At the beginning of each six-month legislative session, Congress selects its own leaders from among its membership. Legislative sessions begin on the first Monday of April and the first Monday of October of each year, following that semester's campus-wide IUSG election.
2025-2026 Congressional Leadership
Speaker of the Student Body Congress
The Honorable Leo W. Cavinder
The Speaker of the Student Body Congress is the chief of the legislative branch. Wielding the gavel, the Speaker presides over meetings of Congress and is responsible for ensuring that meetings are conducted fairly, respectfully, and in accordance with Congress's internal rules. The Speaker serves as chairperson of the Steering Committee, which sets Congressional meeting agendas and handles membership-related matters. The Speaker is elected by Congress by majority vote as the first order of business at the commencement of each six-month legislative session. Any Representative is eligible to serve as Speaker.
Learn More About Speaker CavinderContact Speaker Cavinder
Officers
In addition to the Speaker, Congress elects three other officers at the first meeting of each six-month legislative session. Any Representative is eligible to serve in any of these positions.
Eric Cannon
Recorder of Congress
The Recorder is responsible for managing Congressional documentation and records. The Recorder types up the agenda and minutes of each Congressional meeting and distributes them to Representatives. The Recorder oversees the Records of Congress through a publicly accessible repository of bills, vote records, agendas, minutes, membership rosters, Congressional rules, and more.
Fatime Djour
Press Secretary of Congress
Fatime is a sophomore studying Biochemistry on the Pre-Medical track. She is from Westfield, IN, and is in her third term of Congress. This is her second session serving as the Congressional Press Secretary.
The Press Secretary is responsible for Congress's public-facing communications and the Congressional pages here on the IUSG website. The Press Secretary works with the executive-branch Office of Communications and Engagement to co-manage IUSG's social media presence.
Caden Walden
Parliamentarian of Congress
The Parliamentarian is Representatives' impartial resource on matters of Congressional procedure. The Parliamentarian is responsible for having a strong understanding of Congress's internal rules and advising Members on how to achieve their desired procedural outcomes. Whenever there is disagreement or dispute among Members on what the proper procedure is in a given situation, the Parliamentarian advises the Speaker on the fair and consistent application of the rules.
Standing Committee Chairs
Each of Congress's five standing committees consists of a number of Representatives assigned by the Speaker. The Speaker appoints one committee member to serve as the committee chairperson. The chair is responsible for presiding over the committee and setting the committee's meeting schedules and agendas.
Meet the current standing committee chairs below!
Louis Gallegos
Chair of Committee on Equity & Justice
Louison Savarese
Chair of Committee on Oversight & Finance
Noah Thompson
Chair of Committee on Student Life
Anvi Bhagavatula
Chair of Committee on Student Rights & Concerns
