By Raeanne Raccagno
News Editor
Red lips, bookish glasses, high heels and a shining watch have become the statement pieces of the College’s Student Government Executive President Jackie Anderson, and Executive Vice President Michael Bulluck. While the two have been seen around campus, running from one responsibility to the next, their kindness and devotion to students and the College have become as apparent as their fashion statements.
Anderson, a senior psychology and women’s, gender and sexuality studies major, and Bulluck, a junior political science major, have differing personalities. Anderson is a bit more outgoing than the more introverted Bulluck. Once the two teamed up in spring 2025 for the SG election, they found their diverse personas made a perfect “opposites attract” match for representing students.
The pair acknowledged how the campaigning week before elections can be a bit exhausting, due to putting themselves in the limelight almost 24/7. They both said that while the hard work was “definitely” worth it, their true desire is to do the labor behind the positions they gained.
“I'm not a politician, I'm a professional and I'm a representative,” Anderson said. “I am there to represent the student body in spaces and I'm there to do the actual work.”
For Anderson, she had a drive to become very active at the College after graduating high school, where she was involved in 18 different extracurricular activities. She commented on how SG can come off as an intimidating and bureaucratic organization, but after she joined and met more of her peers, she gained “a deep love and passion” for its structure at the College.
As for Bulluck, he said he was not involved in high school and never thought he would be capable of holding the position he is in today.
“Joining initially, I didn't run for anything, and I was like, there are people who are definitely more qualified than me,” Bulluck said. “As I adjusted and as I got more confidence within myself, I learned that there isn't one type of leader, there isn't one type of person who is best for student government. It's as long as you have a passion for advocacy and frankly, just people, there is a place for you, and I eventually found that.”
Bulluck also realized that his personality would help him relate and connect to some students more, whereas other leaders may not be able to.
Anderson said she wants their term to be “highly collaborative” and “projective,” so the two have been working with the College’s administration to develop a shared goals list for SG, the “TCNJ Blueprint,” to create continuity and consistency within the organization.
“Student Government over the past 45 years has done so much great work, but with the yearly turnover, it's often lost,” Anderson said. “As devastating as it is interpersonally for our seniors to leave, we also lose information when they leave.”
Anderson said that while all the SG members are working toward improving the student experience, they’re doing so in different ways. According to Bulluck, the College’s blueprint will help expand SG’s past, current and future legacy beyond them and keep their goals aligned.
In their first semester term, the two have been working on a slew of initiatives to help broaden the student experience, including bringing back tailgating at football games. Tailgating was banned from the College after too many injuries occurred, but the two were able to “reframe” tailgating into something that revolves around connection by bringing back alumni and involving the community.
The executive duo has also been working on alumni engagement in general as part of their semester endeavors. When asked about what they are most proud of this semester, the two uplifted their team of cabinet officers for their achievements and commitments to their roles. They noted how a lot of ambitions, like the TCNJ Blueprint, are highly collaborative in their cabinet.
Being a grade apart, the two did not truly get to know each other until they both were serving on the cabinet. When it came time to choose a campaign partner, each of them knew who to look to.
“There will be times where we have to lean on and support each other through decisions and I knew that he could be one of those people for me,” Anderson said about Bulluck. “He is a person that really respects everyone in a very deep and true way.”
Bulluck commented, saying Anderson is “the sweetest person on the planet” and could not imagine anyone better for a running mate or making a “perfect president.”
Throughout their campaign, the two acknowledge their personality and leadership differences and how it made them a robust pair.
“I think that's what makes us an especially great team, is that we are very different types of leaders,” Bulluck said. “We have different leadership styles, we have different communication styles, but at the end of the day, we advocate for the same people.”
As for what’s to come next in advocating for students, Anderson and Bulluck plan to continue to work on some of their accomplishments they made so far, like the blueprint, alumni relations, meeting the College’s key performance indicators and maintaining working groups for the college-wide strategic plan. They also want to continue to work on establishing a reservation system at the library.
There’s also a focus on working opportunities for students, like making sure student workers get paid appropriately and on time, safeguarding research and enhancing OpportuniTCNJ, a combined career center event that aims to make internships more accessible through student testimonials.
SG has also been working on a resolution, advocating for students on the state and federal level, for developing a system for having statewide electronic submission of mail-in ballot applications.
Internally, they have been working on enhancing training systems, developing a system of accountability in SG and they have also been reaching out to other New Jersey colleges’ student governments to see where they can all act collectively. They also plan to have another SG and Student Finance Board open town hall next semester.
As for their futures after their executive term, both of the SG leaders have a pre-law track and are preparing to continue their education. After Anderson graduates this spring, throughout her lifetime, she plans to obtain her MA, PhD and JD degrees as a “proud daughter” of two teachers.
Bulluck plans to stay with SG, which he has found to be his “home,” after his junior year. He also recently realized he wants to go into the law field and will begin preparing for law school applications.
While the two hope their term is remembered logistically for their collaborative efforts, they also want to be remembered on a more personal scale.
“I want to be remembered for my kindness and my empathy as a leader,” Anderson said. With Bulluck echoing her, saying, “Being known as kind people who maybe could even inspire other people to take our place one day is something very powerful.”
