Sen. Mkpe Kekung, a PhD student in mechanical engineering, is the only candidate running for two Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) seats in the Iowa State Student Government Senate.
Sen. Muhammad Azhan represents GPSS in the Senate in addition to Kekung. In 2024, 32 graduate students voted in the Student Government election.
Student Government is a student organization that exists to serve and represent all students, according to the student organization database. They annually distribute $2.6 million in student fee revenue to organizations on campus and in Story County.
The Student Government elections will take place March 4-5, and ballots will be emailed to students’ Iowa State email addresses.
The following interview with Kekung was conducted by email.
What are your qualifications for being a senator?
“I have studied at five international universities across three continents, allowing me to engage with diverse student groups, adapt to different academic environments, and understand the unique challenges graduate students face. I bring integrity, transparency, and dedication to student advocacy.”
What are the most significant issues facing your constituents, and how will you address them?
“Graduate students often struggle with finding their place within the broader student community and having their voices heard. I will strengthen the link between the Graduate/Professional Student Senate (GPSS) and the Student Government, advocate for mental health resources, professional development programs, and improved access to funding and campus resources.”
Why should students vote for you?
“I am committed to ensuring graduate students are well represented in Student Government. I will actively listen, advocate for policies that enhance student life, and work towards a more supportive and inclusive environment for all graduate students at ISU.”
Why do you want to return to Student Government, and what are you most proud of during your time in Student Government?
“I want to continue amplifying graduate students’ voices, strengthen the connection between GPSS and Student Government, and drive meaningful changes that improve academic policies, funding opportunities, and student well-being at ISU.”
Editor’s note: The Daily may edit responses from Student Government candidates for style and grammatical errors. The content of their responses is never edited.
