Officers

5/2/12:  New GPSS officers elected!

The GPSS Officers provide a critical link between students, administrators, faculty, the community, and the legislature.  In the past, GPSS officers have advocated for improved family housing and better childcare on campus.  At the state level, our Officers have fought to defeat tuition increases, increase state funding for childcare and mental health services on campus, reduce textbook costs and provide educational debt forgiveness to public interest lawyers.

GPSS Officers set the organization’s goals and implement Senate directives, communicate goals and actions to the University and students, report on progress toward achieving these directives, and account for 19.5 hours per week.

GPSS Officers select graduate student representatives to serve on over 150 University committees.  These committees deal with such diverse issues as the quality of academic programs, sexual harassment, campus recycling and ownership of research, to name a few.

GPSS Officers also oversee the running of the Senate and its budget of over $250,000.  They attend orientations for new graduate students, fund speakers and departmental programs, and publish a website to keep graduate and professional students informed of issues and events.  Most importantly, they hold regular meetings of the Senate, a forum for graduate and professional students to air their concerns and give direction to the officers.

GPSS encourages all graduate and professional students to run for Officer positions.  The job will be challenging and unforgettable, and your efforts will forever affect the future of graduate education at this University.

The 2012-2013 GPSS Officers are:

 

President

Adam Sherman, Law

Before coming to the UW, Adam served as a Peace Corps volunteer for three years in the Mali, West Africa. During that time he worked as a small enterprise development agent on a variety of projects from microfinancing to eco-tourism. Upon returning home, Adam enrolled in the Evans School of Public Affairs at UW studying public policy and legislative relations. After finishing his Masters in Public Administration in 2010, he decided to continue his education by pursuing a law degree. He is currently in his third year at the Law School and is focusing his energy around state and local government and education policy. Adam has been involved in student leadership since he was an undergrad at Western Washington University. As an MPA student he was Vice President of the Evans Student Organization helping plan events and bring student organizations together to present a unified voice to the administration. Adam is entering his fourth year of involvement with GPSS. In that time he has served as a senator, a delegate to SAGE, the GPSS Vice President, and, now, as President. As an aspiring foodie Adam loves to eat around town and try new food. He's also a pretty big fan of college hoops.

 

Vice President

Melanie Mayock, Urban Planning and Public Administration

Melanie is pursuing a joint Master of Urban Planning and Master of Public Administration degree at UW.  A Seattle native, she lived in Washington, DC for several years where she became a passionate advocate for sustainable transportation and livable communities.  Her work experience includes several years with the Sierra Club, Zipcar, and one year as the GPSS Legislative Assistant.

Treasurer

Vera Giampietro, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning

Vera is a graduate student in the concurrent Master of Landscape Architecture/Master of Urban Planning program in UW’s College of Built Environments. She joined GPSS first as the Landscape Architecture senator and now serves with great enthusiasm as GPSS Treasurer. Vera’s interests in GPSS include bringing organizational efficiency to operations, building community among graduate students – both within the senate and across the university through GPSS socials, and supporting GPSS efforts to improve funding for higher education. Her work with GPSS directly translates to her passion for designing the built environment. She seeks to build community through all types of collective activity, whether formalized through student government or spontaneously through design of inspiring spaces. Outside of the GPSS office Vera can be found playing soccer on her beloved indoor women’s team, tending her vegetable garden, and tearing it up on tennis courts or ping pong tables. Vera will graduate the CBE in Spring 2014.

Secretary

Kristen Hosey, School of Nursing

Kristen is a third-year Master of Nursing/Doctorate of Nursing Practice (MN/DNP) student in Advanced Practice Community Health Systems Nursing. Her focus is in cross cultural and global health.  She received her BSN and RN License where she grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Before moving to the UW she was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi working as a nurse educator and community health advisor.  In addition to volunteering with the School of Nursing, she enjoys stargazing, arts and crafts, traveling, martial arts, and scuba diving.