Equipped with a vibrant, natural leadership style, Mert Kayabas (C '28) took over the role of first year class president in late September. His passion and outgoing energy was evident from our first conversation as he expressed his eagerness to uplift the voices of Penn's first years to ensure they feel heard, represented, and connected to one another.
For Mert, community isn’t just a buzzword thrown around without true meaning—it’s a call to action. This vision pushed him into the role of class president, a position he hadn’t planned to pursue when first arriving at Penn. Yet Mert felt drawn to the responsibility through encouragement from his peers. "Honestly, my friends told me that I could be a good fit for the role and I thought I might as well try it out," he says.
Originally from Dover, Del., Mert embraces his roots as a Turkish–American, a foundational part of his identity that he believes helps shape his leadership. He recalls how his background through both family and his peer relationships have instilled in him the importance of diverse perspectives—something he’s excited to emphasize in the Penn community. “No one person can know everything, so having people who think differently than you is an important way to learn about the world,” he says.
Since arriving at Penn, Mert has enjoyed every moment. “It's been amazing! I’ve loved connecting with so many different people,” he says. Even before his campaign for class president, meeting new people each day was an exciting experience. During New Student Orientation and in the weeks after, Mert embraced every opportunity to talk to as many fellow first years as he could.
Mert’s passion for leadership didn’t start at Penn. In high school, he was captain of his swim team and served as the governor for Boys State in Delaware, significant roles that helped prepare him for his current role as class president.
Now as president, Mert’s agenda is simple: build a sense of community and create long–lasting connections among the first year class. “I want to foster the opportunity for others to be exposed to different people and aspects of Penn,” he explains. Whether it’s “anything from concert tickets to free food pop–ups,” Mert believes that class events at Penn should have something for everyone.
As for his presidency, Mert is excited about continuing the legacy of the current 2027 class president, Steven Li. He compliments Steven's work in event planning and budgeting, hoping to carry on some of the traditions Steven has started while also introducing new ideas. “One thing I will say is that I knew going in that I wasn't going to have all the ideas. I’m definitely going to reach out through class–wide emails for suggestions,” he says, emphasizing his collaborative approach to leadership.
When I asked about his campaign tactics, Mert’s eyes lit up. With a smile, he recounted how, through a collaborative effort with close friends, he was able to build a campaign that revolved around his unique name.
“People know MERT, the ‘Medical Emergency Response Team’ as a negative thing that you don't want to call. Through my presidency, I had the idea that I want to change the narrative, I want to change the definition of “MERT” at Penn,” he says. This narrative was present through his campaign video—a play on calling MERT for help— that garnered significant attention on social media, with hundreds of views from the first year class and beyond.
He notes, “Even if I didn't win, I had so much fun making the video with my friends, and that’s what matters most.” The campaign process as a whole has allowed him to meet many new people, some who have even become his close friends, and has begun to link the name Mert “not to negative experiences with the other MERT, but positive experiences with me, or events we throw as a board,” he adds.
Now, with the weight of the presidency on his shoulders, Mert is optimistic for his future in his new role and the rest of the year to come. He has had the chance to meet Interim Penn President, Larry Jameson, who told Mert that he’s gotten to meet hundreds of first years already and thinks the dynamic they have as a class is amazing. Mert says, "We have a very unique, interesting, and fun class, and I hope to represent that in everything we do.”
With Mert’s enthusiasm and the support of the amazing class board, the first year class at Penn can get ready for a year filled with exciting events that will build the foundations of a strong, inclusive, community for years to come.
