2020-21 EXECUTIVE BOARD

​Our Executive Board is elected according to procedures set forth in our Constitution. For more on those procedures, as well as a description of the duties of each of these positions, refer to our Constitution.​

Sarah desouza
President
she/her/hers

Sarah is a junior in Columbia College studying Political Science and History. She previously organized locally for March for Our Lives and was a CU Dems Lead Activist for the 2019-20 year. She is a senior editor for the Columbia Political Review and the Unplug Collective and a community organizing intern for New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. When she isn't in a meeting, she can be found annoying her friends with incessant quotes from New Girl, spending way too much time writing lists in her bullet journal, and reminding people that she is from Brooklyn.

Jillian harrison
vice president
she/her/hers

Jillian is a junior in Columbia College studying Psychology and Economics. After serving as Dems Treasurer (2019-20), she is excited to organize and work with Dems community members as VP this year! She is passionate about issues like educational equity and reproductive justice, and her favorite Democrat is her State Senator (NY-34), Alessandra Biaggi. Outside of Dems, she's a co-chair of CU Voting Week 2020, a choreographer for the Columbia Musical Theater Society, and a resident of the Bayit (Jewish food co-op). 
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Janine Palmer
​lead activist
she/her/hers

Janine is a junior in Columbia College studying Political Science and Sociology. She is from Northern Virginia. Janine is looking forward to being as active as possible in achieving progress during the 2020 election season and can’t wait to work on issues such as racial justice, voting rights, and criminal justice reform. Outside of school, she enjoys exploring museums, rewatching movies (especially Star Wars and The Sound of Music), and browsing bookstores for new books.

MarÍa Estrada
lead activist
she/her/hers

María is one of the Lead Activists for fall 2020 and the Immigration Working Group Lead! She is a senior at Columbia College from Miami, FL, double majoring in Political Science and Hispanic Studies. She is an avid Netflix user, a frequent nap-taker, a Bad Bunny enthusiast, and there's nothing she loves more than a passionate political debate! As a Cuban-Mexican, María's favorite pastime is dancing to the beat of almost any Latin rhythm, especially salsa! She can't wait to spend her last year at Columbia fueling her political passions with the lovely Dems community!

CRYSTAL FORETIA
LEAD ACTIVIST​
SHE/HER/HERS

Crystal is a sophomore in Columbia College studying Political Science and History. She grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., as the younger daughter of Cameroonian immigrants. Through CU Dems, Crystal wants to advance racial justice and educational equity. In her spare time, Crystal binge-watches Hulu originals, reads and writes poetry. Her favorite writers are Clint Smith and Zora Neale Hurston. Crystal also edits for the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review.

nikita leus-oliva
lead activist
she/her/hers

Nikita is a sophomore in Columbia College planning to major in Political Science-Statistics with a concentration in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She was born and raised in Miami, FL, where she first got involved in politics as a Fellow for Hillary Clinton in 2016. After 2016, Nikita founded the Miami-Dade Teen Democrats, a county-wide club in Miami that serves as a way for students to get involved in politics and campaigns. She enjoys watching singing videos, playing with cats, traveling, and painting with friends.

Grace Didway
media director
she/her/hers

Grace is a junior in Columbia College studying U.S. History and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. A proud alumna of Oregon's public K-12 schools, Grace cares deeply about bolstering investment in public education and elevating student voices in policymaking. She is thrilled to lead the Media team in amplifying the work of change-makers at Columbia and beyond. Outside of CU Dems, Grace is a first-year RA, a co-chair of the University Life Events Council, and an intern with Legal Momentum. 

christhian salazar
treasurer
he/him/his

Christhian is a sophomore in Columbia College planning to major in Economics with a concentration in Business Management. He is from Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was first introduced to the political scene working with the Nevada Conservation League. Christhian is extremely excited to work with CU Dems this year on issues like gun reform and immigration. Outside of class, you can find him shooting arrows with the Columbia Archery Club and helping amazing high-school kids with their college application process as a Matriculate advisor. He can't wait for the first Latin-American president to be elected! ​

olivia choi
secretary
she/her/hers

Olivia is a sophomore in Columbia College studying Political Science and Statistics. Her hometown is Washington, D.C. ​She has previously worked in immigration law and currently serves as an editor on the Columbia Political Review and the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review. Olivia is passionate about immigration, women’s rights, and anything by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

sadie klaus
membership director
she/her/hers

Sadie is a sophomore in Barnard College (Class of ‘23!) studying Political Science and Economics. She is from Gladstone, Oregon and is passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and economic justice. She’s looking forward to working with the First Year Council and making CU Dems an inclusive, educational, and activist-driven space in the 2020-2021 school year! When Sadie isn’t in class or at a Dems meeting, you can find her protesting or exploring a park somewhere in the city.

stephen de jesus
​events coordinator
he/him/his

Stephen is a junior in Columbia College, majoring in political science and with a concentration in economics. Initially from New York City, but raised in Miami, FL, he is glad to be back and now trying to make his mark on the greater Columbia community. Through CU Dems, he plans to forge stronger relationships with other organizations on campus and work towards giving underprivileged individuals a stage with which to voice their opinions. Stephen hopes to one day get into politics as he continues to develop his love for the arts, history, and mathematics.
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to be determined
first-year representative
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Join CU Dems for a General Body or First-Year Council meeting to learn more about the position details and application process for this role. Please reach out to dems@columbia.edu for more information concerning opportunities for first-year students and new members. The selection of a First-Year Representative will take place in the Fall of 2020.