By Anna Bryson, Delaney Brown and Jonah Hinebaugh
Get to know the students who, if elected, will represent the student body and make decisions that affect student life. Senators help determine budgets for clubs, organizations and events. Each senator is required to sit on at least two senate committees and attend general assembly meetings.
Tiffany Porcelli
Major: Political science
Year: Sophomore
Age: 20
Hometown: East Lake, FL
Porcelli was elected as a student government senator last year and is running for re-election. She serves as the University and Community Affairs Chairwoman, and sits on the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Special Funding.
She wrote “We Stand With Parkland,” a joint resolution stating that USF St. Petersburg stands behind those affected by the mass shooting at Marjory Douglas High School. A main goal for her is to create equal opportunities for all students. She enjoys talking with students to hear concerns and solve problems.
Tyra Warren
Major: English literature
Year:Freshman
Age: 18
Hometown: Coral Springs, FL
Warren’s goal if elected is to represent the marginalized, including the freshmen and sophomores who feel like they don’t have a strong voice.
She describes herself as an objective leader who doesn’t let emotion play a role in her decision-making.
A goal of hers is for student government to be more involved with people on campus.
Warren said she feels like student government seems closed off to students and a goal of hers is to make it seem more open and to make students feel more comfortable participating and talking to their leaders.
“I want to bridge that gap between the people that are officials and those that are constituents,” Warren said.
She also has a creative side that she shows through her painting and crocheting.
Ariel Duhart
Major: Environmental science
Year: Freshman
Age: 19
Duhart dreams of becoming an environmental lawyer. As an environmental science major, Duhart is running on an environmental platform. She plans to promote environmentally conscious policies and support environmental initiatives such as banning single use plastics in the Reef.
“A major goal I would like to see come to fruition would be greater student involvement and a generally more informed student body,” Duhart said.
Duhart is a programming team member in Compass, an on-campus organization that supports first-year students’ transition from high school or other colleges to USF St. Petersburg.
Mychael Sherill
Major: Psychology
Year: Freshman
Age: 19
Sherill wants student government to be a voice of the people. Sherill believes that senators are public servants and plans to be just that if elected. He wants students to feel like they can approach their senators and feel like they’re having their voices heard.
Sherill was motivated by his love of USF St. Petersburg to run for office.
“I saw how accepting, not tolerant but accepting, this campus was, and I really wanted to contribute to that,” he said. “This is the safest I’ve ever felt on any school campus in my life, and I want to help keep this campus like that for other students.”
Sherrill is a member of the Pride club, Black Student Association, and the Caribbean Club. When he’s not busy there, he indulges in the occasional Garden Club meeting and crochets or reads to relax.
Mary Jacobsen
Major: Political science
Year: Junior
Age: 20
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Jacobsen can often be found hanging out at the Tavern at Bayboro. She has attended USF St. Petersburg for almost three years and she feels that she has a comprehensive understanding of the university and its needs.
Jacobsen is running for senate because she wants to create a more positive relationship between SG and the student body through greater transparency of elected officials. She cares about students’ experience at the university and wants to make that experience better for every student by increasing student engagement.
Philopateer Rizkalla
Major: Biology with a biomedical concentration
Year: Sophomore
If elected, Rizkalla hopes to use his office to help students connect with student government.
Rizkalla is focused on partnerships between Student Government and campus clubs. He’s a big fan of clubs and extracurriculars and plans to push for bigger budgets so that student-led clubs and organizations can flourish.
Outside of class, he works as a pharmacy tech at Publix. He’s also an avid soccer player in the school’s soccer club.
Joseph Sook
Major: Political science
Year: Junior
Hometown: Dunedin, FL
The ability to represent the students and the institution is an honor, according to junior political science major Joseph Sook.
The Florida-raised transfer student has been involved with election campaigns including one for Mayor Rick Kriseman. He transferred because of the unique and beautiful campus environment, and because of how accepting everyone is at this institution.
Sook is disappointed by the lack of turnout and wants to encourage students to be involved with SG because it will allow them to become more informed and engaged.
