The Student Council is at the forefront of all student activities and serves as the liaison between students and administration, faculty, alumni, and the community.
The Council advocates and promotes the welfare of students, organizes social activities and intramural sports, and promotes a professional attitude toward the University and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Osborne College of Audiology, and College of Health Sciences, Education & Rehabilitation. Student Council is comprised of the executive board, class officers who represent each respective program by year, registered student organizations, and two advisors, the Dean of Students and Associate Director of Student Engagement.
Executive Board
Hi! My name is Kristen Battista and I am currently a second-year Audiology student. I grew up in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and graduated from Loyola University Maryland with an Interdisciplinary major in Biology and Speech Language Hearing Sciences. This is my second term as the Executive President for Student Council and I am super excited for the rest of the year with this team and I am proud to be serving the university and student body.
Outside of audiology, I enjoy doing sports photography, specifically in boys lacrosse. I currently have a 6-year-old pitbull mix named Taz.
Hello! My name is Brittney Cullen, and I am a second-year Audiology student here at Salus at Drexel University. I grew up in Hamilton, New Jersey, and earned my undergraduate degree from Rutgers University–New Brunswick with a double major in Linguistics and Psychology. I have a strong passion for research and writing, and I love combining these interests—most recently publishing an article in the Hearing Journal on Myasthenia Gravis and its audiological implications.
Now in my second term as Executive Vice President of Student Council, I focus on organizing and executing large-scale events that bring the Salus at Drexel community together. These include the Salus Awards Gala, which celebrates the achievements of our community members, the Salus Soiree, a formal event designed for students to connect, socialize, and build relationships outside of the classroom, and Salus Scoop, an event that introduces students to the various clubs and organizations on campus while featuring plenty of entertainment, food, and fun. No matter the occasion, I strive to create events that promote a strong sense of community and give students the opportunity to engage beyond academics. My role involves managing event logistics, budgeting, coordinating with vendors, and ensuring a seamless experience for attendees.
I am excited to continue my term and build on the success of past events by creating even more engaging and memorable experiences for the Salus at Drexel community. My goal is to ensure that every event brings students together to add fun and excitement to their time on campus. I look forward to planning new opportunities for students to connect, celebrate, and make lasting memories throughout the year!
Hello! My name is Irene Daniel, and I’m currently a first-year Scholars Optometry student. I am excited to serve as your new Student Council Executive Secretary! I’m originally from Calgary, Alberta and attended the University of Calgary for my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences. I look forward to supporting the students who call Salus at Drexel home, advocating for our community, and helping to make our experiences here the best they can be! Fun fact: I’m a self-proclaimed extreme audiobooker (I think 3.5x speed or above makes it "extreme"). I love to try out different crafts and hobbies, and explore new places and food in my free time!
Hi! My name is Tara Black, and I am currently a first-year Occupational Therapy student. I’m from Chalfont, Pennsylvania, and I graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a major in Rehabilitation and Human Services, along with minors in Addictions and Recovery, Deafness and Hearing Studies, Human Development and Family Studies, and Sociology
I am excited to take on the role of Treasurer and ensure that our student council remains financially organized and efficient. I look forward to managing budgets, advocating for resources, and helping support our student body in any way I can.
Outside of school, I run a small candle business and a one-woman caregiving service, where I provide compassionate care and assist clients with their independence and activities of daily living. In my free time, I love spending time with my friends and family, exploring new places, and enjoying good music.
Hi everyone, my name is Gabriella Parrales! I am a first-year Traditional Optometry student and am so excited to serve as your term Executive Assistant! I was born and raised in Miami, Florida located a couple hours away from the University of Central Florida where I received a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences.
Outside of Optometry, I have been a competitive dancer since five years old and I began teaching dance when I turned 18. I have a doggie named Zucco and I am also fluent in Spanish.
Hello! My name is Shannon Snyder, and I am a first-year Occupational Therapy student here at Salus at Drexel. I grew up in Warrington, Pennsylvania and graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Professions. I am proud to be serving as our 2025 Executive Assistant, as an advocate and voice for our prestigious student body. Throughout my life, I always found myself in leadership positions within sports and undergraduate organizations, so I look forward to expanding upon those leadership and interdisciplinary skills during my time on the Student Council Executive Board.
Aside from occupational therapy, I enjoy golfing with friends, going for walks, and planning tropical vacations! Some fun facts about me are that I wore glasses until middle school which has inspired me to want to specialize in Low Vision Therapy as an occupational therapist, I currently serve as President of our Student Occupational Therapy Association, and despite being only 5’2, I was a soccer goalkeeper my whole life.
My name is Rebecca Zeiner, though I am often called Becca. I am currently a second-year Audiology student. Originally from Leesport, Pennsylvania, located just outside of the Reading area, I graduated from Penn State University in the Fall of 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. During my time at Penn State, I was actively involved in several leadership roles, including serving as an ambassador at a Commonwealth campus, an orientation leader for the university, and participating in THON. I am eager to assume the role of parliamentarian and contribute to maintaining the strong spirit of the student council. I am passionate about fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, not only in clinical work but also within business contexts. The student council provides an invaluable opportunity for members from various programs to work together, and it was this aspect that motivated me to get involved.
Beyond my studies in the Audiology program, I enjoy reading, exercising, and spending quality time with my family. Fun fact: I am one of four siblings and have a 17-month-old nephew, who brings endless joy to our family.
I look forward to the opportunity to serve and work alongside all of you and representing our students.
Class Officers by Program
Treasurer: Astrich Michel
Treasurer: Lindsey Johna
Class Representative (2026): Heimraj Resaul
Class Representative (2027): Lauren Winslow McKinney
Vice President/Secretary: Bianka Hamati
Treasurer: Jarod Detrick
Vice President/Secretary: Anjali Patel
Treasurer: Madeline Turo
Vice President/Secretary: Kynton Grays
Treasurer: Ahmed Alwirir
Treasurer: Khushi Patel
Treasurer: Clarissa Beck
Treasurer: Megan Gallagher
Student Council members in conjunction with the Office of Student Affairs contribute to their fellow students by providing events such as, the Salus Scoop, a campus fair complete with food, fun and activities; the Salus Award Gala (S.A.G.), a grammy-style event to honor the accomplishments of the University community; and Salus Soiree, an upscale affair for students to socialize off-campus. Members also represent the University at various conventions and meetings in their fields. Lastly, on-going intramural games in a variety of sports that keep our students active.
Student Council has two committees that are responsible for planning, organizing, and executing these events: Athletics and Campus Activities Committees. Additionally, Student Council works with various departments in the University such as the admissions, alumni, and communications offices and serves on continuous and ad-hoc committees. The Student Council appoints students representatives to the following Joint Student/Faculty Committees of the University’s Faculty Organization:
- University Strategic Planning Committee
- Research & Learning Resources Committee
- Admissions Committee
- Education Policy and Curriculum Committee
- Judicial Committee
To contact Student Council - email scouncil@salus.edu.