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: Katie Stennette (they/she)
  • Addresses graduate student concerns, generates creative ideas to expand GSA resources, participates in Inter-university networking, and communicates with graduate student body
  • Executive Liaison for the University administration, Special Projects and Student Support Committee
• Vice President of External Affairs: Helen Velasquez-Duron (she/her)
  • Executive Liaison for the Legislative Affairs and Student Advocacy (LASA) Committee
  • Organizes university standing committees appointments, manages Legislative Action Days (LAD)
• Vice President of Internal Affairs: xxxxxx
  • Executive Liaison for the Judicial Committee
  • Representative Resource, and manages constitutional amendments
• Vice President of Academic Affairs: xxxxx
  • Executive Liaison for the Research Recognition Committee
  • GSA Award for Conferences, Graduate Research Symposium
• Vice President of Communications: Maria Grazia Corrales-Jimenez (she/her)
  • Executive Liaison for the Community and Social Engagement (CASE) Committee
  • Listserv, website updates, and technological concerns
• VP of  Student Governance Relations: xxxx
  • Represents the graduate students in student governance structures
• Secretary: Rachel Anderson (she/her)
  • Executive Liaison for the Teaching Effectiveness Committee
  • Outstanding TA Awards, meeting minutes and historicizing the organization
• Treasurer: Mahashweta Chakraborty (she/they)
  • Yearly budget, honoraria/block grant applications

Executive Board Bios

President: Katie Stennette (they/she)

Hey Gradpack! My name is Katie Stennette, a 5th year PhD student in the Department of Biological Sciences. I am a field biologist and neuroethologist in training! In the Biology Program I study the bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum), a Caribbean reef fish that undergoes socially-controlled sex change, as a model for understanding brain and behavioral plasticity in vertebrates. In particular, I focus on the effects of neural estrogen signalling on territoriality, courtship behavior, and brain gene expression. I am proud to be your GSA President for the 2026-2027 school year! As GSA President, I am committed to serving as a voice for graduate students across the many campuses that comprise our NC State community. I represent the GSA on a number of major university committees, including the University Council, Tuition and Fee Review Advisory Committees, and the Chancellor’s Liaison group. I also act as a liaison to the Directors of Graduate Programs, the Board of Trustees, and other key administrative bodies who shape graduate education and policy. Additionally, I work with Student Government, Faculty Senate, and the Postdoctoral Association to advocate for graduate students. I also chair the GSA All-Council meetings, during which I preside over meetings, call elections as necessary, and invite impactful speakers to enrich and educate the graduate community on resources and opportunities available to them.

I am honored and humbled to represent you in these increasingly challenging times. If you are a graduate student with questions, concerns, or ideas to improve graduate study life, please don’t hesitate to reach out. If you are interested in getting more involved with the GSA, whether it be in GSA leadership or university standing committee representation, I am also very happy to discuss ways to plug you in. As a representative of graduate students, I will always be here for you and you first. GoPack!!

Vice President of External Affairs: Helen Velasquez-Duron (she/her)

Hi! My name is Helen Velasquez, and I am originally from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering. My research focuses on analyzing historical water quality trends in the North Carolina Pamlico-Albemarle Sound System watershed and estimating future nutrient loads under global and local change scenarios. My work is part of the North Carolina Center for Coastal Algae, People, and the Environment (NC C-CAPE). As VP of External Affairs, I serve as an active liaison to the Legislative Affairs and Student Advocacy (LASA) Committee and help support Legislative Action Day. In this role, I advocate for the tools, resources, and policies that directly impact graduate student success. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything I can help with!

Vice President of Internal Affairs: xxxxxxx

Vice President of Academic Affairs:xxxxxx

Vice President of Communications:Maria Grazia Corrales-Jimenez (she/her)

HelloOo! My name is Maria Grazia, but feel free to call me Grazia. I am an international student from Costa Rica pursuing a master’s degree in Crop Science, with an emphasis in weed management. My research focuses on invasive aquatic plants, particularly hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), where I study different aspects of its biology and its response to chemical control methods. I am also conducting research on the taxonomic identification of turions produced by Hydrocharitaceae species present in the United States.

As VP of Communications, I serve as the liaison for the Community and Social Engagement (CASE) Committee, while also advocating for students. (I am also a human rights advocate). Please feel free to reach out if you have suggestions, ideas, or if there is anything I can help you with.

Good vibes and GoPack!! <3

Vice President of Student Governance Relations: xxxxx

Secretary: Rachel Anderson (she/her)

Hello! My name is Rachel Anderson, I am a native North Carolinian and proud Brazilian-American. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in English. My research focuses on representations of disability, prosthesis, and burial law in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century transatlantic literature. In addition, I analyze how scientific findings are written and disseminated in speculative fiction. As the Executive Secretary, I maintain accurate records of all GSA meetings and attendees, remain a consistent point of contact to all GSA representatives, and serve as an executive liaison to the Teaching Effectiveness Committee (TEC). I look forward to supporting y’all in the coming year!

Treasurer: Mahashweta Chakraborty (she/they)

I am an international student from Kolkata, India. I am a second year PhD student (freshly finished my first year!) in the Psychology Department, Lifespan Developmental Program. My work revolves around early-life adversities and their epigenetic impact on adult and teenage mental health. If not found in the MISHRA lab, I may be in the E-sports lab playing video games, or board games (Catan is my new favorite) or on my (very important) mission to pet as many dogs or cats as possible. As the treasurer, I am in charge of managing all budgets related to the GSA and will help with anything I can. GoPack!!