Lauren Chua

I served as our union’s president this past year and as an Area Chief Steward the year before. I also organized during our first contract fight. I’m excited to run for re-election with Building Organized Labor and Democracy (BOLD) because I’m committed to organizing at the scale necessary to win on the biggest issues facing graduate students– through the mass participation of graduate workers, up to and including a strike if necessary. In a time where our research is under attack, we can still come together to call on MIT to prioritize, in writing, graduate workers who make the Institute run, from international workers to fellows.

Nadia Zaragoza

After winning our first contract, I served as DCS for DMSE, Area Chief Steward for SoE, and now as Vice President. As DCS, I organized our first Labor Week BBQ and have continued it as a yearly tradition of energizing hundreds of new first years at orientation. As ACS I helped organize the DMSE designation change and inclusive restrooms campaigns. As VP I managed our enforcement infrastructure to successfully enforce our agency shop article. I am excited to run with Building Organized Labor and Democracy (BOLD) as Vice President to build up our membership through driving the fellows campaign in this next contract fight!

Daniel Shen

I am a 5th year in EECS and am the current Campus Chief Steward for our union. Previously, I served as an Area Chief Steward in our union's first Exec Board. I have been involved since our 2022 election campaign where over 1,700 workers voted yes to form our union. I have handled over a dozen grievances regarding the rights and provisions in our contract. I am excited to rerun with the Building Organized Labor and Democracy (BOLD) slate and continue building worker power to protect and expand our contract benefits, especially during this time of political uncertainty for both domestic and international workers.

Jo Hall

I have been a steward in NSE since summer 2025, leading our department’s efforts to engage incoming workers, respond to contract violations, and build momentum toward our contract fight. I believe that the financial secretary should be in touch with the needs of members, stewards and organizers in every department who are the backbone of our contract fight by allocating a budget that enables, rather than constrains, stewards to broaden participation in our union while retaining a healthy strike fund. I am committed to being a professional AND personable financial secretary while also helping fight for a strong second contract!

Ani Adavi

I’m a 4th year union steward in DMSE. Last year, we mobilized a supermajority of our department onto our designation change campaign, which won greater security for international workers and a pay bump for pre-qual PhD students. I’m now Department Chief Steward and have helped organize department meetings for contract education and agitation. I’m running for recording secretary on the Building Organized Labor and Democracy (BOLD) slate because I believe we can take on tough fights when we engage as many workers as possible. I am committed to keeping members informed through timely bargaining updates, and I’m excited to build a strong 2026 contract together.

Sara Wilson

I’m a 4th-year PhD candidate and fellow in MechE, and I'm running on the Building Organized Labor and Democracy (BOLD) slate as an ACS for the School of Engineering! I’ve been serving as a Department Chief Steward and recently joined the Membership Committee. I’ve loved organizing departmental events and continually strive to incorporate feedback from our community to improve our steward outreach strategies. In the face of increasing adversity, our BOLD slate champions the strength of our diverse graduate community. I am confident BOLD will do everything in our power to advocate for the rights of all graduate workers in our upcoming contract fight.

Zahmiria Johnson

I’m a PhD student and fellow in ChemE. When I joined our union, I got to participate in re-building the ChemE steward network, which connected me with my peers as we discussed our shared troubles and realized our potential to take action together. In a time where MIT refuses to stand up for our interests, this contract fight is an opportunity for us as students to step up and fight for each other. I’m eager to join in this work as an Area Chief Steward for the School of Engineering, alongside the Building Organized Labor and Democracy (BOLD) slate.

Baltasar Dinis

I am a 3rd year in EECS. I have been a steward since the fall of 2023, having handled multiple grievances and helped on multiple campaigns on campus. I am excited to re-run for the role of Area Chief Steward to fight for the strongest second contract possible. As an international worker part of the largest department represented in our union, I am dedicated to fighting for the key priorities that affect the mass majority of graduate workers as well as for key protections for the most targeted and vulnerable.

Grace Anderson

I am a 4th year in DMSE, working at the interface of biomaterials and microbes. I have a proud history of organizing in our union since our first contract fight. I’ve since brought my experiences to my current role as Area Chief Steward where I have built organizing power across campus, including activating a new steward network in ChemE and I am running for re-election as ACS for SoE/CoC. This contract fight is our chance to make a difference for all grad workers. I am committed to empowering grad workers across campus in a powerful contract fight!

Benjamin Velez

I am a third-year Biology student studying proteostasis, running on the Building Organized Labor and Democracy (BOLD) slate for Area Chief Steward to advocate for fellow graduate scientists. I’ve organized as Department Chief Steward, strengthening our union and helping make Micro/Bio/CSB one of our most active departments. In that role, I’ve fought for safer workplaces and won key grievances that protected appointments and secured back pay. As science faces growing national challenges, I believe graduate workers must stand together to defend our work and our well-being. I hope to continue building solidarity across the School of Science to help secure a strong contract that reflects our contributions.

Hanna Mularczyk

Since arriving at MIT, I have grown math from a department with almost no union activity to one with an active steward and CAT team. This process required many of the organizing principles behind the Building Organized Labor and Democracy (BOLD) slate, whether it was connecting workers’ personal struggles with those of our union or highlighting how we are strongest through collective action, not silence. I have served on the previous Bargaining Committee, as math DCS, and currently, a School of Science ACS. I am re-running for the position because my experience allows me to best represent these departments’ unique needs at the bargaining table.

Rustam Khana

As Ph.D. Candidate in the Science, Technology, and Society doctoral program since 2020, I participated in the GSU to improve the working and living conditions of the graduate student body on campus. As a SHASS and Sloan ACS, I am committed to build durable and long-lasting bridges between the different departments, so that the needs and concerns of our diverse workers' and students' body are addressed. Providing protection for international students, transparent research practices at MIT, and support with housing, mental health, and grievance procedures are among my key areas of action.

nox bei

I’m a first-year MCP student in DUSP and have served as a GSU steward since my first month at MIT, supporting graduate workers and organizing towards our next contract. I’m running on the Building Organized Labor and Democracy (BOLD) slate for ACS of SA+P because I’m committed to mass collective participation, especially ahead of the upcoming contract fight. As a masters student in a majority masters’ students school, I aim to account for differences between programs and foster union involvement across shorter student turnovers. As an international student, I’m dedicated to protecting our international workers while fighting for a contract that benefits us all!

Dalaney Westbroek

I am committed to strengthening communication, transparency, and community within MIT. I bring experience collaborating across diverse groups, organizing initiatives, and advocating for student needs. As Delegate-at-Large, I will represent our collective interests, listen actively, and ensure all voices are heard. I aim to help build a more supportive and engaged environment.

Suveena Sreenilayam

I’m a second-year PhD student in DMSE. I’ve been a steward for the past year, and helped organize the Labor Week BBQ this semester with Membership Committee! I’m running on the Building Organized Labor and Democracy (BOLD) slate for Delegate at Large because I believe in the BOLD slate’s emphasis on mass collective participation: in times of crisis, we are stronger when we work together. This contract fight, I’m excited to organize with my peers to build a contract that includes both academic due process and funding guarantees, because I want all of us to feel secure in our positions as workers at MIT.

Andrew Scott White

Over my six years at MIT, I’ve supported our union in several ways: through voluntary fellow dues, as a steward in AeroAstro, on our first Contract Action Team, and on the committee that drafted our Local’s constitution. For the past year, I’ve served as a trustee, ensuring our finances/property are handled responsibly.

I come from a union family. I value transparency and strong oversight because I’ve seen firsthand how the lack of it can weaken a union. I view the trustee role as an important check that protects the membership’s interests. I’m happy to continue serving as your trustee.

Olivier Ng'weno Kigotho

I’m running for Trustee because we’re heading into a critical contract campaign and need experienced leadership. I’ve served as a steward since our last campaign and an organizer since 2022, talking with coworkers, and helping win our first contract and numerous grievances. I understand the work a contract fight takes and the day-to-day concerns members bring forward.

We need a union that members believe in, especially during a contract campaign when MIT admin will try to discredit and divide us. As Trustee, I’ll strengthen that confidence through fair, transparent oversight, keeping our union strong and united.

Virgil Watkins

I have taken on many roles in our union in the past (DCS and ACS) and while I want to take a small step back from my current role of ACS I still want to be able to help strengthen our union in ways I can! The trustee role is a very important one for our union, working to ensure financial transparency and membership trust in our union. As we enter our contract fight this is very important and I will take this role with the seriousness it requires.

Robert van der Drift

As general members, we need confidence in our elected leadership and finances to keep the boss from dividing us, especially during a contract fight. I am re-running as trustee to help build that trust. I will continue conducting robust, independent audits to ensure our finances are transparent and I will use my past experience both on the executive board and as a trustee to give insightful recommendations on how our union can better serve us all. Further, I will work diligently with leadership to actually see those recommendations implemented. Open books, tight fists!