Eltavious Johnson (‘26) and Joseph Pool’s (‘26) SGA “Co-Presidents” leadership journey began during their freshman year in 2022 when they attended an SGA interest meeting. Both had served as high school student government presidents, and they quickly formed a friendship.
Now, Rollins College’s SGA is entering a new chapter under the leadership of President Pool and Vice President Johnson. For next year, the two leaders chose to switch roles.
“We made a pact to run together for student government at some point during our college journey,” Johnson, incoming President and 2024-2025 Vice President, said.
During their first year, they served as Freshman Senators, with Johnson later becoming Senate Parliamentarian. In their sophomore year, Pool joined the E-Board as Academic Affairs Chair, while Johnson became President Pro-Tempore of the Senate.
“By then, we felt equipped and ready to take the reins and deliver on that freshman year pact,” Johnson said.
SGA serves as a bridge between students and administration, advocating for policies that enhance academic experiences, campus life, and student resources. Beyond event planning, SGA allocates funding for student organizations, addresses campus concerns, and promotes institutional change.
“As the current Vice President, I wanted to focus on creating a Senate culture that is welcoming and engaging for all students—a space where senators feel connected to real legislation and college governance, rather than just event planning,” Johnson said. “This switch will allow us to gain a deeper understanding of both sides of student leadership and position SGA for long-term success. We’ll be Co-Presidents.”
“If I could snap my fingers and change something, it would be to expand SGA’s role in college governance. Other similar institutions allow their SGA President to serve as a Trustee, sit on Cabinet meetings, etcetera. If this magic key could unlock all the doors, then we could advocate for and improve policies at every level,” Pool, current President and future Vice-President, said.
Pool and Johnson hope to introduce policies that improve academic flexibility for students managing work, leadership, and coursework. They also advocate for clearer communication about how student fees are allocated and want to expand mental health resources, including more counselors and peer-support initiatives. Strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion policies is another priority for them.
With Pool focused on policy reform and Johnson committed to strengthening the campus community, their combined leadership reflects their shared mission of “pursuing progress and creating community.” They are determined to leave Rollins better than they found it.
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