The History Graduate Student Association (GHA) is an organization of graduate students within the State University of New York at Buffalo. Our mission is to enrich the intellectual and social life of our members and to foster stronger ties between the discipline of history and the other social sciences. The GHA meets once a month to discuss graduate student concerns and topics of mutual interest. For example, members may evaluate candidates from departmental faculty searches or apply for some of the funds the association allocates for travel expenses for students who hope to attend and/or present at a conference. Every year, the GHA organizes its own conference, a multi-disciplinary symposium where graduate students are encouraged to present their work to their fellow students and professors. The Milton Plesur Conference, named in honor of Professor Milton Plesur (1927-87) who devoted his career to teaching thousands of UB students, provides an excellent opportunity for students to experience a critical discussion of their work from other interested and knowledgeable parties as well as simply gain experience speaking in public. This activity is funded in part by the Graduate Students Association and by the department of History. In addition, the GHA happily sponsors the conferences of other graduate associations of the social sciences. – From the Graduate History Association Constitution
Officers
The executive branch of the Graduate History Association, officers are responsible for the daily running of the GHA, and are expected to manage group funds, plan events , update the GHA website, and interact with the Department of History faculty and the University at Buffalo Graduate Student Association. GHA officers are also expected to plan the Milton Plesur Conference, an annual graduate history conference that the Graduate History Association has hosted since 1993.
While the officers have a good deal of influence over the shape and direction of the GHA, all motions concerning event planning, the spending of GHA funds, and representing the history graduate student community within the University at Buffalo Graduate Student Senate must be passed by majority vote during a GHA meeting, which is open to all graduate students currently enrolled in the Department of History.
As the representative body of the graduate students in the Department of History, the GHA is governed democratically via elected officials. Elections are held at the end of the spring semester, and any graduate student in the Department of History, M.A. or Ph.D, is encouraged to run for office.
GHA Officers, 2019-20
President: Tanya Blakely-Clark
Vice President: Ryan Adams
Secretary: Jenna Labbie
Treasurer: Brandon Burger
GSA Board Members
As a recognized, funded, charter member of the UB Graduate Student Association (GSA), the GHA has the right and obligation to be represented in the GSA Board of Directors, the elected body that manages and spends the activity fees paid by all registered graduate students at the university. The GHA must have at least one board member at every GSA Board of Directors meeting to maintain good standing, which allows us to received funding events, such as the Milton Plesur Conference. Board members are elected at the beginning of the fall semester, and any graduate student in the Department of History, M.A. or Ph.D, is encouraged to run for the position.
Past Officers:
2020-2021: President: Brandon Burger , Vice President: Ashley Morin, Secretary: Eric Deutsch , Treasurer: Emily Seger
2019-2020: President: , Vice President: , Secretary: , Treasurer:
2018-19: President: Victoria Nachreiner, Vice President: Tanya Blakeley-Clark, Secretary: Holly Atkins, Treasurer: Jim Dobrowolski
2017-18: President: Derek Taylor, Vice President: Emily Bowlus-Peck, Secretary: Joshua Keil, Treasurer: Patrick Nash
2016-17: President: Alexandra Prince, Vice President: Justin Masucci, Treasurer: David McCaskey, Secretary: Shanleigh Corrallo,
2015-16: President: Christopher Notaro, Vice President: Elisabeth Davis, Secretary: Tommy Buttaccio, Treasurer: Reed Jones
2014-15: President: David Strittmatter, Vice President: Tommy Le, Secretary: Justin Masucci, Treasurer: Marissa Rhodes
2013-14: President: Joshua Schroeder, Vice President: Averill Earls, Secretary: Katie Smyser, Treasurer: Marissa Rhodes
2012-13: President: W. Jake Newsome, Vice President: Billy Pritchard, Secretary: Averill Earls, Treasurer: Kathryn Lawton
2011-12: President: Averill Earls, Vice President: Elisabeth George, Secretary: Sarah Handley-Cousins, Treasurer: Justin Donahoe
2010-11: President: Valerie Phillips, Vice President: Jeff Kohler, Secretary: Colin Eager, Treasurer: Kevin Ryan