​The Merage Undergraduate Student Association (MUSA) is excited to announce our candidates for Executive Board of the 2024-2025 academic year are now open! 

Founded in 2008, MUSA has grown to represent over 1500+ undergraduate Business Administration and Business Information Management students' academic and professional interests as the official governing body for the undergraduates at The Paul Merage School of Business. 
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Please don't hesitate to reach out for any questions, comments, or concerns at [email protected].

Candidates 

President (1)

​Dominic Pagano
Hey everyone! I’m Dominic Pagano, a third-year business administration major running for MUSA president. I have been involved with this organization since my freshman year, and I am
so excited about the potential to serve MUSA in my final year at UCI. Some of my previous experiences include the consulting start internship at PwC and the BEL internship with Bain &
Company where I will be returning this summer! During my first two years, I learned everything I could about the Merage community and how our school operates. This past year as the executive vice president I led the business conference, actively communicated with administration, and worked alongside the current MUSA president to grow our presence in Southern California and beyond. Looking forward to next year, I have several ambitious goals for MUSA. First, I want to facilitate
broader collaboration between our affiliated clubs so we get the most holistic experience possible. I also want to place a greater focus on the student body’s feedback regarding the
types of events we should host. Lastly, I aim to put on a Southern California Early Business Leaders Conference with organizations from other business schools; this will enlarge our
networks and expand our thinking beyond what has been done previously. I aspire to equip Merage students with the resources they need to succeed in their career of choice.
Thank you!
Dominic Pagano

Executive Vice President (1)

Julia Lin

​Hello Merage Student Body! 
My name is Julia Lin and I'm running to be MUSA's next Executive Vice President. I'm a current third-year student at UCI majoring in Business Administration with minors in Anthropology and Digital Information Systems. When I first came to UCI, it was difficult and daunting –especially as an out-of-state student being far away from home. As a third year now, I’ve grown to love being a part of this school and community. I've loved my experience at UCI primarily because of the communities, opportunities, and second family I've found within Merage. I want to be able to help cultivate this same positive experience for other undergraduates during their time as students to encourage and empower everybody to make the absolute most out of their college experiences. Through my experience on the MUSA Executive Board this year as current MUSA VP of Community Development, I’ve learned that I want to keep giving back and strengthening this community whether that’s leading/building enriching and resourceful Merage events and programs to just being someone that anybody can go to for help with anything. My goal as Executive Vice President is to make sure everybody feels supported, included, and proud to be a part of such a great community. 
I’m excited for this opportunity to further my involvement with and continue serving the Merage students, organizations, and overall community through this role – thank you for your time and consideration of me as a candidate!

Vice President of Community Development (1)

Leslie Ortiz

​Hello Merage Students, I'm Leslie Ortiz, and I am excited to announce my candidacy for the position of Vice President of Community Development! I decided to run for this position because of my previous experience as the VP of Diversity, where I had the privilege of spearheading events each quarter. Through this role, I honed my skills in planning and leading events, ensuring their success. 
Now, I am eager to bring these skills to every event hosted by MUSA, including Dress for Success, Business Orgs Fair, and Mocktails. My goal is to continue making the Merage community a better place where all undergraduate students can network and grow amongst each other. Ever since my first day at Merage, I felt a sense of belonging and I hope to make a difference at Merage and believe this position will help me make that impact. I appreciate your consideration.

Vice President of External Relations (2)

Brianna Shen
​Hello, my name is Brianna Shen, and I’m running to be MUSA’s VP of External Relations. The position of external relations uses marketing to communicate between MUSA and the students of Merage. My broad experiences in social media marketing have encouraged me to pursue an emphasis in marketing. 
In high school, I was the President of a club called Timberwolf Graphics. This club acted as a small business. We created content and marketed big events within our school district to the surrounding community. I used the graphic design and marketing skills I learned in this club, to be hired as a marketing intern. My duties as an intern included creating social media templates and implementing brand marketing strategies. At this internship, I realized the importance of social media marketing and company branding. I continued to expand my skill set in my first two quarters in college through my internship at Social Entrepreneurship Association (SEA) and the MUSA representatives program. 
If I’m chosen as VP of External Relations, I would like to increase opportunities for engagement within the Merage community, by promoting events through social media. I believe that getting involved with clubs and events can provide all undergraduates the chance to network and find a 
community at the business school. I would love to increase the opportunities and sense of community students feel at Merage.

Annie Nguyen

​Hello everyone! My name is Annie Nguyen and I am currently a first-year Business Administration student here at UCI with interests in marketing and organizational management! I am currently running for Vice President of External Relations and I would really appreciate your support on my campaign! 
Even though I am a first-year, throughout my time here at UCI, I have had the opportunity to get involved on campus, especially with organizations directly on campus. Some of my current involvements right now include being a Merage Undergraduate Student Association (MUSA) Freshman Representative and being an active member and VP of Marketing Intern for Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity. During these experiences, I have continued to develop my leadership and teamwork skills, which makes me feel confident enough to take on this position for the 2024-2025 school year. 
As the VP of External Relations, I hope to keep the MUSA Instagram up to date weekly, filling in current Merage students of any and all events that may happen in the future. Aside from creating graphics, I want to utilize my skills and passions for filmmaking and photography to highlight and showcase more of what MUSA as an organization does for the undergraduate students. Whether that be posting more reel content or taking photos at events, I hope to create a higher sense of community and unity amongst our Merage students. Currently, in my spare time, I have taken the opportunity to experiment with video-editing, from filming wedding videos to producing my own content. With my creativity and drive for innovation, I am confident that I can bring together our undergraduate student body. 
Thank you again for your support and I hope that we share the same desires and aspirations, and I look forward to representing Merage students next school year!

Vice President of Internal Relations (2)

Reyna Borillo
​Hello Merage! I’m Reyna Borillo and I’ll be running to be your VP of Internal Relations. I decided to run for this position due to my passion for helping others grow in their professional journey. The beginning of college isn’t easy for many: imposter syndrome, overwhelming emotions, and a race against your peers to this path of success can often lead someone to ask themselves, “where do I start?” 
As your VP of IR, rest assured that the freshmen entering Merage will be in good hands. I’ll do my best to alleviate negative experiences and replace them with positive ones through the MUSA Representative Program. Given the opportunity to spearhead this program, my vision is to provide support and opportunities for first-years by recognizing and cultivating their potential. 
My relative experience that I hope will help you entrust this program/position to me revolves around my previous experience with MUSA. Last school-year, I had the privilege of being a MUSA Representative where I was supported by opportunities to plan events for Merage and 
given an Associate to help me navigate college. Consequently, this year I had the honor of serving as an Associate and it has been my greatest joy. I provided resources and served as a mentor to four BA freshmen and it was incredibly fulfilling to watch them grow and see them achieve their goals. 
I hope you consider voting for me as VP of IR to help me grow my passion to serve others in this way.
Hannah Woo
​Hello everyone! 
My name is Hannah Woo and I am running to be your next Vice President of Internal Relations. Having been a Representative and currently serving as your VP of Graduate Alumni Relations, I am grateful for the opportunities that MUSA has provided me and many others that have shaped us professionally and personally. 
Since my freshman year, MUSA has been an integral part of my life. Being a representative allowed me to meet and make meaningful friendships with board members, associates, and peers. It has provided me with a platform that not only nurtured my confidence and leadership skills but also enabled me to extend my involvement in other campus organizations and passions. 
As the next VP of Internal Affairs, I dedicate my experiences to giving back to the Freshman Representative program that has provided me with so much. My goal is to leverage my leadership and professional experiences to foster an inclusive and supportive environment where every student feels welcomed, valued, and empowered. By engaging with our current resources and students, I hope to inspire a new set of leaders during their time at UCI and also post-graduation. 
My time on MUSA board has allowed me to identify what I can do to improve the Merage community. I promise a prosperous future for the Merage community, not just limited to MUSA but to other affiliated clubs and organizations. Thank you for your time and support. I hope you will consider me as your next Internal Relations.

Vice President of Finance (1)

Ariyana Abraham
Hello, my name is Ariyana Abraham and I am currently running for VP of finance. I am running for this position to contribute to the Merage community by equipping MUSA and its subsidiaries with the financial knowledge, planning, and other necessary components for them to thrive. I have the experience to contribute to this position as I ran the finances for the National Honors Society, which included making budgets, tracking finances, allocating funds, and organizing fundraising when necessary. This experience is something that piqued my interest in finance and gave me an adaptable, hardworking skillset that makes me the best-suited candidate. Currently, I am a MUSA representative which gives me insights into how different positions run from a more personal perspective. I have had coffee chats with the current VP of finance where we discussed the position and all it entails. Hearing from his experience and what the position requires of him, I believe the position would be something that I could accurately and attentively accomplish. In my time in MUSA I have loved speaking to everyone I have gotten to know and hopefully continue to, it is an organization that I believe has great worth and is something I would love to work and grow with.

Vice President of Academic Affairs (1)

Thomas Lin
Hello Merage community, 
My name is Thomas Lin, and I'm running to be your MUSA Vice President of Academic Affairs. My journey at MUSA began as a mentor, where I educated students one on one within the mentorship program. Additionally, I joined organizations like MAISS, UBA, and Lambda Phi Nu where I gained valuable experience. At my community college, I founded Project Bracket, an entrepreneurship and technology club, aimed at providing hands-on experience to students. Now, equipped with diverse experiences, I'm eager to enhance the Merage undergraduate journey and foster professional growth among students. 
As a third-year transfer student, I understand the urgency to develop personally and professionally. My involvement in the MUSA Mentorship program, Lambda Phi Nu, UBA, and MAISS has been pivotal in achieving my goals, and I'm committed to extending the same support to fellow Merage students. I'm passionate about enriching student life and bridging the gap between academia and real-world experiences. Recognizing student achievements through initiatives like Student of The Week is crucial for maintaining a supportive yet competitive environment within Merage. 
I'm dedicated to showcasing the plethora of opportunities available to Merage students by fostering faculty engagement beyond the classroom. My ultimate goal is to ensure every student feels valued and empowered to excel academically and professionally. 
Thank you for considering me, Thomas Lin, as your Vice President of Academic Affairs. Together, let's elevate the Merage School of Business experience.

Vice President of Diversity (2)

Safah Faraz
Hello! I'm Safah, and I'm thrilled to be running for the position of VP of Diversity. I believe deeply in the importance of diversity, not just as a box to check, but as a fundamental aspect of who we are as individuals. 
It is my goal to make sure that MUSA reflects the rich diversity of our student body. I'm committed to ensuring that our events, initiatives, and opportunities represent this diversity. If elected, I aim to introduce initiatives that celebrate our various perspectives and create an inclusive environment where every voice is genuinely valued. 
To achieve this, I have established a two-pronged approach. Firstly, I want to improve transparency in the ideation and planning processes for MUSA events. This involves opening up our planning sessions to students through public meetings, offering shadowing opportunities with the MUSA board, and providing avenues for community input. 
Regarding events, I'm particularly excited about organizing quarterly panels where MUSA-affiliated clubs can showcase their upcoming events for the next 10 weeks. Additionally, I plan to hold a pre-MUSA election panel to demystify the election process for those unfamiliar with it. 
I'm someone who fully commits to my projects, and I'll work tirelessly to ensure they reflect my best efforts. With my experience planning the 2023 Business Conference as a MUSA Associate and in other campus leadership roles, I've honed my ability to plan and execute initiatives I'm passionate about. I'm confident I can excel as MUSA's next VP of Diversity. Thank you for your consideration!
Risha Suresh
​Hi! My name is Risha Suresh, and I’m excited to be running for VP of Diversity. I strive to create an inclusive campus where you feel comfortable and empowered to express your perspectives and identity. Students' various cultures, backgrounds, and experiences are our best tools to foster new ideas and improve upon Merage. I am running for this position to help students employ these tools as they continue building their futures while embracing diversity. While I aim to improve the diversity speaker events that MUSA hosts by surveying who students want to hear from, I also seek to bring more social events that focus on celebrating diversity within Merage and in the workplace. 
To ensure an inclusive and diverse community, I am confident I can contribute my strong communication, collaboration, and event planning skills. I’m currently a MUSA representative and have had the opportunity to create an event that promotes team bonding alongside seven other representatives. In this position, I am constantly strengthening my collaboration skills, and as I am responsible for handling event logistics, I continue to grow my organizational and planning abilities. Additionally, I have utilized and developed these skills as a Women in Leadership intern, where I recently hosted a Galentine’s event with 30+ attendees. 
When choosing what school I wanted to attend, my main criteria was somewhere I could gain a sense of belonging without having to shed my identity. I found that, and through this role, I want to ensure that others can too.

Vice President of Graduate and Alumni Relations (1)

Connor Cheung
Hello! I’m Connor Cheung, and I am running for VP of Graduate and Alumni Relations for MUSA. I believe this to be an amazing role to build on the importance I’ve placed on building connections with new and exciting groups of people. 
In my journey so far at UCI, I’ve come to appreciate the various groups of people I’ve met so far. They’ve shown me that it is possible to not only focus on academics but also the building of lasting relationships and friendships here without giving up one or the other. That has led me to strive for this role that fosters that growth for other students attending UCI through networking with alumni and providing for events and panels. 
Currently, I am a Mentee of MUSA and learning from multiple members of MUSA which include members of the board. Not only have they taught me the skills I need to succeed as a VP of MUSA, but also most importantly, how to hold myself to a high standard at all times and prepare myself for anything yet to come. 
In closing, I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to serve as your VP of Graduate and Alumni Relations for MUSA. My experiences have inspired me to uphold the high standards set by the current board members and build a sense of community with our graduated class of students representing UCI. I look forward to the possibility of working with you all, and thank you for considering me!!

Vice President of Technology (1)

Tiffany Chien
​Hello Everyone! 
My name is Tiffany Chien, and I am a first-year business administration major minoring in digital information systems. I am beyond excited to announce my candidacy for the role of VP of Technology for MUSA! 
As your VP of Technology, I aim to reinvent this role and efficiently utilize technology to play a more significant part in enhancing the experience of the Merage community – socially, academically, and professionally. 
With my background experience in website design and maintenance as a business development intern at a stealth startup, I will work continuously to update the MUSA website with the latest and upcoming Merage events and career resources for us. If elected, I plan to make the MUSA website a one-stop shop for current Merage news. So much information is scattered on different platforms. As college students, our time is valuable. Therefore, I will devote my time to aggregating this data so you can comfortably access resources and information from one singular source. 
My early on-campus involvement as a MUSA Freshman Representative also taught me how valuable our tight-knit community is. With that, I want to capture our memories - from creating a digital yearbook for all graduating seniors to a yearly recap newsletter focused on our community’s favorite moments for all undergraduate Merage students! 
I am dedicated to your success and would be honored to serve as your VP of Technology. Together we can strengthen the Merage community for years to come. 
Thank you!
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