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Newly Elected Student Government Leaders Urge Involvement

Liza Liberman, Student Government President

Liza Liberman will be the new Student Government president.

Liza Liberman, a political science junior who immigrated as a child from St. Petersburg, Russia, said she ran for Student Government president at UT Dallas because she feels connected to the University and wants to make a difference for her fellow Comets.

“I love this campus and its students,” Liberman said. “I have been very involved ever since my first semester on campus and have grown to appreciate the amazing leadership opportunities this campus offers. I love making an impact, making this school a better place.”

Liberman was elected March 29 as new Student Government president, succeeding Raj Dwivedi. Also elected was Russell “Charlie” Hannigan, who takes over from Nate Fairbank as vice president.

Liberman and Hannigan were uncontested this year for the highest offices. 

Liberman moved with her family from Russia to Houston when she was 8. She graduated from high school in Katy, where she took AP courses for college credit. 

She served on the Academic Affairs committee for Student Government during her freshman year, and this year was chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee.

Liberman is vice president of chapter development for Tri Delta sorority, and is a member of the Political Science Club and the John Marshall Pre-Law Society. She also mentors at-risk high school students with a program in the Criminology Department.

Liberman wants more students to become involved in Student Government so that their concerns and needs are represented.

Russell Hannigan. Vice President for Student Affairs

Russell "Charlie" Hannigan will serve as vice president.

“That is our job, and I think that we can make extra efforts to get student input and make the students feel like their voices and opinions matter, because they do,” Liberman said. “Through communication with the students we will be able to enhance the college experience for all students at UT Dallas.”

After graduating from UT Dallas, Liberman hopes to attend law school and specialize in immigration law.

Hannigan, a freshman math major and McDermott Scholar, said he ran for Student Government because he’d already been connected with the organization during his first year at UT Dallas, and because he wants to see the University become an even better place.

Originally from Lake Stevens, Wash., Hannigan said his agenda includes helping students better connect with their Student Government senators, constructing a flier kiosk as a central posting board for campus activities and improving school spirit by highlighting the unique culture of UT Dallas.

“We have this special personality of nerdy/international/Texan/awesome,” Hannigan said. “I want to foster the growth of that personality, not turn our school into a generic university.”

Hannigan is also a member of the Model United Nations team and hopes to serve as a Student Ambassador.

Though his ultimate career goal is undecided, Hannigan is aiming for graduate school.

Media Contact: The Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [email protected].

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