The leadership teams for several K-State Student Union organizations have been set for the 2025-2026 academic year. The Union looks forward to another great year of events and opportunities thanks to the hard work and dedication of these individuals.

Union Program Council

Union Program Council (UPC) has chosen its executive board and committee co-chairs for 2025-2026. UPC plans more than 160 entertaining, educational, cultural and substance-free events each year for K-State students and the Manhattan community. 

Executive Board

President: Laly Hernandez, junior, business administration
VP of Membership: Delaney Michel, senior, mechanical engineering
VP of Operations: Margaret Benson, senior, accounting
Committee Co-Chairs
After Hours: Emily Pray, senior, biology and chemistry; Laine Bartel, sophomore, business administration;  Riley Richter, senior, business administration; and Maddie Bellmar, sophomore, hospitality management
Arts: Evelyn Bachamp, freshman, business administration; Emory Sittner, sophomore, architecture; and Ainsley Pecenka, sophomore, animal sciences and industry
Campus Entertainment Fund: Ryan Uphaus, sophomore, chemical engineering                                       Community: Aubrey Naasz, junior, social work; and Hannah Muzik, sophomore, psychology
Multicultural: Prasanth Chadran, graduate, PhD in psychology; Nevaya Davis, sophomore,  advertising and public relations and biology; Jayla Brazzel, junior, exploratory studies; and Laly Hernandez, junior, business administration 
Music: Drake Thompson, senior, music education; Kinsey Buchholz, sophomore, music performance and biology; and Rebekah Navran, freshman, animal science

Union Governing Board

The Union Governing Board (UGB) serves as the general governing and policy-making body of the Union. UGB consists of 18 voting members: 14 students and four faculty members or administrators. Non-voting members of the Union staff include a programming staff member, an operations staff member, the executive assistant and an ex-officio member. 

President: Carson Cuesta, senior, political science  
Co-Vice President: Gavin Strunk, senior, finance investment management
Co-Vice President: Alexa Heseltine, master’s, public health 
Graduate Assistant: Marcus Kidd, PhD in student counseling and development
Graduate Student Council Representative: TBD
MSO Representative: TBD
Student Alumni Board Representative: TBD 
Student Senate Representative:  TBD
Students at Large: Emily Pray, biology and chemistry; Alondra Alvarez, political science; Amanda Tian agricultural economics, Connor Warta, industrial engineering; Evelynn Ediger, political science; Ibrahim Ciftci, biochemistry
University Members:  Elizabeth Berney, assistant professor, K-State Libraries; Clint Hafliger, director, recreational services; and Chris Bowman, director, Morrison Family Center for Student Well-being
Alumni Staff Representative:  TBD
Union Staff Representatives: Craig Johnson, interim executive director; and Audrey Taggart-Kagdis, assistant director/marketing
Appointed by UGB President: Bill Muir, ex-officio
Union Executive Director: TBD 
Union Executive Assistant: Marissa Fitts 

Union Corporation Board

The Union Corporation Board is an eight-member panel whose role is to direct, advise, and vote on matters of business for the K-State Union Corporation. Members of the board include three K-State students elected by the Union Governing Board, university administration, a K-State faculty member, and the executive director of the Union as a non-voting member.

President: Carson Cuesta, senior, political science  
Co-Vice President: Gavin Strunk, senior, finance investment management
Co-Vice President: Alexa Heseltine, master’s, public health 
Treasurer:  Ethan Erickson, vice president of administration and finance                                                      Faculty Representative: TBD
Dr. Thomas Lane, vice president of division of academic success and student affairs/dean of students
Dr. Marshall Stewart, Jr, executive vice president for external engagement and chief of staff 
Union Executive Director:  TBD
Union Executive Assistant: Marissa Fitts