Meet The Cabinet

• 

  Matthew McCann
  Student Body President
  
  sga_pres@ucf.edu

  Matthew McCann is the current Student Body President at the second largest university in the nation, the University of Central Florida. McCann, a native to the Orlando area, is a senior at the University of Central Florida studying English Literature and Political Science, with the hopes of attending law school in the near future.

  Before being elected, McCann served within the Judicial Branch as the Assistant Chief Justice (2009-2010) and Chief Justice (2010-2011). Also being elected by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the University Fee Assessment Committee, McCann led the committee to the lowest fee increases in nearly a decade. As a member of the University's Board of Trustees, McCann sits on the Audit, Operations Review, Compliance and Ethics Committee, Educational Programs Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and Advancement Committee.

  McCann has also served on other various university committees including the Golden Rule Review Committee, two terms on the Technology Fee Committee, and has held several leadership positions within his fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega. Outside of the university setting, McCann has interned within the Florida Legislature and serves as a regular volunteer for Orange County Parks and Recreation, as well as the Winter Spring Police Department.

• 

  Adam Brock
  Student Body Vice-President
  
  sga_vp@ucf.edu

  Adam Brock is the current Student Body Vice President at the University of Central Florida. Brock, originally from South Florida, is a senior studying Advertising & Public Relations and Political Science, with the hopes of owning his own communications firm in the near future.

  Before being elected, Brock was instrumental in the creation of KnightLynx, the university's first late night bus service, where he served as director for over a year. Also being elected by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, Brock led the committee in allocating over $150,000 to student scholarships in one academic year. In addition to his responsibilities within Student Government, Brock is also finishing his term as President of the Interfraternity Council.

Division of Administration

• 

  Name:

  Kyle Simpson

  Position:

  Chief of Staff

  E-mail:

  sga_chief@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Molecular Biology and Microbiology

  Year:

  Graduate

  Kyle Simpson is the current Chief of Staff for the UCF Student Government Association. A 2011 Order of Pegasus recipient, Kyle is a graduate student with an undergraduate degree in molecular biology and microbiology from UCF. During his time at UCF, Kyle has been involved with many clubs and organizations. He has been a resident assistant, a Burnett Honors College Peer Ambassador, and the SGA Student Health Specialist. He was a member of the President's Leadership Council, serving as chair of the council during his senior year. When not in the SGA office, you can find Kyle on one of the many local golf courses in the area, reading a book at Starbucks, or hanging out with his Beta Theta Pi fraternity brothers.

• 

  Name:

  Araima Caballero-Contini

  Position:

  Deputy Chief of Staff

  E-mail:

  sgadeputychief@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Advertising & Public Relations

  Year:

  Sophomore

  Araima Caballero-Contini is a sophomore at the University of Central Florida majoring in Advertising & Public Relations with a minor in Art History. She is actively involved in Greek Life as a member of Delta Delta Delta. She is a LEAD Scholar and serves on the executive board of 2012 Knight-Thon as Fundraising Director. During her freshman year, Araima served on the Student Body President's Advisory Council (SBPAC), which provided her with a hands-on learning experience about Student Government, and prepared her for her current position as Deputy Chief of Staff. As an active and passionate member of the UCF community she hopes to inspire involvement in the 2011-2012 Student Body President's Advisory Council and to share her knowledge about campus leadership.

• 

  Name:

  E. Joshua Miller

  Position:

  Comptroller

  E-mail:

  sga_comp@ucf.edu

  Year:

  Senior

  E. Joshua Miller is the Student Government Comptroller & Chief Financial Officer for the second largest university in the nation, the University of Central Florida. Before being appointed and confirmed as the Comptroller & Chief Financial Officer, Josh served as a member of the 40th, 41st, 42nd and 43rd Student Senates. Josh served as the Senate President Pro Tempore for three (3) terms, Activity & Service Fee (A&SF) Budget Committee Chairman for the 2011 - 2012 Fiscal Year, and Operations Review Committee Chairman. Josh is an alumni of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, previously serving as the Vice President.

• 

  Name:

  Cortez Whatley

  Position:

  Attorney General

  E-mail:

  sga_ag@ucf.edu

  Cortez Whatley is the current Attorney General for the UCF Student Government Association. Originally from Auburn, Alabama, Cortez has lived in a variety of places, such as North Carolina, England, Texas and Utah before making UCF his home. Cortez is a Legal Studies and Public Administration double major with a minor in Political Science. He got his start in the UCF Student Government in the Legislative Branch as a Senator serving on the 42nd and 43rd Student Body Senate. While on senate Cortez served as the Vice Chair of the Legislative, Judicial, and Rules Committee as well as the Governmental Affairs Committee. In addition to serving as the Attorney General, Cortez works part time at a law firm in downtown Orlando. When Cortez is not in the office he is playing basketball, traveling, or hanging out with his fraternity brothers of Beta Theta Pi.

Division of Campus Life

• 

  Name:

  Chris Pombonyo

  Position:

  Director of Campus Life

  E-mail:

  sga_life@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Elementary Education

  Year:

  Senior

  Chris Pombonyo, originally from Long Island, New York, is the current Director of Campus Life for the Student Government Association. Chris is a senior majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in Hospitality/Event Management. He currently serves as the Director of the Mr. and Miss University of Central Florida Scholarship Pageants for the Campus Activities Board within the Office of Student Involvement. Chris is also a Peer Advisor for the College of Education and a member of the Street Team for Blue Man Group. Last year, Chris was awarded the Keeper of the Creed Award for the pillar of Creativity and hopes to continue thinking outside the box to enrich every student's UCF experience.

• 

  Name:

  Arielle Bardzell

  Position:

  Athletics & Traditions Coordinator

  E-mail:

  sga_traditions@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Political Science / Criminal Justice

  Year:

  Junior

  Since leaving her hometown of Ramsey, New Jersey in 2009 to become a UCF Knight, Arielle Bardezell has become involved in many aspects of campus. Arielle has been involved in the Office of Student Involvement, and is currently the Movie Knight Director for the UCF Homecoming Executive Board. Having served on the 43rd Student Government Senate as College of Sciences Seat #4, Arielle is no stranger to the UCF Student Government Association. She has been involved in the National Panhellenic Council since her freshman year and now currently holds two chair positions. Arielle is hoping to graduate in 2013 with a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science (Pre-Law focus) and a Bachelor of Sciences in Criminal Justice. When Arielle isn't in SGA or OSI you can find her having fun with her sisters in the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority house, watching hockey, or playing intramural sports.

• 

  Name:

  Catie Shields

  Position:

  Facilities & Projects Coordinator

  E-mail:

  sga_facilities@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Industrial Engineering

  Year:

  Junior

  Caitie Shields is the current Facility and Projects Coordinator on the Executive Cabinet at the University of Central Florida. Shields, originally from Boca Raton, Florida, is a junior at UCF studying Industrial Engineering with a minor in Leadership studies. Before serving on the Executive Cabinet, Shields served within the Legislative Branch as the Chairman of the Operations Review Committee, and sat on the Activity and Service Fee Budget Committee as a voting member. She has also held many other leadership positions on campus and has been a member of the Panhellenic Council Board, Homecoming Executive Board, Relay for Life UCF Executive Board, LEAD Scholars, Pi Beta Phi women's fraternity, as well as the 2011 Orientation Team. Outside of the university setting, Shields loves to play soccer, travel, eat Jimmy Johns, and relax with friends and family.

• 

  Name:

  Julian Belilty

  Position:

  Sustainability Specialist

  E-mail:

  sga_green@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Marketing

  Year:

  Senior

  Ever since his first year as a UCF Knight in 2007, Julian Belilty has had a passion for sustainable business practice, clean-energy innovations, and environmental awareness. As the Student Body Sustainability Specialist, Julian plans on shifting the University of Central Florida towards a more sustainable path. Julian started Innovations 4 UCF, a semester long think tank initiative engaging members from diverse fields of study to brainstorm creative ideas on sustainability endeavors by using strategic incorporation from both UCF and our local community to create entrepreneurship projects and innovative practices. In his spare time, Julian paints, designs graphics, and uses social media to spread environmental awareness throughout our community. Julian hopes to graduate in spring 2012 with a degree in Marketing, a minor in Information Technology, and a Marketing Certificate of Achievement in E-Marketing.

Division of Communications

• 

  Name:

  Amanda Newby

  Position:

  Director of Communications

  E-mail:

  sga_comm@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Interpersonal Organizational Comm.

  Year:

  Senior

  Amanda Newby has had experience in a variety of campus entities since becoming a UCF Knight in 2008. Amanda has held positions within the Office of Student Involvement and the National Panhellenic Council, and has been a part of a variety of organizations on campus that have shaped her experience here at UCF. Amanda has been an Executive Cabinet member of the Student Government Association for the past two years, as Director of Campus Life from 2010-2011 and now as the Director of Communications. When Amanda isn't in SGA or the OFSL she keeps busy by drinking Diet Coke, tweeting, and studying for the GRE. Amanda hopes to graduate in spring 2012 with a degree in Interpersonal Organizational Communications and a minor in Marketing.

• 

  Name:

  Ashley Tinstman

  Position:

  Public Relations Coordinator

  E-mail:

  sga_pr@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Advertising & Public Relations / Political Science

  Year:

  Junior

  Ashley is a junior double majoring in Advertising/Public Relations and Political Science. Since her freshman year, she has been involved in a variety of organizations on campus, including the Central Florida Future and Knight Advertising at UCF. Ashley got involved in SGA her sophomore year as a member of the Street Team and she now serves as the Public Relations Coordinator. Ashley is originally from Pittsburgh, PA but moved to Florida in 2009 with her family. In her spare time, Ashley likes to watch sports, play tennis and spend time with her family and friends.

• 

  Name:

  April Brown

  Position:

  Internal Marketing Coordinator

  E-mail:

  sgainternalmarketing@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Advertising & Public Relations

  Year:

  Senior

  April Brown is currently a senior at the University of Central Florida, majoring in Advertising & Public Relations and minoring in Business and Political Science. Prior to serving on SGA, April has been an active leader around campus, as the previous Executive Director on the Trick-or-Treat on Greek Street executive board, and in her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. In addition to being a campus leader, April has had two internships to help her grow professionally, the first with the CBS affiliate in Palm Springs, California and the second with Florida Hospital in the marketing department. In her spare time, April enjoys hanging out with friends, napping and pretending to know the words to Taylor Swift songs while jamming out in her car.

• 

  Name:

  Steve Della-Valentina

  Position:

  Web Coordinator

  E-mail:

  sga_web@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Digital Media - Video Game Design

  Year:

  Junior

  Steve enjoys chocolate milk, bonsai trees, miniuature paintings, and working on the bits of HTML and PHP that display this very website. ;)

• 

  Name:

  Crystal Colvenbach

  Position:

  Graphics Specialist

  E-mail:

  sga_gfx1@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Graphic Design

  Year:

  Senior

  Crystal Colvenbach is currently in her 6^th year at UCF but will be graduating Spring 2012 with a major in Graphic Design, as well as two minors in Business Administration and Marketing. She is Vice President of the Graphic Design Student Association here on campus and finds herself very active within the UCF Arts community. As well as her involvement with SGA as the Graphic Specialist, Crystal also works at the UCF Health Center as a marketing intern, completing their graphics for events and information. She is a local, born and raised here in the Orlando area and obsessed with all things Disney. If she is not at school or work, chances are she is at Disney. Crystal's love for it pours into her career dreams as she aspires to one day work for the Disney Company.

Division of Governmental Affairs

• 

  Name:

  Lauren Evans

  Position:

  Director of Governmental Affairs

  E-mail:

  sga_gova@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Radio-Television

  Year:

  Junior

  Lauren Elizabeth Evans, a native Floridian, is a junior here at UCF. Lauren is a proud knight and involved with many organizations around campus. She became involved with Student Government as part of the Student Body Presidents Advisory Council (SBPAC) in the fall of 2009 and since has had the opportunity to sit and hold leadership positions in both the 42nd and 43rd Student Body Senates. Currently, Lauren is the Director of Governmental Affairs in the McCann Brock 2011-2012 Executive Cabinet and is very excited for the upcoming year. Lauren is a TV junkie (and major) and in the off chance she is not in the student union you can put money that she is catching up on a new television show.

• 

  Name:

  Andrew Green

  Position:

  Legislative Affairs Coordinator

  E-mail:

  sgalegaffairs@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Political Science

  Year:

  Senior

  Andrew Green, or Andy as his friends call him, is a senior at UCF studying political science. Andy hopes to use his passion for the political process to better serve the students of UCF. Although this is Andy's first year with UCF SGA, he is an active knight that is a member of multiple student organizations. In fact, you can typically find Andy in front of the Student Union hopping tables between clubs or at various events across campus. Although UCF faces a tough legislative climate this year, Andy believes that engaging students in the political process is a fundamental key to UCF's success in the years to come.

• 

  Name:

  Cynthia Florentino

  Position:

  Community Affairs Specialist

  E-mail:

  sgacommaffairs@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Political Science

  Year:

  Sophomore

  Cynthia is a Sophomore Political Science major with a minor in Urban and Regional Planning. She got her start in SGA under the Kilbride/ Lochrane administration in 2010 as a member of the Student Body President's Advisory Council (SBPAC). During this time, she served as Philanthropy Vice Chair for SBPAC's holiday project 'Hope for the Holidays.' Around campus she is involved with entities such as the Multicultural Student Center, where she serves as Literacy Director and hosts a monthly book club. When Cynthia isn't reading, she spends her time bike riding and watching chick flicks. As Community Affairs Specialist she hopes to improve town-gown relations.

Division of Student Affairs

• 

  Name:

  Michael Davis

  Position:

  Director of Student Affairs

  E-mail:

  sga_dsa@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Interpersonal Organizational Comm.

  Year:

  Junior

  Michael Davis bleeds Black & Gold. Michael has been involved with Knights of the RoundTable for the past two years, where he strives to help student organizations meet their goals. He is also involved with Knight-Thon, UCF's official philanthropy, where he proudly raises money for the Children's Miracle Network. Last but not least, Michael is a proud brother of Sigma Pi Fraternity International. When Michael isn't working in SGA or OSI, he likes to volunteer, watch movies and spend time with his family and friends. Michael hopes to graduate in spring 2013 with a degree in Interpersonal Organizational Communications and a minor in Theatre.

• 

  Name:

  Abu Ngauja

  Position:

  Judicial Advisor

  E-mail:

  sgajudicialadvisor@ucf.edu

  Major:

  International & Global Studies / Advertising & Public Relations (pending)

  Year:

  Sophomore

  Abu Ngauja moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2005 from Berks County, Pennsylvania and upon graduating high school he decided to attend the University of Central Florida. As a college freshman he wasted no time in getting involved, entering Student Government by way of the Judicial Branch's mentorship program; he also serves as a long-term volunteer at the Knights Helping Knights Pantry and sits on the Public Relations Committee for Volunteer UCF. He is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and is currently a second-year LEAD Scholar. His three greatest vices are chocolate covered pretzels, indie films, and getting his dance on. When his four years are up, he hopes to graduate UCF with a degree in both International & Global Studies and Advertising & Public Relations with minors in Magazine Journalism and Middle Eastern Studies.

• 

  Name:

  Dominic Spence

  Position:

  Academic Affairs Coordinator

  E-mail:

  sga_aac@ucf.edu

  Year:

  Senior

  Dominic Spence is currently serving as the Academic Affairs Coordinator for the Executive Cabinet at the University of Central Florida. He made his start in Student Government during his junior year when he was appointed as the Diversity Initiatives Specialist under the Kilbride/Lochrane administration. Since his freshman year at UCF Dominic has participated in an assortment of organizations that has allowed him exposure to a variety of diverse sectors of our campus; including Alpha Kappa Psi, Student Development and Enrollment Services: TRiO Center, Men of Integrity, FACES Modeling Troupe, Inc., United Residents Student Association, and more. When not in the office you may find him in front of a camera, on the runway, or directing a photo-shoot. After his intended graduation in the spring of 2012 with a degree in Business Management, Dominic plans to one day own a corporation that combines the industries of entertainment, event/talent management, public relations, and philanthropy.

• 

  Name:

  Trevor Persaud

  Position:

  Diversity Initiatives Coordinator

  E-mail:

  sga_diversity@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Molecular and Micro Biology

  Year:

  Sophomore

  Trevor, a Molecular and Micro Biology student, is about to start his second year here at UCF. During Trevor's freshman year he served on SBPAC, the Student Body President's Advisory Council. Along with SGA, he is a very active member of UCF's Pre-Med AMSA (American Medical Student Association) Chapter. As a freshman Trevor was the Director of Medical Relations and is now the Treasurer for the upcoming school year. Trevor is also a Lead Scholar and is part of the PRIME Stem Project. Trevor is also a volunteer at the MD Anderson Cancer clinic and enjoys tending the patients on their chemotherapy floor. He hopes to one day attend medical school and join the medical field as an oncologist.

• 

  Name:

  Alex Bissell

  Position:

  Safety & Transportation Specialist

  E-mail:

  sga_safety@ucf.edu

  Major:

  Psychology

  Year:

  Sophomore

  Alex is a sophomore at UCF and is majoring in Psychology. Since becoming a freshman Alex has been involved with SGA serving on the Senate Leadership Council and a joined a fraternity, Beta Theta Pi. Alex ha been busy this summer interacting with incoming freshmen as an O-Teamer and is also serving as the Greek Affairs chair for the Knight-Thon board for the upcoming 2011-2012 year. When Alex isn't at school he likes to read, Skype his family oversees and hang out with friends.

Sunshine Notice