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Graduate Academic Council

Membership: Graduate Academic Council (GAC) is chaired by the Vice Provost and Dean, College of Graduate Studies Dean and is comprised of a single representative from each graduate degree program*, a representative from Faculty Senate, a representative from the Office of the Registrar, a representative from the Library, a representative from Financial Aid, two graduate student representatives selected by the GAC chair, and a representative from Office of Student Research & Innovation. Graduate degree program representatives are selected by department chairs. Only faculty representatives from graduate degree programs and the Library have voting privileges.

*Should a department have multiple graduate degree programs then the number of representatives will be determined by the Dean of the degree program’s College and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

Description: The Graduate Academic Council (GAC) is the prinicpal body for the establishment of policies and procedures relating to the administration of graduate programs. The purpose of the GAC is to provide effective participation and deliberation by those concerned with graduate programs. The GAC receives and deliberates additions and amendments to graduate courses and curricula as well as policies/regulations/guidelines impacting graduate programs, and makes recommendations to University Currixulum Committee and/or other University officials. GAC may initiate studies that are concerned with the welfare of graduate programs.

(Approver: Provost/SVPAA)

2024-2025 Membership:

Name Title Department/Area Service Term*
Chad Brooks, Chair Vice Provost and Dean College of Graduate Studies College of Graduate Studies Permanent
Ex officio
Mollie Cashner Faculty, CoSTEM Biology
(MS, Biology)
2024-2025
Emily Lean Faculty, CoB Management and Marketing
(MBA, Business Administration)
2024-2025
Valerie Leake Faculty, CoBHS Psychological Science and Counseling
(PsyD, Counseling Psychology)
2024-2025
Christina Hicks-Goldston Faculty, CoAL Communication
(MA, Communication)
2024-2025
Jiang Li Faculty, CoSTEM Computer Science and Information Technology
(MS/PSM, CSQM Data Analysis)
2024-2025
Mir Hasan Faculty, CoSTEM Computer Science and Information Technology
(MS/PSM, CSQM Cybersecurity)
2024-2025
Laura Barnett Faculty, CoE Educational Specialties
(MAED, Educational Leadership)
2024-2025
Heather Philips Faculty, CoSTEM Medical Technology 2024-2025
Andrea Lee Faculty, CoE Educational Specialties
(Ed.D, Educational Leadership)
2024-2025
Benita Bruster Faculty, CoE Teaching and Learning
(MAED, Reading; Curriculum and instruction and Science)
2024-2025
Charles Gonzalez Faculty, CoE Teaching and Learning
(MAT, Teaching)
2024-2025
Wes Atkinson Faculty, CoAL Languages and Literature
(MA, English)
2024-2025
Andrew Hendrickson Faculty, CoBHS Health and Human Performance
(MHA, Healthcare Administration)
2024-2025
Kelly Kleinhans Faculty, CoBHS Health and Human Performance
(MSLP, Speech-Language Pathology)
2024-2025
Kadi Bliss Faculty, CoBHS Health and Human Performance
(MPH, Public Health)
2024-2025
Gregg Steinberg Faculty, CoBHS Health and Human Performance
(MS, Health and Human Performance)
2024-2025
David Snyder Faculty, CoAL History and Philosophy
(MA, History)
2024-2025
Matt Jones Faculty, CoTEM Mathematics and Statistics
(MS/PSM, CSQM Predictive Analytics)
2024-2025
Jennifer Yantz Faculty, CoSTEM Mathematics and Statistics
(MS/PSM, CSQM Math Instruction)
2024-2025
Ramanjit Sahi Faculty, CoSTEM Mathematics and Statistics
(MS/PSM, CSQM Math Finance)
2024-2025
Michelle Robertson Faculty, CoBHS Nursing
(MSN, Nursing)
2024-2025
Kathryn Woods Faculty, CoBHS Leadership
(MSL, Leadership and related Certificates)
2024-2025
Kimberly Coggins Faculty, CoBHS Psychological Science and Counseling
(MS, Counseling)
2024-2025
Adriane Sanders Faculty, CoBHS Psychological Science and Counseling
(MSIO, Industrial-Organizational Psychology)
2024-2025
Tatsushi Hirono Faculty, CoBHS Social Work
(MSW, Social Work)
2024-2025
Michael Chandler Faculty, CoAL Music
(MMU, Music)
2024-2025
Koore Foster Faculty, CoAL Music
(MMU, Music)
2024-2025
Christine Mathenge Faculty, CoSTEM Earth and Environmental Sciences
(Sustainability Certificate)
2024-2025
Chris Wright Faculty, CoBHS Criminal Justice
(MS, Criminal Justice)
2024-2025
Jackson Carter Student Student Affairs 2024-2025
Sydney Barksdale Student Student Affairs 2024-2025
Soma Banerjee Faculty, CoAL Faculty Senate Representative 2024-2025
Felicia Nagel Assitant Provost and University Registrar Office of the Registrar 2024-2025
Martina Malvasi Director of the Library Library 2024-2025
Randi Robinson Executive Director Student Financial Aid Student Financial Aid 2024-2025
Cindy Taylor Director Student Research and Innovation Biology 2024-2025