Fall 2025 ASWU Senate Candidates

Photo by Iris McClure.

Provided by ASWU President Stevie Bergstrom.

Compiled by Alma Snortum-Phelps, publication editor for The Collegian.

Here are the candidates for the Fall 2025 ASWU Senate elections, organized by graduating class.

Voting began Thursday, Sept. 4 at 8 a.m. and will end Friday, Sept. 5 at 5 p.m.

Class of 2027

Maddee Reid

Hey Bearcats! My name is Maddee Reid (she/her), and I’m running to be one of your Class of 2027 senators! I’m a junior majoring in PPLE and Sociology and a proud member of the women’s soccer team. Through my leadership experiences on and off the field, I’ve learned how to work across differences and advocate for the needs of a community. What I love most about our campus is its close-knit environment. I believe that this spirit of collaboration between students and faculty is what makes our community so special—and I want to strengthen those connections. I’m passionate about ensuring that students from all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives feel heard and valued. Facilitating honest conversations about how we can improve as officials is important and I believe those conversations should be taken seriously at every level of student involvement. One initiative I would love to propose is partnering with local animal shelters to bring adoption events to campus. Not only would this give students the joy of connecting with animals but also support shelters in finding loving homes for pets in need. As your senator, I promise to listen, amplify your voices, and turn our ideas into meaningful change.

Class of 2029

Karmanjot Kaur

My name is Karmanjot Kaur and I use she/her pronouns. I am excited to run for the Associated Students of Willamette University (ASWU) as a representative of the Class of 2029, with a strong focus on student healthcare. In my senior year of high school, I was honored to be chosen as Student Council President, an experience that taught me how to listen, lead, and act on behalf of my peers. I also dedicated myself to drug-abuse awareness, publishing my own e-book on the subject to spread education and prevention resources. I want to bring that same energy and commitment to Willamette, ensuring that the health and well-being of our students remain a top priority. My goals include organizing wellness workshops, expanding access to mental health resources, and starting initiatives such as peer support groups, fitness challenges, and campus-wide health awareness weeks. I would also love to create more opportunities for students to engage in healthcare leadership by collaborating with local clinics, hosting volunteer drives, and building student-led health advocacy projects. Additionally, I would love to represent student’s concern for various aspects of healthcare and the problems they are facing. Together, we can make Willamette a healthier, more informed, and more supportive community.

Henry Baker

Hey Bearcats! My name is Henry Baker, and I’m excited to run for ASWU. Back in high school, I was deeply involved in my school and in student leadership as I served as ASB President my senior year. Those experiences taught me how powerful it can be when students have a real voice and I’m ready to bring that mindset into our Willamette community. This year, I’m here to get my bearings, to understand what makes this campus tick, what makes it thrive, and what small shifts could make a big impact. I’m not looking to rush change; I want to learn from the community first. Because strong leadership doesn’t start with fixing things, it starts with listening. If elected, I hope to be a bridge between students and solutions. Whether that’s sharing concerns, starting conversations, or bringing new energy to the table, I’m here for it. I’d be honored to represent you and help shape an ASWU that reflects all of us.

Alexander Berry

Hello! My name is Alexander and I am a first year English major at Willamette University. I recently received my associates degree in Business Management simultaneously with my high school diploma. As an ASWU candidate I envision myself applying managerial skills I gained through two years of theatrical management at both a high school and community level to assess the specific needs of the student body. During my time earning my business degree I took accounting, public speaking, human relations, business law, and human resource management classes; and wish to apply that knowledge in a way that would best serve the class of ‘29. Originally I am from Maryland and officiated my high school becoming a certified green school through the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education. I believe I have the ability to implement the 2025-26 focuses which includes improving communication and transparency seamlessly and personally want to make the class of ‘29 feel connected and embraced on campus. I want to become a familiar face in such a new environment and seek the interconnection I alongside others might miss from their hometowns.

Peyton Edmunds 

Hello Bearcats! My name is Peyton Edmunds (she/her), and I’m excited to run for ASWU Senate representing the Class of 2029. I believe a good community is an essential base for anyone who wants to thrive academically. In high school, I served as my school’s student representative on the school board while my district faced a $9 million deficit, and I rewrote the student council constitution when multiple high schools consolidated into one. Those experiences have taught me how to navigate difficult challenges, listen to many conflicting opinions during a stressful period, and turn student concerns into real outcomes. At Willamette, my priorities are as follows: stronger support for students from low-income backgrounds by addressing affordability in campus life, more transparency in how decisions and funds are handled, and improved access to mental health resources so every student has the chance to thrive. To me, student leadership is about making sure all voices are heard and making concrete improvements that touch everyday life on campus. I’m ready to advocate for you, listen to your concerns, and help make Willamette a more affordable, supportive, and transparent place. Thank you, and Vote Peyton!!

Austin Bagby

Hi, my name is Austin Bagby, and I’m excited to be running for Freshman Representative. I chose Willamette because of the strong sense of community, and I want to help make sure every first-year student feels included, supported, and heard. I bring energy, commitment, and experience as a student leader—I’ve served as Clubs Commissioner in high school, where I worked directly with student organizations to strengthen communication and bring more people together. I know how important it is to listen, collaborate, and take action on the issues that matter most. As your representative, I will focus on building connections across campus, supporting new ideas, and making sure the voices of our class are part of the conversation. I’m passionate about leadership, community, and creating opportunities for everyone to succeed. Together, we can set the tone for a great first year.

Teddy Wachtler

Hi! I’m Teddy and I’m committed to an authentic and transparent ASWU. Hailing from Los Angeles, I plan on majoring in politics at WU with law on the horizon. As a Senator, I seek to create new and comprehensive systems to more effectively engage with the student body while simultaneously enhancing and expanding existing resources. Our school’s assets can feel opaque and overwhelming, and I pledge to improve the accessibility and clarity of ASWU to ensure that no student is left out of our community. I have a strong sense of school spirit, and along with my collaborative and political skills, I will make positive change. I bring experience from my high school, where I spearheaded LGBTQ+ student activism and spent countless weekends volunteering to maintain and improve the environment, lead and instruct peers and adolescents, and assist non-profit organizations. My other accomplishments include valedictorian, Eagle Scout, top 50 partnership in national-circuit policy debate, mock trial team captain, D&D club president, Ultimate Frisbee club secretary, and being a member of the robotics and cycling teams. I’m decisive and dedicated in everything I do, and I only ask for your vote so that we can improve Willamette together.

Gabi Klarr

Hi! My name is Gabi Klarr, my pronouns are she/her and I’m from Eugene, OR. I am a third generation Willamette student who has deep pride in my school and in my state. I have been involved in my student governments for 7 years. I have served as School Board Representative, where I had the responsibility to present the concerns of my peers in front of the school board. A particular issue I spent time addressing was a poorly designed schedule that increased teacher and student workload while taking away instructing hours. In addition to being an advocate for serious issues, I believe campus needs whimsy, we all miss our pets and want fuzzy friends around. If elected, I want to bring Ceaser the No Drama Llama to campus so we can all cuddle a llama. Some of my favorite activities include making a cup of tea and crocheting, a good Silver Falls hike in the fall, and making baked goods. Fun fact: I have an ottoman full of hot cheetos in my dorm that are always up for grabs. Whether it’s being an advocate for student voices or sharing snacks, I’m your candidate!

Duncan Hanon

My name is Duncan Hanon (He/Him). I’m running for an ASWU senator position because I believe that the Willamette student senate should do what all local governments are meant to do: improve lives. I’ll be majoring in PPLE with minors in Spanish and Philosophy. Coming from a rural northern California town, Mount Shasta (population 3,124), and having parents involved as educators, I’ve seen firsthand how small-scale, local government makes the world run. This perspective shaped the way I lead: practical and community-based. 

At my high school, I served as the Key Club coordinator, class president, and volunteered through many groups. I gained early insight into the legal field through job shadowing a lawyer. I’ll be engaging with the immigrant community here in Salem through my Spanish service learning class, which will help me engage in the community even more. 

As a senator, I’ll push for financial transparency, work to improve campus facilities, and, most importantly, make sure every voice is heard. I want to send out surveys, open forms, and engage with club leaders to see if needs are being met. Together, we can make Willamette stronger and more accountable to the people who matter most: the students.

Hannah Beadle

I deeply value every interaction that I have with both my peers and alike on campus. Willamette, I believe, should be maintained as a place where everyone finds value in every conversation and interaction–and with that comes feeling welcome to freely voice concerns. As a senate member, it would be my core mission to make sure that every voice at Willamette is represented, heard, and thoughtfully addressed even when their words go unspoken. I am confident when I say that your concerns will be represented as I commit to being an honest person, student, and senate member before I am anything else. As a member of ASWU, I pledge to represent Class of 2029 with Willamette University’s motto of  “not unto ourselves alone are we born,” wholeheartedly.

Matthew Stout

Hi, I’m Matthew Stout and I’m a first year here at Willamette where I intend to double major in Environmental Science and Philosophy. I will also be playing for our lacrosse team on campus. Throughout high school, I filled many leadership roles both in athletic standing in lacrosse and football, and within academic settings as well. I participated in Mock Trial all through high school, where I coached and led one of our four teams throughout the competitions. I was the lead manager of my high school's Technical Sound team in Theatre throughout my senior year. Through my time in high school, I gained deep interpersonal and leadership skills, communication is a key part of my campaign and personal standings. I volunteer frequently in my community and work closely with youth in tutoring and after school programs to create a relationship with my peers. 

I grew up in Texas where firsthand I saw the importance of having a community you can depend on. During my teenage years I moved to California where I became familiar with a multitude of economic and social injustices in my area. I have participated in multiple protests and debates regarding LAUSD school policing, LGBTQ+ representation, and academic funding. I’m a firm believer in my ability to ensure that the 2025-26 year will consist of complete transparency and effective communication across the board. I want to be able to create a community and build an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging within the community.

Jack Nothom

Hi ya’ll, my name is Jack Nothom and I'm running for ASWU Senate to make Willamette a place where everyone is represented to the fullest extent. I’m from Burbank, California, home of Walt Disney and Warner Brother’s studios. I’ve also had the great privilege of traveling across the country visiting my grandfather in Upstate New York. From traveling across the country I’ve seen that there is no place that is more special than the state of Oregon. From living in a place where the local government is influenced by corporations that do not have our best interests in mind, I don’t want Willamette to be influenced in a similar way. Currently, the United States of America is one of the worst representative democracies in the world, with about 747,000 people per Representative in the House of Representatives while countries like the United Kingdom have about 100,000 people per Representative. A lot of our nation's problems stem from this misrepresentation. I’m all about not misrepresenting people. Like many Willamette Students, I have no experience in student government at my high school, I do have mild experience leading some clubs and was one of the captains of my high school track team. When I step into ASWU I want to be YOU, and fight for your concerns, not mine. There is no I with Jack Nothom, the student body is a collective, we are a we. I believe a senator should only be a delegate of the people.