Newly Elected Executive Officers
GSG President
Anupama Kothari
I am excited to be running for a second term as GSG President. I feel passionate about my job and I have worked diligently to improve the quality of life for graduate students. My successes this year include creating a graduate grievance procedure, securing increased graduate representation on committees, increasing both event sponsorships and the number of graduate student awards, initiating workshops on debt and legal issues, and pioneering an airport pickup program for new graduate students. We are well on our way to securing time extensions for graduate student parents; preventing unfunded, mandatory health insurance; preventing rent increases in graduate housing; and ensuring affordable rents for graduate students on East Campus. I am excited to continue working on these issues, in addition to a post-tenure review process, academic policies and stipends. If elected, I promise to continue to serve the graduate student community to the best of my abilities.
VP Committee Affairs
Tomek Kott
As the current VP for Committee Affairs, I have been able to accomplish many of the goals set at the beginning of the year. Namely, I have revamped the GSG website, made Committee and Assembly minutes easy to access, and established a way for minutes to be submitted directly to the website. Additionally, I was able to convince several students, who were not Assembly Members, to serve on committees, thus casting a wider net for opinions. Over the next year, I will work on consolidating the minute submission feature to ensure that there is consistency in the quality of the minutes. I will also increase the participation of key committees, such as the Legislative Affairs Committee. I have enjoyed serving you as the VP for Committee Affairs and hope to serve for another year.
VP Student Affairs
Lenisa Joesph
I came to UMCP in 2004 to pursue a Masters Degree in Special Education. While completing my degree I made the decision to continue with a Doctorate. As the coordinator of the PhD Completion Project which attracts approximately 200 graduate students, I often hear from student about specific needs. As Student Affairs Representative, I would have a better footing to address some of the issues. High priority issues for me would be Housing for Graduate Students, Health Insurance, Transport, and Safety on Campus. I have contributed to the University over the past years in the following ways. Presently I am serving my second term as a member of the Graduate Council appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School and also serve as program representative to the Graduate Student Government. I have also served as President of the International Graduate Student Association and Secretary on the Black Graduate Student Association. .
VP Legislative Affairs
Karin French
I am familiar with most of the VPLA duties, and they are in line with the type of work I like and have performed in the past as a meetings manager. I feel that I will be comfortable interacting with and helping any assembly member with legislation or other related matters.
VP Financial Affairs
Ryan Richards
I have served on the Graduate Student Assembly for the past year. In addition to my duties as Program Representative I have been an active member of the Legislative Action Committee, working to prevent tuition increases and encourage the state government's support of our campus's Climate Action Plan. I plan on serving the graduate student community as VP of Financial Affairs by improving use of GSG funding by graduate student groups for their professional enrichment.
VP Academic Affairs
Aaron Tobiason
I have been involved with the GSG for the past several years, serving twice as the VP for Legislative Affairs, and twice as a Program Representative. I am currently a member of the University Senate Executive Committee, the Senate Student Affairs Committee, the Provost's Student Advisory Council, and the search committee for the new dean of libraries, in addition to chairing the GSG's Governance Committee. My experiences with the GSG and across campus have provided me a valuable perspective on the academic policies and programs affecting graduate students; I believe the relationships I have established with University officials will make me an effective VP for Academic Affairs. I am particularly interested in working with the Graduate School and University Senate to ensure there are policies in place that protect graduate students and ensure their relationships with their thesis and dissertation advisors are productive and free from exploitation or unreasonable interference.
VP Community Development
Bethany Applebaum
I am PhD student in the Department of Anthropology and have served as Vice President for Community Development for the past year. I have very much enjoyed this position, as it has provided me with an opportunity to give back to the school, the graduate student community, and my classmates. I have experience organizing all-campus events and currently serve as an advisor to undergraduate social organizations and committees, giving me a significant amount of experience with teamwork, achieving objectives, and working efficiently and effectively. I welcome the opportunity to continue working as VP of Community Development.