Meet our 2025-2026 Treasurer, Sam Bista!

Why did you want to serve as Treasurer 

I come from a family where access to education was often restricted for women with the motive of suppressing them. There is a shared rhetoric amongst the people of Nepal when it comes to ambitious women– it is that their existence threatens the harmony of the family and society itself.  

Sam and our Director of Programs, Dr. Meg Bartlett-Chase

Despite that, The women that raised me were able to achieve such great heights even when stripped away from the privilege of learning. They made sure that every dollar in the house counted towards the upbringing and education of their children, and the encouragement of girls like me. Their hard work had me constantly wondering: what could they achieve with access to education, and encouragement to study? Their efforts inspire me everyday at St. Cloud State University to show up, do my best, and honor the women who came before me.

Last year, I joined the Community Leader Fellowship program with the best mentors and cohort I could’ve asked for. They welcomed me into the community and supported me when I was in dire need after going through medical and financial hardships. During such an uncertain and difficult time in my life, working at Students United was the most insightful experience I had gained since starting my undergrad at St. Cloud State University.  

It is not uncommon to struggle as a student when trying to conform to a system that wasn’t originally built for you—this clarity inspired me to be the change in our communities and to push women in financially powerful positions. 

I applied for the position of Treasurer for the year 25-26 to understand how money flows in and out of an organization that actively impacts the life of students. From an early age, the concepts of financial sustainability and transparency were incredibly important to me.  I wanted to further understand the gravity of every dollar and be so fluent in the subject that I can continue helping my community because even when my tenure here ends, my passion for this will not. Being a student should not be an isolated journey, especially in this climate, support should be all around. 

Tell us more about yourself (include major, school, career goals, and a few fun facts.)  

I’m a senior at St. Cloud State university, graduating this upcoming Spring semester with a degree in Information Systems. During my last three years of high school spent working

Em, Sam, and Javi during Officer Onboarding this past June

with non-profit organizations in Nepal, I recognized a huge gap in access to technology for women entrepreneurs in South Asia that made their livelihood unsustainable. This inevitably created a space for domestic abuse and financial dependency which affected the children of the household as well.  

Everything I am today, I owe it all to my mother and her sacrifices– but I know that not everyone is fortunate enough for this upbringing. I want to bridge the gaps between marginalized groups and literacy in the future, be it in the form of finance or technology. I hope to work with organizations that share the same values as me, and I hope to one day establish my own organization dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs. Ultimately, I aim to provide support to women and children to achieve financial freedom that will allow a break in the cycle of domestic abuse reinstated by financial dependency on men. 

A Fun Fact About Sam: Something you should know about me is that I love art museums! To me it is essential to visit the local museums wherever I travel to! Send me an email with some of your best museum recommendations!  

Want to get in contact with Sam? Send her an email at treasurer@studentsunited.org