On May 21st, 2026, nine officers were sworn into the Executive Board of Western Academic Workers United. We are pleased to announce the election of Anika Erickson as President, receiving 62% of all votes cast in this election. Additionally, we are excited to welcome several new officers who ran uncontested for their positions, as outlined below.
These Officers were sworn in at the May Monthly Membership Meeting and shall serve in their positions until Spring of 2027, when Western Academic Workers United will hold it’s first Triennial Election. Congratulations to all our newly elected officers, and thank you to everyone who participated in this Vacancy Election.
President: Anika Erickson (She/They)
Candidate declined to provide a statement
Financial Secretary: Lily EILEBRECHT (She/They)
My name is Lily Eilebrecht, and I’m running for WAWU Financial Secretary in order to ensure that our finances are secure, well-managed, and democratic. Owing to the mostly procedural nature of the position I don’t have a huge amount to say, but I care a lot about direct democracy and the long-term success of our union, and I’d like to keep things running smoothly.
Recording Secretary: Connor Haines (He/Him)
My name is Connor, and I’m a Junior, studying Computer Science and Astronomy. Over the past two years, I’ve worked as an OSE in ATUS and The Foundation, and an ESE Research Assistant. I first became an active member of WAWU nearly a year ago in the Spring of 2025. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of working as the Sergeant at Arms on the Executive Board, as one of three members of OSE Leadership, and as an ESE representative on the Joint Bargaining Committee.
My time as Sergeant at Arms, filling in wherever was needed, showed me how difficult but important the role of Recording Secretary truly is. This experience taught me meticulous record-keeping builds transparency, ensuring membership representation continues to be the driving force in our union. I would be honored to serve as your Recording Secretary and will continue to work to ensure strong rights and protections for OSEs and ESEs at Western.
TRUSTEE: Jase Kaeberlein (He/Him)
I’m Jase, a stage technician within the College of Fine and Performing Arts, as well as an Event Technician with the Viking Union. I’ve had the chance to serve on WAWU’s Advocacy & Contract Enforcement Committee for almost a year, as well as on this year’s Bargaining Committee! I’ve been involved with OSE’s PERC filing as well as maintaining our membership records, conducting dues verification, and other administrative tasks – I know how important it is to keep good records and to have people cross-check each other’s work to ensure transparency, and I hope to support that in this role!
Sergeant-At-Arms: Haley Meerdink (She/Her)
Hi my name is Haley Meerdink. I am currently a second year at Western and a residential advisor in Alma Clark Glass. I am a sociology and political science double major. I am a member of the bargaining committee and I am running for sergeant-at-arms! I am so excited to organize for our union and get even more involved. I would love to get connected with as many student workers as I can and do my best to make them feel welcomed in WAWU.I believe we as student workers and union members have so much power to push change forward and I’m so excited to be a part of that. Thank you for considering me for sergeant-at-arms!
Head Steward: Becca Brock (She/her/they/them)
Candidate declined to provide a statement
Head Steward: Frances Wankowski (He/Him)
I do this. I’ve been doing this. I’m what you’re looking for, and I’ve got my eyes on you, WAWU! Let’s move together towards a JUST future- OUR future.
Head Steward: Grace Rodriguez (she/they)
Hello friends! My name is Grace (she/they); I’m a junior in the ENVS department and work as a dance instructor at Wade King Recreation Center. Like many of you, a mixture of feelings have been surfacing more intensely in viewing the increased separation of immigrant families, loss of hope, and general distrust amoung eachother. I beleive our seperation to be our greatest disadvantge and our role on this earth to keep eachother safe. At a community level, it is within this space, created by us and for us, that we aim to know eachother deeply and and keep our shared, interconnected struggles at our center—and fight for what we need, always! I’ve worked on multiple committies, but the most relevant to this postion of Head Steward are ACE and general organzing, both building upon eachother in a way. It is my hope to be a reliable source for my coworkers.This movement has already been sustained by many hands and I’m grateful to be working with people who make the process even more meaningful 🙂
Head Steward: Willow Giorgini (They/Them)
I’m interested in representing Reslife in the executive board because I’m passionate about making sure our work is taken into consideration whenever we make a decision as a group. I’ve also worked as a housing Desk Attendant and for three summer’s I’ve worked an ESE position in the advising center. I’ve been active in WAWU for as long as I’ve been working at Western and I’m passionate about creating a long-lived, prosperous labor union that advances the cause of college affordability for all of us. Solidarity forever!
As of May 21st, 2026, the WAWU Executive Board is composed as follows:
| President | Anika Erickson |
| Vice President | Olive Dillemuth |
| Financial Secretary | Lily Eilebrecht |
| Recording Secretary | Connor Haines |
| Sergeant at Arms | Haley Meerdink |
| Guide | Mclean Bowers |
| Trustee | Jase Kaeberlein |
| Trustee | VACANT |
| Trustee | VACANT |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | Quin Marston |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | Grace Rodriguez |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | Heather Curfman |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | Nico F C Pen |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | Becca Brock |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | Willow Giorgini |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | Frances Wankowski |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | VACANT |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | VACANT |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | VACANT |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | VACANT |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | VACANT |
| Member-at-large (Head Steward) | VACANT |