What is the Senate? 


The Senate is composed of representatives from all programs within the GradGov constituency. It is responsible for enacting and administering all GradGov programs and functions. The Senate maintains standing committees to perform GradGov's basic operations, such as the Advocacy-for-Advocacy Committee, the Transportation Committee, and the Cost-of-Living Committee. 

Though Senate meetings are open to all graduate students, only Senators may make procedural motions and vote on matters before the Senate. Apply today!

Who Elects the Senate?

 A. Senate elections shall be held annually within the first two weeks of the Fall semester. 


B. Notification of Senate elections shall be publicized by GradGov, the administration of each School represented in GradGov and program administrators as well.

C. Any registered graduate student within the GradGov Senate district with an open seat may nominate themselves to fill the Senate seat.

D. Senate candidates may submit a mission statement or platform to be distributed along with their name to their constituency. 
 E. Every student shall be able to vote for candidates running for the Senate seat or seats which have been allocated to their program. Students in programs with multiple shall be allowed to vote for as many candidates as there are seats allocated. 

 F. Dual Degree students shall be able to vote in Senate elections for both of their programs and shall be permitted to run for seat in either program, but not both. 

G. Polls for Senate elections shall remain open for at least 48 hours.

Senate Information

 
Role Introduction: The Senate, according to GradGov's constitution, is the official legislative body of all graduate students on main campus and most of the medical campus. By joining the Senate, student representatives have a unique opportunity to demonstrate engagement in the University community, advocate for graduate student interests, and represent their program on important decisions relevant to graduate student life here at Georgetown.

Eligibility: Any Georgetown graduate student, whether part-time or full-time, including online, evening, dual degree, and professional students, currently matriculated in university sanctioned programs, may nominate themselves to run for a seat in the GradGov Senate. 

Selection: In September, the GradGov invites each program to appoint or elect senator(s). Senators are allocated to each program proportionate to student population (current enrollment size according to university record) of the program.  Official nomination emails are sent to program directors/advisors, and many schools' own student associations assist in selecting the Senators.

Nomination Criteria:
1. Any Georgetown graduate student, whether part-time or full-time, including
online, evening, dual degree, and professional students, currently matriculated in
university sanctioned programs, may nominate themselves to run for a seat in
the GradGov Senate. 

2. A Georgetown graduate student is any student within the Graduate School of
Arts and Sciences, Georgetown College, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign
Service, McDonough School of Business, School of Nursing & Health Studies,
McCourt School of Public Policy, and Georgetown University Medical Center,
and the School of Continuing Studies.

3. A nominee must be prepared to serve in the GradGov Senate for the 2022-23
academic year and take on the responsibilities of a Senator, including serving on
a Senate committee. 

4. A nominee must be tentatively available to meet between 5-6:30pm on Friday
​ The location will be in St. Mary's Hall (room TBA).
  
Campaigning Rules:
1. Campaigning is permitted at the discretion of the nominee, but must be respectful
of other candidates. 
a. A campaign “speech” is highly encouraged and can range anywhere
between one sentence to two pages.

2. Campaigning materials should not exceed a cost of $80.
3. Campaigning should be targeted only at voters in your program, or if you are
running for an at-large seat, only those graduate students eligible to vote for that
specific at-large seat.
4. Any nominee who wishes to terminate their candidacy prior to the election may
do so by submitting a formal notice of withdrawal in an email to
Gradgov@georgetown.edu with the subject: Withdrawal, Candidate Name,
Program.

Steps Taken for Apportionment:

1. The August 6th provisional numbers for Georgetown Graduate Fall Enrollment
2. Remove all Law, MD, Certificate and Non-Degree Programs
3. Combine programs coded separately but in reality treated the same, based on
conversations with faculty from each school on the Graduate Student Affairs
Committee.
4. Separate small programs defined as less than 30 students, or less than 1/300th
of the graduate student population
5. Group small programs into at-large seats per degree type by school.
6. Each large program and at-large group receives a minimum of one seat.
7. Use the method of equal proportions to apportion the remaining seats (150 -
number of large programs - number of at-large seats).
8. RESULT: Provisional Enrollment Seat Allocation

1 - 30 = 1 seat optional for program(s), but not required
1 - 150 = 1 seat
151 - 300 = 2 seats
301 - 450 = 3 seats
451 = 4 seats
451+ = 4 seats
At-large seats to be appointed after receiving all applications

Total 103 - 112 Senate Seats for 2022 - 2023

Meeting Schedule: 

All Senators must be available to attend the following monthly Senate meetings:
    a. September: September 16th
    b. October: Friday October 21st
    c. November: Friday November 11th
    d. December: Friday December 9th
    e. January: Friday January 20th
    f. February: Friday February 10th
    g. March: Friday March 24th
    h. April: Friday April 14th

Without further ado, we are pleased to announce the elected GradGov Senate. ( See a full list with the Senators respective Senate Seat Name Titles here.)

SENATOR BIOS (2022 - 2023) - In Progress

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES







Zoumana Isaac Traore
Alex Grant
​Alex is a first-year student in the Epidemiology program. He has a passion for advocacy and has made his career goal aiding in reducing health inequities through research and policy. Alex is a proud Jamaican and enjoys advocating for other international students’ needs. Before attending Georgetown, Alex graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a Bachelors in Biology and a minor in Public Health. Alex gained his passion for service and advocacy after serving on Nova Southeastern University’s student government as the International Senator where he ensured international students had a voice at the table. Alex hopes to bring the same drive for advocacy to his GradGov position as the Deputy Director of Student Rights & Conduct. Alex describes himself as a high-spirited person who loves to travel, explore the city and spend time with friends.
Ava Hanson
Ava Hanson is a first-year master’s student in the Environmental Metrology and Policy (EMAP) Program at Georgetown University. She is a recent graduate of California State Polytechnic University Pomona, where she studied Plant Science and minored in Soil Science and Pest and Disease Management. 
 
During her Undergraduate degree she participated in various research projects focused on quantifying soil quality in agriculturally based cover cropping systems and exploring direct and indirect impacts of agricultural insecticides on California bird fitness and reproductive success. She also had the opportunity to intern with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, where she evaluated and validated environmental data submitted on herbicide drift incidents. She now serves as the EMAP student Senator for the Graduate Student Government, GradGov, at Georgetown University. ​
YITONG YANG
Yitong Yang is a graduate student in School of Art & Science. Previously, Yitong served on the class committee in Central University of Finance and Economics in China. And she was also the vice president of Literary Club of CUFE. As an international student, Yitong hopes to be a bridge between different cultures. Although the epidemic is still raging, it cannot block our communication. She is passionate about exploring different cultures and has a strong interest in the history of different countries. She believes that frank and sincere communication can help eliminate misunderstandings and barriers caused by different cultures, religions, ideologies and etc. Her career goal is to help more people get out of poverty and live a happier life through the knowledge of economics and law she has learned. ​
Daniel Cisek
Daniel Cisek is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Data Science & Analytics at Georgetown. He is heavily involved in fostering a sense of community at Georgetown, leading a program-wide Writing Center to help fellow classmates, and playing a role in organizing events including Career Fairs, Hackathons, and Guest Lectures. Throughout his educational career he has always sought out opportunities to develop his campus, previously holding leadership positions in his college’s Math Tutoring Center and Student Newspaper. He is excited to leverage his expertise as a data scientist & Strategy Management Professional to ensure that our students have access to the tools and resources they need to achieve their professional and personal goals. ​
Randy Cantz
Randy is a MA student in Communication, Culture, and Technology in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. He graduated from UC Berkeley in Spring 2021 with a degree in History and a minor in Public Policy. Randy’s research interests are centered on internet governance, privacy law, and technology policy, and he is focused on gaining critical insights into the measures necessary to institute salient and long-lasting policies at state and national levels. An active member of the Georgetown community, Randy is involved with the Georgetown Technology Policy Initiative and The Georgetown Initiative on Tech and Society. As a Senator, Randy seeks to elevate the voices of CCT’s extraordinarily diverse, unique, and talented students, cultivate an enhanced sense of community, and ensure every student receives the attention and resources they deserve from Georgetown’s administration. Randy’s goal is to ultimately pursue a career in law centered on social advocacy, focusing specifically on the way in which technology shapes law, democracy, and personal privacy. 

​
Matene Zamaninia
Solange Camacho
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, (SFS)




Said Bilani

Soda Lo

Chris Keller


Michael Todd Parrott
Michael is a M.A. candidate at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University where he is pursuing a Master’s in Latin American Studies.

Michael possesses a life-long passion and fascination for the peoples and disparate cultures of Latin America, with special interests in race and ethnicity, Colombian foreign relations, and historical immigration to Latin America, particularly Asian, Middle Eastern, and German influences in Colombia and Brazil. He is fascinated with investigating the intersectionality of race and class, culture and power, and mass media and government. Michael also enjoys exploring the socio-cultural and political similarities between Latin America and other Hispanic nations across the world, such as the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea. 

Michael is Colombian-American and he possesses native fluency in Spanish and working knowledge of Portuguese. After completing his Master’s degree, Michael will continue his education through a doctoral program, most likely through the lens of Latin American Studies.

​
THOMAS HERRERA
Tomas is an honors graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied history and anthropology, focusing on socio-political movements in areas such as Russia and the Americas

Currently, Tomas is a graduate student at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is pursuing an M.A. in Security Studies with a concentration in International Security. Tomas also serves as Security Studies Program (SSP) Representative on the SSP Student Council.

His research interests include power and resistance in post-Soviet Russia, U.S. interventions in Latin America, and 1960s / '70s student activism in the U.S.

​
Flavio Cabrera
Jasmine Terry
Jasmine Terry serves as the MA Senator for Arab Studies and is a first-year student, having just graduated cum laude from Baylor University with a BA in Political Science and Arabic and Middle East Studies. Born to American parents in Bethlehem, Jasmine later moved around the Middle East and to South Africa before landing in the US for high school. A common thread through Jasmine’s education has been her involvement in representative government. During her undergraduate studies, she co-authored an opinion as the Deputy Chief Justice of Baylor’s Student Court having spent the previous years as Clerk and Associate Justice. Jasmine has also completed an internship with the State Department’s MEPI office and is eager to represent US interests abroad after graduation. When not working on Arabic verb conjugation, Jasmine enjoys exploring brunch places, kayaking, and grabbing coffee with friends. ​
SAID BILANI
McDonough School of Business, (MB)
CANDICE ALFRED
JOSHUA SONTAG
Keith Howard
Lakshay Narang
Max Hyatt
title 5
Nick Pernas
Pablo Blank
MINDY SHAW
Mindy is pursuing her MBA with a certificate in Sustainable Business as well as a STEM-Designated Management Science Major. She was elected to be her cohort’s representative on student government where she advocated on issues such as course scheduling and availability, certificate opportunities, tuition policy, and equity for Flex students. Her engagement within the Georgetown community also includes heavy involvement with admissions committee outreach, mentoring incoming students, and improving the alumni network. She plans on expanding her advocacy through GradGov to increase accessibility around campus for those with disabilities, implement a higher ethical standard in university policies, and increase transparency in health insurance costs. Currently a consultant in the energy, sustainability, and infrastructure sector, Mindy’s professional background is public service at various branches of government. Mindy grew up in the Midwest and received a triple major in History, Political Science, and International Studies and a minor in Chinese and focus on Judaic Studies from the University of Michigan. In her free time, she enjoys baking, eating the things she bakes, and nature.
 
Having hiked the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu in undergrad (with the help of a pony), Mindy’s personal grad level goal is to summit Mount Kilimanjaro (without the help of ponies or wheelbarrows), so catch her practicing on the Georgetown exorcist steps!

​
ROSSY COUTINHO
Rossy is a Full-Time MBA student at the McDonough School of Business. He is a versatile and a motivated professional with over 7 years of experience in the social sector, 2 of which he spent towards maximizing learning opportunities in classroom settings. He is passionate about educational equity and family empowerment, and believes that with his skills and experience, he will be able to bring a positive change in the society at large. He is currently serving as the Senator of the FT MBA program and is a member of the Graduate Government of Georgetown University.

Rossy has an avid interest in music and has completed 3 Grades in Solo Piano from the Trinity College of Music, London. He is a soccer enthusiast and a huge fan of Manchester United Football Club. In his free time, he can be found tending to stray animals.

Rossy is empathetic by nature and is always willing to volunteer his services for the betterment of the community.

​
RIO DENNIS
Rio Dennis (she/her) is a second-year JD/MBA Candidate representing the MBA Full-Time Program in the 2022-2023 GradGov Senate. She is a Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Fellow, Forté Foundation Fellow, Reaching Out MBA Fellow, and Point Foundation Scholar interested in pivoting into social impact work with a focus on historically excluded groups in the US. Before attending Georgetown, she worked at Goldman Sachs as a Global Markets Analyst in Dallas, TX drafting and negotiating regulatory documents for trade onboarding. In 2019, Rio earned her Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania specializing in Entrepreneurship and Innovation with a Certificate in Hispanic Studies. She serves as the Co-Director of the DEI Committee, the liaison to the Law Center and as a member of the Constitutional Committee.
Madeline McPhail
Luke McGinty
School of Nursing, (NH)
School of Health, (NH)
Melissa Yeager
​McCourt School of Public Policy, (McCourt)
ASIF BHATTI
Cecil Brooks, Jr.
James Ramsey
Spencer Azzawi Haisha
Thomas Tiberghien Alvarez
Vassilis Koutspumpas is an LL.B. and LL.M. graduate from the Democritus University of Thrace in Greece. He has served, at the intersection of law and politics, as a Policy Advisor at the Presidency of the Government of the Hellenic Republic and at the Municipality of Athens. He is the Founder of “Voiotia Youth Network”, a team focused on engaging young people to participate in politics in the Greek province and the Co-Founder and f. Executive Director of WeFor, an NGO crafting sustainable development campaigns. He has presented its work in international and national fora (World Economic Forum, Delphi Economic Forum) and has been awarded by UNESCO for WeFor’s annual 2021 campaign. He is currently a 1st year MPP student in the McCourt School of Public Policy in Georgetown University, admitted as an Onassis Foundation Scholar. He speaks English, French, German, and Greek. ​
Mazarine-Claire Penzin
​Mazarine-Claire Penzin is a first year Master of Public Policy student at Georgetown
University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, as well as a PhD in Government candidate. In
2021, she received her BA in Political Science and BA in Psychology from the University of
California Davis, receiving special honors from the University SciencesPo Paris for her
exchange semester with the university. During her studies, joined faculty in researching
migration policy and diaspora between Western Europe and Northwestern Africa. Her passion
lies in consulting governments and advocacy groups in best practices of refugee population
acculturation in multicultural societies. From 2021 to 2022, she worked as the Youth Education
Programs Assistant for the International Rescue Committee’s New York City office, overseeing
youth education programs, administration, and analysis for parolee, refugee, and
undocumented arrivals under 19 years of age in the New York metropolitan area.
Mazarine-Claire hopes to work for an international organization or government sector focusing
on democratization analysis and acculturation trends around the globe, as her PhD will explore
similar topics.
​Biomedical Graduate Education within GUMC (BGE)

Alec McIntosh

Zachary Colon

Heidi Awada

Anjik Ghosh

Evan Beacom

Thomas Mossington

Steven Soli
School of Continuing Studies with room for expansion (SCS)
Sebastian Grajales

Paloma Rentería

Racquel J. Royer

Alisa Tom

Lucy Lawlor

Maria DiSpigno

Shervin Shahnazi

Caitlin Marie Gedney

Cherenet Tessema

Alma Natalia De Castro

Robert Hamer

Sakina Areej

Erin Walsh

Madison Little

Mofiyinfoluwa Ajala

Grace Cawthon

Lucy Lawlor



Maya Roux



Rachel Curtis

Bettina Gorriceta


​

Spencer Basarich​
​Spencer is a Master’s Student in Emergency and Disaster Management, and is a Student Member of the International Association of Emergency Managers. Through this program, he seeks to expand his experience in disaster management, humanitarian aid, and international development. Prior to relocating from Minnesota to D.C., Spencer held numerous positions within his undergraduate student government serving as the campus Representative to the Board of Regents, Vice-Chair of the Student Life campus committee, Member of the Student Hearing Panel, and the founding President of the Duluth Omicron Delta Kappa Circle. He is currently employed as a federal government contractor managing a federal tobacco control program within the District of Columbia. Spencer aims to move into the disaster management field through domestic or international disaster management agencies. As a non-traditional student, first-generation college student, and a small-town Minnesotan, Spencer was presented incredible challenges and triumphs by moving to D.C., and he continues to learn and grow in this wonderful new environment. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities and exploring the area with his partner. 

​
Daniel Sechtin
Daniel Sechtin is the Deputy Director of External Relations and a student in the Masters in Real Estate Program. Daniel currently works for Freddie Mac in Multifamily Underwriting. Prior to moving to D.C. In addition to real estate, Daniel is an award-winning host and television personality. Before moving into commercial real estate, Sechtin served as a news anchor for ABC, NBC, and FOX stations across the southeast and midwest. His work has been honored with Emmys, Murrows, and Associated Press awards. Notable recognition includes the A.P. award for 'Best Anchor' in the state of Tennessee, as well as the Emmy for 'News Writing Excellence.’ Sechtin has been nominated for eight Emmys throughout his career including ‘Best Host’ in 2020. Daniel graduated summa cum laude from Wake Forest University in undergrad. ​
Lev Boonin​
Lev Boonin is an Urban and Regional Planning Masters student at Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies. His passion for transit, combined with his global travels and studies, and his interdisciplinary undergraduate education in urban and public policy from Drexel University, has given him the ability to combine ideas and issues into holistic and forward-looking solutions. He has previously served as the founder and President of the Drexel College Democrats, the Finance Chair for the Pennsylvania College Democrats, and Vice President of the Phi Eta Sigma honor society. In his spare time, he enjoys redesigning entire regional transit systems, writing novels, researching, and crafting policy, cooking, planning and going on trips across the globe, and spending time with his partner and dog.
He is honored to serve the Planning Master’s student body as their voice in GradGov, and proud to work in the interests of all Georgetown students.

​
Laura Martinez
I'm a first-generation student from Worcester, Massachusetts, and health equity consulting firm owner. I moved to Massachusetts in 1990 and have never left. Despite being born in a large city like Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, I've grown to appreciate Worcester's small-town charm but big city infrastructure. I am in my final year at Georgetown SCS, earning a Master of Professional Studies in Project Management. Besides being a newly appointed senator, I have the honor of serving as DEI-Co-Director for gadGov.
Yvette Cumming
Drew Miles
​Drew grew up in Winter Park, FL, a suburb of Orlando, and moved to Tallahassee to attend Florida State University. He was a member of the honors college and graduated with a double major in Real Estate and Finance. After graduating, Drew moved to Jacksonville, FL to work for Regency Centers as a Capital Markets Analyst, where he still works today. Drew is a current student in the Master's in Real Estate program (MPRE) within the School of Continuing Studies. 
In his spare time, he likes to read on the beach, agonize over FSU sports, and workout at F45. ​
Georgetown College (GC)
​
Amjad Alqahtani

Charles Ochonma

Daniel Holzman

​Katelyn Carroll

Mariamnny Nathaly Contreras Fernandez

Sareena Dubey

Yasmeen Almuzaini




ROSIE CLICK
Rosie Click is a first-year PhD student in the History Department at Georgetown University, advised by Dr. Bryan McCann. She received an MA in Latin American Studies from Tulane University in May 2022, and a BA in Latin American Studies and English from Tulane University in May 2019. Her work explores US-Latin American and US-Caribbean relations, particularly through the lenses of power and tourism. She is also interested in public history, museum studies, Caribbean literature, and academic editing.
Yitong Yang
​
Shakira Jackson