As Drexel prepares for a period of transition and the nation’s higher education landscape faces critical changes, the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA) enters a pivotal year under new leadership.
Newly elected President Sanjna Srinivasan, a third-year biomedical engineering student, and Vice President Lucy Nightingale, a second-year international business and law student, are no strangers to the evolving needs of the student body. Both began their involvement in the USGA as freshman senators and have since worked their way up through several leadership positions.
“We’ve always worked together,” Nightingale shared, reflecting on their early collaboration on the Student Life Committee. She explained that their decision to run together was driven by a shared belief in USGA’s untapped potential.
To them, fulfilling that potential starts with building stronger lines of communication – not just with administration, but between USGA and the students it represents.
“We have tons of connections and there’s a lot we can get done, but it comes down to students knowing that and being able to approach us,” Srinivasan said.
“A lot of what Lucy and I have planned for this upcoming year,” she added, “is to have better connections with other student organizations on campus and also just better student outreach.”
Nightingale echoed that focus: “We want to make sure that we are just as connected to students as the faculty is. As much as [the administration has] the power to make decisions, we want to build off of the bridge that’s already there so that we feel closer to the students.”
That bridge, they note, must be built on transparency.
“I think a common theme, especially this year given how many things have been changing at a real level, at a national level, is transparency,” Srinivasan said. “There are always things you can and can’t share, but even sharing progress is important. If a decision’s still in discussion, just saying that can go a long way.”
She added that USGA is working to improve its connection with university administration: “We’re trying to facilitate better connections between us and admin as well, to see if we can flesh out better transparency moving forward.”
This commitment to open speech and responsiveness was evident in the USGA’s recent reaction to concerns surrounding Drexel’s food trucks.
“We got DMs from a bunch of people about the food truck concerns,” Nightingale explained. “Immediately, our president, vice president, and director of marketing and events responded and got the students involved who were passionate about the topic.”
The swift action led to coordination between students and Public Safety and a response from Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier, resulting in a broader campus dialogue.
“It was honestly just really exciting for more people to be coming to our open joints and facilitating that connection,” Nightingale said.
USGA holds weekly open joint sessions every Monday – meetings that any student is welcome to attend, Srinivasan emphasized.
“If anyone wants to sit in, participate in our discussions, offer any input, we’re more than happy to have people there,” she said. “It’s just more so people coming out and sharing.”
Beyond addressing immediate student concerns, the pair also highlighted ongoing initiatives. USGA plays an active role in campus life year-round, and its internal structure spans multiple committees focused on important issues.
“Our Buildings and Properties committee is doing the Civic x EarthFest,” Nightingale shared. “It’s a day of civic engagement and learning about what’s going on around campus and in our neighboring communities.”
With the university soon to change leadership and higher education continuing to shift, Srinivasan and Nightingale see USGA as more than just a vehicle for event planning; it’s a channel between students and the broader university ecosystem. The arrival of new university president Antonio Merlo this July presents an opportunity to reset student-administration relations and establish a strong foundation from day one.
“Having a new president coming in… is not only going to work to our advantage, but honestly to the school’s advantage,” Nightingale said. “Him coming from a completely different university and having great knowledge in economics and the College of Arts and Sciences – this is a great foundation for us as a bridge between students and faculty. So we can say, ‘Hey, this is what the students want – let’s get on that.’”
Ultimately, Srinivasan and Nightingale hope more students will see USGA as a responsive and welcoming space for change.
“We can do quite a lot,” Sanjna said. “It’s more so: what do you guys want to do?”
Their message to students is to reach out. Whether it’s through Instagram DMs, emails, or attending open joint sessions, both leaders emphasize that USGA is ready to listen.
“We always answer,” Lucy said. “We just want to put out opportunities out there. They’re already out there — it’s just a matter of finding them.”
As they prepare to lead Drexel’s USGA this upcoming year, Srinivasan and Nightingale remain committed to their shared mission of transparency, connection, and empowerment to make change.