Executive Leadership
Sam Kenston
President
Tackles an ambitious set of goals to support graduate students while carefully coordinating the work of the GSS as a whole.
OPEN OFFICE HOURS:
Tues-Thurs: 1pm- 5pm
Isha Gill
VP University & Academic Affairs
Connects graduate students with UBC Administration and the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, consulting and advocating for graduate student concerns.
OPEN OFFICE HOURS:
Mon- Fri: 10am- 5pm
Violeta Fabiani
VP External Relations
Builds and maintains the grad community’s connections with external bodies, making sure the graduate student voice is heard by legislators and student organizations.
OPEN OFFICE HOURS:
Wed: 10am-2pm
Stephen Odoi
VP Students
Responsible for overseeing the programs and services that directly impact the lives of graduate students. This includes budgeting and organizing social events, advocating for student needs and concerns, and coordinating with other stakeholders both on and off campus to provide resources and support to improve the overall student life experience at the university.
OPEN OFFICE HOURS:
Thurs: 3pm-5pm & Fri: 2pm-5pm
Abhishek Somanagoudar
Financial Officer
Oversees our society’s finances to ensure everything runs smoothly.
OPEN OFFICE HOURS:
Fri: 11am-5 pm
Council
The GSS Council is the primary governing body of the GSS, and is made up of elected, departmental graduate student representatives, together with the GSS Executive and graduate student senators. The Council guides and oversees the actions and initiatives of the GSS to serve all graduate students at UBC. All graduate programs and departments may appoint a council member to the GSS Council, and larger departments may also request a second council member.
All meetings are open for graduate students and honorary members of the GSS to attend, and are a great opportunity to explore the Society’s current initiatives and observe how the Council functions. If you’re a not a graduate student, please request an invitation to attend by contacting the GSS President (Chair of the Board), at president@gss.ubc.ca.
The Council meets on the third Thursday of every month in the Michael Kingsmill Forum (Room 4301) in the AMS Student Nest, from 5:30-9:00pm.
Upcoming Meeting
The agenda is posted 48 hrs. prior to the next scheduled meeting.
Policy Revisions applicable to the next Council meeting:
- None at this time
Interested in Representing Grad Students?
Find more info and join Council in our Get Involved section.Council Minutes
For past council minutes, please check the Archives section.
Committees
GSS committees work directly in specific areas of interest to enhance graduate student life at UBC. They have a say in how all the distinct parts of the society operate, and focus on any of the aspects of the society from the running of events, to elections, finance, and policy, and are overseen by the Council.
Committees are a great opportunity to gain experience and know-how in a specific area of interest, and to have a more direct impact on specific issues affecting graduate students.
All committee meetings are open to current UBC graduate students.
Academic & External Affairs Committee
We help the Society lobby effectively important academic and personal issues to the University and externally to improve the graduate student experience, and work to better understand and represent our grad community through research, such as the annual GSS Student Satisfaction Survey.
Meetings: Bi-monthly
Code & Policy Committee
We review the core documents that define how the Society operates – the GSS Constitution, Bylaws, and Policy Manual – to ensure they are effective and up to date to support the efficient running of the Society.
Meetings: Monthly
Elections & Engagement Committee
We manage the Society's referendums and annual elections, and get graduate students politically engaged and voting.
We also plan and organize social events, programs, workshops, and classes, as well as providing networking opportunities.
Meetings: Biweekly coupled with activities during elections season (Jan-Apr); monthly meetings during the remainder of the year.
Executive Oversight Committee
We support the GSS Executives by conducting regular performance reviews and help resolve any concerns or issues with how the Executive leads the Society and serves our graduate student community.
Meetings: Bimonthly
Governance & Accountability Committee
We engage in strategic planning, review the governance structure of the Society, and oversee the performance of all other committees and of the Financial Officer.
Meetings: Bimonthly
House Finance Committee
We direct and manage the financial wellbeing and performance of the Society, as well as overseeing the use of our facilities at the Graduate Student Centre located at Thea Koerner House.
Meetings: Bimonthly
Human Resources Committee
We work to ensure the Society is staffed with a strong team of people to carry out the work and goals of the GSS. We monitor staffing needs, oversee staff recruitment and performance evaluations.
Meetings: Bimonthly
Indigenous Engagements Ad Hoc Committee
We provide culturally-relevant and mindful recommendations to the GSS Council and its committees in order to promote indigeneity, Indigenous representation, engagement, equity, and reconciliation within the Society.
Meetings: Bimonthly
Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee
We put together the GSS five-year Strategic Plan, which provides a medium-term vision for the society and a practical platform to communicate our values.
Meetings: Bimonthly
