The Student Government Association’s (SGA) Executive Election Committee (EEC) has concluded the 2026 executive elections. Over the past several weeks, candidates campaigned, participated in student forums, and shared their goals with the student body as they ran for positions on the Executive Board, including president, executive vice president, and vice presidents of student life, academic affairs, research affairs, engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
This article highlights the election results and offers a closer look at how the EEC operates. Students who want a deeper look into each candidate and their platforms can visit the TechNews website, where full coverage of both student forums breaks down each candidate’s proposals, strategies, and plans for improving student life at Illinois Tech.
The New Executive Board
While several positions were uncontested, including vice president of engagement, student life, research affairs, and executive vice president, three seats had a competitive race for President, Vice president of Academic affairs, and vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Current President Yailine Cano secured reelection, against the current Vice President of Student Life, Fatimah Amer, by 52 votes. First-year student Jessie Xie, who ran alongside Amer, won the vice president of DEI with a one-vote lead against Senator Ashanti Bunton. Senator Delwin Manjani won the Vice President of Academic Affairs position by a margin of 179 votes.
Several candidates ran uncontested, including Erick Armando Silva Jr., who was re-elected Executive Vice President. Syed Qadri was elected Vice President of Student Life. Harold Ho was elected Vice President of Engagement, and Tengis Munkhbat was elected Vice President of Research Affairs.
After the election results were announced, we asked re-elected President and Executive Vice President, Yailine Cano and Erick Silva Jr if they would like a word with their constituents. They provided with the following statement:
“I want to start by recognizing everyone who took the time to vote. Choosing to show up and use
your voice matters, and it’s something that continues to shape what SGA becomes. Being re
elected isn’t something we take lightly, it’s a reflection of the trust you’re placing in us to keep
doing this work and to keep showing up for you in the ways that matter. This past year came with a lot of challenges, and rebuilding SGA was not something that happened overnight. It took long hours, difficult conversations, and a commitment from people across all three branches to come together and create something better. We worked to make SGA a space where students feel heard and where concerns don’t just get acknowledged but acted on. While we’re proud of that progress, what matters most is that students started to believe in SGA again, that’s what makes this moment so meaningful. Being re-elected isn’t the end of that work, it’s a continuation of it. We’re no longer in a place where we have to start from scratch, and that’s something we’re incredibly grateful for. Now, we have the opportunity to build on that foundation, to take what
we’ve learned, strengthen what we’ve created, and push even further. This next year is about
turning that rebuilt structure into real, lasting impact. It’s about initiatives that improve student
life, decisions that reflect your needs, and making sure every student feels like they have a place
within this community. But none of this works without you. SGA is only as strong as the students it represents, which is why we will always encourage you to stay involved, come to meetings, and share your concerns. Your voice is what drives this work forward. We’re genuinely excited for what’s ahead, not just for what we plan to do, but for what we’ll accomplish together as a campus community.
And to our graduating students, congratulations. Your time here, your impact, and your presence
have helped shape this campus into what it is today. We’re wishing you nothing but success and
fulfillment in whatever comes next, you carry a piece of this community with you.
Thank you again for trusting us. We’re ready to keep going.”
The newly elected board will take office for the 2026 term. Good luck to the newly elected board! Illinois Tech is looking forward to what SGA has to offer in the foreseeable future.
What Is the EEC?
The Executive Election Committee, or EEC, is responsible for planning, organizing, and overseeing SGA’s executive elections, which take place each spring semester. The committee is made up of five members, including two SGA representatives and three students from the general body with experience in campus organizations or events. This year’s committee included EEC Chair Hazeeza Olaniran, Tristan Minarik of Union Board, 33rd Productions executive board member Emilia Frey, SGA Senator Bailey Bathje, and Senator Kyle Ochotorea. The EEC worked alongside the Director of the Office of Student Life, Patrick Fina, serving as an advisor to help the EEC reach any goals they deem fit for this year’s elections.
With the EEC formed in February 2026, the committee had about six weeks to prepare and three weeks to run the election. The EEC met weekly to coordinate candidate orientations, organize forums in partnership with TechNews, and ensure a fair and transparent process. The election cycle began with a week-long nomination period, during which students could nominate themselves or others who think would be a good fit for office. After nominations closed, the Office of Student Life conducted eligibility checks to confirm that all candidates were in good academic and disciplinary standing.
Candidates were then required to attend an orientation session, where they reviewed the responsibilities of each role, campaign guidelines, and election policies. Those who chose to run signed an agreement confirming their understanding of these expectations. Following orientation, candidates had about a week and a half to campaign through posters, tabling, and outreach to students and faculty. During the final days of the campaign period, the EEC partnered with TechNews to host candidate forums, working together to develop questions and ensure a balanced, unbiased process. TechNews also published forum coverage to help inform voters, which can be found on the TechNews website.
Voting opened at 8 a.m. on April 16 and remained open until midnight. Ballots were administered through the 312 system, which automatically verifies student eligibility allowing the EEC to simply extract the results and prepare the announcement the following day on SGAs instagram posted on SGA’s 312 “News” Section and SGA’s Instagram.
As the transition begins over the summer, the newly elected SGA officers will step into their roles with the responsibility of representing and advocating for the student body. The coming year will reflect how those commitments take shape and how student voices continue to be heard. You may keep up to date with SGA and what they have going on through their Instagram: @iit.sga, following up to the bi-weekly senate updates, as well as reaching out to your senators for a report on what SGA is working on, and you also may report any concerns that you feel strongly about and want SGA to work towards a solution. While these new officers will take the lead, you, the students, have a responsibility to hold them accountable to ensure that they are fulfilling what they promised to do if elected. Continue to make your voice heard and work towards a better tomorrow.