Graduate History Association Introduction GHA Constitution Updating Your Directory Listing 2011-12 Officers and Committees

2011-12 Officers and Committees

GHA Co-presidents: Nick Juravich and K. Ian Shin

Nick and Ian are responsible for coordinating the activities of the GHA committees. They are the primary student contacts on issues related to graduate students for faculty, and staff, and students alike. They attend GEC meetings as non-voting participants and are also responsible for aiding the various ad-hoc initiatives developed by faculty, students, and staff during the course of a normal academic year. In the past, these have included professional development workshops, organizing orientation and the department's visiting day, improving the effectiveness of departmental communication, and bettering teaching conditions.

GHA Social Chair: Nicole Longpre

Nicole is responsible for planning events that promote a spirit of conviviality and collegiality in the graduate history student community.  This past year, these events have included monthly happy hours, student-hosted parties, and intramural sports team.  There is a special focus on making sure that new students feel welcome.

History-East Asia Representative: Clay Eaton

Clay is the History-East Asia Representative, serving the historians who sit at the juncture between the departments of History and East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALAC) at Columbia. The History-East Asia Representative coordinates between the two departments to ensure seamless communication and to make available relevant resources from one to the other. 

M.A. Program Representative: Nicola Stathers

Appointed by the executive director of the M.A. in International and Global History, this officer is responsible for representing the interests of master's students in the department as they complete the first year of their program in New York. In addition to working with the GHA, the M.A. Representative also assists the executive director, Dr. Line Lillevik, and her staff to ensure that M.A. students enjoy a the best possible academic experience and quality of life while in residence at Columbia.

GEC Representatives: Ariel Rubin (through 2011/2012), Sarah Cook (through 2012/13), and Noah Rosenblum (through 2012/13)

Ariel, Sarah, and Noah are the three elected student representatives serving on the Graduate Education Committee (GEC), which also includes the director of graduate studies, the chair and vice chair, and other faculty from the History Department.  This committee meets periodically to discuss issues pertaining to graduate student education, such as curriculum, teaching assistantships, language and oral examinations, funding, and increased transparency in department business. This committee ensures that the perspective and experience of graduate students is taken into consideration as department policy is formed.

GSAC Representative: Westenley Alcenat

Wes is the History Department’s representative to the Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC), which is the official body that represents the interests of all
graduate students in the school of Arts and Sciences.  GSAC has two critical roles. First, it facilitates communication between graduate students and administrators about a wide range of graduate student concerns–housing, campus and study space, computer services, health care, and stipends, for example–with specific attention to how these issues affect students’ standard of living and influence students’ ability to fulfill teaching and research duties.  Second, it sponsors social, cultural, and academic events, as well as workshops to improve the quality of life for graduate students.

Teaching Committee Chairs: Sarah Cook and Jeffrey Wayno

Sarah and Jeffrey, as heads of the Teaching Committee, organize and run training workshops for first-time Teaching Assistants (TAs) and also publish the TA Handbook.  They are responsible for monitoring adherence to the department's teaching guidelines and acting as an advocate for graduate teachers.