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Leadership Team
The Stanford Political Union is led by an executive team, with sub-committees overseeing events, operations, and outreach. Elections for president, vice-president, and directors are held yearly. Applications to the executive team re-open in Fall 2025.
Our Team
YuQing Jiang '25
President
YuQing is a philosophy and religious studies major from Napier, New Zealand. Besides SPU, he helps organize Democracy Day and leads the international student mentoring program. Every Friday, you can find YuQing in line at Panda Express, waiting to get his favorite Chinese dishes.
YuQing is a philosophy and religious studies major from Napier, New Zealand. Besides SPU, he helps organize Democracy Day and leads the international student mentoring program. Every Friday, you can find YuQing in line at Panda Express, waiting to get his favorite Chinese dishes.
Leila Yokoyama '27
Director, Events
Leila is a B.A. Candidate in both History and Music. She joined SPU in her freshman year because of its mission resonated with her — engaging diverse voices from people of all backgrounds and promoting meaningful conversations about civic and political topics. A native of Berkeley CA, Leila sports the unpopular opinion that the Stanford-Cal rivalry is ridiculous but hopes her peers will respect her viewpoint in the strong spirit of SPU's values.
Leila is a B.A. Candidate in both History and Music. She joined SPU in her freshman year because of its mission resonated with her — engaging diverse voices from people of all backgrounds and promoting meaningful conversations about civic and political topics. A native of Berkeley CA, Leila sports the unpopular opinion that the Stanford-Cal rivalry is ridiculous but hopes her peers will respect her viewpoint in the strong spirit of SPU's values.
Ziyad Broker '27
Vice President
Ziyad is a sophomore studying Political Science (Political Economy track). Born in the UK with British family roots, he grew up in Hong Kong and Singapore and is passionate about the intersection between government policy, geopolitics, and financial markets. Outside of his role as Vice President of the Stanford Political Union, Ziyad is a loyal Manchester United fan, a McLaren F1 supporter and a cricket enthusiast.
Ziyad is a sophomore studying Political Science (Political Economy track). Born in the UK with British family roots, he grew up in Hong Kong and Singapore and is passionate about the intersection between government policy, geopolitics, and financial markets. Outside of his role as Vice President of the Stanford Political Union, Ziyad is a loyal Manchester United fan, a McLaren F1 supporter and a cricket enthusiast.
Vish Karthikeyan '27
Director, Outreach
Vish is a Computer Science major and Political Science minor from Tamil Nadu, India. He is interested in political philosophy and the political anthropology of developing economies. When not running around doing all things Stanford, Vish loves to read, debate, watch movies, and Zipcar to random places in the Bay.
Vish is a Computer Science major and Political Science minor from Tamil Nadu, India. He is interested in political philosophy and the political anthropology of developing economies. When not running around doing all things Stanford, Vish loves to read, debate, watch movies, and Zipcar to random places in the Bay.
Kaleb Houle-Lawrence ‘27
Director, Operations
Kaleb is a public policy major from New Hampshire. Outside of SPU, he is entrenched in language learning and language access advocacy. He can often be found endlessly shuffling Chappel Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, or downing another Row with Oat Milk from On Call.
Kaleb is a public policy major from New Hampshire. Outside of SPU, he is entrenched in language learning and language access advocacy. He can often be found endlessly shuffling Chappel Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, or downing another Row with Oat Milk from On Call.
Nathan Kuczmarski '26
Outreach
Nathan is a public policy major from Cleveland, Ohio. In the world beyond SPU (is there such a world?) he is a newly minted podcast co-host, video journalist, and self-proclaimed whimsy enthusiast. You can find him challenging commonly held beliefs, analyzing life until 4:30 a.m., and dancing to no music.
Nathan is a public policy major from Cleveland, Ohio. In the world beyond SPU (is there such a world?) he is a newly minted podcast co-host, video journalist, and self-proclaimed whimsy enthusiast. You can find him challenging commonly held beliefs, analyzing life until 4:30 a.m., and dancing to no music.
Mandarava Jamyangling-Kawaguchi ‘27
Outreach
Mandarava is a Political Science and English double major hailing from Boulder, Colorado. She is an activist, author, overthinker, and fandom enjoyer. Outside of SPU, you might find her singing French pop songs or writing poems about her newest interest.
Mandarava is a Political Science and English double major hailing from Boulder, Colorado. She is an activist, author, overthinker, and fandom enjoyer. Outside of SPU, you might find her singing French pop songs or writing poems about her newest interest.
Amira Hutcherson '28
Operations
Amira is a political science major from Redding, California. Outside of SPU, she is a member of the First-Generation, Low-Income Partnership (FLIP) and a researcher for Stanford’s Democracy Hub and ePluribus. During her rare moments of free time you will find her shopping for antiques or frolicking and exploring off campus.
Amira is a political science major from Redding, California. Outside of SPU, she is a member of the First-Generation, Low-Income Partnership (FLIP) and a researcher for Stanford’s Democracy Hub and ePluribus. During her rare moments of free time you will find her shopping for antiques or frolicking and exploring off campus.
Angel Ochoa '26
Operations
Angel Ochoa '26 is a biomedical computation major from Rohnert Park, California. Outside of SPU, he is a cardiovascular researcher and attempted music enthusiast. He can be found working in the School of Medicine at the Engreitz Lab, or doing more "vigorous and laborious" work at the Tech Desk.
Angel Ochoa '26 is a biomedical computation major from Rohnert Park, California. Outside of SPU, he is a cardiovascular researcher and attempted music enthusiast. He can be found working in the School of Medicine at the Engreitz Lab, or doing more "vigorous and laborious" work at the Tech Desk.
Kenny Cepeda Ramos '26
Operations
Kenny Cepeda Ramos, a junior from New York majoring in Biomedical Computation, is an active member of the Operations Committee. He thrives on engaging with diverse perspectives and believes that open discourse can help bridge most differences in opinion. Kenny is passionate about fostering conversations that promote growth and mutual understanding.
Kenny Cepeda Ramos, a junior from New York majoring in Biomedical Computation, is an active member of the Operations Committee. He thrives on engaging with diverse perspectives and believes that open discourse can help bridge most differences in opinion. Kenny is passionate about fostering conversations that promote growth and mutual understanding.
Lauren Tapper ‘27
Events
Lauren is a political science major from Chicago with an interest in polarization and campaign strategy. Outside of SPU, she researches voter behavior and is the Communications Chair of Stanford Women in Politics. You can find her hiking the dish, working in Tresidder, or drinking an iced coffee.
Lauren is a political science major from Chicago with an interest in polarization and campaign strategy. Outside of SPU, she researches voter behavior and is the Communications Chair of Stanford Women in Politics. You can find her hiking the dish, working in Tresidder, or drinking an iced coffee.
Colin Weis '28
Events
Colin is a freshman from Sacramento, California interested in political science and literary arts. Outside of SPU, Colin is an opinions columnist for the Stanford Daily and is involved in public service organizations, such as Stanford in Government and Cardinal Policy Group. In his free time, Colin enjoys creative writing and catching up on the latest films.
Colin is a freshman from Sacramento, California interested in political science and literary arts. Outside of SPU, Colin is an opinions columnist for the Stanford Daily and is involved in public service organizations, such as Stanford in Government and Cardinal Policy Group. In his free time, Colin enjoys creative writing and catching up on the latest films.
Leiden Brueschke ‘28
Events
Leiden is a Classics and Economics double major who grew up in Hong Kong and England as the son of American expats. Outside of SPU, Leiden can regularly be found at the Steuber Rugby Stadium, where he is the starting scrum-half for the men's rugby team. If you ever need to find Leiden, just listen out for the guy singing (badly) in the shower.
Leiden is a Classics and Economics double major who grew up in Hong Kong and England as the son of American expats. Outside of SPU, Leiden can regularly be found at the Steuber Rugby Stadium, where he is the starting scrum-half for the men's rugby team. If you ever need to find Leiden, just listen out for the guy singing (badly) in the shower.
Eli Toney '26
Events
Eli is a History major from right outside Kansas City, Kansas. When he's not doing SPU, you can find him diving into legal histories of Reconstruction, singing his heart out to classic rock, or memorizing old inaugural addresses. On Sundays, he enjoys watching his Kansas City Chiefs continue to dominate the NFL.
Eli is a History major from right outside Kansas City, Kansas. When he's not doing SPU, you can find him diving into legal histories of Reconstruction, singing his heart out to classic rock, or memorizing old inaugural addresses. On Sundays, he enjoys watching his Kansas City Chiefs continue to dominate the NFL.
Faculty Advisors
Norman W. Spaulding
Faculty Advisor
Professor Norman Spaulding co-founded the ePluribus Project at Stanford Law School and is the Faculty Co-Director of the newly-launched ePluribus Stanford initiative.
A nationally recognized scholar in the areas of professional responsibility, civil procedure, and federal courts, Norman W. Spaulding’s research concentrates on the history of the American legal profession and theories of adjudication. In 2014, he received the John Bingham Hurlbut Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2010 he served as the Covington & Burling Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. And in 2004 the Association of American Law Schools presented him with its Outstanding Scholarly Paper Prize for “Constitution as Counter-Monument: Federalism, Reconstruction and the Problem of Collective Memory,” published in the Columbia Law Review.
He is a member of the American Law Institute and the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Before joining the Stanford Law School faculty in 2005, he was a professor of law at the UC Berkeley School of Law and an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where he did environmental litigation. Professor Spaulding, JD ’97, served as a law clerk to Judge Betty B. Fletcher (BA ’43) of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Judge Thelton Henderson of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Professor Norman Spaulding co-founded the ePluribus Project at Stanford Law School and is the Faculty Co-Director of the newly-launched ePluribus Stanford initiative.
A nationally recognized scholar in the areas of professional responsibility, civil procedure, and federal courts, Norman W. Spaulding’s research concentrates on the history of the American legal profession and theories of adjudication. In 2014, he received the John Bingham Hurlbut Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2010 he served as the Covington & Burling Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. And in 2004 the Association of American Law Schools presented him with its Outstanding Scholarly Paper Prize for “Constitution as Counter-Monument: Federalism, Reconstruction and the Problem of Collective Memory,” published in the Columbia Law Review.
He is a member of the American Law Institute and the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Before joining the Stanford Law School faculty in 2005, he was a professor of law at the UC Berkeley School of Law and an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where he did environmental litigation. Professor Spaulding, JD ’97, served as a law clerk to Judge Betty B. Fletcher (BA ’43) of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Judge Thelton Henderson of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Karina Kloos
Faculty Advisor
Karina Kloos is the Executive Director for the Democracy Hub and the newly launched ePluribus Stanford initiative.
Karina has also co-led the design and implementation of other emergent programs at Stanford, including the signature faculty fellowship, postdoctoral fellowship, PhD fellowship and Scholars in Service programs with Stanford Impact Labs, and the RAISE (Research, Action and Impact through Strategic Engagement) Doctoral Fellowship with the Vice Provost of Graduate Education.
She has professional experience in the domestic nonprofit, international development, and philanthropy sectors, and has published in both academic and media outlets on land rights; women’s rights; indigenous rights; sustainability; nonprofit evaluation; social movements; and democracy, including co-authorship with Doug McAdam of the 2014 book Deeply Divided: Racial Politics and Social Movements in Postwar America.
Having spent more than a decade at Stanford – the place where she met her husband and has brought two wee ones into the world – Karina is invested in the vibrancy and health of our community, as well as leveraging the immense talent and resources we have to engage and contribute positively beyond the university. She received her PhD in Sociology from Stanford in 2014.
Karina Kloos is the Executive Director for the Democracy Hub and the newly launched ePluribus Stanford initiative.
Karina has also co-led the design and implementation of other emergent programs at Stanford, including the signature faculty fellowship, postdoctoral fellowship, PhD fellowship and Scholars in Service programs with Stanford Impact Labs, and the RAISE (Research, Action and Impact through Strategic Engagement) Doctoral Fellowship with the Vice Provost of Graduate Education.
She has professional experience in the domestic nonprofit, international development, and philanthropy sectors, and has published in both academic and media outlets on land rights; women’s rights; indigenous rights; sustainability; nonprofit evaluation; social movements; and democracy, including co-authorship with Doug McAdam of the 2014 book Deeply Divided: Racial Politics and Social Movements in Postwar America.
Having spent more than a decade at Stanford – the place where she met her husband and has brought two wee ones into the world – Karina is invested in the vibrancy and health of our community, as well as leveraging the immense talent and resources we have to engage and contribute positively beyond the university. She received her PhD in Sociology from Stanford in 2014.
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