GSS Executive
The GSS is directed by the Executive, an elected team of graduate students that work together to serve the interests of graduate students, kickstart initiatives, and represent the graduate student community at UBC.
NICOLAS ROMUALDI
GSS President
As our GSS President, Nicolas is hard at work tackling an ambitious set of goals to support graduate students, while carefully coordinating the work of the GSS as a whole. Nicolas is completing his PhD in materials engineering, where he focuses on steel welding. Specifically, his work focuses on ensuring the integrity of welded joints.
While you can very often catch Nicolas in the GSS office, when he’s not hard at work you’ll most likely find him skating at the ice rink, or grabbing a cold one at Koerner’s Pub.
EMAIL: president@gss.ubc.ca
OPEN OFFICE HOURS: Fridays, 9am - 5pm
TARIQUE BENBOW
VP University & Academic Affairs
As our VP of University & Academic Affairs, Tarique connects graduate students with UBC’s administration and the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, consulting and advocating for graduate student concerns. Tarique is working through his PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, where he focuses on pain research. Specifically, he's working to develop a new model of migraine headaches to be used in drug development and research.
When he’s not working at the GSS or on his research, you might find Tarique catching a sunset at wreck beach, or getting to know the diverse people here on campus, their different ways of life, and exploring different cultures through music and food.
EMAIL: vpacademic@gss.ubc.ca
OPEN OFFICE HOURS: Mondays & Wednesdays 3 - 5pm; Fridays 10 - 11am
SARA HOSSEINIRAD
VP External Relations
As our VP External, Sara builds and maintains the grad community’s connections with external bodies, making sure the graduate student voice is heard by legislators and student organizations.
Sara is working through a PhD in electrical engineering and focuses on control engineering - designing algorithms to control mechanical systems. Part of her work in automation includes coordinating control systems for robotics. But when she’s not working hard at the GSS or at her degree, you’ll find her cycling around campus, reading classic novels, kayaking, camping, or exploring the city.
EMAIL: vpexternal@gss.ubc.ca
OPEN OFFICE HOURS: Thursdays 9am - 12pm, Fridays 9am - 2pm
POUYA REZAEINIA
VP Students
As our VP Students in his second year at the GSS, Pouya engages with grad students and coordinates GSS events for the grad community. Pouya is completing a PhD in management science at the Sauder School of Business. His work focuses on cooperative game theory used to predict coalitions of players with binding agreements with its applications in economics.
You’ll most often find Pouya working away at the GSS Loft or in the PhD office at Sauder, but when he’s not working, he’s out trying new things in the city, from hiking to visiting the art gallery, and trying new food.
EMAIL: vpstudents@gss.ubc.ca
OPEN OFFICE HOURS: Fridays, 11am - 3pm
KIMANI (PHILIP) KARANGU
Financial & Executive Oversight Officer
As our FEOO, Kimani oversees our executive team and society finances to ensure everything runs smoothly. Kimani is doing his PhD in the Faculty of Education, focusing on curriculum and pedagogy. Specifically, his academic work centres around improving education in refugee areas, and he travels around the world to Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East to support his work.
He can be found playing indoor soccer and swimming when he’s not working, or exploring the city, and observing and chatting with people going about their everyday lives.
EMAIL: oversight@gss.ubc.ca
OPEN OFFICE HOURS: Thursdays & Fridays, 12pm - 3pm