Photos by Ralph Freso
Tucker Hudson and Dianne Carla Mae Nasibog appear to be already in the whirlwind of leadership, so busy they had only a 15-minute slot for questions after winning the election for student body president and vice president, respectively. They’re interviewing folks who might fit into their administration for the 2025-26 academic year, just got out of a relational communications class they both take, and they’re still more than two months away from their Associated Students of GCU inauguration.
Hudson is a junior from Mountain House, California, studying communication, and Nasibog is a Soldotna, Alaska, native studying government/local and state policy.
What is your reaction to students picking you?
Hudson: Honestly, we are blessed and grateful for this opportunity. We firmly believed in our platform, still believe in our platform and will be glad to see it come to fruition.
What did students connect with – why did they vote for you?
Hudson: The authenticity. … Every member of your team being able to reflect the Christ-like values that we stand on. I’m glad the student body was able to see that reflected throughout the campaign.
Nasibog: Throughout the campaign, we encouraged our team to stay positive and really focus on ourselves, which was a blessing to do, to have people love us so much that they saw what we saw. … We had teams out there (campaigning on campus) from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., so dedicated to us and so dedicated to our mission and our message to be able to love us and to love Jesus. I’m glad the students were able to see what we put out like that.
Tell us more about your background.
Hudson: My dad is a police officer and mom is a children’s pastor. Northern California, born and raised. Love my family and sports and grew up in the church. Deciding to come here was one of the best decisions I ever made. (Because of) the community and being able to be connected. I went to public school, and it was tougher to get spiritually connected. So GCU allowed we me to grow in my faith and opened a lot more doors to friendship. It’s a place God wanted me to be and still wants me to be.
Nasibog: I am from Alaska, where we moved from the Philippines when I was 6. Mom is a correctional facilities nurse. It’s just mom and I; I am an only child. I’m really close with mom. She is really excited for me and all the things I am doing. It’s tough for her to have an empty nest, but she calls me every single day and says good morning and goodnight. I came to GCU because I wanted to change my life. I came here on a whim, but I ended up finding myself spiritually, professionally, emotionally and finding a community that supports and loves me. It’s been like a true blessing. … I didn’t know what to expect, but I got the best friends out of it and had people around me that pushed me spiritually and have people around me that knew God the way I needed to.
What would we look for in your term, what you want to accomplish?
Tucker: Ideally, everything we campaigned on. Crowd meters at the gyms, improved Wi-Fi and adding additional ice machines to campus. Those are the big three, just continue to build on those and tackle one at a time and continue to make an impact.
Nasibog: I’m also looking forward to communication with students. Tucker and I ran to bring a different set of communication skills to the table, whether that is overcommunicating to make sure students (know) what we are working on and what we want to do. I’m excited to answer questions that students have.
And are you looking forward to working with President Brian Mueller?
Tucker: Yes, and all administration. I’m looking forward to being a liaison to student body and administration. We are pumped and ecstatic to get to do it.
Nasibog: I’m excited we have trust in us from the students. I hope that we respect that the best way we can.
Grand Canyon University senior writer Mike Kilen can be reached at [email protected]
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