Elections for the 2025-2026 GSA Executive Board will take place online starting Monday, April 7th at 12:00am and running through Thursday, April 10th at 11:59pm via the link below:
CLICK HERE TO VOTE!
Anyone who has trouble accessing the voting link should email Tom Vane at tmvane@buffalo.edu to verify their eligibility to participate in the vote.
The Candidates for GSA E-board are as follows:
For President:
Sarah MacDougall
“A representative committed to advocating for all graduate students and connecting people to as many resources as possible.”
After two years serving as the Vice President of the GSA, I am running for President with the
goal of expanding the advocacy work that the GSA does. Throughout my time as Vice
President, I have been the point of contact for graduate student clubs, worked with the
director of the Mark Diamond Research Fund to adjust deadlines in a way more conducive to
master’s student participation, set up resource fairs with more than 20 campus offices, and
advocated on behalf of all graduate students to the graduate school on things like improved
and increased campus resources, parental leave, campus policing, and more. As President, I
would like to resurrect the International Student Committee so that we can better advocate
on behalf of international students. Additionally, as a former master’s student at UB and
graduate assistant in the graduate school, I have spent three years advocating for an increased focus on master’s students. Most university services for graduate students are geared toward PhD students specifically. While it is fantastic that PhD students have those resources, the focus on PhD students means that master’s students are sometimes left out to dry, despite paying tens of thousands of dollars for their degrees. I would like to assemble a committee to hear more from master’s students specifically about how they feel their short time at UB can be improved. I have experience building bridges not only with students, but with upper-level administration as well. I would be honored to use this experience as GSA President to advocate on behalf of all students to administrators at the highest level.
For Vice President:
Sevda Abdavinejad Mirkoohi
“Now more than ever, we need advocacy. I’m committed to amplifying voices and empowering our community.”
I earned my Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in my home country, Iran, and am currently a third-year PhD student in the Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (EEB). I am also a Research and Teaching Assistant in the Department of Psychology.
Since my first year at UB, I have been actively involved in the GSA, serving as Vice President of the Iranian GSA for two years and as a Board Member for the EVS GSA and, currently, Cognitive Science GSA. As Vice President of an international club, I successfully secured COAL and Office of Inclusive Excellence programming grants for our Diverse Cultural Exchange Program, an initiative aimed at celebrating cultural diversity at UB and promoting cross-cultural understanding. These experiences have given me the opportunity to work with students from diverse backgrounds, enhancing my commitment to student advocacy. With my international student experience and multidisciplinary background, I deeply understand the challenges that graduate students face—whether navigating funding, academic pressures, or adjusting to a new environment.
Throughout my academic career, I have been—and always will be—a passionate advocate for students. Now, more than ever, we need to feel heard, supported, and empowered. If elected, I will be committed to enriching the UB experience of all graduate students, international and domestic. I will actively listen to student concerns, engage with upper-level administrators, and work to connect graduate students with the resources and support they deserve.
For Treasurer:
Isaac Kolding
“I’ll use my experience to ensure that student fee dollars are well spent!”
I’ve had the honor of serving as your GSA president for the past two years. This experience has given me the knowledge and skills I’ll need as the next GSA treasurer and ensure that all financial duties are handled efficiently and on time. I’m also committed to working closely with the incoming president, sharing everything I’ve learned to make their transition seamless. During my term as president, I’ve prioritized maximizing the value you receive from your student activity fees by ensuring our budget is fully utilized. As treasurer, I’ll continue this mission by identifying underused funds and redirecting them to programs that have the greatest impact and meet your needs.
Details concerning election procedure can be found in the 2024-2025 Election Code.
2024-2025 GSA Election Committee:
Devaleena Kalita (Election Committee Chair)
Kiara Roberts
Logan Barrett
Sai Snehitha Ramisetty
Jordan Scalia