Naomi Girson | staff writer

The 2025-26 executive board members of Duquesne University’s Student Government Association (SGA) were sworn into their positions at Moonlit Burgers on Wednesday.

Faith Cook and Braden Niles, the outgoing SGA president and vice president of academic affairs began the event with their parting words for the succeeding administration.

“To our new exec board, to our senators in the back, please remember that you do have a lot of power and continue to speak for the students on the margins,” Niles said. “We’re blessed to be in rooms that most students aren’t in, so speak for the little person that doesn’t have any power.”

“I hope that you all know that you have power, your voices matter,” Cook said. “I hope that you all stand up for what you believe in, even when it is hard, and that you will push the changes that you wish to see.”

One at a time, each stepped up to Niles and Cook to place their hand on a Bible and recited the oath.

The newly sworn in 2025-26 executive board members are:
– President Nick Miller
– Vice President of Communications Mary Paternoster
– Vice President of Finance Claudio Simione
– Vice President of Student Life Christian Witterman
– Vice President of Academic Affairs Jayla Flenory
– Vice President of Mission and Community Samiya Henry

Paternoster was the only incumbent, after running for reelection unopposed. She was proud of her new executive board, and excited to see it through for the next year.

Miller then gave a brief speech, with the rest of the board standing next to him at the podium, thanking Cook for introducing him to SGA, and the Culture Party, who ran against the Advocacy Party in the election.

“All of us combined have 12 plus years of experience on SGA, and we’re ready to take that and move it forward and accomplish our goals,” Miller said.

The oldest member of the executive board, Simione was previously SGA president, during the 2023-2024 school year and is now a member of the graduate school. He said he plans to help Miller with anything he might need.

“All the presidential stuff, I want him to take his own lead with that, I just want to help him,” Simione said.

Henry officially became the first vice president of mission and community at Duquesne, and has already started sending emails to administration, hoping to use the last month of the semester to build a strong foundation for the position.

“Nick said we start tomorrow, I started yesterday,” Henry said. “A start for this position is truly a start from the bottom up, just because no one’s ever done or held this position before.”

Mwango Kasuba, who ran against Miller, losing by roughly 10 votes, plans to run again next election cycle and will still be an active part of SGA for the next year, as a senator.

“Still happy for Nick, democracy is democracy. The people chose. If the people wanted him, the people wanted him. Nothing I could do to fight that,” Kasuba said.