Ben Coulson has been elected president of the Montclair State University Student Government Association (SGA) for the 2026-2027 academic year. He will succeed the 2025-2026 president, Leila Jones.
Coulson secured the victory with 751 votes out of undergraduate voters. Quentin Ocampo came in second place with 382 votes. 39 abstained from voting and 16 voted no confidence.
Coulson shared his reaction to being elected president for the upcoming year.
“I have no words,” Coulson said after securing his victory in the election. “I’m kind of in shock right now. I did not expect this to be the outcome whatsoever.”
MONTCLAIR, NJ 04/01/2026 BEN SGA: Ben Coulson reacts to winning the SGA President position for the 2026-2027 academic year as friends sit besides him. Emily Ramirez | The Montclarion
Alongside the SGA president election, students elected their peers for other positions on the SGA executive board. Those results are as follows:
- Lea Spasic elected as Executive Treasurer
- Miriam Awwad elected as Board of Trustees Student Representative
MONTCLAIR, NJ 04/01/2026 LEA AND BEN SGA: Lea Spasic reacts to winning the SGA Treasure position for the 2026-2027 academic year as Ben Coulson sits besides her. Emily Ramirez | The Montclarion
Coulson, the current Chief Justice of the SGA, ran a campaign which made heavy use of media, also creating flyers, campaign videos and QR code cards encouraging students to vote.
“I think this is such a long process, and that’s why I’m so overwhelmed and excited and all the other adjectives you could use,” Coulson said. “I’m in shock, but I think I would not be here in any degree without the people that voted for me and took the minute to log into Engage and pick a candidate after reading through the options they had, and they chose me. So I’m so, so thankful.”
Coulson shared about his relationship and plans for working with the current SGA president, Leila Jones, after securing the win.
“I met Leila [Jones] when we were both petitioning last year, and it was so interesting because it was great just being able to have those conversations before she assumed the presidency,” Coulson said. “And that’s when I realized, wow, she really knows what she’s doing… So it’s been nothing but special. I look forward to working with her during this transition.”
