2026-2027 ASMSU Candidates

Brown and Berninger's Mission coming soon

Bio: Hello! My name is Emelia Schairer and I am running alongside Jessica Henderson for the College of Agriculture Senate seats. I am a sophomore majoring in Cell biology and Neuroscience with a minor in microbiology following the pre-med track. Currently I am an active member in Collegiate 4-H, Collegiate Stockgrowers and the Pre-Med club. I am also a member and the Scholarship chair for Sigma Alpha, an agriculture based professional sorority. I grew up on a farm and ranch in a small town called Corvallis in Western Montana. It was back home where I was able to learn and understand the core values and commitments that I see everyday in the College of Agriculture. Through Sigma Alpha I have been able to work with various members of our community from local schools to local farms to keep agriculture in the roots of Bozeman and continue its support. I find great power in continuing the legacy of agriculture at MSU and the greater Bozeman community. When I'm not studying you can find me helping the community through volunteer work and getting all the sun I can find. Through my experiences now and those I have held previously, I have gained a deeper understanding of those around me and their different experiences, as well as the importance of leadership and service working hand in hand. Jessica and I want to bring these same values into our role as senators for ASMSU to truly represent our backgrounds and the future of this university.

Platform: One of the focuses Jessica and I would have is authenticity. As a University, we need to facilitate an understanding of what goes on around campus by improving communication between advisors, students, and faculty. Being clear about what is offered to any student and allowing for transparency around similar ideas. A second focus of ours would be opportunity. The opportunities offered to students are not known and not utilized much of the time. Increasing the information provided to students about research opportunities or things that can help advance a career needs to be better vocalized as a whole. Through our education in both the production and medical sides of the College of Agriculture we share the perspectives of those of our peers. Jessica and I have a united front on the foundation of our education being built on agriculture and the relevancy of the continuation of this concept being at the state’s land grant university.

Bio: Hello! My name is Jessica Henderson, and I am running alongside Emelia Schairer for a College of Agriculture Senate seat. I am a junior at Montana State University studying Animal Science on the Pre-Vet track, with plans to attend veterinary school after graduation. I am a member of Sigma Alpha, an agricultural professional sorority, where I served as Leadership Chair. I helped develop leadership skills among members, and strengthened our chapters' involvement in leadership. Through this role, I learned that leadership extends beyond a single team and includes building connections across the community. I am also involved in Collegiate Stockgrowers and the Pre-Vet Club. In high school, I held multiple leadership roles in FFA and 4-H, while showing cattle and working on my family’s farm and ranch. This strengthened my passion for agriculture, and is part of who I am today. When I am not in school, I enjoy exploring all that Montana has to offer. Hiking, skiing, and fishing are some of my favorite hobbies Montana has to offer. These experiences have helped me grow my leadership, communication, teamwork, and public speaking skills. My dedication to service and past leadership experiences make me excited for this opportunity to represent and serve the College of Agriculture. Emelia and I are running together because we share the same goals and values, communicate effectively, and aim to bring new energy and ideas to the College of Agriculture.

Platform: The College of Agriculture is the cornerstone of Montana State University. As a land-grant institution, our college has played a vital role in Montana’s history, yet it increasingly feels overshadowed by newer programs. My goal, alongside Emelia, is to ensure that every student in the college of ag is heard, and supported. We hope to be authentic and serve the college as a whole. With our ambitions falling into medicine and production we share similar viewpoints from many students across the College of Agriculture. We plan to improve faculty, and student communication, by listening to your voices through surveys and open office hours. We aim to strengthen leadership through our college, and amplify the campus wide involvement of agriculture students. We hope to expand undergraduate research, and create more student opportunities through this seat. Montana State is the land grant university in Montana, founded in agriculture. Emelia and I hope to bring light to this, and lift up our college so we can better serve the university as a whole. 

Bio: Hello Bobcats! My name is Kate Johnson, and I am a Junior majoring in Microbiology with a minor in Genetics here at MSU. Over the past year, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to serve as a Senator for the College of Agriculture, proudly representing MSU students. In this role, I have worked to advocate for students' needs and contribute to initiatives that improve the student experience on campus. One of the projects that I am incredibly passionate about is developing a CPR/BLS certification course for students, with the goal of expanding it to a one-credit class. I believe this initiative will not only provide students with valuable, life-saving skills but also make career-starting skills more accessible to all MSU students, regardless of financial situations. Alongside my work in the Senate, I have served on the Finance Board for the past two years, helping manage and allocate the ASMSU budget. This role has strengthened my commitment to transparency and ensuring student funds are used effectively to support organizations and initiatives across campus. I am also involved in the Events Team, where I help plan and support campus events like Rail Jam and many other experiences that bring the MSU community together. Outside of ASMSU, I serve as a hospice volunteer and a volunteer firefighter/EMT-IV. These experiences have fueled my passion for service within my community and directly inspired my efforts to expand access to emergency response training for students. They’ve taught me the importance of accountability, compassion, and acting in the best interest of others, which translates into how I intend to continue to act as a senator for The College of Agriculture. As I run for re-election, I am committed to continuing to advocate for students and expanding access to classes like a CPR/BLS class, and ensuring responsible use of students' resources. I am passionate about creating a more accessible and engaging campus environment, and I would be honored to continue serving as your senator.

Platform: Student Safety & Access I am committed to expanding access to career-relevant, life-saving skills for MSU students. I am currently working to develop a CPR/BLS certification course, with the goal of establishing it as a one-credit class available to all students. This initiative will provide accessible, hands-on training that prepares students for real-world situations across a wide range of fields. Through my experiences as a volunteer firefighter/EMT, I have seen firsthand the importance of having credible, licensed training. While CPR/BLS certification is valuable across all professions, I also recognize that different fields require niche certifications and skill sets. I am committed to engaging with students to understand better what certifications would benefit different student groups the most and to begin building pathways to make those opportunities more accessible.

Responsible & Transparent Use of Student Funds Students deserve to know how their money is being used and to see it directly benefit their campus experience. Through my two years on The Finance Board, I have worked to allocate funding in a way that supports student organizations and initiatives that make a meaningful impact. I will continue to advocate for transparency and accountability in the budget process, while ensuring that student funds are used effectively to support a wide range of organizations and opportunities across campus.

Building a Stronger Campus Community A strong campus experience goes beyond the classroom. Through my involvement on the Events Team, I have helped support events like Rail Jam that bring students together and create lasting memories. I want to continue expanding inclusive and engaging events that foster connection and school spirit. By supporting both large-scale traditions and smaller community-focused events, I aim to help every student feel connected and involved at MSU.

Bio: During my freshmen year I have joined Young Americans for Liberty. Participating in meetings, I believe I should run for Senate since this is an opportunity to support all of the students of Montana State. I actively serve students at Montana State by helping to maintain the quality of campus’ outdoors. I value spending time with my friends and meeting new individuals.

Platform: Protect Free Speech — I will support legislation that protects all students' right to free speech on campus.

Bio: My name is Stella Rapson, and I’m a sophomore at Montana State studying microbiology on the pre-med track with a minor in psychology. I currently serve as one of the two senators representing the College of Agriculture. During my term, I’ve focused heavily on sustainability efforts across campus, working closely with the Office of Sustainability throughout the semester. I helped kickstart the idea of a campus thrift initiative and am now developing a resolution to further support sustainability as part of the university’s new strategic plan. Outside of senate, I recently took over the pickleball club and have been working to maintain a fun, welcoming community. That includes partnering with the new Picklr facility here in Bozeman and creating more opportunities for students to get involved, whether they’re seasoned players or just curious to try it out. There’s still more I want to accomplish, and I’m hoping to keep building on this momentum through ASMSU. When I’m not busy with school or campus projects, you’ll probably find me skiing at Bridger, spending time outside, or just hanging out with friends, though I’m always just as content with a cozy night in.

Platform:Accessibility- I will work to make student resources, assistance, and opportunities more accessible to all students. This includes advocating for clearer communication regarding current services, improving visibility around affordable programs, and ensuring student organizations and campus initiatives are inclusive and easy to engage with. I will continue to collaborate with campus offices to identify and work through gaps to push for practical and student-informed initiatives.

Opportunity- I aim to create more opportunities for students to get involved on campus as a way to explore their interests. Through my work with clubs including pickle ball and greek life (previously), as well as initiatives I have taken during my time in ASMSU, I've seen how difficult it can be to find opportunity; however, how impactful these experiences can be as well. I will continue to support the growth of student organizations and help connect students with opportunities that maximize their time as a student at MSU.

Sustainability- Building on my current work, I will continue to advocate for sustainability on our campus. This includes supporting sustainability efforts that are currently being worked on, and inviting new ideas to our campus. I aim to help students reach their sustainability goals, which may look different for each student.

Bio: Incoming 

Platform: Incoming

Bio: I am a second year Political Science and Environmental Economics student and a Hilleman Scholar from Kalispell, Montana. I have worked throughout Montana as a political organizer, dedicated to progressive change in our state. As an ASMSU Senator, I supported legislation protecting students from unjust policing, supported raising graduate student wages, and created more opportunities for students to access government by serving on City boards. Additionally, I served this past year on the Registered Student Organization Funding Board, where I balanced various student group interests alongside the greater mission to improve student life, practicing fiscal responsibility with student fee dollars and ensuring that fees are not spent contrary to student-body interests.

Platform:My platform is to promote sustainability, civil rights, and transparency. I want to continue my work with sustainability by keeping the University accountable to its environmental goals by collecting and publishing its emissions data. If University administration is not up to the task, I will fight to create a student-led alternative. In regard to expanding civil rights, this past year I have led resolutions that have called to expand training for university staff to interact with law enforcement, to expand access to in-state tuition for discriminated students, and showing student body support for the graduate student union’s negotiations with the University. In short. I have voted my conscience, and want to continue to do so. In regard to transparency, I have worked to create a simple and transparent funding procedure for student clubs so that your student fee dollars are used to the benefit of every student, as well as supported a resolution that has been accepted by the Bozeman City Commission, which will allow MSU students to sit on various city boards. I want to continue opening up student government by increasing awareness of both what it does, and how to participate through resolutions, marketing and other awareness campaigns. In short, I want to help contribute, in some small part, to making a campus that protects our environment, expand student protections, and to open up student government.,

Bio: My name is Jack Shumaker, and I am a sophomore here at MSU studying Cell Biology and Neuroscience on the pre-med track. On campus, I am actively involved in leadership roles and supporting student success. I am the president of the Pickleball Club, where I've helped grow a community that has a lot of fun. I serve as a Peer Mentor for Physics I and tutor Organic Chemistry, where I help students with challenging concepts. Outside of school, I work at Bozeman Health as a PCT, where I have learned a lot about healthcare and what it means to work in a team. I'm also big on skiing, photography, catching small fish, Insta reels, and pickleball. I hope y'all will elect me to serve this campus in any way that I can.

Platform: Sustainability & Affordability Goal: Launch a campus-wide outdoor gear swap to reduce costs and promote sustainability. Outdoor recreation is central to life at MSU, but gear can be expensive. I will work to organize a campus-wide gear swap where students can buy, sell, or trade equipment—reducing financial barriers while promoting reuse and sustainability.

Academic Support & Student Success Goal: Expand peer mentoring and tutoring across all disciplines. As a Peer Mentor and tutor, I’ve seen how important accessible support is. I will work to expand peer-led mentoring programs beyond STEM so all students have the resources they need to succeed.

Career & Community Engagement Goal: Increase access to real-world opportunities and strengthen student involvement. Through my experience as a Patient Care Technician and Pickleball Club President, I understand the value of both professional experience and community. I will advocate for more internships, certifications, and research opportunities while supporting student organizations across campus.

Bio: Currently, I am the Vice President of the Men's Club Soccer Team here on campus, and I will slowly transfer into the President position. I also have recently become part of ASMSU's senate through an interview process and hope to continue serving through next year. As of right now, I have helped the soccer team find sponsorships, create new merchandise, and create new jerseys for next year. Along with internal business, the soccer team has also volunteered on and off campus. Personally, I have volunteered with Galatin Elite to run practices for Kindergarten through 5th graders, as well as doing work for Women's Basketball and Men’s Football teams. As for my free time, I obviously enjoy playing soccer, and like all Bozmanites, I enjoy skiing, hiking, camping, and fishing. Generally, if I can be outdoors, I’ll be a happy camper. Scholarly, I enjoy reading when I can, visiting museums, churches, and super cool historical sites.

Platform: Accessibility: I would love to help increase campus accessibility for those who have to commute from the greater Bozeman area. To do this, I would work with Streamline or Cat Tracks to help increase the area that they would cover to allow for easier access to campus, to help with housing for students, and to allow them to be more comfortable in areas that are further from campus.

Outreach: I want to help events reach a larger group of people or have smaller, more centralized events to gear them towards multiple groups so that their interests are expressed. I think this will allow people to see how events operate and could increase attendance at other events as well.

Impact: I want to build a larger awareness for ASMSU and what we do for and with the student population. I think more events and more interactions between ASMSU and the general student population would show how we operate, what we do, and how to reach out to us.

Bio: Hi I'm Paige Frumkes, and you may recognize me from the wide array of activities I do on campus. I run Citizen’s Climate Lobby, am a part of College Democrats, a member of Delta Gamma, and more. As a senator I would push for more accessibility from ASMSU, so students know when we meet and how to be involved. More effective sustainability on campus. Finally, how to improve existing student services and systems; many people are unhappy with university programs, and in ASMSU I would pressure the university to fix these systems.

Platform: Accessibility- Many students have things they would change within the university and in ASMSU, but they don't know what to do about it. I would have ASMSU’s meeting time and place clearly published online and within the office in the SUB. I would clearly publish the office hours of senators, along with publishing guides to help students give public comments.

Bio: Incoming

Platform: Incoming

Bio: Hello! My name is Sadie Jenkins, and I am a junior studying Political Science with a minor in English Writing. I’m originally from Juneau, Alaska, and came to Bozeman for the skiing and the strong sense of community at Montana State. When I’m not studying, you’ll probably find me skiing at Bridger Bowl, swimming at Fairy Lake, or working on my ’98 4Runner.

During my time at MSU, I’ve served as a Bobcat Student Employment Ambassador with Career Services, an Advocat Tour Guide, and an Orientation Leader. I’ve also worked to grow female presence in skiing culture through Strand Collective. This past year, I served as a CLS Senator and worked on the Finance Board and RSO Funding Board, where I gained experience supporting student organizations and advocating for students across campus.

Platform: As an At-Large Senator, I will focus on transparency, accessibility, and student engagement. I plan to increase transparency in ASMSU by hosting informational sessions so students better understand how club funding works, where their student fees go, and how they can get involved in ASMSU. To improve accessibility, I will work with Career Services to help expand internship opportunities for students in all majors. I will also prioritize student engagement by bringing student concerns directly to the Senate and strengthening collaboration between ASMSU and campus offices. Finally, I am working to bring a jib rail to campus, creating a safe and accessible place for students to practice skiing and snowboarding while building community.

Bio: I am a sophomore here at Montana State pursuing a double major in Applied Math and Economics. I grew up here in Bozeman and graduated from Gallatin high school, so MSU and the broader community have long been important parts of my life. On campus, I try to stay actively involved in both academic and student organizations. Last fall I served as an at-large member of the ASMSU RSO Funding Board, where I helped deliberate and make decisions about how student funds should be allocated to registered student organizations. I also work as an analyst with Absaroka Capital, participate in several campus clubs, and have contributed to research projects within the MSU Economics Department.

My most direct contribution to the student body has been my work on the RSO Funding Board. Along with my fellow board members, I helped evaluate funding requests and make careful decisions about how student fees should support clubs and activities across campus. That experience showed me how important thoughtful, consistent decision-making is when allocating student resources. If elected, I hope to continue serving students by returning to work on funding decisions and improving how those decisions are made.

Outside of academics, I enjoy hiking, boating, writing, and generally taking advantage of the outdoors around Bozeman. You're likely to find me up on Hyalite Reservoir every weekend this summer.

Platform: Consistency: Clear Standards for Student Funding

Student fees should be allocated using transparent and consistent principles. My biggest priority will be to introduce clear frameworks that guide how ASMSU evaluates club funding and spending decisions so that organizations are treated fairly and ASMSU money (that comes directly from each and every student!) is used responsibly.  

Practical Governance: Focus on What ASMSU Can Actually Change  

Student government should focus on issues it has real authority over. I will prioritize policies that directly impact students at MSU rather than spending time on symbolic resolutions about issues beyond the Senate’s control.

Outreach: Connecting ASMSU to the Student Body

In my experience, too few students understand how ASMSU decisions affect them. I will work to improve communication about what the Senate does, how funding decisions are made, and how students can participate in the process.

Bio: I am currently the Brotherhood Chair of Sigma Nu Zeta Nu at Montana State. I am also currently a Club Funding Assistant and a General Member of the Funding Board, at ASMSU. With these positions at ASMSU I have assisted in funding dozens of clubs on campus. For fun I enjoy going camping or fishing or just hanging out with my buddies.

Platform: Financially responsible: I want to make sure student funds are used to improve the campus environment and that we aren't letting large sums of money sit and do nothing.

Bio: Incoming

Platform: Incoming

Bio: My name is Harrison Brandt, and this fall I will be a Senior in the Food and Nutrition, Dietetics program. Originally I’m from Elk River, Minnesota and love all things winter and outside including skiing, hockey, camping, and fishing. I am a certified EMT, the incoming president of the Montana Student Dietetics Association, and am currently a ASMSU senator for the College of EHHD. I’ve worked in multiple fields including healthcare, foodservice, and volunteering;, giving me a well rounded point of view on what it means to support others. I believe student government should be driven by genuine listening and thoughtful action, which ultimately benefits and supports everyone involved. That is exactly what I intend to bring to the ASMSU Senate. One of my main goals for this next year in the senate is to make ASMSU as a whole more approachable, because ultimately we’re here to listen to you as students. I am running for reelection because I care about this campus and the students who make it an amazing place to be. 

Platform: Genuine Listening- Make a meaningful effort to reach out to student groups and RSOs within the college and ask for their ideas. This would also include their opinions of upcoming legislation within the senate. 

 

Thoughtful Action and Clear Communication- Introduce a board posted outside of the ASMSU office that displays all things new in the senate. This would include summaries of passed legislation and upcoming events.

 

An Approachable ASMSU- Spread more information about how ASMSU communicates with the student body. This includes better advertising of the “public comment” section of the agenda and being more clear about our office hours. We want to hear from students and we need to make a more accessible space for them to share their thoughts.

Bio: I am studying Financial Engineering with minors in Mathematics and Engineering Management. I have been a part of ASMSU for over a year now, as well as a part of multiple clubs on campus. Those clubs include Students for Suicide Prevention and the Financial Engineering Club. I am also a part of Greek life here on campus, and I serve as the President of Sigma Nu Fraternity. I am excited to represent the College of Engineering Students and make our college better!

Platform: N/A

Bio: incoming

Platform: incoming

Bio: incoming

Platform: incoming

Bio: Hi Bobcats! My name is Hannah Ferguson. I am a sophomore in Biological Engineering, an RA in Yellowstone Hall, and a current member of the ASMSU Senate. During my term this past year, I have served as the liaison to the Streamline bus service and assisted in starting the MSU-Streamline Airport Shuttle. As a senator, my priorities range from advocating for student welfare and proper spending of student fee dollars to working closely with MSU admin to improve the student experience at MSU. If elected, in my next term, I will continue expanding accessibility of public transit for students, I will keep working on my current campus improvement projects, and I will continue advocating for student needs across campus. When I'm not studying in the SUB or library, you can usually find me on a mountain somewhere, so definitely say hi if you see me on the trail or ski lift!! Feel free to stop by the ASMSU office or reach out if you have any questions! Go Cats!!!

Platform: Accessibility of Public Transit - If elected, I will continue my work with the Streamline bus service and solidify the MSU-Streamline Airport Shuttle. As well as field student feedback on further public transit improvements that could benefit the student body.

Advocacy - If elected, I will continue to advocate for students' educational and social experience at MSU, as well as the proper spending of student fee dollars.

Accountability: If elected, I will prioritize holding the student government accountable for representing student voices and advancing student-driven change at MSU. This will be achieved by continuing to serve as a conduit for student projects and helping student groups use ASMSU as a resource to achieve their goals.

Bio: incoming

Platform: incoming

Bio: Hello student body, my name is Jonah Metz, and I am excited to run as a candidate for one of your next At-Large Senators in ASMSU! This year I have had the privilege of serving as one of your At-Large Senators, and as an ASMSU liaison to Off-Campus Student Life and an ASMSU student representative for the Outreach and Engagement Council. I also work as a resident advisor in North Hedges, and I am an active member of SigEp, serving as the community service chair for my chapter. Through these leadership roles, I get the opportunity to collaborate with diverse groups of people and effectively work on a team. Moreover, I have experience creating both meaningful community building and volunteer service events, experience in ASMSU as a voting member of the Senate, and familiarity enhancing the student experience through my roles on campus. Outside of these roles and academics, I love being outside, staying active, reading, and spending quality time with friends and family. 

Platform: Opportunity. If elected as an At-Large Senator, I will work towards providing a platform for easier access to internship and service opportunities. Additionally, I hope to expand the Outreach and Engagement Council’s seed grant program to students, a project which I have been a part of this year.

 

Collaboration.

I believe collaboration is foundational for a student government that properly addresses student needs and introduces new ideas to the university. As an at-large senator, I will ensure that I am available to both students and student body representatives in order to collaborate on ideas or resolutions. With that, if elected as an At-Large Senator, I will consistently be available during my office hours and adjust my schedule if needed to collaborate with any student or student body representative, and will seek to collaborate with other student body representatives to ensure that ASMSU is fulfilling its mission.

 

Service.

If elected as an At-Large Senator, I will work towards introducing more meaningful service opportunities to the student body. Similarly, I will collaborate with the Office of Student Engagement to expand existing programs like Service Saturday. Lastly, I will work towards creating more service opportunities for student body representatives to increase ASMSU’s involvement in the broader community.

Bio: Hello there, my name is Brendan Boreth, your CLS candidate. I am running for the position of Senator because I see the need for someone who believes in student rights on campus to serve on ASMSU. I have worked on legislation in the state legislature to protect student rights on campus, focusing on policies that safeguard the civil liberties guaranteed to students.

In addition to this legislative work, I am also working to clarify the campus weapons policy. The goal of this effort is to ensure that students clearly understand the policy and to eliminate gray areas that could pose risks to students.

Outside of these responsibilities, I often find myself going hiking, heading to the range with friends, or just hanging out in Wilson studying. Despite this, I make a point to routinely talk with people across campus, which helps me maintain a strong understanding of the issues that matter most to students.

Platform: Accountability: If elected, I will ensure that not one dime is wasted by ASMSU.

Affordability: I will push for policies that ensure students only pay for campus programs they actually use, such as opt-in meal plans.

Orderly: I will ensure that the procedures of ASMSU are followed and that the organization stays within its bounds so it does not act against the interests of students.

Bio: Hi, my name is Luis Razo. I’m a junior studying Political Science, Entrepreneurship, and Small Business Management at MSU. When I’m on campus, you can find me volunteering at events, tutoring students, and having fun. When I’m not on campus, I enjoy spending time in the mountains and woods, connecting with nature. So far on my MSU journey, I have helped the business college streamline its processes and save the school of business money. I’ve also been involved with the Leadership Institute and several campus clubs, such as YAL and Pre-Law. I have a passion for serving and protecting my community, personal and career growth, and transparency. Serving and protecting my community means advocating for students who feel unheard and left behind. Furthermore, I hope to see more career opportunities for CLS students, including internships and networking opportunities. Finally, I will work toward transparency for ASMSU. A more open and transparent ASMSU will encourage greater student civic engagement, thereby helping ASMSU grow.

Platform: I have three main pillars as a senator: Transparency, Advocacy, and Career Opportunities.

As a senator, I will ensure ASMSU operates with full transparency, so all students understand what happens behind the scenes. Additionally, I will promote opportunities for active student involvement in ASMSU meetings and their agendas. Clear communication with students will also help build trust in ASMSU. Student politics should be accessible to any student who wishes to participate. I will make information such as budgets, meeting agendas, legislation, and decisions widely accessible.

My second pillar focuses on advocacy. I will serve as a strong representative for the College of Letters and Science. At a STEM-focused school, it’s often hard for humanities students to feel they have a voice in student government. I will prioritize the best interests of CLS students. As the largest college on campus, we deserve better representation in ASMSU. I won’t vote based on personal politics but on what CLS students want and need.

My third and final pillar is expanding career opportunities. This includes increasing internship and networking opportunities for CLS students. To do this, ASMSU will partner with the leadership institute and the alumni foundation to support networking events and help students with internship applications. Additionally, career fairs will be more equitable for CLS students by featuring more CLS-related businesses and resources.