On March 28, RIT Student Government (SG) announced that Rafael Gilboa and Ana Paolini Carrano would be its president and vice president for the 2025-26 academic year. Reporter sat down with the duo to learn more about the people behind the titles and their vision for the upcoming school year.
Why Did They Run?
Gilboa, a third-year software engineering major from Pittsburgh, had not originally considered getting involved in SG. Instead, he found community in Greek Life, intramural sports and the Student Alumni Alliance. However, his perspective on SG shifted when he realized that it aligned with his desire to make a positive impact on campus.
“I kept thinking it’s a shame that we don’t have an organization that can pool all of our resources and all of our most dedicated and committed people that want to make change … And then I realized I was describing Student Government to myself,” Gilboa noted.
For Paolini Carrano, a second-year biochemistry major originally from Venezuela, running for SG was a more natural next step in her college experience. Her decision to run stemmed from her involvement with the College of Science Student Activities Board (COSSAB), the liaison between students and her college’s administration. Through COSSAB, Paolini Carrano discovered her interest in student advocacy, eventually running for and winning the College of Science senator position — a role she has held for the 2024-25 academic year.
As different as their roads to SG were, both ran for office to create a productive and welcoming environment for the student body. Gilboa recalled a moment last fall when a personal experience inspired him to pitch a ridesharing idea to the Facilities, Parking, Transportation, and Sustainability committee, one of six internal committees managed by SG.
“At that first committee [meeting], I saw a lot of people who had a lot of enthusiasm … and [at the same time] looked a little disheartened,” Gilboa stated. “It was hard for me to see that … There should be people who are, even if they know they’re not going to succeed, always going to be willing to fight for [their beliefs] … In the back of my mind, I was like, there’s a lot of cool stuff that we could do if we can push for it.”
Although the pair are no longer pursuing the ridesharing idea, the spirit of the pitch — creating a more cohesive community on campus — is still central to their agenda. Paolini Carrano hopes to see people both within and outside of SG actively participating in ideation.
“For the first couple of months, [we want to] get people that aren’t in Student Government involved with Student Government,” Paolini Carrano stated.
How Do They Plan To Lead?
When asked about her leadership style, Paolini Carrano described herself as soft-spoken, regarding the mantle of leadership as an opportunity for service.
“[Leadership is] something that you do for others. The whole point of student leaders is for them to provide a service that other students want to see,” she stated.
For Gilboa, leadership can foster inclusivity, breaking down clique-like structures that discourage others from participating. As a strong orator, he hopes to use his voice to enhance SG’s transparency and communication efforts.
In many ways, the pair’s distinct approaches to leadership are complementary. While Gilboa thrives on shaping a broader strategic vision, Paolini Carrano finds purpose in the finer details — the bylaws and procedures that ensure Gilboa’s vision is implemented.
Moving forward, the duo is looking to implement weekly announcements that communicate SG’s work behind the scenes. In acknowledging the perception that SG’s mandate is limited, Gilboa explained that SG must better communicate its responsibilities and support students.
“It is Student Government’s responsibility to make it clear to people what they can and can’t do,” Gilboa noted. “For the people that think Student Government is inaccessible and limited in scope, those people are right. For the people that think Student Government is accessible — for the people willing to not let that hold them back — Student Government [is interested in] making an environment where people feel comfortable walking in and sharing their ideas.”
As Gilboa and Paolini Carrano prepare to take office this fall, many are eager to see whether they can bring their vision of a more engaged and collaborative student body to life.
