Alisha Mitchell '26 and Callie Lowery '26 won the nomination for the 2025-2026 presidential and vice presidential student government association election on March 20, resulting in cheers and claps as current SGA President Dalton Loyd '25 unfurled a sign in the Connell Student Center, announcing the pair's success.
Mitchell and Lowery won after two days of voting March 19-20. The pair competed against one other ticket, presidential candidate Thomas Lubben '27 and his vice presidential candidate, Owen Whitley '27.
Mitchell is a journalism and political science double major and has served on SGA for three years. Mitchell currently serves SGA as the junior class president and chair of the heritage life committee.
Lowery is a neuroscience and Spanish double major and has served on SGA for two years. She currently serves SGA as leading senator-at-large and chair of organizational affairs.
"I'm so grateful for everyone that voted for us," Mitchell said following the announcement. "It means that you see the good and the leadership in us, and we just thank y'all from the heavens above."
Lowery was equally as excited to receive the nomination. "I love to see just, two passionate women, qualified women, running for the thing, and then winning it," she said.
The voting totaled approximately 1,200 votes, securing Mitchell's spot as SGA's first Black woman president. Mitchell will be sworn in as president on April 21.
"We're here for the students and if you guys have something, please tell us," Mitchell said. She then encouraged students to reach out to SGA or herself and Lowery with any concerns or needs.
(Left to right) Owen Whitley '27, Thomas Lubben '27, Callie Lowery '26 and Alisha Mitchell '26 face off during the first SGA presidential debate since 2021.
The day prior to open voting, both pairs faced each other in the Campus Life office for a cordial debate, where candidates were asked questions by Loyd and Zoe Grace Smith '25, the current SGA vice president. The debate was the first in four years, the last being held in 2021.
When Loyd and Smith finished initial questions, focusing on getting to know the candidates, ideas for student engagement, their responses to dealing with adversity and more, the gathered crowed of about 35 students and SGA members were asked to submit questions through QR codes located on tables throughout the room.
Ceazia Wright '27, the SGA chair of public relations and elections, screened questions from the crowd before asking candidates.
The debate closed with Loyd encouraging students to get out and vote. "The democratic process on this campus is still very active," he said.
*Note: Alisha Mitchell '26 is currently employed by The Mercer Cluster as a staff reporter. Her employment did not impact, nor did it contribute to The Cluster's coverage of her during the presidential race.
Megan Jackson ‘25 is a Journalism student with a goal of working in multimedia journalism. Megan currently acts as The Cluster's co-Editor-in-Chief. In her free time, she enjoys reading a good book or spending time with her sorority sisters.
