UMKC’s Student Government Association President Brandon Henderson announced tonight he will resign from office effective Nov. 30. 

Henderson made the announcement in a letter which was shared to UMKC SGA’s Twitter and Instagram pages. 

“I’m writing to inform you that, effective November 30th, 2020, I will be resigning as President of the UMKC Student Government Association,” Henderson wrote. 

Henderson said in the letter he’s resigning to focus on issues related to his mental health and academic standing. 

“It is time for me to deal with the personal struggles I’ve endured since assuming this role, struggles that have gotten worse over the past few weeks,” wrote Henderson. “My health, mental and physical, has deteriorated rapidly since classes resumed this semester. My grades have worsened. I don’t like the person I’ve become. For my sake, I’m resigning to work on addressing these issues.” 

Henderson further explained his reasoning in a Twitter post. 

“As much as I want to, I can’t keep choosing my fellow students over myself,” he wrote. “It’s not fair to me or my family to continue doing this if it’s hurting my academics or my health, which is why I decided now is the time to step down.” 

Henderson said in his letter of resignation that he’s struggled with the decision “for a long time now,” and that the “decision was incredibly hard to make.” He expressed gratitude at having worked with other members of SGA and said he cherished his time as president.  

“Words cannot express how much I loved serving as your SGA President,” Henderson wrote. “Thank you all for putting your faith in me, and I’m sorry if I let you down.”

Henderson encouraged anyone struggling with health issues to seek help. 

“If I can do it, you can too,” he wrote. 

Henderson’s resignation leaves the remainder of his term in the hands of SGA Vice President Mahreen Ansari, according to the organization’s Constitution. Additionally, according to Article II, Section 14 of the Constitution, “The new President shall then appoint a Vice President subject to the Student Senate’s approval by a three-fourths (¾) vote.” 

“I am very confident in my Vice President, Mahreen Ansari, and her ability to lead our student body next semester,” wrote Henderson. 

Chief Justice Alex Higginbotham will swear Ansari in as president during the Student Senate meeting on Nov. 30. 

“SGA will continue on. A smooth transition of power will happen seamlessly,” Higginbotham said. “The system is bigger than any individual people and will continue to operate as normal.”