SBA Candidate Statements

Voting for the Student Bar Association elections opened Tuesday, February 24. The positions of President and Vice President are uncontested. George Nalbandian is the sole presidential candidate and Caitlin Siggins is the sole vice presidential candidate. Their candidate statements are printed below. We wish them both the best of luck in their respective races. 

George Nalbandian: Sole Presidential Candidate

President - George Nalbandian 

My name is George Nalbandian, and I am a 2L running for SBA president.   

My main experience in SBA is chairing the programming committee, which taught me a lot about the logistical challenges of running large events, managing a team of different individuals, and being aware of the needs of the student body. It also taught me that one of SBA’s most important functions is building strong organizational partnerships. I would use my experience in cosponsoring programming events to cosponsor other initiatives and maintain SBA’s visibility on Grounds. Ideally, we could also have one more signature social event in the fall now that we have a blueprint for Foxfield. My main idea was an event before Lighting of the Lawn as a holiday celebration before finals, but I would be open to suggestions.  

The biggest challenge I’ve observed going into next year is the new firm recruitment timeline. Lots of organizations have told me that they’ve had to significantly alter, cancel, or postpone events to accommodate a much busier spring semester. It’s also extremely stressful for our 1Ls, who are still relatively new to law school. We want to continue to demonstrate our gratitude for the firms that engage with students while also seeing where we can fill gaps and ease the burden of recruiting. 

I’ve spent the past week meeting with student leaders in various organizations, and I will continue to do so throughout this week. This isn’t about whipping votes or getting endorsements, but starting genuine discussions with people about their priorities and the challenges they’ve faced. It’s been so much fun learning about your organizations and sharing in the joy and excitement of this incredibly motivated and talented group of people.  

Most importantly, I care deeply about this place and all the people I’ve met here. UVA Law will always be a part of me. I promise that, if elected, I will be the best leader and advocate that I can be for all of you.  

• George

Caitlin Siggins: Sole Vice Presidential Candidate

Vice President - Caitlin Siggins 

My name is Caitlin Siggins, and I will be your SBA Vice President next year! 

I'm serving in this role because I love this place and the people in it. As VP, my focus will be on programming and community-building that gives every student a reason to stay engaged, because a thriving law school depends on all of us showing up.  

This year, my roles serving as a Peer Advisor and on the SBA Barristers Committee have deepened my appreciation for the role of student involvement in shaping the student experience and have reinforced my commitment to contributing to the UVA Law community in a meaningful way.  

Prior to law school, I developed my organizational and leadership skills through roles in journalism and legal advocacy. These experiences taught me how to listen carefully, work across different groups of people, and stay focused on what actually serves a community's needs. 

As Vice President, I will focus on communication, transparency, and ensuring that our student organizations are well-supported by SBA. I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to serve the law school community. 

Yours,  

Caitlin