EIU Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC)

Gemin Shrestha

President

gshrestha@eiu.edu

Cybersecurity

The President shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the organization, shall preside at all meetings of the organization and shall prepare the agenda for meetings. The President shall be the official spokesperson of the organization, representing the policies, views, and opinions of the organization in its relations with the campus and community at large.  The President shall appoint all committees and committee chairs. The President shall have such further powers and duties as may be prescribed by the organization. 

This position is elected in the spring semester prior to the academic year during which the individual will serve.

Harriet Swanzy-Baffoe

Executive Vice President

hswanzybaffoe@eiu.edu

Clinical Psychology

The Executive Vice President shall preside at organization meetings in the absence of the President. In this time, the Executive Vice President shall perform all legal duties assigned by the President. The Executive Vice President shall also act as liaison between GSAC and Student Government, maintain and enforce the constitution, maintain membership records, and record all meeting minutes from GSAC meetings. 

This position is elected in the spring semester prior to the academic year during which the individual will serve.

Kierstyn Budz 

Vice President of Programming

krbudz@eiu.edu

English

The Vice President of Programming shall organize and oversee all activities and events of GSAC, seek relevant professional development opportunities for graduate matters, and collaborate with other departments, RSOs, and community groups to organize and execute GSAC events.

Elections for the Vice Presidents are held at the first General Assembly meeting of each fall semester.

Cydney Adams 

Vice President of Public Relations

cladams4@eiu.edu

Political Science

The Vice President of Public Relations shall be responsible for creating all print and non-print correspondence for all GSAC events, developing and publishing the bi-semester newsletter, monitor and update social media outlets and website, oversee other special correspondence with external constituents as needed. 

Elections for the Vice Presidents are held at the first General Assembly meeting of each fall semester.

Rahima Mohammed

Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity

rmohammed4@eiu.edu

Art

The Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity shall act as a liaison between GSAC and the Office of Inclusion and Academic Engagement, the Office of International Students and Scholars, and the multicultural registered student organizations at Eastern Illinois University in order to facilitate multicultural inclusion at the graduate student level.

Elections for the Vice Presidents are held at the first General Assembly meeting of each fall semester.

Elian Mackey

Graduate Student Dean

emackey@eiu.edu

College Student Affairs

The Student Dean shall serve as a liaison to the Student Senate, the Graduate School Dean, and undergraduate academic college student deans to promote outreach and communication across campus. The Graduate Student Dean will be responsible for representing EIU’s graduate student campus at national graduate student organization meetings contingent upon available funding. The Graduate Student Dean will also coordinate with the VP for Student Affairs to select graduate student representation on the grade appeal committee.

The Graduate Student Dean is selected by the Graduate School and is not an elected position by GSAC.