The Associated Students of the University of Portland (ASUP) 2026-27 elections are here to decide the leaders who will make decisions affecting student life, programming services and budget allocations.
All students can electronically cast their vote for one candidate per category via Engage between March 17 at 7 a.m. and March 18 at 7 p.m., according to Thomas Manibusan, ASUP elections chair and director of the Campus Program Board (CPB).
According to Manibusan, voter participation matters because elected leaders will make decisions that are important to students’ academic and social experiences on The Bluff.
He encourages voters to learn about the candidates ahead of the elections, including attending the ASUP-hosted “Speech Night” on March 12 from 5-6 p.m. in Dundon-Berchtold Hall 031. At the event, candidates will present their case for voters to align personal interest with campaign goals.
The Beacon asked the 24 candidates running in the upcoming ASUP elections for introductions to themselves and their campaigns.
Below are the responses from the candidates who wrote in.
Paris Tran and Perla Molina Nuñez, running for president and vice president.
“Currently serving as ASUP vice president and sophomore senator, we have gained experience working with students and campus leadership to advocate for our community's needs. As women of color, we are proud to bring diverse perspectives to student leadership and hope to continue fostering transparency, engagement and strong advocacy while helping ensure every student feels heard and represented."
Nikolette Salas, running for sophomore senator.
“Hello Pilots. As someone who aspires to not just be physically present as your sophomore senator, I want to bring action to our students and work effectively with people across our campus to reshape our future here on The Bluff. We all belong here on this campus, and I want to build new foundations for what we value here, and I am passionate [about ensuring that] happens.”
Adrian Bandril, running for sophomore senator.
"Hey Pilots! I’m running for ASUP sophomore senator, with the goal of creating a place that fosters true expressiveness of who you are [and] making every single day a memorable one!"
Giovanni Vaz, running for junior senator.
“I currently serve as speaker of the senate after being elected as a sophomore senator, and I’m running to continue building a student government that is transparent, accountable and responsive to student needs. I hope to build on the progress we’ve made by advocating for stronger student resources, clearer communication between ASUP and the student body, and a more connected UP community.”
Karan Brar, running for senior senator.
“[As] an accounting major running for senior class senator, I want to make sure our voices are heard and help make our senior year as memorable and rewarding as possible.”
Nmachukwu Ukaegbu, running for the School of Nursing & Health Innovations senator.
“After serving in this role for two years, I hope to continue building a stronger sense of community among nursing students at UP while supporting our mental, social and emotional well-being as we prepare for our future in nursing. What sets me apart is my unwavering commitment to amplifying student voices and advocating for what is right and needed for our nursing community.”
Zachary Holm, running for School of Business senator.
“I am very passionate about creating more opportunities for business students to network and acquire experience while representing the students at the business school accurately.”
Catalina Quintana, running for the School of Education senator.
“As someone who comes from a family of educators, I know the importance of community and connection when going into this field. My goal is to cultivate friendship and community within my constituency by providing my full attention and care to anyone who has questions or concerns regarding anything at the university."
Marcus Garces, running for the Shiley School of Engineering senator.
“I am a junior majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in aerospace [engineering]. Some of my favorite hobbies are [working] out, [going] hiking, fishing, diving and cooking. If you vote for me, I’ll be sure to plan fun events, develop a strong community in Shiley and do my best to represent you.”
Kyler Lajoie, running for director of finance.
“After more than two years working in ASUP finance as a Financial Management Board member, controller and director of finance, I’ve helped allocate over $1 million in student funds while working to make the budgeting process more transparent and accessible for student organizations. I’m running to continue strengthening communication with clubs and ensuring every student’s activity fee is used responsibly to support campus life.”
Gen Du, running for director of finance.
“I am a pretty familiar face from the positions I currently hold on campus. This includes being a residential assistant in Fields and Schoenfeldt [Hall], a UP mail center worker, and the [Filipino American Student Association's] current treasurer. I hope that I can continue to support students in this role and help them accomplish their club's needs and wants with intention!”
Sarah Cayabyab, running for director of communications.
“Hey Pilots! [As] a junior civil and environmental engineering student from the Bay Area, I am running for reelection to be your ASUP director of communications. I've been a part of ASUP for the last two years and have been so fulfilled in serving the student body of UP. I'd love to continue my work in lifting up students' voices through ASUP!”
Jaide-Lin Chang, running for director of CPB.
“I have been an event coordinator on CPB for two years, and as director, I am hoping to use your feedback about our events to assist in creating events that interest the student population.”
Kaitlin Victoriano, running for director of CPB.
"Hello Pilots! As your Rock the Bluff coordinator, I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand how much this community cares, and it’s inspired me to want to do even more. My goal as director is to put students at the heart of everything we do. Your ideas, your feedback and your vision for this campus matter, and I want to be the one to bring them to life and build a community where every student feels like they truly belong. I would love to be your CPB director and be a voice that works for you!"
The following candidates did not respond to The Beacon’s request for comment by the time of publication: Grace Doquilo, Norbert Ramos, Christian Lobaton, Ailing Zhen, Maricar Mendez, Max Hanley, Zachary Ng, Michael Mann and Jocelyne Arroyo.
Kalena O’Connell is the News and Managing Editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at oconnell27@up.edu.
