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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 23, 2026
Contact: Cheri Hardmon
HardmonC@Michigan.gov
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Secretary Benson names young leaders to Michigan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force
Students to help improve voter education, engagement on Michigan college campuses through the 2026 election cycle
LANSING, Mich. – Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced today that she and the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) team have selected 23 college and university students to serve on the Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force through the 2026 election cycle.
The nonpartisan task force will determine and implement recommendations to improve voter education and engagement among young people on college and university campuses across Michigan. In 2024, the college task force members originated the idea of the state’s first “I Voted” sticker design contest, which received national attention and hundreds of submissions from artists all around Michigan.
The task force is a nonpartisan initiative of MDOS in partnership with Campus Vote Project (CVP), a project of the Fair Elections Center, a national, nonpartisan voting rights organization. The appointed students will serve on the task force through December 2026.
The students represent 19 community colleges, colleges, and universities statewide and were chosen from among nearly 100 applicants to represent their institution of higher education:
Alex Guo of Rochester Hills - Michigan State University
Amara Makim of Port Huron - University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
A'naya Jones of Detroit - Wayne State University
Anabelle Sanchez of Chicago, IL - Michigan State University
Arianna Rowsey of Detroit - Grand Valley State University
Blase Johnson of Birmingham - Oakland Community College
Brooklynn Rogowski of Grand Ledge - Adrian College
Edgar Santiago-Rivera of Wayne - Ferris State University
Emma Goos of Saint Joseph - Lake Michigan College
Gia Verma of Albertson, NY - University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Harrison Krafchak of Dearborn Heights - Central Michigan University
Hawraa Alzergani of Dearborn - University of Detroit Mercy
Jackson Glover of Detroit - Madonna University
Jacob Olson of Plymouth - Schoolcraft College
Jake Juip of Grosse Pointe - College for Creative Studies
Justin Evans of St. Augustine, FL - Delta College
Larry West III of Saginaw - Central Michigan University
Marcus Johnson of Southfield - Oakland University
Noorhan Abdulridha of Sterling Heights - Wayne State University
Nyah Caldwell of Grayslake, IL - Northern Michigan University
Rileigh Burnett of Phoenix, AZ - Calvin University
Sobowale Solaja of Lagos, Nigeria - Wayne County Community College
Viba Haurovi of Harare, Zimbabwe - Michigan Technological University
The task force, first established by Benson in 2019, brings together students from across the state who are passionate about civic engagement. Task force members will serve as liaisons between MDOS, their student body, school administrators, and peers. The group will advise on the unique experiences and barriers for student voters, helping to ensure the voices of young people are heard in our state's elections.
This marks the fourth iteration of the Michigan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force. Reports from previous cohorts are available at Michigan.gov/CSATF.
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