HUA Forms Executive Cabinet to Serve ‘At the Discretion’ of Co-Presidents

Harvard Undergraduate Association Co-Presidents Jonathan Haileselassie ’26 and Ashley C. Adirika ’26 announced the formation of an executive cabinet, a new administrative entity that will report directly to the co-presidents.

Though some roles created by Haileselassie and Adirika have already existed within the HUA, there is no mention of an executive cabinet in the HUA’s constitution and its formation effectively constitutes a centralization of power by the co-presidents.

“The Executive Cabinet Members serve at the discretion of the current Student Body Co-Presidents with respect to specific duties and terms of office and may be removed from office by the Student Body Co-Presidents at any time,” according to a document published by the HUA.

The new cabinet includes a chief of staff, executive secretary, internal events manager, public relations manager, director of technology solutions, director of service, and director of advocacy.

Adirika said in an interview that she and Haileselassie formalized an executive cabinet to include members that will support their platform to build “A United Harvard.”

“Some of the goals that we have are just different than some of the goals that existed last year,” Adirika said, citing the roles of director of community service and director of advocacy as aligning better with their current vision for the body.

The individuals selected to serve on the cabinet will work with the HUA co-presidents and nine other HUA executive officers, fulfilling responsibilities such as managing the HUA’s “public image and communication strategies” and coordinating town halls and forums “to gather student input and raise awareness on key issues,” according to a document delineating the responsibilities of each position.

Former Academic Officer Peter E. Chon ’26 said that while some similar roles — including the position of executive speechwriter — existed under previous administrations, the decision to create a cabinet was a major change within the organization.

“If we call this an expansion of the executive cabinets, it is a very big expansion — to the point that it’s fair to call it something new,” Chon said.

Cabinet members will also be required to work a set number of hours weekly as established by the co-presidents and the chief of staff, though the document did not specify the exact time requirement. The HUA co-presidents also hold unilateral authority to remove cabinet members from their positions at any time, according to the document.

“They’re centralizing a lot of their power,” Chon said. “They’re formalizing it with a lot of bureaucratic nonsense.”

Students of all class years are eligible to apply to cabinet positions, according to the application for cabinet positions linked on the HUA’s website.

The application asks applicants to rank up to three cabinet positions in addition to listing their availability for the fall semester. All applicants will be interviewed by the HUA co-presidents, who retain full authority over the hiring process.

Adirika said the expansion of the HUA’s cabinet adds necessary headcount for the current administration to follow through on its campaign promises.

“We need more manpower to get those things done,” she added.

—Staff writer Cam N. Srivastava can be reached at cam.srivastava@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @camsrivastava.

—Staff writer Adithya V. Madduri can be reached at adithya.madduri@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @adithyavmadduri.