GSC Home » 2013-2014 Officer Elections

2013-2014 Officer Elections

Officer Nominations (as of 3/21/2013)

President

-1-Frank Sturm

Statement of Intent

Fellow GSC Senators and graduate students,

Serving as a GSC senator for the last three years, I have witnessed and been involved with GSC transitioning from a passive student council into an active student governance intent on effectively serving graduate students at Auburn.  If elected president, I will maintain this goal by continuing  to develop the structure of this organization and improving communication between GSC, its senators, graduate students, and the broader Auburn student body.

Foremost, the structure of GSC must be sound to allow current leadership to effectively carry out their duties while providing stability for future leadership to seamlessly take their rolls.  As a recently active student organization, I feel the leadership of the past two years has made positive and meaningful strides towards this structuring.

In this regard, two immediate areas of focus would be the organization and structure of official GSC meetings, and a clearer definition of the responsibilities of the executive board and senators to our council, to the Graduate School, to our parent organization (SGA), and to Auburn University.  I look forward to working with the Vice President to better implement Robert's Rules of Order with the purpose of streamlining meetings and promoting more focused discussions and debate.  I will also like the VP and Rules Committee's assistance to ensure that our constitution is consistent with SGA, so as to avoid future misunderstandings.  Furthermore, I would like to take steps to enact procedures and protocols to improve GSC's organizational memory, and to help guide GSC's future actions and initiatives.

In addition to a consistent and stable structure, it also imperative that GSC strengthen its means of communicating with other organizations.  By becoming more engaged with not only SGA, but with constituent departments, the Office of Student Affairs, professional societies, and honor societies, I feel GSC can strengthen its relationship with these organizations to mutual benefit (e.g. co-sponsoring fundraisers, colloquia, and philanthropic events).  In this manner, I expect GSC will become more aware of available resources and will promote its visibility and message throughout Auburn.  I also expect the increased visibility will lead to a more aware and involved GSC senate.  I look forward to working with the future Secretary and Executive Vice President in conjunction with the Treasurer on implementing and funding these goals.

I am highly aware of the diversity of the Auburn graduate student body, which is composed of foreign students, professional student, master's students, doctoral students, research assistants and teaching assistants.  I also realize that GSC serves each of these groups in different ways and that each of these groups will have different expectations of GSC.  If elected President, I will continue developing my personal connections with the different departments and different groups of graduate students, to better understand them and try to find ways in which GSC can bring value to their Auburn degree and Auburn experience.

Sincerely,

Frank Sturm

GSC Senator

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Auburn University

-2-India Napier

 To my fellow graduate students:

I am proud to accept the nomination for President of the Graduate Student Council (GSC). I am the best candidate for this position because I embody all of the characteristics needed for an effective President. The individual occupying this office should be decisive, be able to delegate, and most importantly be a team player. I have acquired these skillsets through my considerable experience working with The College of Veterinary Medicine Graduate Student Association (CVMGSA) and The Black Graduate and Professional Student Association (BGPSA).

Under my three-year leadership, I resurrected the CVMGSA after being dormant for two years and established many events that addressed the needs of the CVM graduate student community. For example, I created the Ab Initio Lectures Series where faculty members speak to graduate students about his or her journey through academia. In addition, I set up the Careers in Science: A Panel Discussion event that allows students to gain a perspective about different career options available after matriculation. As Treasurer of the BGPSA, I took the initiative to contact the Graduate School and arranged an organization meeting with Dean George Flowers to discuss strategies for recruiting minority undergraduates to pursue advanced degrees. Overall, my organizational skills and my gregarious personality have been pivotal to my achievements as officers of these graduate student organizations. Such experiences have prepared me to take on a higher level of responsibilities that constitute student government.

The GSC needs a President who can successfully maintain a team and guide its members towards desired outcomes. My roles within several organizations have been beneficial to strengthening these skills and I am prepared to implement strategies that will improve the productivity of the organization. To increase visibility of the GSC, I plan to organize the Executive Board Officers to schedule introductory meetings at specific Schools/Colleges and to simply take the time to make a personal connection with graduate students and encourage an open dialogue about important University-related issues. I am confident that these interactions will increase participation from both Senators and the graduate student body. Moreover, I plan to incentivize Senators to participate in meetings and events supported by the GSC. For example, my goal is to establish an annual awards luncheon to honor Senators who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the organization. I am convinced that motivated Senators will lead to better promotion of the organization and increased graduate student participation at GSC-sponsored events. Also, events such as ice-cream socials and a Jeopardy!-style competition will continue the prosperity of the Council.

In conclusion, my track record clearly indicates my investment in graduate student activities, and my different roles in student organizations give me a unique perspective on handling graduate student issues. Most importantly, my strong personality and organizational skills have shaped me into an accomplished leader. As your next President, these strengths will enable me to make a positive impact on the GSC.

Sincerely,

India Napier

PhD Student, Biomedical Sciences

College of Veterinary Medicine

Vice-President

-1-James Hammer

Statement of Intent

Fellow Senators:

I have been in the department of mathematics and statistics PhD program for four years, serving as a senator for two years.  I have been involved with the Communications committee within the Graduate Student Council (GSC) as well as two university level committees – the Special Lectures Committee as well as the Academic Honesty Committee.  I believe that I could make a positive difference as Vice President (VP) of the GSC both in how the GSC is run as well as the role the GSC plays campus wide. 

For the past two years, I have witnessed the GSC heading in a good direction; however, I see several specific aspects of GSC that I would work to improve if I am elected VP.  To ensure that our meetings run smoothly and efficiently, I would work with the executive board to allow the VP to have a more parliamentarian role in meetings.  In such a role, I would like to make sure the meetings adhere more closely to Robert's Rules of Order (RRO), and I would like to be more active in informing senators of their rights under RRO.  I believe this will allow the GSC meetings to cover necessary business in a timely fashion.

Additionally, I would work to make senators more aware of important topics on the meeting agenda well in advance of each meeting.  By making this agenda information available earlier, I will also encourage senators from each college to meet and discuss these issues prior to the monthly meetings.  I hope this will help create a more informed senate and reduce the confusion and unfocused discussion that has occurred in past meetings.  Not only will these changes in meeting structure reduce the length of meetings, they will also promote more meaningful use of meeting time.  I also think additional meeting structure will allow help senators attain exactly the information that they need from meetings to effectively represent their departments.  Moreover, the GSC represents Masters, PhD, and professional students, and GSC leadership must keep in mind that their needs are different and that GSC serves each in a unique way.

Of the VP's current duties, one is to chair the Rules Committee.  I would like the Rules Committee to continue to meet once a month with the primary focus of better defining the roles of each GSC executive board to allow it to work more efficiently and effectively.  In light of the recent concern regarding GSC's role within SGA, I will seek the assistance of senators and others who have the required skills and (or) experience with properly wording a document that the GSC can stably run by in the future.

One of my goals for the coming year would be to promote better communication among the GSC as well as with other governmental organizations on campus such as the SGA.  In particular, I would like to unify the constitution to align more with the rules of the SGA and other governmental organizations on campus.

Thank you for considering me as a Vice Presidential Candidate to the Graduate Student Council.  War Eagle!

James Hammer

-2-India Napier

 Statement of Intent

To my fellow graduate students:

I am proud to accept the nomination for Vice President of the Graduate Student Council (GSC). I am the best candidate for this position because I embody all of the characteristics needed for an effective Vice President. The individual occupying this office should possess high-quality writing skills, be very organized, and most importantly be exacting yet personable. I have acquired these skillsets through my considerable experience working with The College of Veterinary Medicine Graduate Student Association (CVMGSA) and The Black Graduate and Professional Student Association (BGPSA).

Under my three-year leadership, I resurrected the CVMGSA after being dormant for two years and updated the constitution to address the needs of the CVM graduate student community. In addition, I have moderated the CVMGSA events and officers’ meetings in a format that allows our assemblies to conclude in a timely manner, yet affords individuals the opportunity to express his or her opinions. As Treasurer of the BGPSA (since 2010), I have been creative in merging my financial responsibilities with the promotion of the organization. For example, my persistence in pursuing financial support from the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs led to securing funds for T-shirts as a means of increasing visibility of the BGPSA. Overall, my organizational skills and my gregarious personality have been pivotal to my achievements as officers of these graduate student organizations. Such experiences have prepared me to take on a higher level of responsibilities that constitute student government.

The GSC needs a Vice President who can successfully moderate meetings and ensure that the most important issues are addressed with priority. My roles within several organizations have been beneficial to strengthening these skills and I am prepared to reform the Senators’ meetings into efficient, informative, and well-regulated discussions. Also, to increase visibility of the GSC, I plan to organize the Executive Board Officers to schedule introductory meetings at specific Schools/Colleges and to simply take the time to make a personal connection with graduate students and encourage an open dialogue about important University-related issues. I am confident that these interactions will increase participation from both Senators and the graduate student body. Moreover, I plan to incentivize Senators to participate in meetings and events supported by the GSC. For example, my goal is to establish an annual awards luncheon to honor Senators who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the organization. I am convinced that motivated Senators will lead to better promotion of the organization and increased graduate student participation at GSC-sponsored events. Also, events such as ice-cream socials and a Jeopardy!-style competition will continue the prosperity of the Council.

In conclusion, my track record clearly indicates my investment in graduate student activities, and my different roles in student organizations give me a unique perspective on handling graduate student issues. Most importantly, my strong personality and organizational skills have shaped me into an accomplished leader. As your next Vice President, these strengths will enable me to make a positive impact on the GSC.

Sincerely,

India Napier

Vice-President of Student Affairs

-Bretford Griffin

Secretary

-Richard Davis

Statement of Intent

My name is Richard Davis, and I am a second-year doctorate student in the department of Pharmacal Sciences.  Although this was only my first year on the Senate, it was most definitely not my first year at Auburn University or understanding the needs of Graduate Students.  I completed a double major here, a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre.  I had the unique opportunity this year of working in the Events/Communications committee, as well as working side-by-side with the current GSC Secretary and Executive Vice President, to organize the many events this year, including the Graduate Scholars Forum.

I believe my unique studies have given me the optimal position to assist in advancing the Graduate School as a whole by serving as your Graduate Student Council secretary.  My experience with a fellowship in Cell and Molecular Biology gave me early exposure to the demands of researchers and graduate scholars, and my experience in the Musical Theatre department helped me to develop communication skills, and working with an ensemble towards the greater good.  Growing up in Huntsville, with both parents computer scientists, I have also been around technology, and understand well how to use it as a tool for organization and communication.  Therefore, I would like to offer my developed, but constantly growing, skillset for the advancement of our Graduate School.

Organizations move as fast as the communication between its members occurs.  Streamlining this process, especially by means of modern technology, allows our organization to spread the word of our activities, better understand proposals and amendments, and efficiently use time in meetings and events.  This goal will serve as the focus of my GSC work.  As mentioned earlier, I have had the opportunity of working closely with the current GSC Secretary, and observing the many needs of our Council.  Establishing cloud-based access for Senators to meeting minutes, amendment proposals, and current drafts of policies, as well as creating a more streamlined system for email communications, will greatly assist us in the efficient use of time and resources.   If this sounds like all work, I assure you that my playing in a local band the past three years has given me a great opportunity to see the social life Auburn has to offer, and I hope to use that experience to help with our events, as I have in the past year.

My passion for Auburn and the Graduate School comes from the many blessings and years I have had at this University, and I would be proud, as well as humbled, by the opportunity to represent our organization.  Our graduate student experience, both academically and socially, is what we make of it.  I believe that by working together, as a cohesive and collaborative group, we can make it the best.  I would be happy to talk one-on-one with anyone and hear your thoughts, as well as share my passion.

Thanks, and War Eagle!

Richard Davis

Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Pharmacal Sciences

davisri@auburn.edu

Treasurer

-Koparan Iscan

Created On: Mar 10, 2013

Last Updated: Mar 27, 2013