Secretary Benson names young leaders to Michigan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force

Students to help improve voter education, engagement on Michigan college campuses through the 2026 election cycle

LANSING, Mich. – Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced today that she and the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) team have selected 23 college and university students to serve on the Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force through the 2026 election cycle.

The nonpartisan task force will determine and implement recommendations to improve voter education and engagement among young people on college and university campuses across Michigan. In 2024, the college task force members originated the idea of the state’s first “I Voted” sticker design contest, which received national attention and hundreds of submissions from artists all around Michigan.

In 2024, Michigan ranked third in the nation for youth voter turnout among 18- to 29-year-olds, with 58% casting ballots, up four points from 2020. This marked the largest gain in the country, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University. Michigan’s youth voter turnout is behind only Minnesota (62%) and Maine (60%).

The task force is a nonpartisan initiative of MDOS in partnership with Campus Vote Project (CVP), a project of the Fair Elections Center, a national, nonpartisan voting rights organization. The appointed students will serve on the task force through December 2026.

The students represent 19 community colleges, colleges, and universities statewide and were chosen from among nearly 100 applicants to represent their institution of higher education: 

Alex Guo of Rochester Hills - Michigan State University

Amara Makim of Port Huron - University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

A'naya Jones of Detroit - Wayne State University

Anabelle Sanchez of Chicago, IL - Michigan State University

Arianna Rowsey of Detroit - Grand Valley State University

Blase Johnson of Birmingham - Oakland Community College

Brooklynn Rogowski of Grand Ledge - Adrian College

Edgar Santiago-Rivera of Wayne - Ferris State University

Emma Goos of Saint Joseph - Lake Michigan College

Gia Verma of Albertson, NY - University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Harrison Krafchak of Dearborn Heights - Central Michigan University

Hawraa Alzergani of Dearborn - University of Detroit Mercy

Jackson Glover of Detroit - Madonna University

Jacob Olson of Plymouth - Schoolcraft College

Jake Juip of Grosse Pointe - College for Creative Studies

Justin Evans of St. Augustine, FL - Delta College

Larry West III of Saginaw - Central Michigan University

Marcus Johnson of Southfield - Oakland University

Noorhan Abdulridha of Sterling Heights - Wayne State University

Nyah Caldwell of Grayslake, IL - Northern Michigan University

Rileigh Burnett of Phoenix, AZ - Calvin University

Sobowale Solaja of Lagos, Nigeria - Wayne County Community College

Viba Haurovi of Harare, Zimbabwe - Michigan Technological University

The task force, first established by Benson in 2019, brings together students from across the state who are passionate about civic engagement. Task force members will serve as liaisons between MDOS, their student body, school administrators, and peers. The group will advise on the unique experiences and barriers for student voters, helping to ensure the voices of young people are heard in our state's elections.  

This marks the fourth iteration of the Michigan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force. Reports from previous cohorts are available at Michigan.gov/CSATF.

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