Three candidates have been selected from the Young Alumni Trustee (YAT) candidate pool of 31 to advance into the general election: Gil Joseph ’25, Stephen Padlo ’25, and Ben Wachspress ’25.
The YAT serves a four-year term on the Princeton Board of Trustees. Established in 1969, the position provides a recent graduate the opportunity to contribute a valuable perspective “informed by their recent experience as an undergraduate student.”
All three finalists are Residential College Advisors (RCAs), not currently affiliated with an eating club, and serve on the Class of 2025 Commencement Committees. Joseph and Wachspress are part of the Class Day committee that selected Jay Shetty as the speaker, while Padlo is the co-chair of the Annual Giving 2025 campaign.
In a statement to The Daily Princetonian, Wachspress expressed confidence in the group moving forward.
“I’m honored to be named a finalist for YAT alongside Gil and Steve — two people I’ve had the privilege of working with and am lucky to call friends,” he wrote. “Regardless of the outcome, I know the YAT position will be in excellent hands.”
Wachspress currently serves as Class of 2025 President, Chair of the Senior Commencement Committee, and is a member of the Alumni Council Executive Committee. He is an RCA in New College West and previously served as Class Social Chair. Last year, Wachspress and Joseph ran against one another for Class of 2025 President, with Wachspress winning 52–48.
Padlo, the 2025 Class Treasurer and an RCA in Yeh College, echoed similar sentiments about the gravity of the role.
“I am deeply honored to have been selected by my classmates in consideration for the Young Alumni Trustee position,” he said. “I have so much respect for Gil and Ben and everything they have done to transform Princeton.” Joseph is an RCA in Forbes College and Class Day Co-Chair. He has held roles in the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) and has served on the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC) Priorities Committee. Joseph described his candidacy as rooted in a deep investment in Princeton’s future.
“I aim to serve as a principled, collaborative voice — bridging the insights of current students with the long-term vision that is required of a trustee,” he said.
“Over the past four years, I have given everything I have to promote belonging and build community on campus,” Wachspress wrote. “Princeton, above all else, is a place where people with vastly different experiences come together.”
Padlo also emphasized his dedication to community-building and service. “The trustee would have to commit 200 hours per year to the position, the equivalent of 25 eight-hour workdays. It’s a huge commitment, and it’s one that I have taken the past four years to prepare for.”
YAT candidates are prohibited from issue-based and organized campaigning. This has been met with controversy in the past, although the YAT handbook says that this is due to the need for trustees to approach board matters with an open mind and “not as an advocate for a particular constituency or point of view” ensuring their decisions serve the long-term interests of the University.
All three candidates emphasized that while campaigning is prohibited, they hope voters will engage thoughtfully with the statements and profiles shared through official election materials.
“I hope the broader community takes the time to learn more about each of us and chooses the candidate they believe is best suited for the role,” Wachspress said.
“I hope voters base their judgment on who would be the best candidate to stand up for growth, uplift student voices, recognize their needs, and make sure the future direction of the University continues to move forward in a positive direction,” Padlo added.
Joseph echoed the sentiment, noting that he plans to spend the next few weeks continuing to invest in the communities that matter most to him.
“Besides finishing my senior thesis and making core memories with friends, I will keep doing what I’ve done for four years — serving the causes I care about,” he said. “In the end, I am completely confident in the ability of the Princeton community to decide who best to continue this work as a Trustee.”
When asked about the most pressing long-term challenge Princeton faces, Wachspress addressed the influence of recent political threats on higher education and research. “The Board will need to navigate a delicate relationship with the federal government while remaining firmly committed to the University’s core mission and safeguarding the most vulnerable students, faculty, and staff,” he wrote.
Padlo similarly cited the “uncertainty behind the future of research” as a key challenge for the University and reaffirmed his belief in the power of Princeton’s mission. “My time here has made me recognize that Princeton builds some of the most influential leaders our world has to offer, and I look forward to upholding the values and mission which foster this development.”
Joseph pointed to access and student well-being. “Access to Princeton cannot stop at the FitzRandolph gates,” he said. “It must be sustained by investment in student well-being and community building. I believe the University must remain bold in reimagining what it means to educate the next generation of global citizens.”
Unsuccessful YAT candidates can still contribute to their class by serving as Alumni Class Officers.
“The Class of 2025 will become an official organization of the University after graduation. Officer roles will be elected by your classmates this spring, and while those three moving onto the general YAT ballot are ineligible to run, the rest of you are welcome and encouraged to run for class leadership positions,” the email to all primary candidates read.
Voting for the general election opens on April 30. Members of the Class of 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 are eligible to vote.
The results of the election will be announced at the P-rade during reunions on May 24.
Hayk Yengibaryan is an associate News editor, senior Sports writer, and education director for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Glendale, Calif.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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