Student Union Candidates

Hi! My name is Abbie Harper, and I’m currently pursuing an MA in Urban Studies in the Workplace Democracy and Community Ownership track. I was inspired to attend SLU after organizing a union at my former non-profit workplace.

As a neurodivergent person, I know how difficult it can be to find spaces of genuine belonging. At SLU, I’ve found that — and I believe every student deserves not just to belong, but to be heard. Students deserve a real seat at the table where decisions are made, not symbolic inclusion.

I also believe deeply in protecting academic freedom. It is our right to question, critique, and engage with what’s happening in the world without fear of censorship or retaliation — especially in this moment when free speech and social justice movements are increasingly under attack.

If re-elected, I will continue fighting for student-led, collective solutions to food insecurity, including supporting the Soup Project and creating a food cooperative at SLU. I strongly oppose the use of body cameras for SLU Peace Officers, and I support SLU joining broader movement campaigns like Students for International Labor Solidarity and Schools Drop ICE.

I am a founding member of the Solidarity Economy Club at SLU. Outside of school, I serve as co-chair for the NYC chapter of the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC), where we use popular education to support workers organizing new unions in their workplaces rooted in care, trust, and collective power.

In my free time, I love thrifting, walking with my rescue chihuahua Matilda, and baking. I believe solidarity is our greatest tool for change — and together, we can build a more democratic and just SLU.

My name is Rina Cummings and I’m running for Treasurer in the SLU Student Union. I am a full-time undergraduate student at SLU and my journey to SLU has been a very interesting one. My coworkers and I are responsible for organizing a workplace and establishing a union in an industry that hasn’t had a union in decades. You might know it is called Amazon Labor Union. During 2020 and the Covid pandemic, we realized that our employer failed to provide us with proper PPE equipment while we packaged and sold those items to the world. A lot of our coworkers were getting sick and we were not provided any information, so we decided to organize and fight for a union. After attending my first semester at SLU, I’ve learned that I am what’s called “and organic leader“. I didn’t set out to be an organizer or a leader. I just did what I felt was right at the time and what was fair and I just wanted to help my coworkers and hold Management accountable. I am also a mother of two children. My daughter Jada is 21 years old and currently a student at Buffalo State. My son Isaiah is age 8 and is a very contented third grader who loves soccer. I loved everything about SLU from the moment I walked through the front door and discovered the sign that states “ only thing worse than being blind is having sight and no vision.” The best sign was read to me and I immediately knew that I belonged. I am currently a bachelors degree student Of Labor studies. As a visually impaired immigrant from West Africa Liberia, I have had to face many challenges and obstacles. But I’ve managed to overcome each and every one of them. I have had many experiences and interacted with a distinguished group of people in the labor movement and now here at CUNY SLU. I am running for student union because I want to use my experience and help my fellow students any way that I can. I live by a very basic principle, which is “a treat people how I would like to be treated.”

Julia Eve Cordova graduated from CUNY John Jay with a B.S in Human Services & Community Justice and a Certificate in Dispute Resolution. She was born and raised in Long Island, is a first-generation college graduate, and is passionate about helping people advocate for themselves. She is completing the Union Semester program and an Advanced Certificate in Labor Studies at CUNY SLU, and plans to pursue an M.A. in Labor Studies.

She has 8 years of experience in the non-profit industry, spent advocating, providing resources, and keeping her community civically engaged. Since high school, she has been a leader in her community through ASPIRA of NY and has mentored other student leaders. In her experience at 32BJ SEIU Training Fund, she assisted members in furthering their education and advancing environmental initiatives. Additionally, she has been serving her local community through a re-entry task force, assisting individuals in reintegrating into their community.

Julia is committed to continuous learning, growth, and advocacy – she likes to say her goal is to be “disgustingly overeducated”. She believes that being part of the Student Union, she will work hard so students who attend CUNY SLU are informed, heard, and actively engaged in the SLU community. Julia loves her time at SLU and wants to invest her time and skills into the community

I am an undergraduate student in the Labor Studies program, nearing the completion of my degree, and I am proud to run for a position on the SLU Student Union Steering Committee. My motivation comes from experience: I have done this work before, I understand how important it is, and I am committed to showing up for our community again and again. SLU has become a third home to me, and I want to help strengthen the bridges and foundations that support all of us.

As a DC37 Local 1549 union activist, I believe deeply in collective power, accountability, and the responsibility we have to lift each other up. I bring a strong organizing background, leadership experience both on and off campus, and a growing ability to collaborate effectively with others. I am someone who communicates clearly, thinks outside the box, and works with determination to move obstacles out of the way so we can stay focused on where we are going.

The issues I care about most are connection, community, and contribution. I want to give back to the CUNY community by focusing on solutions rather than problems, and by helping create a space where every student feels supported, represented, and heard. My approach is grounded in labor values, but also in empathy, openness, and the belief that we are strongest when we build together.

I would be honored to continue serving and contributing to the future of SLU.

My name is Kisha Hutchinson, and I am interested in serving as a student representative for SLU on CUNY’s University Student Senate. I am passionate about student advocacy, leadership, and making sure student voices are heard. I would be honored to represent my peers and contribute to conversations that impact accessibility, affordability, and the overall student experience.

I am not new to showing up for people. I am new to doing it here.

I am a Brooklyn-born student at 41, pursuing a degree in Urban & Community Studies with a clear sense of purpose. My background spans housing operations, community advocacy, and direct service work with some of the most vulnerable populations imaginable. I have spent my life at the intersection of systems and people…learning how the former fails the latter and what it takes to change that.

I am running for Student Senate because student government should actually represent students. All of them. Not just the ones who already know how to navigate institutions. Returning adults, working parents, students carrying financial and family responsibilities alongside their coursework…we deserve a seat at the table and a voice that understands what we bring into the classroom every day.

I believe in governance rooted in transparency, accountability, and equity. I believe student voices should shape the policies that affect student lives. And I believe the most effective  leadership listens before it speaks.

I am a natural convener. People align with my vision not because I demand it but because it reflects something they already believe and have not yet had the words for. I ask hard questions. I do not mistake volume for effectiveness.

What I bring to Student Senate is a clear point of view, deep community roots, and a genuine commitment to making this institution work better for every student it serves.