Fall 2025

PRESIDENT

Brennan Columbia-Walsh is a senior from Morristown, New Jersey, studying Political Theory and English. Outside of the Union, he is the former President of the Club Basketball Team and a playwright with international credits.

SPEAKER

Richie George is a junior from New Jersey studying history and philosophy, with interests in constitutional theory, political philosophy, and intellectual history. They love swimming, speculative fiction, and cooking for friends and family.

VICE PRESIDENT

Alyse Graham-Martinez is a sophomore in Saybrook College studying physics and philosophy. Outside of the YPU she enjoys playing club soccer, reading, and camping.

SENIOR TREASURER

Anna Potekhin is a Grace Hopper sophomore studying Mathematical Economics and Cognitive Science to understand human behavior. Ask her about flower pressing, monopolies, or iconography.

JUNIOR TREASURER

Roshan Dhital is a sophomore in Pauli Murray College studying Economics and History. When he has free time he can be seen watching movies, playing grand strategy games, making home-brewed mead, or hiking.

FLOOR LEADER OF THE RIGHT

Mark Lee is a sophomore in Grace Hopper College studying Global Affairs. He grew up in Hong Kong. Outside of the YPU, he enjoys reading historical/science fiction, movie marathons, and the occasional long walk at night.

FLOOR LEADER OF THE LEFT

Savan Parikh is a sophomore in Ezra Stiles College from Guilford, Connecticut. He is a member of the Progressive Party and plans to major in Architecture and History. In his free time, Savan loves to play soccer, do word puzzles, and hike.

CHAIR OF THE PARTY OF THE LEFT

Alessandra Pappalardi is a junior studying Political Science and the History of Medicine, also pursuing an Italian Studies certificate. Outside of the YPU, Alessandra can be found reading classic fiction in the Trumbull College library, enjoying musical theatre or traveling home to New Rochelle, New York.

CHAIR OF THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY

Miles Kirkpatrick is a junior from Greensboro, North Carolina, in Saybrook College studying Classical Civilizations. Outside of the Union, he is a member of the Purple Crayon improv group, an occasional writer for the Yale Daily News, and a member of the Moot Court team. Outside of these obligations, he can be found reminiscing about the South or playing croquet.

CHAIRMAN OF THE INDEPENDENT PARTY

Avi Rao is a Junior in Pauli Murray College from New York City and Clinton, NY, double-majoring in Global Affairs and History. At the moment, he’s interested in Global Macroeconomics and Cold War Latin America. Outside of Yale, he enjoys cooking, eating, telling people about his apple orchard, rooting for the New York Jets, and hiking the Northeast.

CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERALIST PARTY

William Berry is a junior in Pierson College, studying EP&E. An Oxford, Mississippi native, you can find him reading Bonhoeffer, cooking dinner with friends, or finding new fishing spots in his free time.

The Chairman of the Conservative Party is a junior in Davenport College studying Math & Philosophy with an interest in political theory. He enjoys reading, playing the piano and organ, and debating with friends (and enemies).

CHAIRMAN OF THE TORY PARTY

Michael Batten is a junior in Silliman College studying political science. He has been involved with the YPU since the fall semester of his first year. Outside of the YPU, Mr. Batten enjoys the thrill of recreational flying, watching classic films, making music with his friends, and window shopping at J. Press. 

CHIEF OF STAFF

Audrey Stankunas is a Sophomore in Silliman College, studying Political Science. Outside of the Union, she's a design editor for the Yale Record, a member of the Yale Alpine Ski Team, and a coordinator for the Yale Community Kitchen!

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Rohil Mohan is a sophomore from the suburbs of Massachusetts studying economics and political science. He enjoys fantasy football and reading.

SECRETARY

Megan Lee is a sophmore in Davenport College. She is an international student from Hong Kong who studied in the UK. She is a prospective double major in EP&E and Cognitive Science. In her free time, she loves reading and writing. 

SOCIAL CHAIR

Joe Gicante is a sophomore in Yale College studying Ethics, Politics, and Economics. He’s from Petersburg, Texas and is a member of the Federalist party. Outside of the Union, he can be found playing for Yale Men's Rugby, attending Yale Texas Club or Buckley Institute events, and reading books. He plans to attend law school after graduation and work in either New York City or Washington, DC.

CO-PUBLICIST

Abby Nissley is a sophomore from Lancaster, Pennsylvania studying Global Affairs and Philosophy. Outside of the YPU, she plays club lacrosse, paints portraits, writes for the Yale Daily News, and raises goats. You can often find her reading Kierkegaard or fighting against human trafficking.

CO-PUBLICIST

Modhupa Tsali is a sophomore in Davenport college majoring in Global Affairs and Economics. Aside from the YPU, she loves her dance team Rangeela, writing poems, playing music, and working for the Yale Human Rights Journal. She grew up between Bangladesh, New York City, and Malaysia.

HISTORIAN

From Nigeria, Lofty-John Anyanwu is a sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College, and is studying Computer Science and Biology. He is a member of the Tory Party, and is committed to keeping the Union’s past alive and its present meaningful.

CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE UNION WEEKLY

Chloe Alfonso is a sophomore in Berkeley from Miami majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. 

CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE UNION WEEKLY

Diana Herasim is sophomore in Berkeley College, double majoring in Political Science and History. From Middlebury, Vermont, she is a member of the Independent Party and enjoys kickboxing and classic literature in her free time.

TELLER

From the sunny city of San Bernardino, CA, Raja Saadiq-Saoud is a sophomore in Silliman College studying Mechanical Engineering and Political Science. He is interested in tech policy, religion, and political philosophy.