Exec Board
Mike McGee, President
“Without ambition, one starts nothing. Without work, one finishes nothing.”
The Basics: Political Science and Television + Film Major, Class of 2010
Interests: Apple products.
Favorite Aspect of Northwestern: The fact that everybody in the world is connected to NU in some way. I’m serious.
Goals for this Year:
- To build a better relationship between ASG and the student body.
- To communicate more effectively with the student body about what projects ASG is working on.
- To create a community where ASG is more collaborative, innovative, and efficient in the projects we work on this year.
- To be more transparent to the student body about ASG’s budget and meetings.
- To build a better relationship with ASG and student groups.
- To graduate from Northwestern.
Contact Information: michaelmcgee@u.northwestern.edu, c: (815) 904-0824
Tommy Smithburg, Vice President
“goodness without knowledge is weak and feeble, yet knowledge without goodness is dangerous, and that both united form the noblest character, and lay the surest foundation of usefulness to mankind.”"
The Basics: Economics/BIP, Class of 2010
Interests: Getting outside!
Favorite Aspect of NU: The opportunities to accomplish anything you can imagine.
Goals for this Year:
1. Work with Mike to establish a useful relationship with the incoming President Schapiro.
2. Advise Mike on the strategic direction and initiatives of ASG.
3. Assist Mike as a representative of the student voice to the Administration.
4. Ensure the Cabinet is the producing results for the student body.
Contact Information: tsmithburg@gmail.com, c: 312.953.1752
Samir Pendse, Speaker of the Senate
“Fall down seven times. Stand up eight.”
The Basics: Economics and Political Science Major, Class of 2010
Interests: LeBron James, Iron Chef, Travel
Favorite Aspect of Northwestern: ASG
Goals for this Year: Make Evanston lawmakers respect Northwestern students’ voice; show Northwestern students that they have one. Make life better for off-campus students. Make ASG a force to be reckoned with.
Contact Information: s-pendse@northwestern.edu, c: (440)364-8752
Bill Russell, Student Groups Director
Contact Information: bill@northwestern.edu
Mo Safdari, Academic Director
“Anything is possible.”
The Basics: Biology and Economics, Class of 2010
Interests: Friends, Family, and the Chicago Cubs
Favorite Aspect of Northwestern: The people
Goals for this Year: Build programs, create resources, host good events, and win the ongoing battle on behalf of the student body against CAESAR, CTEC, and Blackboard.
Contact Information: muhammadsafdari2007@u.northwestern.edu, c: (815) 904-0824
Matt Bellasai, Student Life Director
“Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them.”
The Basics: Political Science, Class of 2012
Interests: I’m sort of an “anything-goes” kinda person - no one interest really dominates my time. I read a lot, I watch a lot of TV, and sometimes… I beast at Halo. That’s about it.
Favorite Aspect of Northwestern: I love the people here at Northwestern more than anything. I love that we’re all smart, involved, and interested in what’s going on around us. And on top of that, we all have a dedication to NU and our fellow students. We’re a true community.
Goals for this Year: My primary goal is to help students realize what Northwestern is really all about. Every student should feel comfortable at Northwestern, regardless of where they live or what they’re involved in. We should feel like Northwestern is the place that we belong. I’m committed to pursuing projects that will help improve student life at NU, and further the feeling of belonging that each student has for Northwestern.
Contact Information: matthewbellassai2012@u.northwestern.edu, c: (708) 285-5777
Jilian Lopez, External Relations Director
“Don’t tell me what I can’t do, only what I can.”
The Basics: Biology Major, Class of 2010
Interests: Activism, piano, racquetball, Pride and Prejudice, crosswords
Favorite Aspect of Northwestern: PURPLE is our school color! The school and students offer vast opportunities for us to expand our knowledge. And even though NU has 8,000+ students, I feel like I attend a much smaller school because of the close-knit family feeling of Northwestern. Go cats!
Goals for this Year: To expand student activity and interest outside Northwestern, infuse a mentality of giving back to our community into the student body, and lay a foundation for sustainable civic engagement.
Contact Information: jilianlopez2007@u.northwestern.edu, c: (702) 596-7379
Miranda Gonzalez, Treasurer
“You can have, do, and be anything you want.”
The Basics: Economics Major, Class of 2012
Interests: Laughing, movies, jasmine tea, finishing a long novel in one day
Favorite Aspect of Northwestern: Running into ten people I know every time I walk down Sheridan Road.
Goals for this Year: Handle money wisely, increase transparency of the Budget, and maintain an efficient and clean Student Resource Center.
Contact Information: MirandaLGonzalez@gmail.com, c: (917) 838-9105
Malavika Srinivasan, Financial Director
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in a world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it”
The Basics: Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences, Social Policy, Kellogg Undergraduate Financial Economics Certificate, Class of 2010
Interests: Dancing & Northwestern Community Building Initiative
Favorite Aspect of Northwestern: The people.
Goals for this Year: Survive funding, be as accessible as possible for student groups, and dance.
Contact Information: malavika@u.northwestern.edu, c. (937) 307-3748
Claire Lew, Public Relations Director
“Our most meaningful relationship is based on a longing for expansion, rather than a preoccupation with comfort and security.”
The Basics: Learning and Organizational Change major, Business Institutions minor, Class of 2011
Interests: Stories, art, personality tests, great meals.
Favorite Aspect of Northwestern: The lifestyle.
Goals for this Year: To create a valued relationship between Northwestern students and ASG.
Contact Information: clew23@gmail.com, (c): 612.578.9342
Grace Adamson, Parliamentarian
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” - Albert Einstein
The Basics: Economics, Learning and Organizational Change (majors); Business Institutions Program (minor)
Interests: mid afternoon naps in the sun. alpha phi pillow fights. laughter. music. art museums. sarcasm of both the ridiculously obnoxious and subtle varieties. dance. politics. films. books. running. traveling. egyptology. photography. architecture. sugar free redvines. obscure words. bad puns. secret passageways.
Favorite Aspect of Northwestern: The spontaneous late night conversations about everything from bob dylan to religion to game theory with random groups of people.
Goals for this Year: Make ASG accessible to the student body and increase Senator accountability
Contact Information: phone: 813-787-8231 or e-mail: graceadamson2007@u.northwestern.edu
Brooke Stanislawski, Clerk
“It’s kinda fun to do the impossible…”
The Basics: Civil Engineering and Applied Math, McCormick School of Engineering, 2012
Interests: Disneyland, Waffles, Ice Cream, Swimming in Lake Michigan, Dancing, Lacrosse, Traveling!
Favorite Aspect of NU: The engaging and profound conversations I find myself in the middle of during dinner with friends or even just walking to class.
Goals for this Year:
1. To get the word out! We want every student to know about the amazing projects ASG is working on.
2. ARCHIVING! All the past legislation and minutes will be online in a searchable database so we have better-researched projects within ASG and so any student can see what steps ASG has taken toward any specific goal.
3. ASG Tailgate! It used to exist…what happened? A centralized, fun-filled tailgate activity to preceed sports games would help build a sense of community and promote Northwestern pride.
4. Establishing ASG’s presence during New Student Week so the new freshmen in years to come see the opportunities to contribute Northwestern right when they get here.
Contact Information: bjs385@u.northwestern.edu (626).222.5988
