Head Delegates are student leaders who are responsible for informing their institution’s delegates about NDSA and upcoming meetings, submitting a roster of all voting and non-voting delegates prior to each meeting, informing their student body about NDSA, and serving as a contact point for NDSA on their campus.
To do this, they work directly with the NDSA’s Executive Team. Policies on selecting Head Delegates differ based on the institution, but it is required that a policy be in place to do so. If you’re interested in joining or learning more about NDSA, contact your institution’s Head Delegate with the information listed below.
BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE 
El Jay Dugenio
El Jay Dugenio is a sophomore at Bismarck State College and serves as its Head Delegate for NDSA. El Jay is pursuing a degree in Political Science with a focus on International Relations and Economics. He is actively involved on campus through Student Government, having served as a senator during his freshman year and as Vice President during his sophomore year.
El Jay wants to build on his previous experience as a Senator to advocate for students at the state level. He looks forward to hearing from students across North Dakota, learning about the issues that matter to them, and helping ensure their perspectives are represented in state-level conversations. As a Filipino American, he values cultural exchange and enjoys learning about different cultures and perspectives, which has shaped his appreciation for listening to and learning from others. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, learning guitar, binge-watching shows, and participating in theatre.
Email: eljay.dugenio@bismarckstate.edu
DAKOTA COLLEGE AT BOTTINEAU 
Laura Halvorson
Email: laura.halvorson@dakotacollege.edu
DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY 
James Seekins
James Seekins serves as the NDSA Head Delegate and Student Senate Vice President representing Dickinson State University. James is currently an Accounting major at DSU and actively leads across campus, serving as Vice President of Blue Hawk Catholic while remaining involved in the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). His passion for student representation and campus involvement drives his commitment to advocating for DSU students within the NDSA.
Outside of his academic and student government leadership roles, James is an avid runner, lifter, and hiker. He is currently training for his first marathon.
Email: james.seekins@dickinsonstate.edu
LAKE REGION STATE COLLEGE 
Scott Dunbar
Email: scott.dunbar@lrsc.edu
MAYVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY 
Sophia Hanson
Sophia Hanson is a student at Mayville State University, where she serves as a student body president. She is pursuing a degree in business administration and has been actively involved on campus throughout her time at Mayville State. Her involvement in Student Senate and other campus activities has allowed her to develop a strong interest in leadership, advocacy, and creating a positive experience for fellow students. These experiences ultimately led her to take on the role of Student Body President, where she enjoys representing the student body and helping strengthen the connection between students and the university.
Outside of school and student leadership, Sophia enjoys spending time with her horses and has a longtime passion for barrel racing. She also works on a grain farm and enjoys staying involved in agriculture. Through her experiences both on and off campus, Sophia has developed a strong appreciation for hard work, community, and leadership, and she looks forward to continuing to represent Mayville State and its students.
Email: sophia.l.hanson@mayvillestate.edu
MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY 
Kaden Wass
Kaden Wass is the head delegate for Minot State University (MiSU) and currently serves his student government as the Vice President of State Affairs. He previously served NDSA as the Head Delegate for Lake Region State College during the 2024-2025 academic year, where got hooked on the organization. He continued his involvement in Student Government and NDSA after transferring to Minot State to pursue a BSEd in English Education. He’s currently in his junior year and is looking forward to taking on a leadership role within Minot State’s student government. On campus, Kaden is involved in English Club, Student Engagement Club, and is employed as a Resident Assistant in one of the dorm halls.
Kaden enjoys creating connections and promoting safe, inclusive environments. He followed his commitment to inclusivity by serving as the NDSA Director of Diversity and Inclusion for both the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. In his free time, Kaden enjoys playing video games, tabletop games, and attending campus events.
Email: kaden.wass@minotstateu.edu
NORTH DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE 
Jenilynn Hanson
Jenilynn Hanson represents the North Dakota State College of Science as Head Delegate and serves as the 2026-2027 Student Senate Vice President at NDSCS. She first became interested in student government when NDSCS’s previous head delegate encouraged her to join. This year, in her new position, she hopes to build on previous experiences as a senator and work towards networking with other campuses. On campus, Jeni is active in the performing arts, including choir, band, and jazz band. She is also employed as an apartment manager for the college’s residential life department.
Jeni comes from a family farm and ranch operation in McGregor, North Dakota. As a student, she is part of NDSCS’s agriculture department, majoring in Precision Agronomy. She plans to earn her associate degree this coming spring before transferring to North Dakota State University to continue her education. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, listening to and making music, driving around to look at crop fields, and watching movies.
Email: jenilynn.hanson@ndscs.edu
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY 
Connor Greni
Connor Greni is the Head Delegate for North Dakota State University and currently serves his student government as Commissioner of External Affairs. He is a sophomore studying cybersecurity with interests in cloud security. His motivation for student advocacy comes from a desire to ensure every student has a voice in shaping and improving their educational experience. On campus, he is a part of the fraternity Alpha Tau Omega, where he serves as the Scholarship Chair.
Connor enjoys meeting new people and building connections whenever he can. He looks forward to representing NDSA, including engaging with students across the state and strengthening student advocacy and collaboration. In his free time, you can find him golfing, at the gym, or watching a Bison football game. He is also a lifelong Minnesota sports fan and loves talking about any sport he can.
Email: connor.greni@ndsu.edu
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA 
Mason Brew
Mason Brew is a second-year Biology, Pre-Dental student at the University of North Dakota and serves as the institution’s next Head Delegate. Originally from Mandan, North Dakota, he has been a lifelong supporter of UND hockey and is committed to serving his university. His goal this year is to represent UND and its ideas to the other institutions throughout the state.
Mason is actively involved in campus life as a student ambassador, a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, and a dedicated student leader. He first became involved in student government during his first year at UND. Outside of his academic and leadership responsibilities, Mason enjoys spending time outdoors. His interests include hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities, which he often enjoys with family and friends. On campus, he values maintaining an active lifestyle by utilizing the Wellness Center. During the winter months, he can frequently be found at the outdoor hockey rinks.
Email: mason.brew@und.edu
VALLEY CITY STATE UNIVERSITY 
Brett Puliafico
Brett is a sophomore attending Valley City State University. He likes to play volleyball at the wellness center in his free time and fishing with his friends. Brett is currently majoring in Human Services with a concentration in Criminal Justice, along with 3 minors in Psychology, Sociology, and Human Resources. He mainly got into this position because of the government and leadership roles that come with it. Brett enjoys having conversations about the government and law enforcement, as his dream job is to be a North Dakota State Highway Patrol Officer.
Email: brett.puliafico@vcsu.edu
WILLISTON STATE COLLEGE 
Christopher Desario
Email: christopher.desario@willistonstate.edu