NC State
Graduate Student Association

Executive Board Roles and Duties

The executive board oversees the administration of the GSA and serves as the first line of communication between the GSA and the rest of the University at large. When contacting the GSA, it is normally better to address the entire exec board to ensure that your message is heard and answered, but if you need to reach out to a particular member, they are listed here for your reference.

  • President: Margaret Baker
    • Executive Liason for the Special Projects and Political Action Committee
    • Addresses graduate student concerns, Inter-University networking, communicates with the graduate student body
  • Vice President of External AffairsChazzlyn Jackson
    • Executive Liason for the Community Service Committee
    • University standing committees organizes GSA community service events, represent GSA
  • Vice President of Internal Affairs: Juliana O’Brien
    Executive Liason for the Department of Outreach and Leadership Committee

    • Best Practices Award, Representative resource, and constitutional amendments
  • Vice President of Academic Affairs: Naimul Haque
    • Executive Liason for the Research Recognition Committee
    • GSA Award for Conferences, Graduate Research Symposium
  • Vice President of Communications: John Britt
    • Executive Liason for the Publicity Committee
    • Listserv, website updates, and technological concerns
  • VP of  Student Governance Relations: Davion M. Washington
    • Represent the graduate students in student governance structures
  • Secretary: Shubham Rawat
    • Executive Liason for the Teaching Effectiveness Committee
    • Outstanding TA Awards, meeting minutes and historicizing the organization
  • Treasurer: Jared Cossin
    • Executive Liason for the Social Committee
    • Yearly budget, honoraria/block grant, social events

Executive Board Bios

President: Margaret Baker

Hi everyone! I’m Margaret Baker, a fourth year doctoral candidate in Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media, an interdisciplinary program between the departments of Communication and English, housed inside of CHASS. My research focuses on the intersections of storytelling, racism, film and digital media. I primarily make films about the American south and issues surrounding plantation sites and Confederate monuments. This is my first year on the GSA executive board, but I’ve previously held positions in NC State’s Student Government and in GSA at both my program’s level and at the university level. As the GSA president, my role is to help vision cast and shape the future of the GSA. This year our goal is to invest in ideas and initiatives that provide more resources for our student body. The GSA’s goal is create representation and advocacy for all students, and this year we hope to continue to make sure our graduate students are living, working, teaching and researching in an environment devoid of stigma, discrimination, and bias to the greatest extent possible. I’d love to talk to any students, email me if you want to chat!

Vice President of External Affairs: Chazzlyn Jackson

Hello! I’m a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. My research focuses on the evolution of Black placemaking comparing the historic process to today’s with the creation of digital technology. Last academic school-year I served as a Senator for Graduate and Lifelong Education on Student Government representing graduate students within the legislative branch to create and vote on legislation. As the Vice President of External Affairs, I continue the work of advancing graduate student needs by facilitating GSA’s advocacy efforts with University leadership, local leaders, state legislators, and members of Congress. Within this role, I advocate for graduate student issues and potential policy actions. Please reach out if you have any specific issues you want to ensure GSA is aware of or about graduate student advocacy efforts!

Vice President of Communications: John Britt

Hello everyone! I am John Britt, a third-year Ph.D. student in the Genetics and Genomics
Program. I work with trophoblast stem cells, or the stem cells that give rise to the placenta, to study diseases like pre-eclampsia. I also work with developing chemically defined conditions to culture stem cells. This could help us understand how different signals affect stem cells and how they change into other cells. I will be serving as the Vice President of Internal Affairs for the 2023-2024 school year. This is my first year on the GSA executive board, so I am very excited to work with the rest of the executive board to advocate for all graduate students at NC State University! Feel free to email me with any questions, concerns, or feedback.

Vice President of Academic Affairs:Naimul Haque

Hi, I’m Naimul Haque, a 3rd-year Ph.D. student in Forest Biomaterials. My research involves real-time characterization of municipal solid waste using cutting-edge technologies. As the VP of Academic Affairs for the GSA, I serve as a liaison between the graduate school and the research recognition committee for travel grant applications, supporting talented researchers. Additionally, I represent GSA in the Student Mental Health Task Force Academic Regulation Implementation Team, contributing to student well-being. Feel free to email me about GSA research/travel awards or any GSA-related inquiries.

Vice President of Internal Affairs: Juliana O’Brien

Hi everyone! I am a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Chemistry Department. My research sits at the intersection of organic chemistry and materials science. I leverage traditional organic synthesis to develop novel biomaterials for biomedical applications, like gene delivery. This is my first year serving on the GSA Executive board and I am incredibly excited to get started! As VP of Internal Affairs, I am charged with facilitating our GSA Representative Orientation, assisting with new chapter onboarding, and maintaining a cohesive and productive environment for our standing committees. Please reach out with any questions or concerns, especially if you are a new GSA Representative or want to learn more about how the GSA is run!

VP of  Student Governance Relations: Davion M. Washington

Davion Washington, Jr. is a third year graduate student with a concentration in Race, Racism, and Anti-Racism within the Sociology PhD program. Alongside his graduate studies and teaching assistantship in Sociology, Davion also serves as a graduate intern and supervisor in Student Leadership and Engagement on campus. Davion’s passion for student development and sense of belonging, as well as his prior experience as a leader in Student Government is what drives him in his role as the Vice President of Student Governance Relations. Graduate students with pertinent comments, concerns, and grievances in regards to student governance are encouraged to reach out to Davion and share your thoughts!

Secretary: Shubham Rawat

Hey Wolfpack!
I’m Shubham Rawat, a 2nd year PhD student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department. My research focuses on power electronic converter topologies and their control. These converters are used for grid integration of renewable energy sources. As a Secretary for NC State GSA, I oversee and maintain the records of all GSA meetings. I am also the executive liaison for the Teaching Effectiveness Committee. TEC facilitates networking and addresses the issues related to graduate student teachers at NC State. The committee organises GSA Teaching Excellence Awards every year to motivate graduate student teachers. As the GSA Secretary, I would actively work to affirm the values of graduate students and make GSA a space for collective action and improvement. Please feel free to email me with any questions, concerns, or feedback, especially if you work as a TA.

Treasurer: Jared Cossin
pic of treasurer in a suit
Hello! I am Jared Cossin, a rising third-year graduate student in Chemistry with research that focuses on precursor-directed biosynthesis and enzyme engineering. My main goal is to make more accessible pathways to antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals by using a combination of traditional organic chemistry and synthetic biology. This is my first year on the GSA executive board, and I look forward to finding new ways to advocate for graduate student rights. I serve as treasurer and look forward to working with you. Go Pack!