Student Senate Selects Kylie Derifield as Senator
Junior Kylie Derifield was chosen to fill the vacant at-large facilities and technology senator seat at Drake University.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in College Life
Student Senate selected junior Kylie Derifield as facilities and technology senator at large after the position was left vacant at the start of the school year. Derifield was chosen through an application and interview process that began with a Google Form sent out by Senate.
Why it matters
The seat was filled outside the usual April campus-wide election, giving students a voice in facilities and technology decisions on campus. Derifield's work on campus safety, mold, and lighting concerns puts student priorities directly before administrators.
Derifield applied through a Google Form and was interviewed before Senate voted for her at its next meeting. The source does not specify the vote tally or the date of the vote.
The players
Drake University
Drake University is a private university in Des Moines, Iowa, whose Student Senate governs student representation and appointments.
The details
Derifield is studying law, politics and society and sociology with a minor in business and law, and holds a concentration in women's and gender studies. She sits on an artificial intelligence Areas of Inquiry subcommittee, has met with Senators Monica Osborn and Simeon Moulton on student perspectives on AI, and has raised safety, mold, and campus lighting concerns with the facilities executive director.
Timeline
The at-large position became vacant at the beginning of the school year.
Derifield was selected by Student Senate through an application and interview process.
Campus Governance
Student governments at many universities fill vacant senate seats through mid-year appointments rather than waiting for the next scheduled election. This appointment follows that practice at Drake University.
Students at Drake University now have a senator focused on facilities, safety, and lighting concerns who can bring those issues to campus administrators. Derifield's proposed Little Free Library could also add a shared resource for students near campus.
The takeaway
Student government vacancies can be filled mid-year, so students who want a voice on campus issues can apply when seats open. Following Senate meetings is a practical way to track how student concerns reach administrators.
Further reading
Explore more campus stories in College Life coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times-Delphic.
