Jonathan Ulicny did not arrive at Susquehanna University with a roadmap to the presidency of its Student Government Association. He built one — through relationships, resilience, and a fraternity that gave him room to lead before the title ever came.
A senior Political Science and Legal Studies major from Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, Jonathan serves as both President of Susquehanna’s Student Government Association and Vice President of Theta Chi Fraternity’s Beta Omega Chapter. Add President of the Pre-Law Society to that list, and the picture of a student fully invested in his campus comes into focus.
For Jonathan, the connection between fraternity membership and student government success is not coincidental. “Theta Chi has empowered me to become a better leader by offering me practical opportunities to develop my abilities, take an active role within the organization, and find support among my Brothers,” he said. That support extended directly into his SGA campaign. When asked whether his fraternity and sorority community helped him win his race, his answer was straightforward: yes.
His campaign philosophy reflects a maturity that goes beyond the typical college election playbook. “Building positive relationships with those around you and empowering them to achieve their goals constructs networks of support that prove invaluable during any campaign, even at the collegiate level,” Jonathan said. It is a principle rooted less in political strategy and more in genuine investment in the people around him.
That investment has produced results. Jonathan is a recipient of the Greek Excellence in Service Award and the 2025 winner of the Urey Moot Court Competition — a distinction that speaks directly to where he is headed. After graduating, he plans to pursue a juris doctor degree at an accredited law school before beginning a career as a corporate lawyer.
His approach to student government is equally deliberate. “A critical aspect of success in student government comes in developing a clear path towards attainable goals and achievements while taking an active position in developing these goals during challenging moments,” he said. For Jonathan, preparation and adaptability are not separate skills — they work together.
That same philosophy shapes his advice to future student leaders. “Leadership relies on adaptability and resilience more than any other two traits,” he said. “Everyone will experience failures, but true leaders use these lessons to their advantage, adapt their strategies, and persevere through obstacles.”
To those who aspire to follow in his footsteps, Jonathan offers a reminder that leadership is never a solo endeavor. “Relying on the support systems built around you as a student leader is perhaps the most important thing someone can do when in a leadership position,” he said. “Use the experiences of those who came before you, and capitalize on the networks built to support you.”
Looking back on his time at Susquehanna, Jonathan credits his fraternity with something that no classroom could fully replicate. “My fraternity has empowered me to develop leadership skills in a controlled environment,” he said. “These experiences, some of the most important I have had in my life, are invaluable in my future goals.”
For a future corporate lawyer from a small town in Pennsylvania, the path forward is clear. And it was built, in no small part, inside a fraternity chapter.
