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About the GSA

Mission

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) of William & Mary's Batten School & VIMS provides: 

  1. a forum to discuss student concerns and work with administrators to propose action
  2. advancement for academic and social interests of graduate students
  3. assistance in governing honor violations within the graduate school
  4. programs and services of special interest to graduate students
  5. support for a diverse and inclusive community for graduate students on campus

In addition to our academic missions, the GSA also functions with the social interests and emotional well-being of graduate students in mind. We provide many opportunities for students to interact with each other and broaden their experiences in graduate school. 

Powers and Limitations

The GSA is representative and informational in nature. The GSA has no voting power academically or administratively, but can advocate on behalf of graduate students in many venues. However, without knowledge of the spectrum of graduate student opinions (and supporting evidence of that spectrum of opinions), the representative powers of the GSA are greatly diminished. Therefore, active participation at meetings and on committees is crucial to effective graduate student presence.

Current committee members of the GSA.

Who is in the GSA?

All registered graduate students of the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS are considered members of the Graduate Student Association (GSA).

The GSA Representatives are made up of five units: the Executive Committee, Representatives to the Batten School & VIMS Academic Council (AC) and its Standing Committees, Representatives to the Dive-In Steering Committee (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), Representatives to W&M College-Wide Entities, and Committee Chairs and Representatives. The responsibilities of all units of the GSA are explained in detail in the GSA Constitution (intranet only - access it on campus or via VPN).

How do I join the GSA Representatives?

Executive committee members are elected, nominated, or volunteered within the student body during the spring semester, with the exception of the First-Year Representative, who is elected in the fall semester. Other representative and committee positions are filled on a rolling basis when needed. 

Current Executive Committee (2025-2026)

Co-Presidents:

Isabelle Castro | [[v|iccastro]]

Jordan Ferré | [[v|jmferre]]

Vice President:

Elena Hoang | [[v|ethoang]]

Secretary:

Kianne Benjamin | [[v|kbenjamin]]

Treasurer:

Derek Jackson | [[dnjackson]]

M.A. Rep:

Abby Green | [[v|amhelzer]]

First-year Rep:

Sierra Parker | [[v|smparker]] 

Dive-In Rep:

Madison Griffin | [[mdgriffin]]

Olivia Hernandez | [[v|ohernandez]]

A.C. Reps:

Ricardo Bourdon | [[v|rbbourdon]]

Miguel Montalvo | [[v|mmontalvo]]

Current Student Committees (2025-2026)

The following is a current list of Graduation Student Association (GSA) positions at William & Mary's Batten School & VIMS. Please contact [[GSAexec]] for more information. 

GSA Committee Chairs and Representatives

  • Party Planning / TGI Committee
    • Alexa Labossiere | [[alabossiere]]
    • Isa Castro | [[iccastro]]
    • Novia Mann | [[ntmann]]
    • Robyn Dudrick | [[rdudrick]]
    • Elena Hoang | [[ethoang]]
    • Liam Green | [[wdgreen]]
  • Seminar Series Rep
    • Alexa Labossiere | [[alabossiere]]
  • Journal Club Rep
    • Quinn Girasek | [[qlgirasek]]
  • Research Grant Chairs
    • Ima Hosseinzadeh | [[ihosseinzadeh]]
    • Anya Gajanur | [[aroopagajanur]]
  • Travel Grant Chair
    • Alexa Labossiere | [[alabossiere]]
  • Science Policy Initiative Committee
    • no one at present
  • Society for Women in Marine Science Committee
    • Meredith Nolan | [[mnolan]]
    • Shyane Masters | [[smasters]]
  • Chili Cook-Off Organizers
    • Mara Walters | [[mfwalters]]
    • Liam Green | [[wdgreen]]
  • International Student Reps
    • Lilly Blume | [[ltblume]]
    • Miguel Montalvo | [[mmontalvo]] 
    • Ima Hosseinzadeh | [[ihosseinzadeh]]
  • Garden Club
    • no one at present
  • Green Team 
    • Kaite Cisz | [[krcisz]]
    • Liam Green | [[wdgreen]]
  • Queer Grads
    • Aly Hall | [[achall]]
    • Rachel Shrives | [[rrshrives]]
  • Ethnically Underrepresented Group Hang Out
    • Madison Griffin | [[mdgriffin]]
    • Javier Pujols | [[japujols]]

GSA Representatives to W&M College-Wide Entities

  • Graduate Council Reps
    • Quinn Girasek | [[qlgirasek]]
    • Kelsey McKenna | [[kgmckenna]]
    • Mara Walters | [[mfwalters]]
  • Honor Council Chair
    • Meredith Nolan | [[mnolan]]
  • Honor Council Members
    • Robyn Dudrick | [[rdudrick]]
    • Ashley Rose | [[alrose]]
    • Rachel Shrives | [[rrshrives]]
    • Elizabeth Oliver | [[eaoliver]]
    • Isabelle Castro | [[iccastro]]
    • Olivia Hernandez | [[ohernandez]]
    • Tor Mowatt-Larssen | [[tmowattlarssen]]
    • Javier Pujols | [[japujols]]
    • Jordan Ferre | [[jmferre]]
    • Danielle Recco | [[dnrecco]]
    • Alexa Labossiere | [[alabossiere]]
    • Novia Mann | [[ntmann]]
    • Jade Sevelow-Lee | [[jade]]
    • Derek Jackson | [[dnjackson]]
    • Kelsey McKenna | [[kgmckenna]]
  • Ombuds
    • Aly Hall | [[achall]]
    • Tor Mowatt-Larssen | [[tmowattlarssen]]
    • Camille Wilson | [[cewilson]]
  • Dive-In 
    • Javier Pujols | [[japujols]]
    • Madison Griffin | [[mdgriffin]]
    • Olivia Hernandez | [[ohernandez]]
    • MB Barksdale | [[mbarksdale]]
    • Andie Munoz | [[ammunoz]]
  •  Professional Development Committee
    • Co-chair: Ricardo Bourdon | [[rbbourdon]]
    • Co-chair: Danielle Recco | [[dnrecco]]