Two-term President Zachariah Lawson excited about 2025-26 school year and beyond.
COLUMBIA, KY. (09/02/2025) Zachariah Lawson ’26 is excited about making history this year at Lindsey Wilson University, but he says he is even more excited about serving the university’s growing student body.
Lawson is president of the Lindsey Wilson Student Government Association, the second year in a row students have elected him to the position. That also makes him the first SGA president in the first year of Lindsey Wilson University.
Lawson, who is an English major from Williamsburg, Kentucky, said he’s less interested about that historical fact and more interested in making history by leaving his mark on the university after he graduates in May.
“It’s super exciting to know that the student body trusts me to do this, not only a first time but a second time,” said Lawson, who also serves as the student representative on the Lindsey Wilson Board of Trustees. “This year is even more special with it being the first year of Lindsey Wilson University. It’s an honor to be the first student body president of Lindsey Wilson University, and I want to make sure that we leave behind a legacy where we served students.”
Serving alongside Lawson is a four-member cabinet: Vice President Sabrina Ruiz ’26 of Louisville, Kentucky, a theatre and arts administration major; Chief of Staff Jordan Roberts ’26 of Liberty, Kentucky, a criminal justice and political science double major; Treasurer Jaden Latiola ’28 of Radcliff, Kentucky, a nursing major; and Director of Campus Outreach Whitley Gibson ’27 of Edmonton, Kentucky, a human services and counseling major.
The cabinet works with members of the SGA Senate, who represent various classes and student organizations.
“The real key is the cabinet, they’re the ones that really run things and get things done,” said Lawson.
As Latiola noted, members of the cabinet and SGA Senate collaborate to create an engaging, welcoming campus for all students.
“Being in student government, I feel like I get to help bring everyone together and build a better community for Lindsey Wilson as a whole,” said Latiola.
Lawson’s priorities this school year include continuing to make SGA more active and also addressing issues that students have raised, such as electronic notetaking in classes.
Lawson has been involved with Lindsey Wilson student government since his freshman year, when he was elected class president. He served in the SGA cabinet the following year, and then was elected student body president the first time at the end of his sophomore year.
“It’s really cool to see how SGA has grown from my freshman year,” he said.
And Lawson is also encouraged by what he sees on the horizon.
“I’m real excited about the Class of 2029 and the freshmen I have already met on campus,” he said. “There are some really good leaders in that class.”
Two-term Lindsey Wilson University Student Government Association President Zachariah Lawson ’26 of Williamsburg, Kentucky, is joined by members of his 2025-26 cabinet. From left: Director of Campus Outreach Whitley Gibson ’27 of Edmonton, Kentucky; Vice President Sabrina Ruiz ’26 of Louisville, Kentucky; Lawson; Chief of Staff Jordan Roberts ’26 of Liberty, Kentucky; and Treasurer Jaden Latiola ’28 of Radcliff, Kentucky.
Lindsey Wilson University is a vibrant liberal arts university in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson offers 28 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The university’s 29 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.
(Duane Bonifer – Lindsey Wilson University)