Member

Rushil Sachania, of Cary, NC, is the student ex-officio member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. He believes deeply in what the UNC System can do for students, families, and communities across North Carolina, having seen firsthand, through his own path as a transfer student and through his work in student government, how decisions made at the System level shape whether students feel supported, stay enrolled, and succeed. As the ex-officio member of the Board of Governors, he believes students deserve an advocate at the table who understands those experiences directly.

Sachania holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from East Carolina University and is currently working toward a master’s degree in social work with a concentration in public policy, also at ECU. He serves as president of the UNC System's Association of Student Governments, bringing a perspective on public higher education in North Carolina shaped by his experience as an undergraduate, transfer student, and graduate student. As a leader in student government, he has worked on issues that directly affect students, including academic policy, governance, affordability, student well-being, and campus communication. This work, he says, has helped him understand not only how policy decisions are made, but how those decisions are felt by students.

As a member of the Board, Sachania is most focused on student success, affordability, and mental health, and wishes to give students meaningful opportunities to be heard in decisions that affect them. He is also interested in policies that strengthen transfer pathways, workforce readiness, and student engagement across the System.

Sachania is most proud of his work in student government, including his roles as Speaker of the Student Assembly, Attorney General, and ASG Liaison. Outside of his academic, leadership, and public service work, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching soccer, writing and transcribing music, and learning about history and public policy.

His advice to college students:

“Give yourself permission to take a path that may not look exactly like everyone else’s. I transferred schools, took a nontraditional route, and had moments where I was still figuring out what came next. Looking back, those experiences were not setbacks; they helped shape who I am and how I lead, and they brought me the opportunity to serve as the student representative on the Board of Governors. I would also encourage students to get involved early and to speak up, even when they feel like they are not the most experienced person in the room. You do not have to have everything figured out to make a difference. Ask questions, build relationships, take advantage of opportunities, and remember that your voice matters. Higher education is not just about earning a degree; it’s about discovering what kind of impact you want to have.”