BSG President 

Aidan Aybar ’28

Hi! My name is Aidan Aybar. I’m a sophomore from North Salem, N.Y. I love Bowdoin and take a lot of pride in our community, which is why I’m running to be Student Body President.

In the last two years, I’ve become deeply involved in Bowdoin life. Through Bowdoin Student Government (BSG), Residential Life (ResLife), varsity baseball and now working as a tour guide, I’ve gotten to learn a lot about the school. I care deeply about this place—I know what makes Bowdoin special, and I have ideas about how we can continue to improve it.

This year, I’ve worked on a range of projects. I’ve helped get the ball rolling on an initiative aimed at making Bowdoin a national leader in student sleep. I’ve helped bring free food trucks, mugs and retro merch to Cold at Coe, and I’ve also helped spearhead a new initiative to reduce costs and friction for students using summer storage in Maine. At the center of all of this is my desire to make sure student voices are heard and heeded. Right now, Bowdoin is in the process of devaluing student input in the tenure process, and I want to ensure that we continue amplifying student voices so that students remain the ones shaping the Bowdoin experience in meaningful ways.

If elected, I will keep pushing for practical improvements while also creating opportunities for connection across campus. I want to help create events that bridge athletics with the Bowdoin Outing Club (BOC) and McKeen Center and a Bowdoin Beach Day where we can come together, decompress and enjoy Maine.

Please say hi if you see me around campus—I’d love to talk.

Angelica Gordon ’27

Hi everyone!

I’m Angelica, and I have served on BSG for my first two years at Bowdoin, starting as a general representative in the facilities and sustainability committee and then serving as its chair. In both positions, I’ve worked on the laundry sheet initiative, learned how to bridge students and Bowdoin Dining’s relationship and workshopped how a potential Library of Things program could allow more accessibility for students. Some of my primary goals would be:

• To continue the precedent of previous administrations’ initiatives and strengthen them, including programs such as shuttle service for breaks and continuing partnerships with student organizations/activities to enhance student events.
• To upkeep BSG internal culture and therefore increase our impact on Bowdoin’s overall culture, through integrating a big, little system that pushes for relationships across committees because, to create cohesive school spirit, we can’t forget to build it for ourselves. To ensure that other student voices and leaders alongside BSG are uplifted between communications with administration and faculty.

My goals will grow and change, or stay consistent, to reflect what the student body needs because I believe a vote for me is a vote for yourself. Although I can’t reflect everyone, everywhere, all at once, what I can offer is through these imperfections, I will never stop to thrive for what is our common good.

If you would like, find me in the dining hall or tap on my shoulder to tell me how BSG can best support you!

Thanks for your consideration!

BSG Vice President 

Andy Mugisha ’28

Hi Bears! My name is Andy Mugisha, and I am running to be your next BSG Vice President. From serving as first-year class president to becoming an ambassador for the Center of Multicultural Life (CML), I’ve heard one thing clearly: Students want a government that doesn’t just manage services, but actively advocates for their well-being and representation. As Vice President, I will move beyond the status quo to build a more inclusive, modern Bowdoin. My platform focuses on:

• Modernizing campus tech: I will lobby for digital OneCards (Apple or Google Wallet) and the implementation of a live shuttle tracking app. You shouldn’t be locked out of your dorm or left standing in the cold, wondering where the shuttle is.
• Amplifying marginalized voices: I will work directly with affinity groups to ensure their concerns are central to the BSG agenda. I will advocate for underrepresented student perspectives in meetings with the administration and Board of Trustees, ensuring “representation” reflects our true diversity.
• Student Wellness and Practical Solutions: I will push and lobby for expanded Buck Fitness Center hours to better support our physical and mental health.
• Maine Student Network: Bowdoin shouldn’t be an island. I’ll initiate a “Maine Student Government Exchange” with peers at Bates, Colby, University of Maine and University of Southern Maine. Beyond sharing data on campus life, I want to co-host intercollegiate social events: think tri-campus mixers and joint concerts to break the “Bowdoin bubble” and build a more vibrant social scene across the state.
• I believe the BSG should be a platform for all students. I’m committed to transparency through regular BSG office hours. I’d be honored to have your vote! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at amugisha@bowdoin.edu.
  BSG Treasurer

Will Minor ’27

I have spent the past two years on the Treasury Funding Commission and as Class of 2027 Treasurer working directly with student organizations to evaluate budgets and allocate funding. This experience has given me a clear understanding of how decisions are made and where communication with clubs can improve. I am running for Chair of the Treasury to make that process more transparent and accessible for all members of the student body.

As chair, I will focus on standardizing how funding decisions are communicated. Organizations should not have to guess how proposals are evaluated. I will ensure that decisions are accompanied by clear reasoning and that expectations are consistently applied across all groups.

I also plan to introduce a more data-driven approach to the funding process. Using my background in economics and experience with R, I will build a system to track past funding decisions and present them in accessible visual summaries. This will allow organizations to better understand what successful proposals look like and how funding guidelines are applied, reducing uncertainty and improving fairness.

Finally, I will prioritize direct, face-to-face communication with student leaders. While email and online updates are important, building relationships and maintaining open dialogue is essential to a positive funding process.

I look forward to working with you all.

Justin Zhang ’29

Hi Bears! I am Justin Zhang, current first-year treasurer.

Over the past seven months on the Treasury Funding Commission (TFC), I have worked to make funding more transparent, consistent and useful for the student body. Through my work on data analysis with the previous chair, I have developed a strong understanding of TFC funding trends, which can help us avoid another shortcoming like in 2024 and make better use of surpluses.

I have followed through on what I promised as class treasurer. I built a comprehensive data analysis system tracking 4,000-plus past funding lines—one step away from publication. This system allows us to identify trends by club, guideline and year, opening the door to greater public access to TFC statistics.

I also committed to faster, clearer communication. Most TFC decision emails are now sent within an hour of meetings, and in every email, I explain the reasoning behind the funding. During my time on TFC, we improved and clarified several guidelines. This includes flexibility around cooking; integration between food, event supply and club bonding guidelines; and improving equitability based on event type and club size. We also shifted from a rigid $200 food budget and $500 bonding budget to a tiered funding system. Looking ahead, I want to make semester kickoff funding more accessible. Based on feedback from friends, professors and experience of using the funding system myself through the Bowdoin Science Journal, I hope to improve support for new club leaders, from establishing a dedicated founding fund to office hours.

BSG Charterer 

Mellanie Salazar ’29

Hey! My name is Mellanie Salazar, and I am running for Student Government Charterer. If elected, I would sit as Chair of the Treasury Chartering Commission (TCC). For those of you who don’t know who I am, I am from New York City and I plan to major in government and history. In my free time, I love to embroider, host my radio show, Mileage, and write! This year, I served as the Class of 2029 vice president. I had so much fun planning Baby Bear Ball, designing class t-shirts and meeting with new club leaders! As a current member of the TCC, I have repeatedly found myself inspired by the passionate and driven students wishing to start new clubs on campus. This year, we were able to charter six new clubs! After having been at Bowdoin for almost a year, it has become clear to me how important clubs are to cultivate curiosity, passions and friendships. As charterer, I will support students looking to create new spaces on campus, work closely with the TFC to establish reasonable student budgets and propose changes to the TCC guidelines to the Assembly. During General Assembly meetings, I will discuss and vote with the interests of student clubs in mind. Vote for me because with Mel, all is well!