Welcome 2020-2021 LeadMN Cabinet!

Accounting

Priscilla is a student at North Hennepin Community College where she had the opportunity to develop her leadership skills, which then led to her position at LeadMN. She is currently studying to get an accounting degree from Bemidji State University, followed by law school if resources permit.

Priscilla has a strong passion for civic engagement because she believes that if everyone is actively engaged and plugged in, we can create powerful change that benefits everyone. Priscilla is also passionate about closing the achievement gap for underrepresented students in Minnesota because everyone deserves a seat at the table. She is looking forward to connecting with the many students across the state as well as MinnState, BoT, and the legislature.

In her free time, Priscilla enjoys reading and watching TV, cooking, podcasting, spending quality time with loved ones, and working out. In the summer, she can be found exploring the cities and visiting art spaces.

This year, Priscilla is excited to work on looking to secure a funded tuition freeze as well as working with MinnState on its Equity 2030 plan.

AA in Communications Studies

Axel was born in Cornwall, England, and grew up mainly in east central Minnesota. He is a student at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, studying first creative writing and now communications. He plans to major in political science for his bachelor’s degree and hopes to go to law school after that.

Before becoming a member of the Cabinet, Axel served in a variety of leadership positions on his campus and with LeadMN, including Student Senate President and Platform Committee Student-at-Large.

Civic engagement is a central part of Axel’s life. He believes that every problem, challenge, and injustice in the world is best met by the empowerment and collaboration of people, and he is driven to participate in that process however he can. Axel is always eager to dig into research on the issues affecting students, analyzing trends and possible solutions. He is devoted to understanding how the past affects the present, and how we can all work from there to make a better future.

In his free time, Axel loves to spend time with his friends, explore new places, read, and write. He loves history and philosophy, and is a writer and poet who needs writing like a fish needs water.

This year, Axel is excited to work on basic needs, equity and inclusion, and GOTV efforts in the fall.

Business Transfer Pathway

Madison Sauke is a first-generation college student that was born and raised in a town called Austin that is in Southeast Minnesota. From 2019 to 2020, Madison served as the Student Senate President at Riverland Community College and dually served as the Governing Council Representative for the Southeast Region. She currently commits time to the Basic Needs Committee that helps support students who may be struggling with basic resources while attending College. Madison is majoring in Business and is wishing to transfer to a University in Minnesota after she completes some courses at Riverland Community College.

The reason why Madison chose to step up for leadership positions is because she saw a need for a voice that would ultimately benefit the people she went to school with. She feels motivated to support international students as well as lower-income earning students because she sees an achievement gap within those groups that needs to be closed. Madison is also passionate about mental health initiatives, as she started the Quiet Space project on her campus at Riverland.

Aside from attending college, Madison works as a bank teller in her home town of Austin. She prefers to spend her free time with her two pets: a dog and a spider. For hobbies, she loves to find random creative projects to do and watch her plants grow. To get on her good side, it is recommended to bring her a roll or two of sushi.

This year, Madison is excited to work on lower income programs to be implemented in colleges, mental health initiatives, and International Student program reform.

Associate of Arts Degree

David Mesta is from Faribault, MN and is a first-generation college student who currently attends South Central College - Faribault. He graduated High School in 2018 and soon after began his college journey where he joined Student Senate as their Treasurer and through senate, he became involved with LeadMN as a Platform Committee Member and Intern. He is currently finishing up his AA degree this year.

David is passionate about working on civic engagement and a mental health initiative to better help students achieve their degrees with less hurdles. This past year, he was honored to receive the Platform Committee Member of the Year Award for the work he did to represent his region and be a part of the legislative process to advocate for students.

Outside of work, David enjoys hanging out with friends, reading, Netflix, and watching his favorite pass time WWE.

This year, David is excited to work on the emergency grant program and to represent all two-year college students in the state of MN by advocating for college affordability and the transfer process.