before me. Although I was the first, I most certainly won’t be the last.

Sean Horton, Kansas City, MO
Concentration: Architecture
Residential college: Whitman
Favorite class: Law and Public Policy in African American History
Extracurricular activity: Manager / Lead Mechanic of the Cyclab at Rocky College
Most meaningful Princeton experience: From my own orientation trip, the three trips I led, and the two trips I helped create with my peers, the Outdoor Action program has provided me with lifelong friendships and memories. My role models, my abilities as a leader, the communities I’ve been welcomed into, my closest friends and my passion for them are all thanks to my experiences in Outdoor Action—the most important and meaningful experiences I’ve had at Princeton.

Pranav Iyer, Cleveland, OH
Concentration: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering with certificates in Applications of Computing and OQDS
Residential college: Butler
Favorite class: (HUM216/217) Interdisciplinary Approaches to Western Culture from Antiquity to the Middle Ages
Extracurricular activity: Engineers Without Borders: Peru Team
Most meaningful Princeton experience: When considering my most meaningful Princeton experience, I reflected on the times after which I thought: “Wow. My worldview will not be the same after today.” This was single-handedly the conversations had over lunches in the Wilcox dining hall. Topics ranged from heated debates on the ethics of human cloning or merits of religion to silly discussions about the best combination at Tsweet. Regardless, I would not be who I am today without this.  

Allen Liu, Chattannoga, TN
Concentration: Operations Research and Financial Engineering with certificates in COS and PACM
Residential college: Whitman 
Favorite class: The Political Economy of Central Banking
Extracurricular activity: Undergraduate Student Government, where I served as U-Council Chair
Most meaningful Princeton experience: My most meaningful experience is advocating for access to mental health resources and improving the climate around mental health on campus. On USG, I launched a task force that created a resource guide, worked to increase access to funding for appointments, expanded virtual therapy, and recommended best practices for mental health in academics. The work convinced me that mental health is central is to our experience here and taught me how to advocate. 

Ashwin Mahadevan, Marlton, NJ
Concentration: SPIA with certificates in Vocal Performance, South Asian Studies, and History/Practice of Diplomacy
Residential college: Rockefeller
Favorite class: POL 380: Human Rights
Extracurricular activity: USG Vice President, RCA, Glee Club and Chamber Choir
Most meaningful Princeton experience: My most meaningful Princeton experiences stem from my leadership roles on campus. As an RCA, I have had the opportunity to develop very meaningful relationships with my zees and to directly aid in their transitions to Princeton. Similarly, as the USG VP, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with University administrators and to even serve on the Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees, both of which I hope to continue doing as YAT. 

Rachel McQuigge, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
Concentration: Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
Residential college: Rockefeller
Favorite class: Women, Law and Public Policy
Extracurricular activity: Princeton Women’s Ice Hockey
Most meaningful Princeton experience: My most meaningful Princeton experience was seeing the pride and excitement on my parents’ faces when moving in my sophomore year. Sophomore year was when it really sank in just how special of an opportunity being in this community is. Knowing the sacrifices they made for me, and the fact that they did not have the same opportunities, really made me lean in and embrace all that this wonderful campus has to offer. 

Christian Potter, McLean, VA
Concentration: School of Public and International Affairs
Residential college: Mathey
Favorite class: Learning Shakespeare by Doing
Extracurricular activity: Undergraduate Student Government
Most meaningful Princeton experience: One meaningful Princeton experience was getting to speak at this fall’s bonfire. It was something of an accident of the USG job, and of course it was the football team that made it happen, but that’s part of the point: the most joyful moments at Princeton are shared by all. Hearing laughter at my terrible jokes, seeing the pride of our teams, and being part of the first such celebration since freshman year was unforgettable.

Hannah Reynolds, Honeoye, NY
Concentration: Anthropology with certificate in Environmental Studies
Residential college: Rockefeller
Favorite class: History of Ecology and Environmentalism
Extracurricular activity: I advocated for sustainable investments as Divest Princeton co-coordinator.
Most meaningful Princeton experience: I was able to have an in-person summer thesis research experience in Southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest, where I worked on conservation policy, Indigenous rights, and land management. I was able to set foot in the Tongass after having worked on the project virtually for over a year and a half through the Environmental Scholars Program with High Meadows Environmental Institute. Through this experience, I grew in my scholarly thought, in my capacity as an advocate, and as a writer. I managed to create a project that not only contributes to academic knowledge, but also can be community-oriented and beneficial to the people I worked with. After graduation, I hope to continue this work and to help facilitate a transition to clean, renewable hydropower energy in Sitka, the community my research was based in.

Sally Jane (Sarah) Ruybalid, Trinidad, CO
Concentration: School of Architecture, with a certificate in Urban Studies
Residential college: Butler
Favorite class: AMS 312: Race, Gender, and the Urban Environment
Extracurricular activity: Butler College Peer Academic Advisor
Most meaningful Princeton experience: In 2020, as a student manager of the team I had the privilege of meeting the members of the first Princeton Women’s varsity basketball team from the Title IX era.  It was emotional to see their expressions as they observed what their program had become; and the experience provided critical lens into how one’s story is so shaped by the actions of others.  I am thankful: without their footsteps, I would not be here today.

Will Stocovaz, Philadelphia, PA
Concentration: Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
Residential college: Rockefeller
Favorite class: The Politics of Development
Extracurricular activity: Men’s Heavyweight Rowing team
Most meaningful Princeton experience: My best memories all involve spending time with other students between classes and extracurricular activities, whether it be sitting in the sun after enjoying brunch, finishing a workout and walking to the street, or playing frisbee in the courtyard. There is no single meaningful moment for me at Princeton; instead, it’s the people that make this a truly special place.

Keely Toledo, Logan, UT
Concentration: Anthropology with certificate in Environmental Studies
Residential college: Rockefeller
Favorite class: Interdisciplinary Design Studio
Extracurricular activity: Serving as co-president for Natives at Princeton
Most meaningful Princeton experience: One of my most meaningful experiences I’ve had was returning back to Princeton after having taken a year off. I remember feeling nervous and anxious about returning, hoping that friends had not forgotten me and that I’d be able to transition back to the pace of Princeton. Slowly but surely, I began running into and reuniting with friends and soon my worries faded. Oh, and when I finish my thesis.

Valeria Torres-Olivares, Princeton, NJ
Concentration: SPIA with certificates in Applications of Computing and Latin American Studies
Residential college: First
Favorite class: Muertos: Art and Mortality in Mexico
Extracurricular activity: Princeton Latin American Student Association (PLASA), Co-President
Most meaningful Princeton experience: My most meaningful Princeton experience was learning how subjective failure is. Setting high expectations for myself, I struggled academically and with my mental health. This forced me to delve into other aspects of my identity I found equally if not more important such as my Latinidad. Joining PLASA, I succeeded in building community and appreciating everyone's different Princeton experiences. Failure is not always negative, in fact, I learned that through failure, unexpected doors may open.

Claire Wayner, Baltimore, MD
Concentration: Civil & Environmental Engineering with certificates in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Energy
Residential college: Forbes
Favorite class: Creative Nonfiction
Extracurricular activity: Princeton Birding Society
Most meaningful Princeton experience: My freshman year, I led a campaign to pass a USG referendum urging Princeton to rapidly reduce its carbon emissions. The referendum passed, and since then, I've worked tirelessly with University administrators, including serving two years on USG, to enact more climate-friendly initiatives on campus, including tripling our solar energy generation. Leading the campaign and implementing the referendum has been an incredibly rewarding experience that has taught me how to make lasting change at Princeton.