ASG Candidates

President

The President shall serve as Chief Executive Officer and official representative of the Associated Student Government. The President shall also be responsible for all advocacy and legislative issues at the statewide level.

Candidate(s):

Marni Kallestad

I, Marni Kallestad, pledge to represent the student body, with a commitment to hearing the voices of the COC students, embracing inclusion, anti-racism, diversity, equity, accessibility, and social justice. I will provide ASG and its officers with accountability, ethical decisions, integrity, transparent governance, proactive outreach, & collaborative leadership. If you choose me to be your president I will operate with a focus on advancing student success through student wellness, academic resources, student engagement, student services, and campus sustainability. Freedom of open dialogue is important. Your vote counts! Cougars, together we cannot only imagine the future; we can create it!

Vice President of Activities

The Vice President of Activities directs the planning and execution of campus events, overseeing logistics, budgets, and student committees. They serve as the primary lead for programming to ensure high-quality execution and maximum student engagement.

Candidates:

Farah Haj Ghaban	As the current Vice President of Activities, I already have direct experience in this role and everything it requires. I lead the Activity Board by managing seven directors and chairing meetings where we collaborate, plan events, delegate tasks, and stay organized as a team. I am also leading Multicultural Day, one of ASG’s largest legacy and required events. I started the year as Director of Equity, where I prioritized inclusivity, and then moved up to Vice President of Activities. With the board transitioning, I bring experience, stability, and the ability to continue leading impactful events for all students.
Sergio Perez	Hi, my name is Sergio Perez, and I am ready to be your next Vice President of Activities. My goal is to create a fun, safe community at our beautiful campus. I want to direct fun, free activities we can all enjoy on our campus, whether it's a pickleball tournament, a movie night on the lawn, or a spirit week that is rewarded with cool prizes. The goal is to add some excitement to our stressful school weeks. Staying a few extra hours on campus should be exciting, not dreadful! Let's not just be enrolled lets enjoy COC!

Vice President of Equity

Aayan Syed	My name is Aayan Syed, and to serve as Vice President of Equity. I will take action by hosting students focus groups to identify barriers, expanding events that represent all communities, and events that advocate for academics and mental health resources as well. I will work closely with campus committees ensure that student voices are truly heard and influenced on decisions made. I am committed to turning ideas into solutions not forgotten conversations. Students should elect me because I will work on creating a campus where everyone is given an equal chance to succeed.
Chrislynn Quach	As a candidate for your Vice President of Equity, I will strive to ensure that every student feels seen, validated, and supported on our campus. As the current Assistant to the VP of Communications, I’ve helped create social media videos, support campus events, and edit the current VP of Equity’s podcast. These are valuable experiences that helped me amplify student voices and promote inclusion. As VP of Equity, I will continue creating safe environments for students, improving accessible equity resources, and highlight COC’s various diverse communities.
Faddy Benhamda	I am seeking the position of Vice President of Equity because I want to help create a campus where every student feels respected and supported. I believe that equity is the ability to provide opportunities/resources to every student, as well as a voice in campus life. If selected, I will strive to create more awareness, communication, and help in developing a sense of belonging within our college. I will come with responsibility, compassion, and a good work ethic. I will try to allow for a diverse campus culture where diversity is appreciated, and each student feels visible, heard, and empowered!
Shreeya Munagala	Sometimes people feel they don’t truly belong; this isolated feeling is the last thing I want at COC. Equity is not just about representation. It's making sure students feel a sense of community and support. Beyond surface-level initiatives, I strive to create a space where people can speak honestly and, more importantly, be seen and heard. With me as Vice President of Equity, my first priority is to catalyze real conversations and relationships with one another, to create events to bring students together, to translate student experiences into impact. Inclusion shouldn’t be talked about at COC, but instead, consistently practiced!
Youssef Elnagar	I, Youssef Elnagar, am running for Vice President of Equity in an effort to help make our campus more inclusive, welcoming, and representative of all students. As an Egyptian student, I understand the importance of feeling seen and appreciated, and I want to turn that into action. If elected, I will strive to establish student focus groups, support equity-focused workshops, work with cultural clubs and track progress with student-focused and defined initiatives. My goal is to ensure all students feel heard, respected, and included in our college community.

Vice President of Advocacy

The Vice President of Advocacy represents the collective voice of the organization, championing student or member interests to administrators and external stakeholders. They track legislation, lead lobbying efforts, and develop formal positions on policy issues to ensure the community’s needs are addressed at every level of decision-making.

Candidates:

Ali Koriem	As an Egyptian, I will be committed to represent both minorities and majorities to make everyone feel safe, valued, and empowered. I will work and attend meeting to ensure equal opportunities and expand student voices. All of that to help have a welcoming environment so everyone could engage and thrive in their college life. With each other we could have a stronger and better community so that students can feel a true sense of belonging.
Charlotte Pimental	My name is Charlotte Pimentel, and I’m running for the position of Vice President of Advocacy. I’m currently the Assistant to the VP of Advocacy, and you may have already seen some of the work I’ve done around campus, like security posters in bathrooms and the opening of our first prayer and meditation room. Through this role, I’ve been committed to making COC a safer, more representative space for students. If appointed, I will continue building on this work by ensuring students feel heard and supported, creating spaces where concerns turn into real change, and representing COC students statewide.
Jair Sanchez	Running for the position of an ASG Officer, I am devoted to making sure that all students have easy and timely access to necessary information and resources. That's why I will regularly update our achievements and progress on the goals I have promised all students through all channels of communication. Also, I will ensure that any student can share their concern, opinion, or suggestion in available forums. Moreover, I plan to enhance opportunities through acquiring new skills and experiences through working with faculty and student organizations. No hollow goals, just hard work for the betterment of student's life on campus.
Jun Lias	Hello everyone! My name is Jun Lias and I am running to be COC's Vice President of Advocacy. As a person, I have worked to uplift spaces of mutual support and empowerment, and as the Vice President of Advocacy, I will dedicate myself to making sure students feel connected and seen at higher levels. Being a member of marginalized communities, I strongly believe that student representation is important, and I want to be able to voice your needs and interests. Please consider voting for me as your VP of Advocacy—because it should only take a word to be heard.
Justin Tzu-Hung Tsai	Hello everyone! I’m Justin Tsai and I am running for Vice President of Advocacy because I want to advocate for students to ensure our voices are heard. My goal is to amplify students' voices and make sure they are valued and respected in the legislative process. I plan to organize events that help students learn about important advocacy issues. By collaborating with the President and Student Trustee, I will help ensure that students' perspectives are strongly represented at both the campus and statewide levels. Together, we as students can create meaningful and positive change for the student community!

Vice President of Communications

The Vice President of Communications manages the organization’s public image by overseeing all internal and external messaging. They direct social media strategy, maintain the website, and handle media relations to ensure clear, consistent information reaches the community and stakeholders.

Candidates:

Edwin Cabral Rivera	I plan to represent the school using my best effort. Using the knowledge that I have obtained at school, I will make sure that our community college is heard and understood. Being a student, I believe that I have the power to voice other students that are just starting community college and those that have been attending community college. I will put my experiences and those around me into consideration and attempt to empower students. I will put my best foot forward and help students continue their education in community college. As an ASG officer I will try my best.
Rayana Alcharif	This position can enhance the way our school disseminates information and engages with students. In my role as the social media manager for Red Cross and Cancer Kids SCV, I've developed engaging content and ensured communities remain informed on important issues. I plan to enhance communication by providing regular updates, engaging posts, and tools for student feedback, ensuring that everyone feels informed and involved. By clarifying information, making it accessible, and centering it on students, I will enhance engagement and guarantee that each student's voice is acknowledged.
Yixuan Zhang (Charlotte)	Hi, I'm Charlotte, and I'm running for Vice President of Communications. I stand for the 3 C's: Connection, Creativity, and Capture! I will strengthen communication through clear, timely updates and engaging outreach. With creativity, I'll lead our media and social teams to create more vibrant and dynamic content. Most importantly, I want to capture the small but meaningful moments of student life, so memories are seen, shared and lasting. I believe everyone should have the chance to help "create" your own youth journal and share your own story. College time is precious!! Let's make every moment count :D

Vice President of Inter Club Council

The Vice President of Inter-Club Council (ICC) serves as the primary liaison between the executive board and all campus student organizations. They chair ICC meetings, facilitate the distribution of resources and funding to clubs, and ensure all student groups comply with organizational bylaws and campus policies. By streamlining communication and logistics, they foster collaboration across diverse student interests and support a thriving club culture.

Joshua De Jesus

Hey everyone! My name is Joshua De Jesus, and I'm running for VP of Inter Club Council! Serving as a current Club ICC Rep and ASG Director has shown me how our student orgs and government connect. If elected, I'll streamline funding, encourage cross-club events, and ensure your voices reach the Student Senate. Familiar with both ICC and ASG procedures, I’m ready to jump in and advocate for you from day one. I'd also love to launch a combined calendar or "Club Spotlight" to boost engagement and highlight your club activities. Let's elevate our COC community together!

ASG Candidates' Recommendation Letters

Vacant Positions

Due to a lack of initial applications, the following positions remains vacant. The Associated Student Government will accept new applications for these seats beginning June 8, 2026.

• Executive Vice President: 
  • The Executive Vice-President serves as the President's primary deputy, assuming leadership in their absence and overseeing internal operations. The role focuses on presiding over meetings, managing committee appointments, and ensuring all organizational activities strictly follow governing bylaws and strategic goals.
• Student Trustee
  • The Student Trustee acts as the student representative on the Board of Trustees, ensuring student perspectives are considered in high-level policy and budget decisions. They serve as a vital link between the administration and the student body, advocating for student interests during official board deliberations.