Rockefeller students lead the university's Student Association

By Indiana Nash

ALBANY, N.Y. (Dec. 29, 2025) — Rockefeller College has full representation at the University at Albany Student Association.  

The president? Trevor Pettit, a junior at Rockefeller. 

The vice president? Allison Mitchell, a senior at Rockefeller.
  
The senate chair? Troy Serao, a sophomore at Rockefeller.  

Perhaps unsurprisingly, they’re all studying political science and, more importantly, they all share a strong vision for the Student Association, which is the largest student-run organization on campus.  

“Student Association is a government that is made to not only serve, but to advocate for the students,” Mitchell said. “Oftentimes it feels like there's a disconnect between the students and the administration. We're really there to bridge that gap.” 

“[SA] is a bridge between students and organizations, between students and admin, between students and the community,” Pettit said. “In years past, SA has been very closed off and self-centered, and we're just really looking to do 180 and fix that from the bottom up.” 

Pettit, a Rochester native, has long been interested in student government.  

“In high school, I was class president for four years straight. I consider myself a very empathetic person. I really like to do what I can to help and assist others and being in a position of public service is the best way to do that on a large scale,” Pettit said.  

Stepping into UAlbany, being a part of SA seemed like the best way to continue that. He joined the SA senate in his freshman year and worked his way up the ladder, chairing a few different committees before deciding to run for office last spring. He leaned on his experience at Rockefeller during the campaign.

“A lot of those classes were very student focused and intensive on student and student discussion. What I really liked about those courses is that they didn't necessarily teach you what to think, but how to think and how to critically examine problems,” Pettit said. “[It] really put me into a position to where I got a very unique and specialized toolbox that I was able to then bring to things like the Student Association.” 

Classes at Rockefeller helped Mitchell shape her messaging during the campaign.  

“It really helped my understanding of how people who aren't involved in the government might perceive us through their experiences and really helps with how you send out your messaging,” Mitchell said.   

For Serao, a Delaware native who grew up in the Capital Region, speaking with fellow Rockefeller students helped strengthen his campaign.  

“I've never been so fervently questioned than I was in a class with other Rockefeller students,” Serao said. “I dorm-stormed for myself and then for Trevor and Allison last year, and no one really cared that much. But in Rockefeller, they really made me think, ‘Am I good enough for this? Are my ideas valid?’ They test you. And I think that was a really important thing that I needed.” 

Leading SA, which is a nonprofit organization that helps fund the 180-some student groups on campus with a budget of around $2.8 million, is no small feat.  

“I would describe it as student government on steroids. We have five branches in total, and all of the branches at their core are here to serve the students,” Serao said.  

Even undergraduate students who aren’t directly involved with the SA are connected to it in that they pay a student activity fee as part of their tuition and fees, which is then funneled to SA.  

“I believe it's our purpose to take that money and equitably distribute it in a way that gives you more value than just spending it on its own,” Pettit said.   

SA also organizes large, campus-wide events including Parkfest and the annual Block Party. It also helps to cultivate a sense of community among the student body.  

“We're supposed to be providing resources that you might not know about. We’re informing the public and encouraging a space for proper discourse,” Mitchell said. “This year we're hoping to usher in a new spirit of respect and joy and just knowing we can disagree as long as we're doing it respectfully and understanding more perspectives.” 

For Mitchell, who grew up in the Bronx, being the vice president of SA caps off her time at UAlbany as she is set to graduate early and aims to attend law school.  

Though a sophomore, Serao is already thinking ahead to the next generation of SA leaders.  

“Maybe as leaders we won't be able to do everything we want to do. But I am confident that the next generation of student leaders that comes in, whether it be next year or the years after that, will be poised to succeed,” Serao said.