Graduate Student and Postdoc Advisory Council (GPAC)

History and Purpose

The Center for Teaching and Learning’s Graduate Student and Postdoc Advisory Council (GPAC) has been a critical bridge between graduate students and the Center for Teaching and Learning from its inception. Since 2011, graduate students in the advisory group have assisted the Center for Teaching and Learning in making decisions related to graduate student (and postdoc) programming. Students are consulted about upcoming workshop topics, and they voice current teaching and learning concerns that are relevant to their own teaching as well as that of other students in their disciplines. Beginning in Spring 2024, graduate students in all programs as well as postdoctoral appointees are encouraged to apply.

GPAC also coordinates a series of monthly events which are open to graduate students and postdocs from across the university. Through these events, the members of GPAC work to provide additional cross-disciplinary professional development in teaching opportunities throughout the school year. The group meets approximately once a month during the school year September-November and February-April. Meetings have been traditionally held on the first Tuesday evening of the month.

Joining GPAC

A general call for new members goes out each academic year to graduate students and postdocs across the disciplines. Appointments to the group are generally 1-2 year terms, and in most years 5-6 new members join the group. Decisions regarding applications are made based on a number of factors including teaching experience and former participation in GSPDprograming with the Center for Teaching and Learning. The Center for Teaching and Learning is also invested in composing a diverse group, which represents the varied teaching experiences and disciplinary breadth of WashU.

Beginning in 2016, the Graduate Student Senate (GSS) has elected one or two year-long cross appointments to GPAC. Those in the group who are also GSS representatives serve as a link between GPAC and the GSS. Until Fall 2018, this group was known at the Teaching Center Graduate Student Advisory Group. From Fall 2018 through Fall 2023, this group was known as the Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC).

Questions about the Graduate Student and Postdoc Advisory Council may be directed to Dr. Lisa Kuehne, Assistant Director in Educational Development, The Center for Teaching and Learning at lmkuehne@wustl.edu.

Advisory Council Members

The 2023-2024 Advisory Council

Jeff Konrad (Movement Sciences)
Jacqueline Garnett (Anthropology)
Laura Evers (English)
Greg Ledingham (Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences)
Sarah Swiston (DBBS)
Zihan Feng (East Asian Languages & Cultures)
Cristina Sabando Alvarez (Mathematics)
Nicole Strombom (Social Work/Public Health)
Marion Sudvarg (Computer Science and Engineering)

GSS Representative: Christina Bourantas (Physical Therapy/Movement Sciences)

The 2022-2023 Advisory Council

Felipe Guz Tinoco (Music)
Jayde Homer (Psychological and Brain Sciences)
Maryssa Loehr (EECE)
Patricia Maurer (Germanic Languages and Literatures)
Ruth Son (Chemistry)
Laura Evers (English)
Jeff Konrad (Movement Sciences)
Sarah Swiston (DBBS)
Jacqueline Garnett (Anthropology)
Greg Ledingham (Earth and Planetary Sciences)
Garrett Pekarek (Sociology)

GSS Representative: Adam Manfredi (East Asian Language and Cultures)

The 2021-2022 Advisory Council

Felipe Guz Tinoco (Music)
Zhiyuan Meng (French)
Juanma Ramírez Velázquez (Spanish)
Rosie Dutt (Imaging Science)
Jordan McAllister (Political Science)
Megan Michie (MSTP)
Jayde Homer (Psychological and Brain Sciences)
Maryssa Loehr (EECE)
Patricia Maurer (Germanic Languages and Literatures)
Jake Funkhouser (Anthropology)
Ruth Son (Chemistry)
Maria Gandarilla Ocampo (Brown School–Fall Semester)
Dominique Horton (Brown School–Spring Semester)

GSS Representative: Zoe Clapacs (BME)

The 2020-2021 Advisory Council

Dan Fister (Music)
Tyler Gahrs (Germanic Languages and Literatures)
Lacy Murphy (Art History)
Nadia Sae-lim (Earth & Planetary Sciences)
Oyku Uner (Psychological & Brain Sciences)
Zhiyuan Meng (French)
Juanma Ramírez Velázquez (Spanish)
Rosie Dutt (Imaging Science)
Audrey Dang (EECE)
Jordan Hale (Political Science)
Megan Michie (MSTP)
Emily Evers (Public Health)

GSS Representative: Zoe Clapacs (BME)

The 2019-2020 Advisory Council

Matt Barickman (Earth & Planetary Sciences–Spring Semester)
Dan Fister (Music)
Tyler Gahrs (Germanic Languages and Literatures)
Erin Gemmell (Chemistry)
Eugene Kim (EECE)
Shayan Monadjemi (CSE)
Lacy Murphy (Art History)
William O’Brochta (Political Science)
Meagan Pilar (Public Health)
Nadia Sae-lim (Earth & Planetary Sciences–Fall Semester)
Siera Stoen (Physics)
Oyku Uner (Psychological & Brain Sciences)

GSS Representative:
Andrea Goltz

The 2018-2019 Advisory Council

Tabbetha Bohac (Chemistry)
Tyler Gahrs (Germanic Languages and Literatures)
Erin Gemmell (Chemistry)
Eugene Kim (EECE)
Xiaochen Mao (Earth and Planetary Sciences)
Andrea Mendoza Lespron (Comparative Literature)
William O’Brochta (Political Science)
Meagan Pilar (Public Health)
Kendra Smith (Psychological and Brain Sciences)
Siera Stoen (Physics)

GSS Representative:
Shayan Monadjemi (CSE)

The 2017-2018 Advisory Group

Tabbetha Bohac (Chemistry)
Kristena Cooksey (Anthropology)
Anna Franklin (Art History)
Joseph Jakubowski (Music Theory)
Paulo Loonin (English)
Xiaochen Mao (Earth and Planetary Sciences)
Andrea Mendoza Lespron (Comparative Literature)
William O’Brochta (Political Science)
Nicole Rockweiler (Computational and Systems Biology)
Kendra Smith (Psychological and Brain Sciences)
Siera Stoen (Physics)
Meagan Sullender (DBBS)

GSS Representative:
Tyler Parker (Islamic and Near Eastern Studies)

The 2016-2017 Advisory Group

Blaire Weidler (Psychology)
Roger Klein (DBBS)
Patrizia Vecchi (Business)
Kristena Cooksey (Anthropology)
Crystal Koenig (Anthropology)
Katie Harnish (Art History)
Anna Franklin (Art History)
Gaby Martin (RLL)
Tolutola Oyetunde (EECE)
Tabbetha Bohac (Chemistry)

The 2015-2016 Advisory Group

Kristena Cooksey (Anthropology)
Fanghao Chen (East Asian Languages and Cultures)
Robin Girard (RLL – French)
Kenyon Gradert (English)
Roger Klein (DBBS)
Dale Kretz (History)
Toshi Miyatsu  (Psychology)
Patrizia Vecchi (Business)
Rachel Voth Schrag (Social Work)
Blaire Weidler (Psychology)
Teresa Wong (Earth and Planetary Sciences)

The 2014-2015 Advisory Group

Andia Augustin-Billy (Romance Languages)
Emily Cohen-Shikora (Psychology)
Kenyon Gradert (English)
Nisha Iyer (BME)
Kathryn (Kate) Keefer (DBBS)
Dale Kretz (History)
Lindsey Lilienthal (Psychology)
Simone Pfleger (Germanic Lang and Lit)
Rachel Voth Schrag (Social Work)
Teresa Wong (Earth and Planetary Sciences)

The 2013-2014 Advisory Group

Waseem-Ahmed Bin-Kasim (History)
Emily Cohen-Shikora (Psychology)
Meg Dobbins (English)
Alexander Eastman (Romance Languages and Literatures)
Simone Pfleger (Germanic Languages and Literatures)
Nisha Iyer (BME)
Kathryn (Kate) Keefer (Cell Biology and Physiology)
Tess Thompson (Social Work)
Kathleen (Katie) Zelle (Biology)

The 2012-2013 Advisory Group

Heidi Arjes (DBBS)
Boncho Dragiyski (Romance Languages and Literatures)
Xin Peng (Chemistry)
Kelsi Singer (Earth and Planetary Sciences)
Lauren Wannenwetsch (English)
Angineh Djavadghazaryans (German)
Madeline Keleher (DBBS)
Zimeng Wang (EECE)
Nisha Iyer (BME)
Meg Dobbins (English)
Tess Thompson (Social Work)
Melanie Bauer (Psychology)

The 2011-2012 Advisory Group

Heidi Arjes (DBBS)
Boncho Dragiyski (Romance Languages and Literatures)
Xin Peng (Chemistry)
Amy Sattler (English)
Kelsi Singer (Earth and Planetary Sciences)
Hiroki Watanabe (Economics)
Lauren Wannenwetsch (English)
Lan Xu (Business)