Graduate Student Advisory Committee

The Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC) to the Assistant Dean for Graduate Education (ADGE) provides student-driven advice to the ADGE and serves as a liaison between program graduate students and the Office for Research and Graduate Education. The GSAC serves as an advisory and consultative body to the ADGE to: 

  • Enhance graduate student engagement with Office of Research and Graduate Education.
  • Foster communication across graduate programs, departments, and with the College.
  • Provide a formal mechanism for direct communication between the graduate student representatives and College administration.
  • Inform College-level graduate student policy decisions, as needed.
  • Assist college-level administration in programming, planning, and college-wide activities designed to meet the needs and further graduate student professional development.

Committee Meetings 

The GSAC meets 5 to 6 times per academic year at a time when the majority of the membership can convene, proxy attendance will not be required. In addition, the GSAC may meet ad hoc as the need arises or input may be sought via email communication.   

Discussion will focus on topics that aid in decision-making at address the needs of the graduate student body in the College. In addition, topics from the members will be solicited at least one week prior to the scheduled meeting. Some general discussion topics may include but is not limited to: 

  • Topics for new graduate student orientation
  • Improvements to information provided on the College website
  • Topics for professional development e.g. career placement resources
  • Strategies to improve recruiting of new graduate students
  • Feedback on the graduate student competitive grant program
  • Feedback on proposed Graduate School policy changes

2024-25 Committee Membership

Program

Student

Department

Email

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Lindsey Bell

ABE

llb5404@psu.edu

Agricultural and Environmental Plant Science

Katherine Blocklove

PLSC

kmb6260@psu.edu

Animal Science

Nathan Rehder

ANSC

ner5238@psu.edu

BioRenewable Systems

Kelly Kosiarski

ABE

kzk5945@psu.edu

Ecology + BGC dual

Chyvonne Rhoads

ESM

cmr6350@psu.edu

Education, Development, and Community Engagement

Maya Weinberg

AESE

mzw5858@psu.edu

Energy, Environmental, and Food Economics (IGDP)

Yuhui Jeong

AESE

yzj5268@psu.edu

Entomology

Codey Mathis

ENT

clm6507@psu.edu

Food Science

Morgan Failla

FDSC

mef5910@psu.edu

Forest Resources

Denise Alving

ESM

dpa5259@psu.edu

Molecular Cellular and Integrative Biosciences (IGDP)

Megan Nitchman

VBS

msn5269@psu.edu

Pathobiology

Arshiya Dewan

VBS

azd5929@psu.edu

Plant Pathology + INTAD

Lanre Shittu

PPEM

oms5169@psu.edu

Rural Sociology

Nicholas Demerly

AESE

nad5650@psu.edu

Soil Science

Cara Bintrim

ESM

cmb8251@psu.edu

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Jacob Trowbridge

ESM

jxt5689@psu.edu