Meet the 2026-2027 SGA Presidents

As the 2026–2027 academic year begins, life sciences/osteopathic medicine (B.S./D.O.) student Yashvi Patel and electrical and computer engineering technology student Best Justus have something extra to look forward to. Each will be a voice for their respective campus student body as they have been elected to serve as Student Government Association (SGA) president.

Yashvi Patel

Since her first step on the Long Island campus, Patel has made the most out of every opportunity to get involved. After holding numerous club executive board (e-board) positions, like president, secretary, treasurer, and senator, and serving as community outreach co-chair for MedicZero and participating in Nashaa, she knows a thing or two about leading a group of students.

“I’ve been able to understand each role and responsibility,” Patel reflects on her extracurricular résumé. “All of these experiences were essential in my decision to run for SGA president.”

As the new semester gets underway, Patel looks forward to serving as a bridge between New York Tech’s administration and the student body. With her fellow SGA e-board members, she hopes “to represent students proudly and appropriately by listening to their needs, concerns, and feedback.”

To improve the overall student experience at New York Tech, Patel’s game plan as president includes inspiring more students to become involved on campus and grow both academically and personally. She also aims to make SGA more visible and transparent by keeping students informed about the organization’s goals, progress, and initiatives.

“Most importantly, I hope to help create a campus environment where students feel more connected and enthusiastic about being part of the New York Tech community,” she says.

While she plans to use SGA to help her peers thrive, Patel says her SGA responsibilities are helping her to flourish, too, as she’s honed her leadership abilities as well as time management and capacity to balance multiple projects—critical competencies for an aspiring physician. Her heavy club involvement also empowered her to appreciate the value of hearing people’s personal stories, a perspective she will carry into her future career as she treats patients of all different backgrounds.

“Becoming a physician has been a long-time goal and dream of mine,” she says. “I’m most eager to work with patients, addressing the root causes of their concerns, and helping them improve their quality of life.”

Best Justus

“The students have a lot to say, and I am ready to be their voice,” Justus says.

During his yearlong term—an excellent way to wrap up his final undergraduate year on the New York City campus—he aims to focus on student advocacy and making students feel more connected, supported, and excited to be a part of the university community. He is well-positioned for the responsibility with his extensive history in club leadership.

Justus’ previous on-campus roles include marketing chair for the National Society of Black Engineers, treasurer for the Black Student Union, vice president of the Photo Gallery Club, and co-founder and event planner for the Nutrition and Movement Club. Justus also worked for one year as a Peer Success GUIDE, where he helped first-year students transition to college life.

Only a few weeks into his presidential duties, Justus is already planning something big for the student body, and his major, combined with his minor in artificial intelligence, has given him the know-how to get it done. 

“We want to find ways to improve students’ grades, and one way to do that is by designing an app that keeps you on track and connects you with your tutors,” Justus explains. “I want to get as many students as possible involved and work with faculty to get the app up and running as soon as possible.”

His idea is still just that—an idea—but Justus has high hopes that it will come to fruition. Until then, he is following his passions for science and technology. His degree path was initially one of uncertainty, but as he participated in hands-on activities like building circuits and learning how to use high-tech computer parts, he determined that he is exactly where he is meant to be, after all.

“I truly love innovation,” he says. “SGA is teaching me that goals don’t happen overnight; just like learning, you won’t always understand a subject right away, but trusting the learning process and not being afraid to fail can really push you forward.”