The Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) is a student government created to enrich the lives of students attending Boston College. Its purpose is to serve on behalf of students' interests and to help cultivate an engaged and caring student community.
UGBC Programs & Divisions
Diversity & Inclusion
The Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) shall be tasked with addressing student concerns regarding diversity and inclusion on campus.
It is the purpose of the Division to address student issues and concerns in regards to diversity and inclusion including, but not limited to, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, disability, and socioeconomic status. Through programming, policy work, and community outreach, the Division seeks to foster a Boston College community where all students feel safe, welcomed, and supported.
The Division consists of the AHANA+ Leadership Council (ALC), the Council for Students with Disabilities (CSD), the Queer Leadership Council (QLC). Collectively, the Division hosts campus-wide events such as AHANA+ Celebration Week, Pride Week, ALC Ball, QLC Formal, and ALC Showdown.
Joshua Golden (he/him)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director
Joshua Golden (he/him)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director
Joshua Golden (he/him) is a junior from The Bronx, NY majoring in Political Science in the Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences. Outside of UGBC, he is also on the Club Rugby Team and an International Assistant. For Josh, it is important to leave a place in better condition than when he found it. UGBC has continuously provided him with the opportunity to assist his peers and work with administration to create a more inclusive campus.
Saron Yared (She, They)
AHANA+ Leadership Council Director
Saron Yared (She, They)
AHANA+ Leadership Council Director
Saron Yared is a senior from Wylie, TX double majoring in Film Studies and Communication in the Morissey College of Arts & Sciences. In addition to UGBC, she is also the president of the Ethiopian-Eritrean Student Association, a Social Fellows Marketing Intern, and works in the Boston College Film Department and Office of University Communications. Saron joined UGBC because she was interested in DEI work and bridging the gap between marginalized students on campus and administration. Through UGBC Saron has been able to further commit to fostering community and spearheading initiatives for AHANA+ students on campus. She hopes to continue this in her new position as AHANA+ Leadership Council by continuing to uplift and center AHANA+ student voices.
Sydney Brown (She, Her, Hers)
Director of Queer Leadership Council
Sydney Brown (She, Her, Hers)
Director of Queer Leadership Council
Sydney Brown is a senior from Cornelius, NC, majoring in neuroscience on the pre-med track and minoring in art history. Outside of her work in UGBC, she is a visual artist and bass and piano player. She has been involved with advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights since she was very young, having grown up with two moms in the South. She has extensive experience advocating for students’ rights at her middle and high school. Her goal in joining UGBC is to apply her skills to continue advocating for queer students while also fostering a welcoming and supportive environment on campus. She believes everyone deserves to feel a sense of belonging on campus and plans to use this opportunity to make that happen. Sydney deeply enjoys her work in UGBC since she has formed many connections with her peers, and she is intensely grateful for the opportunity to cultivate queer joy on campus and make necessary changes to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ students.
Isabella Bianchi (She, Her, Hers)
Council for Students with Disabilities Director
Isabella Bianchi (She, Her, Hers)
Council for Students with Disabilities Director
Isabella Bianchi is a junior from Newton, MA, majoring in English at the Woods College of Advancing Studies. Outside of UGBC, she serves as Fit and Feminine's vice president, an Outdoor Adventures student leader, and an event coordinator for the Plant Club. Isabella joined the Council for Students with Disabilities (CSD) as part of her lifelong mission to drive social change and improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. UGBC has enabled her to actively engage within the greater BC community, advocating for students' needs, bridging social and physical barriers, and breaking down stigmatizations surrounding disability.
Student Initiatives
The Division of Student Initiatives (SI) shall be tasked with devising and executing issue-driven campaigns and programming that demonstrate, to the greater Boston College community, that the undergraduate population has interest in a particular area of concern.”
Student Initiatives addresses student issues and concerns by executing advocacy programming and issue campaigns in coordination with Senate policy. Advocacy programming consists of large-scale programming, such as speaker events or film screenings, and small-scale programming, such as workshops, topic-specific dinner series, or publicity campaigns. Issue campaigns are initiatives meant to bring awareness to a specific issue over a sustained period of time.
Topic Areas within Student Initiatives include:
Civic Engagement
Health and Wellness
Sustainability
Women and Gender
Margaret Kuffner (She, Her, Hers)
Student Initiatives Director
Margaret Kuffner (She, Her, Hers)
Student Initiatives Director
Margaret Kuffner is from outside of Philadelphia and is majoring in international studies on the premed track. She has been in Student Initiatives since freshman year and loves creating events with purpose that are fun and meaningful for students. As director she hopes to hear the concerns of her fellow peers and turn their comments into programming fostering community, belonging, and school spirit. Outside of UGBC she serves as editor in chief of BCs food magazine Gusto, the secretary general of Eaglemunc, and is a club runner. Margaret cannot wait to serve the student body.
Financial Affairs
The Division of Environmental Sustainability shall be tasked with advancing the interests of the student body with respect to environmental issues on campus and within the greater Boston Community.
The Division of Environmental Sustainability advocates for green changes to Boston College’s campus through working with the Office of Sustainability, directing the Sustainability Action Committee, and other avenues
The Finance division has the primary responsibility of assisting the other divisions within UGBC in the processing and assessment of their allocated budgets. The Finance division seeks not only to improve the financial transparency of the organization, but also to provide guidance in creating and managing division budgets. The Finance division serves as a resource to UGBC divisions and their leadership, and to any student who wishes to understand the financial processes of our student government.
Allie Lasch (She, Her, Hers)
Director of Financial Affairs
Communications Division
The Division of Communications (COMM) shall be tasked with promoting and publicizing the work and initiatives of the UGBC through those means it deems reasonably appropriate.
The Communications division handles event marketing, media, branding, and outreach for all the divisions in UGBC. The role of this division is to get the word out about what UGBC is doing, capture memories through photography and videography, and design and order flyers, banners, and UGBC merchandise (cardholders, sweaters, stickers, etc) for various UGBC events. Applicants who are interested in the intersection between advocacy and design are encouraged to apply for Communications.
Shelby Seybold (She, Her, Hers)
Communications Director
Shelby Seybold (She, Her, Hers)
Communications Director
She is majoring in Communications and Theology, with minors in Business and Marketing. Outside of UGBC, she is involved with BC F1RST, the Spikeball Club, the BC Red Cross, and Sub Turri (the yearbook), while also working in Marketing and Communications for the BC Career Center and Schiller Institute. Her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with student engagement, drives her to join UGBC, where she can advocate for the needs and aspirations of BC students to the administration and the wider community. She enjoys her work at UGBC because it allows her to immerse herself in marketing and communications, helping to inform students and staff about available policies, events, and resources. Grateful for the opportunity, she values the feedback from students that enables her to adapt and enhance their communication strategies for the better.
Environmental Sustainability
The Division of Environmental Sustainability shall be tasked with advancing the interests of the student body with respect to environmental issues on campus and within the greater Boston Community.”
The Division of Environmental Sustainability advocates for green changes to Boston College’s campus through working with the Office of Sustainability, directing the Sustainability Action Committee, and other avenues.
Julia Carpenter (She/Her)
Director of Environmental & Sustainability
Julia Carpenter (She/Her)
Director of Environmental & Sustainability
Julia Carpenter is a senior from Brightwaters, NY majoring in International Studies with minors in Environmental Studies and French in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. On campus, Julia is a member of the Women's Club Rugby team and a Resident Assistant for sophomores in the Vandy/90 community. She got involved with the E&S Division freshman year because she is passionate about the impact the environment has on all aspects of our lives. As the Director this year, her goal is to make the division as intersectional as possible involving other clubs and divisions as well as advocating for a more sustainable campus. Having been a member since the division's first year she is excited for the potential for what will come next.
UGBC Senate
The Senate acts as the legislative branch of the UGBC by working to enact legislation, conduct surveys, and address student concerns and needs on campus. The Senate structure consists of four standing committees that work toward the aforementioned goals in an effort to better the BC student experience within their respective policy areas. These committees include the Academic Affairs Committee, the Community Relations Committee, the Intersectionality Committee, and the Student Life Committee. Each committee is overseen by a Senate representative who serves as a committee chair. Please refer to the “Contact Your Representative” tab to learn about your representatives and the “Meet Your Committee Chairs” tab to learn more about the chairs and their respective committees.
Meghan Heckelman (she/her)
Vice President
Meghan Heckelman (she/her)
Vice President
Meghan Heckelman (she/her) is a junior from Mineola, NY majoring in Applied Psychology and Human Development and Political Science and minoring in Management & Leadership in the Lynch School of Education & Human Development. On campus, Meghan is a current co-director of the Jenks Leadership Program, an Appa Student Leader, a Clough Public Service Fellow, a Gift of Life Marrow Registry Campus Ambassador, and is involved with the John Marshall Project. Having previously served as the Director of Student Initiatives, Meghan is passionate about getting proximal with students through programs, events, and even random encounters on the quad! As the leader of the Senate, Meghan looks forward to promoting openness and transparency, engaging with students and administrators, and executing meaningful initiatives toward a better Boston College.
UGBC Senate Mission Statement & Standing Rules
In order to have an effective and transparent student government, it is critical that all students have access to and understand the Constitution which their representative government functions upon. Therefore, the current UGBC Constitution and Standing Rules can be found here.
Daniel Wise (He, Him, His)
Senate Student Life Committee Chair
Daniel Wise (He, Him, His)
Senate Student Life Committee Chair
He is an Economics major with minors in Finance and Philosophy, currently involved as an Economics Undergraduate Research Fellow, in Intramural Sports, and with BCIC. He joined UGBC to leave a positive impact on the BC community and to cultivate meaningful relationships with students and administrators. He enjoys collaborating with fellow student leaders to tackle pressing issues at BC, embracing the opportunity to solve challenges while building important connections during his time in UGBC.
Alexis Thomas (She, Her, Hers)
Intersectionality Committee Chair
Alexis Thomas (She, Her, Hers)
Intersectionality Committee Chair
Alexis is a senior at BC studying political science. At BC, she is involved in the Jenks Leadership Program, the debate club, and doing research for the Political Violence Project Team. In UGBC, she enjoys advocating for low-income students. This year, she looks forward to continuing this work in a leadership role.
Cami Kulbeida (She, Her, Hers)
Academic Affairs, Committee Chair
