The Undergraduate Assembly confirmed Wharton junior Brett Thalmann as its next chairman in an uncontested election last night.
Thalmann said in his speech that he wants to establish clearer goals for the UA, seek out projects with that will produce tangible results and enhance the social aspect of the UA to integrate new members.
"There are some pretty big shoes to fill for chair next year," Thalmann said.
College sophomore Sarah Abroms was elected executive vice chairwoman in the night's only contested race.
She said she hopes to increase access to administrators and create a greater sense of community on the UA next year.
College senior and outgoing UA Chairwoman Rachel Fersh said she was pleased with the executive board and chairman.
"Brett is more intense than I am," she said. "He shows more intense emotions, and that can be extremely motivating or extremely alienating, but he acknowledges that."
Also elected were College sophomore Jason Karsh as vice chairman for external affairs, College sophomore Sunny Patel as treasurer and Engineering sophomore Dipal Patel as secretary.
Thalmann has only been a member of the UA for a year, during which he served as vice chairman of external affairs, but he said that his prior experiences at Penn provide him with a "unique perspective on the University."
He has also served as chairman of the Queer Student Alliance.
During this year's elections, vote totals for each candidate were announced for the first time. The UA passed a proposal earlier in the year to authorize the change.
College senior and outgoing UA Executive Vice Chairman Zack Rosenblum saw announcing the vote totals as a step toward increasing the UA's transparency.
"It allows for the candidates to know if they have a clear mandate from the UA as to their styles and their ideas," he said.
As a part of the election for executive vice chairman, the body voted to have a closed session. During the session, only new UA members and the Nominations and Elections Committee members, who run elections, were permitted to remain in the room.
The two candidates also left the room.
The closed session allowed UA members to discuss the two candidates more freely, though it kept some aspects of the process out of the public eye.
"While it's helpful to members who aren't as informed, it is in some ways not as transparent as the UA strives to be throughout the year," Rosenblum said.
College junior Georgiana Cavendish, who also ran for the executive vice chairmanship, said she believes that a closed session like this can helpful as long as it's done appropriately.
"It's a good thing as long as it's informed and not biased," she said.
