Biden School Student Association
meet the officers
The Biden School Student Association is the official student organization of the school. The group facilitates communication between the students and faculty and staff of the school, and advocates for the interests of Biden School students.
Ojooluwa Ibiloye
President
Ojooluwa Ibiloye is a doctoral student in the public policy and administration program at the Biden School. He studies direct democracy in the administrative state, focusing on bureaucratic procedures for co-producing public values with citizens. He also serves as the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Ithaca Graduate Fellow. In this role, he focuses on research that advances civil discourse in communities and higher education institutions. He was named a 2025 Fellow of the American Political Science Association's Institute for Civically Engaged Research for his commitment to epistemic power-sharing with communities and organizations. Ojooluwa has also received the U.S. Department of State's Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders and the International Republican Institute's McCain Fellowship for Freedom in recognition of his work advancing civic leadership.
zachary tapper
Treasurer
Zachary is a junior energy and environmental policy major, with double minors in history and public policy, with the understanding that the past affects the present. Along with being the treasurer of the BSSA, he is also the treasurer of the Hydroponic Club and the Epsilon Eta professional environmental fraternity and a UD Climate Scholar. Zachary is not only committed to serving as treasurer, but also helping to ensure that both the BSSA and faculty hear both undergraduate and postgraduate students’ voices.
robert voso
Undergraduate ENEP Representative
Robert Voso is a sophomore majoring in energy and environmental policy with a minor in sustainable energy technology, and an intended double major in economics. He is primarily interested in the economic and political aspects of the energy transition, particularly how policy and market strategies can be used to accelerate the transition to renewable sources while also ensuring equity and environmental justice. On campus, Robert is a UD Climate Scholar, a member of the Epsilon Eta professional environmental fraternity, and a guitarist in the UD Jazz Chamber Ensemble. As ENEP program representative, Robert hopes to create strong connections within the program and help students navigate their academic and career journeys.
amanda kelly thompson
Doctoral ENEP Representative
Amanda Kelly Thompson is a second-year doctoral student in the energy and environmental policy program. She received her undergraduate degrees in organizational and community leadership and psychology, as well as her Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Delaware. Amanda works full time on the Biden School staff as the Biden Institute program coordinator. Before returning to UD, Amanda had roles as Director of Political and Legislative Affairs at the Delaware Association of REALTORS ®, Director of Advancement at NAMI Delaware, and Deputy Finance Director for Senator Tom Carper’s reelection campaign. She currently serves as a committee member of the UD’s Student Voting and Civic Engagement Committee and as a board member for Child, Inc. Amanda was awarded the Milton & Mary Edelstein Award for Public and Community Service for her work in graduate school as a research assistant at the Homeless Planning Council of Delaware in 2017. Her research interests are in public transportation policy, urban planning and land-use planning, housing policy, inequality, politics, and civic engagement.
alexandria mcclellan
MPA Representative
Alexandria McClellan is a first year MPA student. She has interests in land-use and city planning but enjoys a variety of policy topics such as environmental and education policy. As the MPA representative for the BSSA she hopes to help with events planning and boost participation and engagement of MPA students within the BSSA.
joe oleksak
Doctoral Public Policy Representative
Joe Oleksak is a second-year doctoral student studying public policy and administration at the University of Delaware and a graduate fellow with the SNF Ithaca Initiative. Before coming to the Biden School, Joe worked for state and local officials in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Philadelphia City Council, and Florida Senate. He has held a variety of positions including campaign manager, constituent service liaison, legislative aide, and chief of staff. This experience strongly influences his research which focuses on the media’s role in the policy process by shaping how we understand problems and choose solutions to address them. Joe holds a MPP from Drexel University (COAS ‘20) and a BA in political science from Temple University (CLA ‘14).
mOrgan Goettel
Vice President
Morgan Goettel is a senior public policy major with a minor in politics and social justice, as well as a community engagement scholar. In her time so far at UD, she has been an SNF Ithaca Student Leader at the Biden School, an intern with Sean's House and is an upcoming leader for the UD InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She is committed to learning not only how to lead but also how to listen, to step up when needed, and to step back when others need space. Her experiences have shown her the true power of community and collaboration. She is dedicated to building a college family that brings people together in meaningful ways. As vice president, she plans to lead with empathy and a commitment to making sure no one feels like they’re on the outside looking in.
meghan rydell
Secretary
Meghan Rydell is a junior double majoring in public policy and international relations. Recently, she was accepted into the 4+1 Master's of Public Administration (MPA) program and selected as a Washington D.C. Fellow as part of the 2026 Spring Semester in Washington D.C. Program through the University of Delaware. Throughout her time at UD, she has been involved in numerous organizations and held various leadership positions, with the goal of fostering relationships on campus and in the broader community. Her leadership experience includes Make It Count! (voting rights advocacy) as treasurer, the UD Student Chapter of the International City/County Management Association as president, the Biden Institute as an intern, the Office of Creative Leadership, Innovation, & Service as a participant in two UDaB programs, and as an RA at South Academy Hall. She had the pleasure of serving as secretary of the BSSA last year, where she worked on the newsletter, created advertisements for events, and organized the Biden School Opportunity Fair. She is passionate about fostering a sense of community on campus and beyond by celebrating and listening to the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of our student body. She is a dedicated leader who takes advantage of opportunities to explore her passions and create change. This will be her second year serving as secretary.
chloe shader
MEEP Representative
Chloe Shader is a second-year student in the Master's of Energy and Environmental Policy (MEEP) program. At UD, she is a part of the Climate Fellows GSO and the Sustainable Places Research (SUPER) group, where she enjoys researching the intersections of climate change, equity, and justice. As MEEP representative, she hopes to connect with all MEEP students, uplift student voices, and plan more community-building events.
marykate sharkey
Leadership Representative
Marykate Sharkey is a junior majoring in leadership with a concentration in non-profit management. As the BSSA undergraduate leadership representative, she focuses on enhancing the program and building strong relationships within the community. Marykate's leadership extends to a variety of roles on campus, including QUEST peer mentor, Creative Leadership, Innovation and Service student ambassador, and University of Delaware Alternative Break social media and marketing chair. She is actively involved in the Blue Hen Leadership Program and Community Engagement Scholars, leveraging her passion for leadership to make meaningful contributions across various campus organizations.
kelly vanliew
Undergraduate Public Policy Representative
Kelly VanLiew is a sophomore public policy major with a minor in legal studies at the University of Delaware. In addition to being apart of BSSA, Kelly is a tour guide on campus as well as a member of the Student Advisory Council for the Biden Institute. As the undergraduate public policy representative, she collaborates with faculty and fellow students to promote and further connections within the school and through the Biden Institute. In addition to her academic pursuits at the University of Delaware, she is actively involved in local organizations back home, striving to help better her small town of Elbridge, NY. With a commitment to fostering inclusivity and social change, Kelly aims to bridge the gap between policy and the communities it affects as she steps into this role.
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184 Graham Hall, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 bidenschool@udel.edu Phone (302) 831-1687