2025 Elections
September 7, 2025 · Governance
Elections for the FSUMCA Board of Directors are now open through 11:59 PM Eastern Time on October 6.
Please take the opportunity to review the below biographies for each of our candidates and follow the link to the ballot. This year we have 5 candidates running for 4 board positions and one candidate running for the Executive Officer Board Position. We ask that you please vote for only 4 Board seat candidates and 1 Executive Officer candidate, otherwise your ballot will be invalid.
Passwords to vote will be sent out on Monday, September 8, at 9 AM. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have not received the ballot password or with any questions, comments, or concerns prior to casting your vote.
This year, we are also asking for the membership to vote on amendments to our Bylaws and Charter. You can review all proposed changes prior to voting.
Please review the red-lined updates to the FSUMCA Charter: click here. Please direct any questions or feedback to [email protected] with the subject "MCA Charter."
Please review the red-lined updates to the FSUMCA Bylaws: click here. Please direct any questions or feedback to [email protected] with the subject "MCA Bylaws."
Thank you for your time and for taking part in these important elections!
Voting in the FSUMCA election requires a password that was emailed to all members. If you did not receive the password, please reach out to [email protected] to request access.
Board of Directors
Please vote for no more than four (4) candidates. If you vote for more than four (4) candidates, your ballot will be invalid.
Florence Ashby
Florence Ashby played clarinet in the Marching Chiefs, as well as Concert, Symphonic, Circus and the Pep Bands from 1953 until 1957. She later earned a graduate degree from Purdue University. Florence lives in Rockville, Maryland, and although retired after forty years as a mathematics professor at Montgomery College, Florence plans to teach as an adjunct faculty member.
Florence Ashby is re-running for her position on the Board of Directors.
Hayden Elias-Rodriguez
Hayden Elias-Rodriguez played tuba for the Marching Chiefs from 2011-2015, where he served as a section leader for 3 seasons. His participation in FSU bands included Chiefs, Seminole Sound, Campus, Concert and Summer Bands as well as the PRISM ensemble Brass Machine. He was also an active brother of Kappa Kappa Psi from Spring 2013 until transitioning to alumni, then Life Member status in Spring 2017. He served the Gamma Nu chapter as a committee chair and executive member.
Upon graduation Hayden continued to work with Chiefs as an operations manager, coordinating equipment and logistics on game days. Hayden has his Bachelors of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice and his Masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies.
Hayden Elias-Rodriguez is re-running for his position on the Board of Directors.
Mark Stevens
Mark Stevens graduated summa cum laude from FSU in May 2025 with his bachelors in music education. While at FSU, Mark was an active member of the FSU Band program, playing in all concert bands, Marching Chiefs, and Seminole Sound.
During his time in Marching Chiefs, Mark served as an assistant section leader, assistant drum major, and head drum major. He was a recipient of the Hugh Croft Memorial Scholarship and the Marching Chiefs Medal of Honor.
A native of St. Augustine, FL, Mark has returned home and is now teaching middle school band in St. John's County
David Tarquine
David Tarquine was a member of Marching Chiefs from 1993-1995 where he served as Tones section leader in the 94-95 season. In addition to performing with the Marching Chiefs, David performed with the symphonic band and the basketball pep band. While at FSU, David was an active brother of Kappa Kappa Psi and graduated with a BME in 1995.
David has been teaching middle school and elementary school band and orchestra for 23 years 18 of those years with Alexandria City Public Schools in Alexandria, VA. David is also a 20 year retired military musician having served in the United States Marine Corps and the DC Army National Guard. David is also a member of the Washington Commanders Marching Band and is also a freelance musician in the Metropolitan DC area.
Barbara Townsend
Mrs. Barbara Townsend is the music teacher at Chaires Elementary School in Tallahassee, Florida. She enjoys teaching kindergarten through fifth grade. Previously she spent 14 years as a middle school band director. A native of Ormond Beach, Florida, Mrs. Townsend holds a Bachelor in Instrumental Music Education from the Florida State University.
Before graduating from the Florida State University, Mrs. Townsend was a member of the World Renowned University Marching Chiefs where she served as a row leader and Staff Administrator during her four years. It was during her tenure in the Marching Chiefs (2001-2004) that she met her husband, Joe. She was also part of the Seminole Sound, Summer Bands, Campus, Concert and Symphonic Bands at FSU. She enjoys going to skull session and football games to see all of her former students who are current marching chiefs! MCATDT
Barbra Townsend is re-rerunning for her position on the Board of Directors.
Interim Board Member Confirmation
Interim Boardmember, Ben Maryland, was appointed by the MCA Board in Spring 2025 to fill a seat vacated by a previous member. Please review his bio and vote to confirm his position on the Board.
*Ben Maryland -*
Benjamin Maryland was a member of the Marching Chiefs 2014-2017 where he served as a Screech Row Leader. Ben was active in the College of Music, holding spots in Concert Band, Campus Band and Seminole Sound Pep Band.
In Spring 2015 he become a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi, sitting as a committee chair and executive member for two terms. Ben’s experience in Kappa Kappa Psi focused on finance and treasury duties, managing the chapter budget and fiscal planning of their annual Chiefs Banquet. He graduated in Spring 2017 with a degree is Actuarial Sciences, and is currently located in Atlanta, Ga. Post graduation, Ben has participated several homecoming events for the 2021 and 2023 seasons.
Executive Board Position- Executive Director
Please vote for no more than one (1) candidate. If you vote for more than one (1) candidate, your ballot will be invalid.
Lucas Bhuvasorakul
Lucas Bhuvasorakul graduated from FSU in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems. He has worked as an IT professional since 1997 and is currently a Solution Architect specializing in the PeopleSoft application.
Lucas was a four-year member of the Marching Chiefs for the 1993 to 1996 football seasons. He served as a Row Leader during his sophomore and junior seasons and was on Staff in his senior year, serving as the Uniform Manager. Lucas was also a member of the Concert Band in the spring of 1994 and 1995 and the Summer Campus Band in 1994. During the 1994 and 1995 basketball seasons, he was also a member of the Chiefly Brass basketball pep band. Lucas was awarded the Marching Chiefs Medal of Honor after his junior season for outstanding service and dedication to the organization.
Lucas resides in Tallahassee and has served as the Associate Director for Administration since July of 2009. His duties cover all aspects of the business and operations of the MCA. He embraces the opportunities to assist the current and future members of the MCA and help the FSU Band programs.
During his tenure as Associate Director for Administration, he helped move the annual homecoming registration process from paper to online, as well as transition to cashless payments, eliminating physical handling of payments for homecoming registration and Alumni uniform purchases.