By Brandi Wylie ’24

When Marga-Rita Van Der Linde ’25 was sworn in as Campus Union president for 2024-25 on April 22, she became the first woman since Claudia Albergotti Ruffin ’11 to serve in the role. The new vice president, secretary and treasurer are also women, making this the first all-female executive cabinet since the 1995-96 academic year.

It’s something that Van Der Linde takes seriously but doesn’t dwell on. She and the other women on the executive council have plans for enhancing the Wofford experience for all students.

“Wofford has done a great job at putting the students’ needs first, and I want to continue building on the foundation that the previous student body presidents have laid,” says Van Der Linde, who is joined on the cabinet by Simrin Channa ’25, vice president; Julia Brooks ’25, treasurer; and Geneva Kowbeidu ’26, secretary.

Van Der Linde, a biology and English double major from Cape Town, South Africa, hit the ground running at Wofford. An All-Southern Conference track and field student-athlete, she has been a Campus Union delegate for three years, most recently serving as chair of the Wofford Athletics and Recreation Committee.

She cites the following as priorities for this academic year:

  • Continuing to narrow the gap between the student body and Campus Union so that the assembly can continue being a direct channel between students and other members of the college community.
  • Looking at ways to restructure the general education fitness credit to make it more advantageous for all students.
  • Making the Senior Legacy Ceremony an annual event honoring all seniors during Family Weekend.

“This is a great way to build tradition with a new vision,” Van Der Linde says of the Senior Legacy Ceremony.

Tradition is important to her. Though she and the other cabinet members are forward-thinking, Van Der Linde contacted Ruffin and Ruffin’s sister, Martha Albergotti Moore ’08, also a past Campus Union president, to learn more of their stories about service.

“It was amazing to hear their experiences,” says Van Der Linde. “I asked about their presidential roles to learn more about what they did and how they addressed challenges. Mrs. Ruffin was the last female president, 14 years ago. That was also one of the reasons that I wanted to run, seeing that we have not had a female president in such a long time.”

Van Der Linde notes that it’s been an even longer time since Wofford had an all-female executive cabinet. That group from the 1995-96 academic year included Wendi Marie Nix ’96 as president and Dorothy Acee Thomas ’96, Janelle Harris Thomas ’96 and Blakely Copeland Cahoon ’96 serving in the other executive positions.

Van Der Linde says she and the other new cabinet members are eager to continue the rich legacy of student leadership — and she emphasizes that they’re in great company. “The entire assembly has a shared commitment to success and progress for students at Wofford,” Van Der Linde says. “I am honored to work alongside so many devoted people over the next year.”

In addition to the executive council, the Campus Union assembly consists of delegates representing each class and at-large delegates. Here are the delegates, with their hometowns and majors:

Executive council delegates

  • President Marga-Rita Van Der Linde ’25; Cape Town, South Africa; biology and English
  • Vice President Simrin Channa ’25; Boiling Springs, S.C.; international affairs
  • Secretary Geneva Kowbeidu ’26; Mount Pleasant, S.C.; political science and government
  • Treasurer Julia Brooks ’25; Elgin, S.C.; accounting and finance

Senior delegates

  • Dalton Perry ’25, Chapin, S.C.; government and history
  • Thomas Mills ’25, Hickory, N.C.; finance
  • Mallory Cass ’25; Dunedin, Fla; finance and government
  • Gracyn Coker ’25; Sumter, S.C.; history and English
  • Johnson Jolly ’25; Kingstree, S.C.; accounting and finance
  • Morgan Lunceford ’25; Harrah, Okla.; business economics

Junior delegates

  • Lillian Orr ’26; Aiken, S.C.; government
  • Emma Smith ’26; Irmo, S.C.; finance and accounting
  • Ethan Rouse ’26; Smyrna, Ga.; finance
  • Aubrey Stargel ’26; Lexington, S.C.; government
  • Rocco Gigliotti ’26; Winston-Salem, N.C.; biology
  • Maggie Sweet ’26; Chapin, S.C.; biology

Sophomore delegates

  • Matt Myers ’27, Rock Hill, S.C.; government and business
  • Kerrington Pinckney ’27; Dalzell, S.C.; government
  • Ollie Fegenbush ’27; Mount Sterling, Ky.; history
  • Wilson Frerichs ’27; Sumter, S.C.; government
  • Drew Billig ’27; Greenville, S.C.; biology
  • Jackson Chance ’27; Pauline, S.C.; accounting and government

At-large delegates

  • Catherine Newman ’27; North Augusta, S.C.; business economics
  • Bianca Tailor ’27; Knoxville, Tenn.; sociology and anthropology
  • Katie Kirk ’25; Greenville, S.C.; American government and politics
  • Quinton Stemler ’26; Collegeville, Pa.; accounting and finance
  • Joslyn Taylor ’27; Summerville, S.C.; sociology and anthropology
  • Mo Alserafei ’25; Athens, Ga.; finance and international affairs
  • Joseph Navarro ’25; Charlotte, N.C.; biology and sociology/anthropology
  • Michael Pedone ’27; Spartanburg, S.C.; accounting and finance

Elections for first-year delegates will occur in the fall.