The Students Behind the Governance
“Hey, I know you’re busy, I’m busy too. I can be president, you can be the VP, and let’s just do this.”
That was the start of a conversation between Nathaniel Krieger, elected Associated Student Government president, and Molly Charles, the elected vice president, that led to the formation of the duo that will lead the CSU Pueblo student body through the 2026-2027 school year.
After several shifts amongst candidates running as the election was coordinated, it was decided that Krieger and Charles would be running together, unopposed.
The Today conducted interviews with both leaders to get to know them a little more, beyond their roles within student governance.
Krieger and Charles were both presented to the same questions, provided below with their individual responses to each.
Let’s start with some general background. Can you tell me a bit about where you’re from, your major and other activities you enjoy outside of ASG?
Nathaniel: “I was born in Fort Carson, Colorado. I grew up in Pueblo for a little bit, preschool through seventh grade. Then I moved out to Calhan, Colorado where I spent my time from seventh grade to senior year, and then eventually decided to come back home to Pueblo.
I’ve just loved the area. I am a junior, I’m going to be in my senior year. When I’m not doing ASG things… I’m a student ambassador when I work here. I’m part of everything you can find in the music building. I’m constantly joining and helping out with every activity you can possibly find on campus, being a friendly face everywhere I can be. I’m a vocal music performance major with minors in legal studies, honors, and leadership.”
Molly: “I was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado and I love it here. My major is art and creative media with a minor in leadership studies.
Besides ASG, I work in the marketing office, making sure that pack chats get out every week, letting students know what’s going on on campus besides from ASG. Also, I work with the dining services, I do all their marketing.”
Can you share a bit about what originally motivated you to pursue ASG?
Nathaniel: “I have always found myself to be a more more connective person when it comes to meeting the public, and when I say that, what I mean is, I’ve always found myself in the position of being that voice for the people.
When you can’t find your words to talk to somebody you need to, sometimes it’s easier to talk to someone else. Usually, I end up being that person and I feel very comfortable in that position. I’m also very good at advocating for those who either A, need it and know they need it or B, need it and don’t know they need it.
That kind of helped me to realize that a position like this of leading my fellow students was where I belong and it was a position I could actually do good in. Then it just kind of progressed from there.
Molly: “I originally wanted to join ASG because I was involved heavily in student government in high school and I wanted to continue that.
I knew that in college it would be a little bit more to the extreme. It would be reaching out to organizations in the community, and reaching out to students and seeing their feedback and what they want. That was what was most important to me, I want every student on campus to have a good experience and I think being part of ASG like we could help change the way students look at school.”
Can you describe a moment where you faced unexpected adversity and how that has shaped your decision making process as a leader?
Nathaniel: “A moment for me was deciding where to actually go to college. I went to a very small school. I graduated with 23 kids in my class and a lot of those kids didn’t even attend the actual school, they attended an online class and then graduated with us.
None of my friends from high school graduated and came here, so I had to decide, even though I’ve been in plenty of leadership ship positions with these people, where I wanted to go, and I made the choice to come here, and then making the choice to be a music major coming to a school where I know almost nobody in the music department.
That took a lot from me, especially for my leadership skills, to say ‘Okay, I’m going to go out. I’m still going to be independent and strong, and a good leader, and make my voice known to these people, while going to a place where nobody knows who I am, and I think it worked out pretty good.”
Molly: “Something that had happened was I actually wasn’t elected for the second time I ran for ASG for a following year, and that pushed me to keep going and I tried out the next following week for a different position and I did end up getting that.
I think knowing that even if stuff doesn’t go your way, exactly how you want it, there is a way that is what was meant for you.”
Tell me about a personal passion or hobby of yours and how it’s influenced your success as a student at CSU Pueblo.
Nathaniel: “I love, love, love musical theater. I think I’m pretty good at it. I’ve started a lot of things in both my high school and here on campus.
I actually premiered an original part as a lead role for Dr. Volk’s musical The Prodigal Son. That happened just at the beginning of this fall semester or spring semester. That was absolutely amazing. Because of that involvement, I realized that there’re so many opportunities in Pueblo I just didn’t know about.
I experienced the Pueblo Summer Musical last year for the first time through Cinderella, absolutely amazing. With that being said, I realized that we don’t have something like that here on campus.
We have a musical theater in the spring semester every year, [it] ends up just being a cabaret, no name to it. This year, I was one of the people who helped push for the decision to make it into an actual musical and we did Into the Woods.
From there I kind of realized if I can make that happen. I can make anything happen on this campus.”
Molly: “I actually created my own company while in college and in school, and while that was hectic in itself, I think it’s pushed me to see the bigger picture, knowing that it’s not just in college, but it’s the things that you’re going to do out of college when you’re when you’re graduated, like what are those next steps?
Video and photography is shown in every aspect of everything, no matter what you think about, there’s always a photographer there, there’s someone recording the moment to make sure it’s captured.”
What’s your favorite part about the CSU Pueblo student body?
Nathaniel: “My favorite part about the CSU Pueblo student body is how there’s always a friendly face, even when people have bad days. I don’t feel like there’s a single day on this campus where I have to walk through and feel like, oh my gosh these people do not want to be around other people it doesn’t feel welcoming.
Everyone here feels very welcoming to talk to you. You can just walk up to people if you really need to and you can say hey like I hope you have a great day. I have it happen all the time. For people who I kind of know, or don’t know at all who come up to me And they say, I hope you have an amazing day. You’re doing great.
That’s just not something you can find at other colleges. We are a smaller university, but that’s because we have a stronger connection for the people.”
Molly: “I think my biggest thing that I love about this campus is that everyone’s super welcoming and super friendly. Even if you don’t know a person and you go up to them asking them a question, if they want to be in a video or if they want to participate.
Everyone’s pretty open-minded and they aren’t afraid to say their opinion, which is great. We need students who know what they want, know what they don’t like and I think that everyone on CSU Pueblo’s campus is just so welcoming and open to trying new things.
What do you want students to know about how they can contact you?
Nathaniel: I am everywhere. I am always checking my email, and always looking for conversation. I want them to feel comfortable to just come up to me if you see me doing something.
I work in the library. You can find me at the visitor center, I do visitor tours. I’m always in the OSC (Occhiato Student Center). Music building is my home base, but you can find me all over campus. I want everyone to be able to reach out to me, my email is there.”
Molly: “In every single email sign off that I have, I have my phone number there. So, it’s always open for anyone to call me. I love a phone call more than an email. Email’s kind of can be a little old school for me, but they still work. I will have my own office next semester with ASG, so my office is always going to be welcome to whoever wants to come and hang out.”
It’ll be open for students just to hang out and be comfortable and feel welcome in the space.”
Get to Know Your ASG Leaders
Both Krieger and Charles were asked a round of “rapid fire” questions about some of their personal favorites.
Winter or summer?:
Nathaniel: Winter
Molly: Summer
Breakfast or dinner?:
Nathaniel: Breakfast
Molly: Dinner (but loves having breakfast for dinner)
Sweet or Savory?:
Nathaniel: Savory
Molly: Savory
Favorite gas station snack?:
Nathaniel: Honey Bun
Molly: Dorito’s Dinamitas
Favorite super hero?:
Nathaniel: Spiderman
Molly: Spiderman
Go-to feel good song?:
Nathaniel: “Feel Good Inc.” by Gorillaz
Molly: “Self Care” by Mac Miller
#1 leader who inspires you?:
Nathaniel: Stan Lee
Molly: “I would say my dad.”
They share the same favorite super hero, and a passion for connecting with, supporting, and representing their fellow students, and now we know the way to their hearts – Honey Buns and Dinamitas.
They’ve also both expressed hope and excitement as they lead ASG into the next school year. Krieger shared their agreement as they continued on as a team, “I won’t let you fail, you don’t let me fail, and we’ll be okay.”
