cabinet applications
USG Executives serve under the president and vice president, supporting administrative goals and advancing the mission of Undergraduate Student Government. Each Executive leads projects within their area of focus and should demonstrate a clear understanding of their leadership style, interests and strengths. Executive Cabinet positions will serve from April 26, 2026, through April 25, 2027.
Executives are expected to attend weekly Senate meetings (Tuesdays, 7-10 p.m.) and biweekly Executive Cabinet meetings, maintain consistent communication with campus partners, respond promptly and professionally, and collaborate with Senate counterparts. Time commitments may vary by position.
For questions about a specific role, contact the current Executive in that position. Emails can be found on this page.
Executive Leadership
Internal Chief of Staff
The Internal Chief of Staff supports all branches of Undergraduate Student Government (USG) through administrative oversight, with a primary focus on internal operations and Executive branch coordination in collaboration with the President and Vice President. They serve as a conduct officer for the Executive branch and leadership, track the progress of all Executive initiatives, and assist in compiling quarterly reports outlining membership, initiatives, and outcomes.
This role focuses on ensuring alignment, efficiency, and consistency across all three branches of USG, serving as a central liaison between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. The Internal Chief of Staff oversees Executive Cabinet meetings, manages internal administrative processes, and works closely with the Director of Finance to monitor and track USG financial reports.
They also support governance and continuity by assisting in the review of the USG Constitution, Bylaws, and internal policies, offering recommendations to the Internal Affairs Committee and Student Judicial Court at the start of each administration. In addition, they help facilitate smooth transitions between administrations in collaboration with the Speaker of the Senate.
The Internal Chief of Staff works with the Speaker Pro Tempore to maintain accurate historical records and archival systems, including meeting notes, legislation, and reports for future administrations. They also serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Internal Affairs Committee and assist with appointing students to University Charter Committees, helping ensure alignment with USG priorities and annual reporting to the Student Senate.
Additionally, the Internal Chief of Staff co-chairs the Strategic Planning Committee and, alongside the President, Vice President, and External Chief of Staff, may establish temporary deputy roles within the Executive Cabinet to address specific operational needs.
External Chief of Staff
The External Chief of Staff supports all branches of Undergraduate Student Government (USG) through administrative oversight, with a focus on external relations, partnerships, and communications in collaboration with the President and Vice President. They serve as a conduct officer for the Executive branch and leadership, track the progress of all Executive initiatives, and assist in compiling quarterly reports outlining membership, initiatives, and outcomes.
This role leads USG’s external engagement strategy and serves as the primary liaison between USG and external organizations, including the Association of Big Ten Students (ABTS). They coordinate with students appointed to university committees, ensuring accountability, communication, and alignment with USG priorities, including facilitating annual reporting to the Student Senate.
The External Chief of Staff provides final approval of external communications produced by the Communications Team and works in conjunction with the Vice President to develop and initiate formal public statements on behalf of USG. They also ensure that resolutions passed by the Student Senate are communicated to appropriate stakeholders.
In addition, this role chairs the Platform Committee to establish the administration’s annual goals and initiatives and collaborates with campus partners to support the implementation of USG initiatives. The External Chief of Staff advises members of both the Executive and Legislative branches who regularly engage with external partners to ensure consistent and effective representation.
The External Chief of Staff also helps maintain documentation related to external initiatives and collaborates with leadership to ensure proper archival of relevant materials. Alongside the President, Vice President, and Internal Chief of Staff, they may establish temporary deputy roles within the Executive Cabinet to address specific external needs.
Director of Finance
The Director of Finance oversees all financial operations of Undergraduate Student Government (USG), supporting all branches through the preparation, management, and oversight of financial documents and accounts. This role ensures transparency, accuracy, and accountability in all USG financial practices.
The Director of Finance maintains an up-to-date record of all USG expenditures through a centralized SharePoint document accessible to all members. They also develop and manage the annual budgeting timeline, ensuring financial processes remain organized and aligned with the fiscal year.
In collaboration with the Student Organization Business Office (SOBO), the Director of Finance maintains a comprehensive spreadsheet tracking Student Activity Fee allocations and expenditures. This includes detailed breakdowns of revenue distribution, reverted funds from student organizations, and financial reports from organizations audited by the Finance Committee. This document is made available internally via SharePoint and published on the USG website following the Director’s term.
This role is directly responsible for managing the budgets of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, working closely with leadership across each branch to ensure responsible allocation and use of funds. The Director of Finance also ensures compliance with university policies and standardized financial practices.
Additionally, the Director of Finance serves as a liaison between USG and student organizations regarding funding, working alongside the Director of Purchasing to support affiliated and general organizations. They provide oversight of the Director of Purchasing in coordination with Executive Leadership and serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Finance Committee.
Executive Cabinet
Director of Public Relations
he Director of Public Relations leads all strategic communications, media relations, and promotional efforts for Undergraduate Student Government (USG). This role is responsible for shaping USG’s public presence and ensuring consistent, effective messaging across all platforms.
The Director of Public Relations oversees USG’s relationships with local media, serving as the primary liaison for press inquiries, interviews, and advocacy-related communications. They also provide media training to USG members representing the organization in external communications, including interactions with outlets such as The Daily Iowan.
This role manages USG’s social media accounts and broader communications strategy, including mass emails, digital signage, and other campus-facing messaging channels to promote programs, initiatives, and events. They oversee the Communications Team and manage the Communications Team Request Form, with the authority to approve, modify, or decline requests based on scope, timeline, cost, and alignment with USG priorities.
In collaboration with the Director of External Relations, the Director of Public Relations coordinates publicity for USG-sponsored events and works with university departments and campus partners to support and amplify initiatives through strategic communications and marketing efforts. They also assist Senators and Executives in developing promotional campaigns.
Finally, this role works with the Director of Finance and Executive Leadership on the development and ordering of USG merchandise and promotional materials, and manages access to all official USG media accounts.
Director of Purchasing
The Director of Purchasing manages the procurement of goods, services, and equipment on behalf of Affiliated and General student organizations, ensuring all purchases align with approved funding allocations and university policies.
This role facilitates purchases only after funding applications have been properly reviewed and approved through the Finance Committee or other appropriate USG processes. The Director of Purchasing is also responsible for transferring approved funds into designated accounts for student organizations as needed.
In collaboration with the Director of Finance, the Director of Purchasing serves as a liaison between USG and student organizations regarding funding, assisting with questions, processes, and financial coordination. They maintain an up-to-date record of all expenditures and payments related to student organization funding in a centralized SharePoint document accessible to USG members.
The Director of Purchasing reports to and is overseen by the Director of Finance and Executive Leadership, and serves as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Finance Committee.
Director of Academic Affairs
The Director of Academic Affairs leads USG’s efforts to enhance the academic experience for all students at the University of Iowa. This role works to identify and address academic needs, advocating for improvements in areas such as accessibility, affordability, and student success.
The Director of Academic Affairs serves as a liaison between USG and university faculty, staff, and administration on matters related to academic policy, resources, and student support. They identify opportunities to improve areas such as tuition, scholarships, research access, communication with faculty, and career readiness.
This role oversees the USG Textbook Drive each fall and spring semester, managing both the collection and distribution processes in collaboration with Executives, Senators, and the Academic Affairs Committee. They also maintain the textbook catalog and ensure materials are recycled or redistributed appropriately over time.
In addition, the Director of Academic Affairs manages all Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests related to UI Grades data and works closely with Senators involved in the UI Grades initiative to share and utilize that data effectively.
The Director of Academic Affairs serves as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Academic Affairs Committee.
Director of External Relations
The Director of External Relations leads USG’s engagement with student organizations, campus partners, and the broader university community, serving as the primary liaison for event coordination and collaborative initiatives.
This role is responsible for planning and executing all USG-hosted and co-sponsored events, including major initiatives such as fall recruitment and spring elections. They work closely with campus offices such as Leadership & Engagement, Event Services, Catering, and other partners to ensure events are well-coordinated and successfully implemented.
The Director of External Relations assigns and manages USG members as liaisons to registered student organizations, strengthening communication and relationships across campus. They also track Executive and Senator participation in required USG events and report progress to the Chiefs of Staff and Speaker of the Senate.
Additionally, this role maintains an inventory of USG merchandise and collaborates with the Director of Public Relations to coordinate the ordering of promotional materials as needed.
Director of Governmental Relations
The Director of Governmental Relations leads USG’s advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels, representing student interests in the legislative and policy-making process.
This role actively engages in the state legislative session and serves as USG’s primary liaison to elected officials, including state legislators, the Governor’s office, the Board of Regents, Iowa’s federal delegation, and other key stakeholders. The Director of Governmental Relations advocates on behalf of students to advance policies and initiatives that impact the University of Iowa community.
The Director of Governmental Relations monitors political developments and communicates how policy decisions at all levels of government may affect USG initiatives and student life. They are also responsible for developing USG’s state and federal legislative agendas.
In collaboration with the Chiefs of Staff, this role helps plan and coordinate USG’s participation in the Big Ten on the Hill (BTOTH) Conference through the Association of Big Ten Students (ABTS).
Additionally, the Director of Governmental Relations serves as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Governmental Relations Committee.
Director of Health and Safety
The Director of Health and Safety leads USG’s efforts to promote student safety and well-being both on and off campus. This role works to identify and address safety-related concerns with a focus on student needs and experiences.
The Director of Health and Safety develops and coordinates initiatives, campaigns, and events that educate and engage the undergraduate student body on topics related to personal safety, health, and well-being.
This role collaborates with key campus partners — including University Counseling Service (UCS), Department of Public Safety (DPS), and relevant student organizations—to support and advance initiatives that improve student health and safety.
Additionally, the Director of Health and Safety serves as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Health and Safety Committee.
Director of Justice and Equity
The Director of Justice and Equity works to foster an inclusive and equitable environment within Undergraduate Student Government (USG), the broader student body, and student organizations, ensuring representation across all forms of diversity on campus.
This role serves as an advocate for undergraduate students and student organizations, promoting fair access to funding, involvement opportunities, and collaboration within USG. The Director of Justice and Equity supports initiatives and practices that advance equity and inclusion across all branches of Student Government.
The Director of Justice and Equity also plays a key role in the coordination of Constituency Senators, working in conjunction with the Student Judicial Court (SJC) to determine and maintain partnerships between Constituency Senator positions and relevant on-campus organizations. These pairings are established through a collaborative approval process with the Speaker of the Senate and the respective Constituency Senator, and are maintained across administrations unless reevaluation is deemed necessary.
Additionally, this role serves as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Justice and Equity Committee.
Director of Student Services
The Director of Student Services oversees all USG-funded student services and plays a key role in managing and expanding initiatives that directly benefit the student body, including programs such as the Airport Shuttle and OrgTip$.
This role ensures that available student services are effectively communicated to the broader campus community, working in collaboration with other Executives to promote services related to their respective areas.
The Director of Student Services is responsible for identifying gaps in campus services and developing new initiatives to address student needs. This includes monitoring HawkIdeas submissions and elevating relevant or popular proposals to the appropriate Executives and committees.
In addition, this role works closely with the President, Vice President, Director of Finance, USG advisors, and the Student Organization Business Office (SOBO) to manage contracts related to USG services and initiatives.
The Director of Student Services also serves as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Student Life Committee.
Director of Sustainability
The Director of Sustainability leads USG’s efforts to promote environmental responsibility and sustainable practices across campus. This role works closely with the Office of Sustainability and the Environment to support university-wide initiatives and collaborate on shared sustainability goals.
The Director of Sustainability develops and coordinates USG-led sustainability initiatives throughout the year, while maintaining relationships with student organizations and campus partners to support collaborative programming and impact.
This role monitors the University of Iowa’s progress toward its sustainability goals and communicates updates and insights to the Sustainability Committee. They also oversee the Green Initiatives Fund, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to support sustainability-focused projects.
Additionally, the Director of Sustainability serves as a consultant to USG on internal sustainability practices and as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Sustainability Committee.
Deputy City Liaison
The Deputy City Liaison supports USG’s engagement with local government and prepares to transition into the City Liaison role the following year, serving a one-year term in each position.
This role assists the City Liaison with day-to-day responsibilities, including coordination with city officials and support for ongoing city-related initiatives. The Deputy City Liaison helps plan and execute the annual Town Hall and contributes to the development and production of the USG Renter’s Guide.
The Deputy City Liaison also maintains relationships with Iowa City City Councilors, including coordinating individual meetings each semester to strengthen communication between student government and local leadership.
Additionally, this role serves as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Governmental Relations Committee.