USA Announces 2020-21 SGA Officers

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Posted on June 2, 2020

Joy Washington

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The results are in and the Student Government Association at the University of South Alabama has announced its newly elected leadership for 2020-2021.

Tia Nickens, a junior secondary education major, was elected SGA president. Brantley “Brant” A. Cook, a junior majoring in criminal justice and political science, was elected vice president, and Jacob Green, a senior secondary education and biology major, will be treasurer.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, students voted via their JagMail email accounts. Before the vote, the candidates participated in a virtual candidates forum via Zoom. The votes were announced during a Zoom meeting.

“COVID-19 has truly changed the processes conducted by our SGA, but it hasn't changed our passion and desire to help our constituents,” Nickens explained. “We are in the midst of our summer term and are very hopeful that it will be full of great ideas and accomplishments. Even though we are away from our beautiful campus, we know that we have a job to do. We are working together to make sure that our students at South feel welcome and heard throughout this global pandemic.”

Nickens is excited about serving the student body at South Alabama.

“It means the world to be able to represent our great student body.  I plan to help strengthen our South community by pushing for the betterment of the South experience,” Nickens said. “I am beyond excited to meet with my fellow students and help find what truly can make us better as a whole. There are many opportunities that South has to offer its students. I'm more than excited to help bring these to light during my term of student body president. Even though this position comes with a great amount of responsibility, I plan to fully enjoy every part of this journey.”

Nickens, a graduate of Rantoul Township High School is very active in student life at South and was selected to USA’s Honors College. She is a member of Chi Omega, Mortar Board, Residential Hall Association, SGA, and she’s a Jagpal peer mentor. She is also a Freshman Leadership Scholar and Dean’s List student. She is the daughter of Twanna and Timothy Nickens.

SGA Vice President Brantley “Brant” A. Cook, 21, of Semmes, Ala., is a graduate of Mary G. Montgomery High School. He is a junior majoring in criminal justice and political science. Cook is an Honors College student and a member of the Freshman Leadership Scholarship program and the Criminal Justice Association. He is the recipient of the Keith Ammons Student Leadership Scholarship Award, The Sally Steadman Azalea Chapter of Mortar Board’s Junior Scholarship recipient and other awards. He is the son of Leona O. Lawshe and Alan D. Cook.

SGA Treasurer Jacob Green, 21, of Hayden, Ala., is a graduate of Hayden High School. Green is a senior secondary education and biology major in the Honors College. Green is a member of the Honors College Association and Camp Kesem. He is an Honors Excellence Award recipient. He is the son of Amy Olvey and David Green.

Other students elected to SGA positions include:

Allera Padgett, 20, of Gautier, Miss., a graduate of Gautier High School, will serve as attorney general. Padgett is a junior majoring in criminal justice. She is the president and member of Women of Excellence and Jaguar Productions. Padgett is the recipient of the Women of Excellence Outstanding Board Member Award. She is the daughter of Reginald Padgett and Troylynn Harvey.

Sarah Hemelt, 19, of Slidell, La., will serve as chief justice. Hemelt is a sophomore biomedical sciences major. She is a member and treasurer of Phi Mu Sorority, Alpha Epsilon Delta, a Mortar Board Honor Society inductee and a Southerner. She is also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Hemelt is a Jagpal peer mentor for freshman leadership scholars. She is the daughter of Terry and Melissa Hemelt.

Cana Brown, 20, of Helena, Ala., a graduate of Helena High School, will serve as student-at-large. Brown is a junior majoring in biomedical sciences. She is a member of Chi Omega, Phi Sigma Iota and the Order of Omega Honor Societies. She is a Whiddon Honors Scholar and Freshman Leadership Scholar. She is the daughter of Bo and Stephanie Brown.

The USA SGA officers protect and advance students’ interests as well as promote the welfare of the student body. The organization operates as a constitutional democracy and is comprised of executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

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