Daryl Ansel, a campus alumnus, will become the new ASUC executive director of the student union starting July 11.

As the executive director of the student union, Ansel will be serving as a liaison between students, the ASUC Student Union Board of Directors and the Dean of Students Joseph Greenwell. He is also responsible for making sure that the suggestions made by the ASUC Student Union Board of Directors are put into action.

“(One of his goals) is for students to have better experience(s) on this campus,” said former ASUC executive vice president Lavanya Jawaharlal.

Ansel has a Bachelor of Arts in economics from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in hospitality management from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration.

He currently serves as a chief operating officer at L.A. Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that provides healthy food for local communities and job training for unemployed men and women. Prior to this job, he worked as the director of dining services at UCLA.

“He has extensive knowledge navigating UC campus structure and student dining,” said ASUC President William Morrow.

Former executive director of the student union, Kelsey Finn, filled the position for three years. She started in 2012 and stepped down from the position in November of last year. Greenwell occupied the position during the search for a new executive director of the student union.

The student union partnered with the Spelman Johnson search firm and last year’s ASUC executive board to search for someone to fill the position.

“The new executive director is someone who can and should prioritize student needs even admiration budget cuts and creatively drive revenue for the Student Union at the same time,” ASUC Executive Vice President Alicia Lau said in an email.

Applicants were interviewed and then appointed by the Student Union Board.

According to Morrow, Finn accepted a new role as the CEO of National Association of College Auxiliary Services, a nonprofit organization that serves two-year and four-year colleges and universities.

“She is a student (based) and student-orientated leader,” Jawaharlal. “She was always the person who put students first.”

According to Jawaharlal, Finn’s accomplishments included overseeing the completion of the Lower Sproul Redevelopment Project, revitalizing the area around Lower Sproul that creates a true heart of student life on campus.

“The project would not have completed without her,” Jawaharlal said.

According to Jawaharlal, Ansel’s entrepreneurial background will allow him to improve the student union. She added that his understanding in the areas of finance and student needs is what distinguished him from other candidates.

“He understands that the ASUC Student Union is a student space and the interest of students are kept first,” Morrow said.