The Executive Board
The Executive Officers implement and advocate the interests of graduate and professional students to the university administration and handle the day-to-day operations of GPSG. The Executive Branch functions by coordinating numerous events, working alongside student leaders, and leading efforts to improve the graduate and professional student experience.
Board Members
President
Vice President
Chief of Staff
VP for Advocacy and Government Affairs
VP for Communications
VP for Diversity and Inclusion
Treasurer
Leah Frazier
President
Leah Frazier is a 2nd-year PhD student in Pharmacology at the UNC School of Medicine. She was born and raised in Durham, NC , and earned her BS in Biology from UNC Pembroke. Her research focuses on drug resistance in breast cancer, where she works to identify more effective therapeutic strategies for patients. Leah is also a science communicator with over 15.6k followers on TikTok, where she makes research more accessible to inspire future (and current) scientists!
The President shall be empowered to call and conduct Senate meetings, to appoint committees, to organize a GPSG Cabinet and designate positions therein, to represent the GPSG at all University functions, to speak on behalf of the graduate and professional students, and to initiate and oversee any projects, business, or programs necessary to fulfill the purposes of this organization, so long as these activities are consistent with the Constitution.
Matthew Zuñiga
Vice President
The Vice President shall serve as the President of the Senate, the legislative body of the GPSG. These duties include running Senate meetings, increasing Senate participation, securing University administration and other external representatives to speak before the Senate, increasing knowledge inside and outside of Senate about the role of GPSG and the Senate, facilitating dissemination of events and information amongst departments, and overseeing the Senate committees.
Jaden Smith
Chief of Staff
Jaden Smith is a first-year Master of Public Health student with a concentration in Applied Epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Originally from Virginia, he earned his BS in Biology from Howard University, where he cultivated his passion for health equity, student leadership, and community advocacy. His research centers on cardiovascular disease epidemiology within carceral populations, with a focus on addressing health disparities among marginalized communities. Beyond academia, Jaden is passionate about public health advocacy, mentorship, and community-based initiatives that bridge the gap between systemic inequities and healthcare access.
The Chief of Staff shall be responsible for selecting, organizing, advising, and supporting the GPSG Cabinet, which shall include members and positions as designated by the President. During the first meeting of the GPSG Senate each academic year, the Chief of Staff shall present a “GPSG Cabinet Charter” outlining the current positions, appointees, and the responsibilities of appointees. This charter shall be approved by the Senate by a majority vote of the members present and voting. The powers of the Chief of Staff shall not be limited to those presented here as the President of the GPSG may encourage him or her to take on additional duties or responsibilities.
Erin Wright
VP for Advocacy and Government Affairs
Erin Wright is a 2nd-year doctoral student in Sociology. Before coming to Carolina, she received her BS in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago. She is a proud Houstonian, avid rock climber, and can be found on the Carolina North trails if not busy coding in Stata. Her research includes investigating cardiometabolic health disparities due to stress processes with a particular focus on the lived discriminatory experiences of sexual and gender minorities. She also investigates social isolation following traumatic physical or sexual assault and the role of social support as a buffer for health.
The VP for Advocacy and Governmental Affairs shall be concerned with business outside the realm of the Senate, serving as a liaison between the GPSG, University administration and the community, and be responsible for compiling regular reports on the activities of University Standing Committees, Advisory Committees and Boards and all other duly established committees external to the GPSG, and reporting those activities to the Executive Committee.
Sicily Xiao
VP for Communications
Sicily Xiao (she/they) is a graduate student in journalism at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. She was born and raised in Chongqing, China, and received her BA in mathematics with a minor in music from Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH. She is an aspiring bilingual journalist and music critic with interests in the intersection of STEM, the economy, and art. Outside of her working time, Sicily loves traveling and playing the piano. She is also a proud cat mom.
The VP for Communications shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of meetings of the Senate, the Executive Board, and the GPSG Cabinet, as well as for maintaining attendance records of GPSG Senators. The VP for Communications shall maintain all records and files of the GPSG, as well as maintain a current copy of the GPSG Constitution, and shall arrange for permanent preservation of these documents. The VP for Communications shall publish a list of all representative units, their Senators, and contact information. The VP for Communications maintains the GPSG Website and Newsletter.
VP for Diversity and Inclusion
VP for Diversity and Inclusion
Could this be you??
Seyyed “Reza” Doroudian
Treasurer
TBD
The VP for Finance shall be empowered to oversee the annual budget, to requisition funds, to keep all financial records, to keep a physical properties list consistent with expenditure of GPSG allocated funds and to conduct all other financial affairs pertaining to the GPSG as necessary.
Minutes and Documents
All minutes can be found at the GPSG archives.