East Carolina University

06/23/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/23/2026 14:42

SGA enters new term under service-focused leadership

SGA enters new term under service-focused leadership

East Carolina University students will be represented by new leadership in the upcoming academic year, as Ryan Grant and Audrey Frank step into their roles as Student Government Association president and vice president.

Running on the motto "Anchored in Service," the pair aims to strengthen student advocacy, enhance campus life and continue building connections across the university community.

A Path to Leadership

Grant and Frank have each served in a variety of leadership roles during their time at ECU, experiences they say prepared them to take on their new positions.

Grant has held roles within SGA, the Interfraternity Council and Alpha Tau Omega.

"My experience at ECU has really been shaped by getting involved early and trying to take advantage of every opportunity to grow as a leader," Grant said. "Each of those experiences helped me better understand how to work with different groups of people and advocate for others."

Frank is a member of the Chancellor's Student Leadership Academy, serves as a social media intern for the Pirate Academic Success Center, is a member of Alpha Xi Delta and previously represented the College of Fine Arts and Communication in SGA.

"My journey at ECU has been shaped by involvement, leadership and connection," Frank said. "Through many opportunities on campus, I've been able to meet so many students and hear what really matters to them. Those moments have shaped my passion for advocacy and prepared me to step into this role."

The pair said they were inspired to run after seeing the impact student leadership can have on campus.

"Audrey and I both believe leadership should be grounded in service, and we wanted to run on a platform that focuses on listening first and then following through," Grant said. "We felt like this was an opportunity to help make ECU even better for current and future students."

"The previous SGA president and vice president, Daniel Walker and Katie Council, really inspired us," Frank said. "Seeing the impact they made showed us how powerful student leadership can be. We wanted to build on that momentum and continue creating meaningful change for students across campus."

Priorities for the Year Ahead

Grant and Frank's platform focuses on improving campus safety and city collaboration, fostering new traditions, increasing dining options and expanding 1Card access.

"We want to continue pushing for mobile 1Card integration, improve dining options by incorporating more student feedback and look at ways to enhance campus safety, especially through lighting and accessibility improvements," Grant said. "We're passionate about making sure students feel safe and supported on campus because that plays a huge role in overall success."

"These are everyday parts of student life, and making them more convenient, reliable and student friendly would really improve the overall experience at ECU," Frank said.

SGA President

  • Name: Ryan Grant
  • Hometown: Moseley, Virginia
  • Year: Senior
  • Major: Business administration with a concentration in marketing.

SGA Vice President

  • Name: Audrey Frank
  • Hometown: Apex
  • Year: Senior
  • Major: Communication with a concentration in interpersonal communication and a minor in leadership studies.

The pair also hopes to strengthen traditions at ECU while continuing to build connections between students and the Greenville community.

Building a Collaborative Partnership

Grant and Frank credit their strong partnership to their ability to balance each other's strengths.

"We share the same goals and vision, but we bring different strengths to the table," Frank said. "One of us might be more focused on connecting with students and outreach, while the other is more focused on organizing and making things happen. That mix helps us work well together and stay effective."

They plan to remain visible and approachable by attending organization meetings, encouraging feedback through open conversations and ensuring students know how to connect with them.

"Students don't realize how much SGA works behind the scenes on things that impact everyday life on campus," Grant said. "SGA serves as a connection between students and the university, and many improvements start with student feedback. Students really do have the ability to influence change, and we want more people to feel comfortable sharing their ideas."

Looking ahead

Grant and Frank were sworn in during the SGA annual banquet in April and are looking forward to the year ahead.

"We're so excited and truly grateful for the chance to serve in our roles," Frank said. "Our goal is to represent every student and help create a more connected and supportive campus."

"We encourage students to stay involved, share their ideas and take pride in the community we're continuing to build together," Grant said. "We're excited for what's ahead and committed to staying anchored in service."

More Stories

East Carolina University published this content on June 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 23, 2026 at 20:42 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]