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Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force
Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force
About the Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force (CSATF)
Founded by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in September 2019, the Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force aims to improve youth voter engagement and civic participation. Task force members will serve as student liaisons between the Michigan Department of State and their campus populations. This nonpartisan group will advise on the unique experiences and barriers of student voters, helping to ensure the voice of young people are heard in Michigan’s elections.
The 2023 – 2024 Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force is run by the Michigan Department of State in partnership with Campus Vote Project and Fair Elections Center, a national, nonpartisan voting rights organization that works to eliminate barriers to student voting. Students appointed to the 2023 - 2024 Task Force have the option to also enroll in a paid Campus Vote Project (CVP) Democracy Fellowship.
CSATF yearly review
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2023 - 2024
Press releases
Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force members (2023-2024)
- Abdullah Aljanabi of Warren - Macomb Community College
- Andrew Durkin of Troy - Lansing Community College
- Avery Harbison of Zeeland - Central Michigan University
- Candace Metzger of Williamston - Michigan State University
- Carson Cooley of Hillsdale - Central Michigan University
- Cassie Sylvester of Linden - Mott Community College
- Cheng Kidd Sun of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Western Michigan University'
- Elizabeth Stoecker of Midland - Delta College
- Ella McKanna of Rockford - Michigan State University
- Ethan Lehman-Pace of Clinton Twp. - Oakland University
- Haley Hompstead of Roswell, New Mexico - Wayne County Community College
- Hassan Ezzeddine of Bloomfield Hills - Wayne State University
- Isiah Sageman of Pigeon - Saginaw Valley State University
- Jacquindre Brown of Mount Morris - University of Michigan-Flint
- Jason Folk of Stow, Ohio - Eastern Michigan University
- Kali Munerlyn of Flint - Mott Community College
- Keri Hunter of Detroit - Wayne State University
- Kylee Bratschi of Milan - Siena Heights University
- Lily Sawyers of Sterling Heights - Ferris State University
- Lukas Hartley of Holt - Grand Valley State University
- Mackenzie Stockwell of Grosse Pointe Woods - Lake Superior State University
- Maurielle Courtois of Landisville, Pennsylvania - University of Michigan
- Michael Dykstra of Grandville - Calvin University
- Naomi Garcia of Riverside, California - University of Michigan
- Natalie Craft of Paw Paw - Western Michigan University
- Nicholas Gunn of Berrien Springs - Andrews University
- Rivkie Biritz of Charlotte - University of Olivet
- Vanessa Nguyen of Sterling Heights - Oakland University
- Waabanokiizhick Mandoksing of Sault Ste. Marie - Bay Mills Community College
- Zena Aljilehawi of Romulus - Henry Ford College
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2022 - 2023
Report
College and university recommendations
Press releases
- Report: Michigan’s youth turnout in the 2022 election was best in the nation - April 17, 2023
- Secretary Benson names 25 students to the CSATF - April 22, 2022
- Benson announces 2022-2023 Michigan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force - Jan. 19, 2022
Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force members (2022 - 2023)
- Ibrahim Ahmad of Dearborn - Wayne State University
- Nikolas Baker of Standish - Saginaw Valley State University
- Naomi Barbour of Adrian - Eastern Michigan University
- Melia Conners of Canton - Schoolcraft Community College
- Christian Dunn of Flint - University of Michigan-Flint
- Kate Ellison of Midland - Central Michigan University
- Gwendolyn Feamster of Marquette - Northern Michigan University
- Jack Harrison of Ann Arbor - Michigan State University
- Alexis Hirst of Clinton Township - Siena Heights University
- Jeremy M. Johnson of Grand Blanc - Oakland University
- Charles-John Manansala of Menominee - Bay College
- Ramon Martinez Garcia of Battle Creek - Kellogg Community College
- Jocelyn Medina of Wyoming - Grand Valley State University
- Akhila Mullapudi of Farmington Hills - University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- Natasha Mwila of Livonia - Albion College
- Ant Neal of Chicago, IL - Albion College
- Rosalind Niemeier of De Pere, WI - Calvin University
- Diva Patel of Kawkawlin - Saginaw Valley State University
- Abbie Pinter of Bay City - Central Michigan University
- Rose Reilly of Dexter - University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- Hannah Richardson of Forest Hills - Michigan State University
- Iris Sorrell of Antwerp, OH - Adrian College
- Hemanth Tadepalli of Troy - Kettering University
- Anna Van Hese of Madison Heights - Oakland University
- Fatima Yahya of West Bloomfield - Wayne State University
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2019 - 2020
Report
Videos
Press releases- Secretary Benson announces 33 participants for Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force - Sept. 19, 2019
- Secretary Benson seeks participants for Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force - Aug. 19, 2019
Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force members (2019 - 2020)- Adam Abusalah of Dearborn – Central Michigan University
- Stuart Baum of West Bloomfield – Wayne State University
- Ian Berlin of Huntington Woods – Oakland University
- Michaela Bishop of Davisburg – Oakland Community College
- Tuhin Chakraborty of Ann Arbor – University of Michigan
- Peter Damerow of Fowlerville – Lansing Community College
- Demitria Dawson of Roseville – Henry Ford College
- Carolina Dominguez of Ann Arbor – University of Michigan
- Jeron Dotson of Grand Blanc – University of Michigan – Flint
- Brogan Eisler of DeWitt – Lansing Community College
- Nesreen Ezzeddine of Dearborn Heights – University of Michigan
- Adam Green of Goodrich – Michigan State University
- Jake Hendricks of Traverse City – Central Michigan University
- Steffanie Hills of Redford – Schoolcraft College
- Sean Huizing of Grand Rapids – Grand Rapids Community College
- Ariana Johnson of Marshall – Western Michigan University
- Zoé Ketola of Houghton – Michigan Technological University
- Kimberly Kozal of Whitmore Lake – Washtenaw Community College
- Josephine Luttman of Elkton – Saginaw Valley State University
- Hope Miller of Manistee – Kalamazoo College
- Talyce Murray of Lansing – Michigan State University
- Jacob Ogea of Marquette – Northern Michigan University
- Carter Oselett of East Lansing – Michigan State University
- Anthony Rospierski of Beaverton – Northern Michigan University
- Atia Siddiqui of Canton – University of Michigan – Dearborn
- Maysa Sitar of Newberry – Michigan State University
- Caitlin St. Clair of Big Rapids – Ferris State University
- Paul Stephens of Oxford – Kettering University
- Katelyn Smith of Chesterfield Township – Lake Superior State University
- Eric-John Szczepaniak of Grand Rapids – Grand Valley State University
- William Thayer of Allendale – Grand Valley State University
- Jessica Thompson of Davison Township – Macomb Community College
- Kyle Vickery of Kalamazoo – Michigan State University
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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What are the goals of the Task Force?
Focusing on student and youth participation in elections, CSATF members will:
- Assess barriers and challenges to voter registration and voting faced by students in Michigan.
- Develop legislative recommendations and best practices to improve student voter engagement.
- Enact solutions on campus to resolve student voting barriers, improve student voter registration and turnout rates, and to educate peers about Michigan elections.
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Who can apply?
Undergraduate and graduate students attending a college or university in Michigan are welcome to apply. There are no specific major requirements to serve, and we strongly encourage students of all fields of study to apply.
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How many students are selected?
The Michigan Secretary of State will appoint 20 – 30 students, with no more than two students per school.
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What is the time commitment?
Appointed students will serve on the Task Force with optional enrollment in a CVP Democracy Fellowship. Students serving will have the option to enroll in a paid Campus Vote Project (CVP) Democracy Fellowship coinciding with their Task Force service. The CSATF will meet at least once per month. CVP Democracy Fellows are expected to commit an average of 10 hours a week to the program.
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Is this a paid opportunity?
The CSATF is a volunteer only appointment, however, students serving will have the option to enroll in a paid Campus Vote Project (CVP) Democracy Fellowship coinciding with their Task Force service. The CVP Democracy Fellowship pays $700 for the first semester, and $900 every semester thereafter.
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What is required of CVP Democracy Fellows?
Students serving will have the option to enroll in a paid Campus Vote Project (CVP) Democracy Fellowship coinciding with their Task Force service. As a Democracy Fellow, students will be provided the tools to turn their civic engagement ideas into action. Democracy Fellows will work to remove on-campus voting barriers, to educate their peers about elections, and to build a campus coalition to support student voter engagement. CVP Democracy Fellows are expected to commit an average of 10 hours a week to the program.
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How will applicants be evaluated?
After the application period closes, staff from the Department of State and Bureau of Elections will review all submissions and contact selected candidates for interviews. Students will be selected based on their commitment to voting and enthusiasm for this work, as demonstrated by past experience, answers to application questions, and an interview.
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Will meetings be in-person or virtual?
The Task Force will schedule regular virtual meetings and limited in-person meetings. Members may be expected to travel for in-person meetings and will be reimbursed for travel expenses. Reasonable accommodations, including remote attendance options, may be arranged for task force members as needed. CVP Democracy Fellows may also be expected to attend additional regular meetings or one-on-one check-ins.
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Is the CSATF nonpartisan?
Yes, the work of this task force, as well as the Michigan Department of State and Bureau of Elections, is strictly nonpartisan. We welcome CSATF members of diverse perspectives and experiences. Students are expected to participate in civic engagement and voter education in a nonpartisan manner while representing the Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force.