Get to know your 2025–2026 APhA–ASP National Executive Committee: Sean Kawa, national president-elect

Sean Kawa is a second-year PharmD candidate at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and is the 2025–2026 APhA–ASP national president-elect.

I’d first like to express my sincere gratitude to have been trusted with the position of APhA–ASP national president-elect. As I step into this role, I’d like to familiarize you all with who I am, if I haven’t yet had the pleasure of meeting you.

I was born and raised in Buffalo and have stayed in western New York to pursue my PharmD degree at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. While small—and yes, cold—this “City of Good Neighbors” earns its title and is the place I’m proud to call home … blizzards and all!

Obviously, I am a passionate Buffalo Bills fan. Speaking from experience, attending an NFL snow game among the “Bills Mafia” is an opportunity that should not be passed up.

I also like to keep myself entertained by acquiring new skills or knowledge. This pursuit has guided me to pick up (amateur) gardening, language learning, and has led me to many adventures in my home city and on my travels alike. I would additionally consider myself a major history buff, and I’m always excited to delve into interesting conversations. If you’re looking for obscure U.S. history facts, I’m your man.

My first experience with APhA–ASP came when I attended the 2023 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Phoenix, while I was a pre-pharmacy student. I was inspired by the passion that student pharmacists held for the profession. I recognized the scope of this association and the true capacity that student pharmacists hold in their ability to transform themselves into influential leaders.

That display of passion instilled in me a desire to involve myself in the advancement of this profession and to share with current and future student pharmacists the influence I had experienced. Pharmacy, now more than ever, requires this commitment to leadership. By no means, however, is one individual alone responsible for our success. The efforts of all student leaders construct our momentous force of progress and upliftment, from the chapter to the national level.

I hope for the opportunity to meet many of you—the leaders of tomorrow!

Five questions for Sean

1. What show are you currently binging, and why do you like it?

House. Because nothing more effectively makes me feel like a know-it-all before exams.

2. What bucket-list item do you want to check off before you graduate?

Exploring the West Coast!

3. Which Marvel character is your favorite and why?

Spiderman. Who doesn’t want to sling around the city?

4. If you could perform at the Super Bowl, what would your opening song be and why?

The “National Anthem.” I’ve been practicing.

5. If you could come up with your own ice cream flavor, what would you put in it?

Purely black coffee and donuts. No better fusion.