2025 Officer Elections: Yoda Kebede
- Grant Berg
- Mar 24
- 3 min read
Yoda (he/him) is a student at Minnesota State University – Mankato, and is applying for the position of Treasurer.
The responses to the application questions are unedited and are written by the candidate. Why are you interested in this specific officer position?
My interest in this officer position comes from my experience as a treasurer for various recognized school organisations. My previous roles as treasure for both Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and the United Nations & International Relations Club have given me extensive experience in money budgeting and tracking, grant applications and general financial oversight. Specifically during my time as a Treasure for the United Nation & International Relations club, I was able to successfully double our budget through various volunteering and fundraising events hosted by the club. Furthermore I was able to get grants to support our MinneMUN 2025 trip for all our members willing to travel and participate in the event. As well as during my time as the treasurer for Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, I was able to manage $5,000+ in student organization funds, ensuring transparent financial planning.
Currently as the Vice President for the United Nation & International Relations Club, I was able to further develop my leadership and event coordination skills. I work with a team of bright pears to foster engagement from our members and students/faculty willing to attend our events.
This officer's position can give me the opportunity to further my financial expertise and as an aspiring developmental economist it provides me insight to how policy implementations and development happens on a bigger scale.
Please describe your understanding of Students United My understanding of Student United is a student-led organization dedicated to having the voices of the students heard and advocate for policies that improve the learning experience of students for Minnesota State universities. The organisation works at multiple levels in government including local, state and federal to push policies that empower students.
At the core Student United is a non-profit organisation led by students for past, present and future students. The organisation has prioritised representing students in the decision making process at those higher education levels. The organisation focuses on providing a student catering environment for the growth of all students.
The organisation also supports student led initiatives and events. Student United also fosters collaboration between students and government entities, ensuring a better higher education in Minnesota. Please describe your understanding of the role officers play at Students United I believe officers play key leadership roles for a smoother operation of the advocacy efforts Student United does. Responsibilities such as, actively communicating and collaborating with board members and other parties involved; fundraising and resource development through engaging in fundraising, grants and donations; administrative support though helping with scheduling meetings, distributing minutes and preparing meeting materials; financial and budgeting management through transparent financial transactions, reviewing payroll and invoices and financial oversight. These are the responsibilities that need to be met by officers in order to provide proper service to the students we represent.
What goals do you have for this position and/or for Students United?
My goals for the Treasurer secretary position is to primarily focus on financial transparency, advocacy support and improve organizational efficiency to insure growth and effectiveness within the Student United to continue effectively representing and supporting Minnesota State Universities students.
To execute my primary focus points, I plan to strengthen the finances and transparency of transitions through accurate and timely financial reports and improve budget tracking to optimize on resource allocations. Furthermore, to ensure financial growth I plan to explore and secure additional grants and funding opportunities, and strengthen partnerships with various individuals, groups and organizations for sponsorship and donations. For advocacy support, ensuring financial resources are available to advocate for this year's policy priorities will give Student United a better working ground to implement policies such as “Naloxone availability on campus”,”Expanding Direct Admissions Minnesota” and ”Enhancing the Hunger Free Campus Grant”. Additionally when it comes to improving organizational efficiency through maintaining organized and accessible financial records to support decision-making and ensure that board meetings, reposts and minutes are well recorded and in a timely manner will add to the organizations organizational efficiency.
By achieving these goals, I plan to strengthen Student United’s finances, support advocacy efforts and ensure that students across Minnesota State Universities have strong representatives advocating for them.
