With the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) presidential debate set for Friday, The Collegian asked each candidate the same set of questions to outline their priorities, qualifications and goals for Fresno State. The debate will take place at 12 p.m. in the Satellite Student Union and will be moderated by The Collegian.

The presidential candidates are Maris Prado, Alya Hassan and Madison Cañon.

More on the ASI 2026 Election: Voter guide: ASI elections open for 2026-27 academic year

Maris Prado

Prado, a first-year graduate student majoring in agricultural science, said her campaign is centered on improving communication between ASI and the student body. She emphasized that many students feel disconnected from decision-making on campus.

“My biggest priority is making sure students actually feel heard and represented,” Prado said. “I think there’s a disconnect between ASI and the general student body, and a lot of people don’t really know what ASI does or how decisions are made.”

Prado said her involvement on campus helped her recognize both the impact of student leadership and the gaps that exist in student engagement.

“I’ve seen how decisions impact students, but also how disconnected students can feel from those decisions,” she said. “That really encouraged me to run, because I want to be someone who can bridge that gap.”

She pointed to her leadership experience as preparation for the role, saying she has worked with a range of perspectives and understands the importance of representing the broader student body.

“I think that’s really important in a role like this, being able to communicate, collaborate and make decisions that reflect more than just your own opinion,” Prado said.

Prado said that she can be overly critical of herself and sometimes takes on too much responsibility, but said she is working on delegating and trusting others. She added that her involvement in campus organizations and work outside of school helps her stay connected to student experiences.

She said she plans to continue working in the field focused on serving and supporting her community after graduation.

Looking ahead, Prado said she hopes to build on existing ASI efforts while improving outreach so students are more aware of available resources.

“I think ASI has done some really good things, but not enough students know about them,” she said.

Prado added that she wants to continue initiatives addressing food insecurity, including efforts like the microwave initiative, while also expanding paid internship opportunities on campus and improving transportation support for students.

Alya Hassan 

Hassan, a senior accepted into Fresno State’s graduate program for social work, said her campaign focuses on fostering a more inclusive and supportive campus environment where students from all backgrounds feel they belong.

“My biggest priority is making sure Fresno State is a place where every student feels included and supported,” Hassan said. “I want to focus on making resources more accessible and making sure students feel like they belong here.”

Hassan said her passion for advocacy and her campus involvement encouraged her to run for president.

“I’ve always been really passionate about helping others and advocating for students,” she said. “Through my involvement, I’ve seen that there are still gaps and things that could be improved.”

She said her experience working with diverse groups has prepared her to represent a wide range of student perspectives.

“Being in this role isn’t about one person,” Hassan said. “It’s about representing the entire student body.”

Hassan acknowledged that she sometimes takes on too much in an effort to help others, but said she is working on improving her time management. Outside of ASI, she said she is involved in student organizations and volunteer work, which has helped her better understand student needs.

She said she hopes to pursue a career centered on advocacy and supporting her community after graduation.

While she believes ASI has made positive efforts, Hassan said there is still room for improvement in outreach and visibility.

“A lot of students don’t know what’s available to them,” she said.

Hassan added that she wants to expand support for students by ensuring those living in dorms have access to food during academic breaks and by advocating for extended library hours.

More on the ASI 2026 Election: ASI presidential candidates debate in Satellite Student Union

Madison Cañon 

Cañon, a junior political science major with a minor in criminology, said her campaign is focused on increasing student engagement and rebuilding a sense of community on campus. She said this is something she personally struggled to find during her early years at Fresno State.

“My biggest priority at Fresno State is increasing student engagement on campus,” Cañon said. “I want more events, more things that students actually want to go to, so it’s not just a place people come to for classes.”

Cañon said her own experience of feeling disconnected influenced her decision to run.

“For my first two years, I wasn’t part of any club or anything, and it was really intimidating,” she said. “I honestly struggled and even thought about transferring.”

She said she hopes to ensure other students do not have the same experience.

“I want to make sure other students don’t feel like that and make that sense of community bigger here,” Cañon said.

Cañon pointed to her involvement in moot court, where she was recently elected vice president, as a key part of her leadership experience.

“Moot court is all about oral advocacy and being able to argue both sides,” she said. “I want to bring that into ASI and be able to represent students, regardless of my own views.”

She said one of her challenges is being a perfectionist and taking on too much, but added that she is working on relying more on others. Outside of ASI, Cañon works at a campus daycare, where she said she has developed patience and empathy.

She said she plans to pursue a career focused on advocacy and community impact after graduation.

Cañon also addressed long-standing student concerns, including parking and fees, and said she hopes to build on ASI’s efforts while continuing to push for improvements.

“Parking and fees are things students have had problems with for a long time,” she said. “It might not be fixed in one year, but I want to take steps toward improving it.”

ASI election results will be announced on April 23.