The president of the St. Edward’s University Student Government Association has resigned, citing personal reasons.

SGA President Blanca Garcia, as well as Sophomore Senator Andrew Guerrero, resigned from SGA at the Oct. 28 senate meeting.

Garcia notified SGA’s executive board of her resignation earlier that day. Although she was present at the senate meeting, she could not be reached for comment.

“A small group of SGA members knew of Blanca’s intent to resign before she announced it to E-Board last Thursday,” Marianne Shea, press director of SGA, said. “However, out of respect for her and the difficult choices she had to make, these individuals kept that information private.”

Senior Krista Heiden, who served as vice president under Garcia after the two won the spring election by a 2-1 margin, was sworn in as president at Thursday night’s senate meeting.

“We are all sad to see Blanca leave the association and we wish her nothing but the best,” Heiden said in an SGA press release.

The resignation leaves the organization without a vice president. To fill this vacancy, SGA will hold a special campus-wide election starting on Thursday, Nov. 11, after a week of campaigning. This election, to be held on Collegiate Link, will last for a week, until Nov. 18, SGA Advisor Marisa Lacey said.

Lacey will serve as the interim elections commissioner since the student who was serving in that capacity, Fremen DeRuvo, resigned a few weeks ago.

Any senators who have served two consecutive semesters with SGA can run for vice president, according to SGA’s bylaws.

In the meantime, Noah Corn, senator of the School of Humanities, will chair senate meetings in the newly created position of president pro tempore.

Passed during Thursday’s meeting, the position of president pro tempore will chair the senate only when there is no vice president or when the vice president does not attend a meeting.

Guerrero read his letter of resignation aloud at the senate meeting on Thursday.

Guerrero said that he decided to resign his position as sophomore class senator because he cannot adequately represent his constituents when he has so much to do right now.

Guerrero said he wants to focus on Promoting Respect, Inclusion, Diversity and Empowerment (PRIDE), the St. Edward’s student organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students of which he is president.

“I’m sad to leave an organization that does so many great things,” Guerrero said in his letter to SGA. “At the same time, know that while I may be leaving this position, this is not the last time our paths will cross.”

SGA is looking to replace Guerrero.

“[Filling Guerrero’s seat] will be an open application process that will be overseen by the Executive Class Senator Zac Peal,” Shea said.

The packets to apply for Guerrero’s position of sophomore senator are available on CollegiateLink, Shea said.