Photo courtesy of Alara Mirza ‘27.
The newly elected first-year students of the Class of 2027 Board stand together for a group photo.
By Alara Mirza ʼ27
Staff Writer
Making student-oriented decisions, introducing fine-tuned initiatives and engaging with powerful voices are only some of the many undertakings the recently elected Class of 2027 student government board claims they have chosen to pursue in the upcoming academic year.
“Class boards are charged with creating class unity,” President Lily Rood ’27 said when explaining the board’s motivations in an interview with Mount Holyoke News.
Social Chair Keira Gillin ’27 added that the “[2027] Class Board will serve as a catalyst for engagement and action.”
The seven members of the Board boast a variety of background experiences among them, including volunteer work, political activism and academic leadership. In an interview with Mount Holyoke News, the group emphasized their belief that “experience matters and everyone brings different experiences to the table,” especially when it comes to decision-making. Senator Kit Moore ’27 describes the convergence of their diverse backgrounds as a “beautiful masterpiece.”
On the list of the team’s common values, equity has a spot on top. Moore explained that a key role of the Board is to “create an equitable community where we all have a chance to thrive.” Currently, this is taking two primary forms within the Board’s planned initiatives.
Vice President Brie Foster ’27 and Secretary Anna Nebauer ’27 specifically noted mutual aid as a priority, working to make it an official resource for students at the College. “Accessibility, representation and progress” is at the forefront of their work, reflecting a strong sense of social equity.
Opening the class up to more volunteer opportunities is also a priority, with many plans to make this a reality. Moore emphasized that “a lot of [Board members] are interested in creating organizations within the College that serve underrepresented communities.” For example, she believes that it is important to connect to local disabled community members, noting that “it would benefit everyone … .”
“A lot of [Board members] are interested in creating organizations within the College that serve underrepresented communities.”
First-year students may find it difficult to get involved with community work at a deeper level. The 2027 Class Board plans to address this by providing first-year students with a variety of unique opportunities, such as by establishing fundraisers and food drives for the South Hadley community and turning existing community events into dual-purpose community fundraisers.
The consensus among the Board is that volunteering needs to be better woven into the fabric of students’ time at Mount Holyoke College, emphasizing their belief that volunteering is something that many students would want to do if given the opportunity.
Regarding student experience, Social Chairs Momo Yang ’27 and Keira Gillin ’27 and Treasurer Hana Atiq ’27 noted the importance of social events — especially for first-year students. Yang said that any opportunity for students to engage with each other is a valuable one. Additionally, Yang emphasized that they want to prioritize inclusivity and ensure that communication about upcoming events is clear by broadcasting the ‘where, what, why and when’ of each event.
Gillin explained that the Board’s approach centers around making sure “that everyone in our class sees themselves represented in our initiatives.”
Atiq echoed these sentiments. “A central focus in planning these events is bringing the community together and appreciating the ways in which a community so diverse, both intellectually and culturally, can unite under a common cause, breaking the walls that create barriers between people,” she said. Atiq described the Board’s end goal to create “a community that is supportive of one another, inclusive and caring — somewhat like a family.”
When asked about the first-year experience they want to create for the Class of 2027, the Board narrowed in on their goal to empower students. Many members echoed the desire to put the concerns of the community above their own.
“I want everyone to feel that feeling of success. I want everyone to be able to look at MHC [alums] and not only think, ‘wow, they were outstanding,’ but also, ‘I can do that too,’” Moore answered. She noted that a key priority for the Board is to “create a community that fits everyone and … fits around everyone,” with the objective of “no one [having] to make themselves smaller.”
“I want [the Class of 2027] to feel empowered to speak up and be heard and also be empowered to feel like they can step back and enjoy the experience,” Rood added.
In terms of strategy, the group unanimously welcomes any and all concerns or comments. They intend to approach student feedback with an open and action-driven mindset. “I make [informed] decisions not based on what I think is best, but on what the class wants,” Rood explained. “We all want what's best for the class.”
In an effort to honor this goal, the Board intends to listen closely to every voice of the Class of 2027. Each member has their own approach — Nebauer welcomes criticism and wants to turn ideas into action, while Rood and Moore both hold weekly office hours.
Nebauer noted that “[the] student voice is crucial to our board meetings,” explaining that “as representatives of our class, we strive to listen to students and ensure that they are not only listened to but their needs are met through the actions of our class board.” Atiq ’27 described this student-oriented approach as allowing the Board to “arrive at conclusions with ease.”
When discussing the common traits shared among the board members, Gillin noted that each member has “ambition and drive that will propel us to take action.” Rood mentioned her belief that every member comes to meetings having gone above and beyond in their tasks.
“We say ‘this is awesome’ a lot on our Board,” Rood said.
Moore said that “oftentimes [members of the Board] want to keep working” even when the meeting is about to end. When asked if the group wants to hold an additional meeting, it's often a unanimous yes.
“We get deep into things in meetings [because] we all have a deep passion for creating the best experience for our class,” Moore explained. “Usually what happens in these types of things is people join for a resume booster, but that’s not what’s happening here.” She described the meetings as being “very conversation-based,” where they often “realiz[e] we’ve spent half the meeting on one topic.”
Atiq emphasized the importance of “[leaving] behind a community mirroring the morals and ethics that are upheld by the College.” The Board has set out to achieve this, with their values and care for the student body piloting their action plans. Rood credited their cohesive and effective team dynamic to her belief that “if you care about what you're doing, then you’re going to do it better.”
Editor’s note: Brie Foster ‘27 is a member of the Mount Holyoke News.
At the time of reporting, Lily Rood went by a different first name. This article was updated Aug. 9 at 1:45 p.m. EST to reflect her change in name.