Members:
Membership · Current Members · Leadership · Committees
Membership
There are no fees, dues or requirements to be a member of the GSA. All graduate students enrolled in the University of Kentucky's College of Communications and Information Studies are automatically members of the Graduate Student Association.
Current Members/Current PhD and MA Students
- Clemma Alcorn, PhD student
- Amy Akers, ABD
- Anupa Arya
- Brad Arterburn
- Justin Allen
- April Bailey
- Chrissie Tune, MA student, Mass Communication
- Clint Baldwin, ABD
- Chrissy Benac, ABD , Health Communication
- Carla Bevins, ABD, Health Communication/Medical Behavioral Science
- Brianna Bodine, MA student, Health Communication
- Jen Bustle, MA student, Interpersonal Communications (specifically the way gender roles affect relationships)
- Laura Beth Daws, ABD, Mass Communication
- Caitlin Dixon, MA student, Mass Communications
- Kelly Dixon, ABD, Interpersonal Communication
- Nikki Dobransky, ABD, Interpersonal/Instructional Communication
- Eileen Drust, PhD, Mass Communication
- Mary Dusenberry, PHD
- Jennifer Leanne Fairchild, ABD, Interpersonal Communication
- Nikki Floyd, ABD
- Raj Gaur, ABD, Mass Communication
- Erin Giles, ABD
- Jim Gleason, PhD student, Mass Communication
- Amanda Harsin, MA student, Interpersonal Communication
- Chas Hartman, PhD student
- Anna Hoover, MA student, Health Communication
- Gary Hughes
- J Human,PhD student, Mass media/health communication
- Renee Human, PhD student, Interpersonal communication mediated by technology
- Patrick Leddin
- Kelly McAninch, MA student, Interpersonal
- Ryan McCullough, PHD student
- Jenny Maginnis, PHD student, Interpersonal Communication
- Jason Martin, PhD student, Mass and Interpersonal Communication
- Purnima Mehrotra, ABD
- Debra Nickell, PhD student, Health Communication
- Taylor Papania, MA student, Health Communication
- Sarah Riley, ABD, Health Communication
- Jennifer Robinette, PhD student, Mass Communication-Interactivity
- Sharon Santo, MA student, Mass Communication
- Colby Scudder
- Rosalie Shemanski, ABD, Interpersonal Health Communication
- Lauren M. Staun, MA student, Mass Communication in a global context
- Selena Stevens
- Anne Ray Streeter, ABD, Health Communication
- Stephanie Van Stee, MA student, Interpersonal Communication
- Bill Weathers, ABD
- Elizabeth Webb, ABD
- Flo Witte, ABD
- David Wheeler, PHD student, Mass Communication
- Zhiwen Xiao
- Robert "Bob" Zuercher, MA student, Mass Communications, Media Law
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Leadership
GSA officers are elected each spring by members of the GSA. Terms for the elected officers start in the Summer after the elections and run through the next Spring of that academic year.
The current elected officers for 2007-2008 are:
Co-Chairs: Jason Martin and Bob Zuercher
Secretary:
Treasurer: Jennifer Maginnis
CO-CHAIR duties include:
- Liaise with the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Unit Heads to coordinate departmental events involving graduate students such as guest speaker engagements, presentations of faculty job candidates, locally-held conferences, the graduate student symposium, fund-raising events, VIP visits, and any other event for which the Associate Dean and Unit Heads need graduate student assistance/involvement;
- Coordinate the activities of the GSA by setting the agenda for and facilitating all monthly GSA meetings;
- Assign incoming graduate students to a buddy, prepare and distribute information packets to incoming students including a revised version of the handbook, and coordinate the GSA Fall picnic;
- Disseminate information from the Dean, the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and the Unit Heads to graduate students;
Represent graduate student interests at meetings of the Graduate Faculty by attending and contributing to such meetings and by conducting polls about graduate student concerns if necessary; - Oversee the work of GSA committees including the symposium committee, technology committee, social committee, colloquia and professional development committee, and any other ad hoc committee;
- Prepare GSA master calendar each semester listing colloquia, meetings, and other events;
- Further define and implement the mission of the GSA, which is to enhance the academic environment of graduate students and represent their interests in all areas of academic life;
- Maintain the graduate center for student study, work, meetings, relaxation, etc. according to the grad center policy. Oversee the physical condition and maintenance of the room.
SECRETARY duties include:
- Take meeting minutes at all GSA meetings, prepare and distribute those minutes to all graduate students via the CJT listserv;
- Ensure that the CJT listserv is up to date;
- Prepare announcements/flyers and send out reminders about GSA meetings and all other major events including visits by faculty candidates, special guests, etc. (excluding colloquia). Reminders should be via email and be sent out one week and then one or two days before each event;
- Assist the Co-chairs in coordinating graduate student involvement in departmental and college events such as guest speaker engagements, fund-raising events, etc.;
- Assist the Co-chairs in overseeing the work of the GSA committees;
- Represent the graduate students at meetings of the Graduate Faculty by attending and contributing to such meetings;
- Liaise with UK's Office of Student Organizations to coordinate GSA activities with campus events/programs and to maintain the GSA's status as a registered student organization;
- Prepare and distribute via email a monthly calendar of events based on the GSA master calendar which updates the master calendar with new events such as guest speakers, grad faculty meetings, etc.;
- Serve as chairperson or member of at least one GSA committee.
TREASURER duties include:
- Manage the GSA bank account including balancing monthly statements and writing and receiving checks as needed. (Treasurer must be signed on to the account at the bank as the responsible party);
- [If membership dues proposal passes] Manage membership dues including maintaining a list of members who have not paid dues. If necessary, issue reminders about dues to non-payers;
Attend all monthly meetings and report bank balances and any financial activity to the group; - Coordinate and carry out all the fund-raising activities of the GSA, including appointing an assistant for that purpose. Fund-raising should emphasize the GSA Symposium, but may include other events such as parties or retreats;
- Represent the graduate students at meetings of the Graduate Faculty by attending and contributing to such meetings;
- Act as chairperson of or serve as a member of the Symposium Committee.
Committees
The GSA officers appoint members to chair the various committees that provide service and development to the members of the GSA. All members of the GSA are encouraged to serve on at least one committee.
Symposium Chair:
Colloquia/Professional Development Chair:
Social/Membership Chair:
Technology Chair: Renee Human
Recycling Chair: Elizabeth Webb
Graduate Program Committee Members:
GSA Colloquia
Colloquia are a means of professional development which is aimed to be an integral part of the graduate student experience. It is the opportunity for faculty and/or students to share their specific research interests and projects. The committee also schedules professional development seminars designed to enhance graduate students' knowledge and skills with specific issues: including, but not limited to, qualifying and comprehensive exams, dissertation writing, teaching, conducting research, etc. Colloquia and professional development seminars represent excellent opportunities to continue to develop our academic community. All sessions are scheduled during the protected time throughout the academic year.
Social Committee
The Graduate Student Social Committee's primary goal is to bring together graduate students outside of the classroom or outside of the Grehan building. From time to time, faculty members attend these events. In order to survive through graduate school, students must take time enjoy the process. Some students have no problem forming social circles, while other students prefer to have planned events - like those that the Social Committee organizes. The Social Committee offers a wide range of social activities which include: informal dinners, sporting events, and the annual Christmas party. It is up to the entire Social Committee which social events will occur throughout the year. Some additional events offered by this year's committee are: a trip to Keeneland, Friday afternoon clubs, and holiday get-togethers.
Technology Committee
The Technology Committee is commited to improving the quality of the graduate student experience through the use of technology. Our mission includes design and maintenance of the GSA and symposium websites and the GSA blog as well as the development of other digital communication and productivity capabilities.