Nominees for Primary Ballot

2026 CLASS TRUSTEE NOMINEES

Christopher Broyles
As I near the end of my time at Oberlin, I realize that I have only just begun to understand the fundamental impact this institution has had on me. Ironically, it is the time I have spent outside of the Oberlin bubble when I have become more acutely aware of what makes an Obie so uniquely extraordinary. I am interested in representing the Class of 2026 as a Trustee because I am passionate about the Oberlin experience and I am excited by the prospect of helping advance our institution in a rapidly changing world. I believe I am especially qualified as a conservatory student because I think that musicians are especially capable of inspiring change as a result of earnest listening and intense attunement to "inner voices" in addition to the "primary voices." Also, I feel grateful to have served in board-like capacities in various arts organizations across the country which have prepared me for taking on this responsibility. Of these experiences, I am most proud of my role in the Cardinal Chamber Orchestra, a conductorless chamber orchestra dedicated to serving the greater Oberlin community through concerts and outreach, which I founded, managed and fundraised for during Winter Term 2025. If elected, I would be dedicated and humbled to speak on behalf of my peers, ensuring that board decisions are informed by the sentiments of the entire student body and recent alumni even if it differs from my own personal views.

Lucas Daley
I've spent the past four years working to advance student interests within Oberlin College. As Head Treasurer of the Student Finance Committee (SFC), I advocated for greater flexibility in organizational activity and led a push to recover $3.5 million in student funds stuck in administrative limbo. As Hearing Coordinator of the Student Honor Committee (SHC), I managed the academic integrity system and led a triennial charter review. Beyond those roles, I lead backpacking trips for the Outings Club, play in a band (Sloth), and spent time in OSCA.

I understand the concerns of the student body, on AI, Palestine, and broader social justice issues, and I have the track record to back it up. With experience working both with and against the college administration, I know how to get results, even when the administration tries to stall progress. I would be glad to continue serving the Oberlin community as board rep and keep fighting for the issues that matter to us.

Andy Frantz
At Oberlin, I completed my major in Environmental Studies and minors in both music and creative writing. This academic breadth has allowed me to engage in both the College and Conservatory, exposing me to more of our community and a greater scope of Oberlin’s mission and values. I have also served as an Environmental Studies major representative, where I have interacted with faculty and the Program board in personnel decisions and oversight, similar to the Class Trustee role. I have also served as a student intern for two years at Oberlin EnviroAlums, the College’s largest endowed alumni organization, which has further grown my experience in financial and mission-based board strategy. Most of all, this role connected me to several alumni who have inspired me with their engagement and dedication to Oberlin’s legacy and future.

This fall, I will be beginning my graduate education in economic development and nonprofit leadership at the University of Michigan. These studies, building on the strong educational foundation that I built at Oberlin, will strengthen my understanding of fiduciary and strategic organizational principles during my tenure as Class Trustee.

Nathaniel Liu (he/him)
Since our first year, Oberlin has provided less while charging more. We pay higher tuition as we lose common spaces, off-campus housing, beloved professors, and dining options. Obies have responded to these challenges with initiative, resilience, and imagination. Record numbers are choosing student-led kitchens and finding loving communities by joining OSCA. My friends with Oberlin Athletics are wrapping up their strongest spring season in decades, while our Folk music community is fully revived post-COVID.

For my part, I have led the post-pandemic return of Rideline, and when a budget realignment threatened to kill the shuttle this year, I raised $23,000 of emergency funds to keep it on the road. As Chair of the Green EDGE Fund (GEF), I have led the only 100% student-funded board in the country that awards grants for sustainable projects to both our campus and wider community. Without GEF, Oberlin would not have achieved its carbon neutrality goal.

I have spent years navigating bureaucracies: I have already worked with Oberlin’s Trustees as a GEF leader. Since high school, I have served on the Board of Directors and executive team of an environmental nonprofit in Maine. I know how to work with people in power, speak their language, and get things done. I refuse to be sidelined.

As a trustee, I will advocate for a return to extended library hours and stand firmly behind our professors. We cannot have the “world-class” education Ambar celebrates if we do not back the people behind it. I will challenge the Board to be transparent in decision-making and tuition allocation. I will also push for an endowment that aligns with Oberlin’s values—one that includes Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) screening and full divestment from foreign wars.

Elijah Morton
In representing OSCA to the College this year during the ongoing lease negotiations, I've learned how to bring the needs of students to administrators at every level while strengthening the working relationships that make real change possible. The Class of 2026 needs a trustee who can close the gap between students and administration, who knows how to turn our needs into real institutional change, and who can empower students to shape Oberlin's future around our values.

Karthik Ranganadhan
Throughout my time at Oberlin, I have consistently learned that the College Administration makes better decisions when student voices are present in the room. A few particular experiences shaped this belief. The first was my internship in the Office of Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary, where I had the opportunity to learn and contribute to the inner workings of the College. I also got to serve as Student Representative to the Friends of the Oberlin College Libraries Council, where I was part of the sub-committee tasked with using donations to acquire materials for the library. Furthermore, as a Student-at-large on the Honor Code Charter Revision Committee, I was honored to contribute to the latest updates to the Honor Code. My time in these positions has taught me the value of student voices and how to work with the Administration to center student priorities. Additionally, thanks to my work over the years at The Oberlin Review, where I most recently served as News Editor, I learned to track and write about major policy changes within our administration and how to convey student feedback to those changes. I believe that having been both inside and outside the room — either helping to craft decisions, or effectively conveying the conversation with our community — has made me well suited to represent student interests on the Board of Trustees.

Juwayria Zahurullah
I am running for the 2026 Class Trustee position because I am deeply committed to holding our institution accountable to its stated values of academic excellence, social justice, and sustainability. I am passionate about ensuring that Oberlin remains a leader in liberal arts education by protecting its faculty and students. As a class trustee, I will continue advocating for our institution to set precedents that promote a better and more just world.