Getting to Know Your SGA Leaders

Last Spring, the Student Government Association (SGA) held its annual election for new leadership. Nagela Nukuna won the presidency for Undergraduate SGA and Shane Mudrinich was elected executive vice president.

Get to know a bit about Nukuna and Mudrinich, why they wanted their jobs, and what they hope to accomplish this year.

Nagela Nukuna

• Major: Industrial Engineering
• Year: 4th
• Hometown: Newark, Delaware

As president of Undergraduate SGA, Nagela Nukuna is in charge of leading the organization and its members. She creates initiatives and policies that support students’ experiences and opinions.

Nukuna describes herself as bubbly, caring, and a little Type-A. She loves the city of Atlanta and enjoys grabbing a bite to eat at Figo with friends. One of her favorite memories of Tech is being a Georgia Tech Ambassador. She joined as a sophomore and loves the group of leaders she gets to work with. She’s also involved with Omicron Delta Kappa.

“I want Tech to be the best place it can be for students,” Nukuna said. She plans to spend the year listening and seeking out ideas, making a conscious effort to include all students, and advocating for her peers by making sustainable goals and policies that put them at the forefront of the Institute. “I want to invest in that wholesome student experience.”

Nukuna is passionate about establishing better relationships between students and professors. “I want to make communication less jarring — students in fields outside of business and liberal arts should feel like their professors care.”

Shane Mudrinich

• Major: Biochemistry (Pre-Health Sciences)
• Year: 4th
• Hometown: Peachtree City, Georgia

Shane Mudrinich serves as the executive vice president of Undergraduate SGA. He works with SGA’s executive cabinet to implement their goals on campus, and he also works with administration to make Tech a better place, supporting various campus initiatives such as Tech Ends Suicide Together.

In his free time, Mudrinich likes to relax by spending time on the water. His favorite memory at Tech is when the Jackets defeated Florida State at last year’s Homecoming game. He stays busy participating in Phi Gamma Delta, Tech Beautification Day, Georgia Tech Ambassadors, FASET, Omicron Delta Kappa, Tech the Halls, and the KNIT Mentorship Program.

“Nagela, the whole Executive Cabinet, and I are unified in our goals of improving the Georgia Tech student experience in the areas of campus services and infrastructure, technological resources, cultural and diversity inclusion, and community wellness,” Mudrinich said. He recommends that students view SGA’s high-level goals here.

This year, Mudrinich is excited to welcome an Excel student as part of the SGA cabinet. “We’re committed to a culture of inclusivity and diversity and we can’t say that without doing it ourselves,” he pointed out.

Major Goals

Nukuna, Mudrinich, and the entire cabinet have big plans for the upcoming year. They hope to improve the technological resources that students interact with on a daily basis, like Nextbus and the SGA website. “We’re very data driven,” Nukuna said.

They’re also working to make it easier for students to receive excused absences for events like the career fair. Another goal of their term is to create a research fair for undergraduate students.

To keep up with SGA events and accomplishments, visit their Facebook page here.

Next week, we'll talk with Graduate SGA 's president and vice president, David Scripka and Quintin Kreth.