Officers of the Executive Council
President

Stephanie Kuntz
Degree: Human Development and Family Sciences Ph.D. Department: Human Development and Family Sciences Advisor: Marth Buell Email: StKuntz@udel.edu Stephanie is the President of GSG for the 2025-2026 academic year. She has been involved in GSG since 2022. Stephanie’s...
Vice President of External Affairs

Maxwell Bobbin
Degree: Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Department: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Advisor: Dion Vlachos Email: mbobbin@udel.edu Maxwell (Max) joined GSG in 2023 as an apprentice senator for his department. In 2024, he was elected President for the 2024-2025...
Vice President of Internal Affairs

Krishna Thakkar
Degree: Department: Advisor: Email:
As the chief executive officer and external communicator, the President leads the Executive Council, represents graduate students in meetings with university leadership (including the Board of Trustees and UD President), and appoints students to various committees and external positions. The President also updates the Senate and graduate student body on significant developments and implements policies passed by the Senate.
The Vice President of External Affairs serves as the President’s chief liaison for external matters. They maintain communication channels, including the GSO contact list, website, and social media. They chair the Executive Sub-committee on External Affairs, which helps organize events such as New Graduate Student Orientation and Grad Voices. They also represent GSG when the President isn’t available and maintain tabs on local and state government actions.
The Vice President for Internal Affairs is focused on internal governance and supports Senate elections and membership documentation. They co-manage senator and committee appointment records with the Parliamentarian, oversee department-level election procedures, and chair the Executive Sub-committee on Internal Affairs.
Parliamentarian

Narayan Kumar
Degree: Civil Engineering, Ph.D. Department: Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Advisor: Tian-Jian Hsu Email: narayank@udel.edu Narayan joined as a senator for the first time for the 2023-2024 academic year and worked for the Diversity and Faculty...
Secretary

Bernice Petit
Degree: Ph.D. Criminology Department: Sociology and Criminology Advisor: Aaron Kupchik & Jennifer Bouek Email: petitb@udel.edu Bernice joined GSG in Fall 2024 as the GSG Secretary. She is continuing her role as GSG Secretary for the 2025-2026 school year. ...
Treasurer

Rosa Mykyta-Chomsky
Degree: Ph.D. Human Development and Family Sciences Department: Human Development and Family Sciences Advisor: Dr. Tia N. Bames Email: rmykytac@udel.edu Rosa joined GSG as treasurer in 2025. Before that, she served on her department's board in a variety of roles from...
As the chair of the Senate, the Parliamentarian oversees legislative meetings, ensures adherence to Robert’s Rules of Order, vets all proposed legislation, and appoints senators to committees. They coordinate the activities of Senate committees and maintain attendance and committee participation records.
The Secretary supports both documentation and communication efforts. They take minutes during Senate and Executive meetings, maintain organizational archives, and co-manage the website and social media with the Vice President of External Affairs. They serve as Vice-Chair of the External Affairs Sub-committee.
The Treasurer is responsible for financial oversight of GSG and allocates funding to Graduate Student Organizations in line with Graduate College policies. They chair the Executive Sub-committee on Funding Allocation, which reviews budget proposals and emergency funding requests.
Senators
Select a college to see its list of Senators
Complete List of Senators
Kaiyue Deng
Degree: Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering Advisor: Email: onyeka@udel.edu
Shedrack Dafe
Degree: Department: Advisor: Email: onyeka@udel.edu
Kyle Regan
Degree: Ph.D in Bioninformatics Data Science Advisor: Dr. Gonzalo Arce Email: regank@udel.edu Kyle joined GSG in 2025 as a senator for his department. His research focuses on developing machine learning models deployed in portable aerosol mass spectrometers for...
Devashish Pande
Degree: Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Advisor: Dr. Joshua Neunuebel Email: deva@udel.edu I have represented my program and international students in the GSG as a senator for about two years. My research in the Neuroscience program at UD is focused on...
Joe Oleksak
Degree: Ph.D. in Public Policy & Administration Advisor: Danilo Yanich Email: joleksak@udel.edu Joe Oleksak is a second year PhD student at the Biden School of Public Policy & Administration at the University of Delaware. Joe’s research is focused on media...
Chloe Shader
Degree: Master's in Energy and Environmental Policy Advisor: Dr. Nina David Email: cshader@udel.edu Chloe is a second-year student in the Master's of Energy and Environmental Policy program at UD. Her research focuses on climate policy, public participation, and...
Amanda Kelly Thompson
Degree: Department: Advisor: Email: aekelly@udel.edu
Kylie Tugend
Degree: Master's of Public Policy Advisor: Alisa Moldavano Email: ktugend@udel.edu My name is Kylie Tugend and I am looking forward to serving my first year with GSG! In May of 2025 I graduated with bachelors degrees in public policy and environmental studies here...
Alex McClellan
Degree: Department: Advisor: Email: alexmccl@udel.edu
Bailee Mallon
Degree: Acute Care Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (ACAGNP) Advisor: Email: baimal@udel.edu Bailee Mallon joined GSG as a Senator for the School of Nursing in 2025. Bailee is a first-year graduate student enrolled in the ACAGNP program through the College of...
Bingqing Luo
Degree: Ph.D in Nutrition Science Advisor: Dr. Sheau Ching Chai Email: bqluo@udel.edu This is my first year with GSG. My hobbies are painting, reading, and dancing.
Charlotte Asiedu
Degree: Department: Advisor: Email: opcharl@udel.edu
Susmita Basnet
Degree: Ph.D. in Nutrition Science Advisor: Dr. Shannon Robson Email: basnet@udel.edu I will be joining GSG for the first time. I completed my Masters at UD and have started my PhD this fall. My research is focused on Cardiovascular Health. I am also serving as a...
Caitlyn Edgar
Degree: 4+1 Materials Science and Engineering M.S. Email: cmedgar@udel.edu Caitlyn is serving as a senator while supporting the Materials Research Society chapter at UD. Her research interests include plastics sustainability, circularity, and recycling. Outside of...
Likhith Sai Ganesh Kalahastri
Degree: M.S. Cybersecurity Advisor: Denise Williamson Email: likhith@udel.edu Likhith is excited to be part of the GSG as a senator this year. Likhith is in his final year of graduate school. His interests lie around IT defensive security mechanisms and operations....
Emile Tafili Kohtem
Degree: Electrical and Computer Engineering (M.S) Advisor: Javier Garcia-Frias Email: kohtem@udel.edu Kohtem joined GSG in 2025 and currently serves as a Senator for the Electrical and Computer Engineering department. With a diverse technical background and global...
Luis Fernando Bustos Marquez
Degree: Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisor: Dr. Steven Hegedus Email: luisbm@udel.edu Luis Fernando Bustos-Márquez is a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Delaware, specializing in renewable energy...
Michiel Van Eyck
Degree: Department: Advisor: Email: mvaneyck@udel.edu
Ekaterina Novikova
Degree: Ph.D. Human Development and Family Sciences Advisor: Email: novikova@udel.edu
Joe Hagan
Degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Concentration in Accounting Advisor: Dr. Andrea Hartman Email: jrhagen@udel.edu This is my first time being apart of GSG. Outside of school and work I enjoy working out, golfing, and watching Philadelphia sports.
Justin Farquhar
Degree: MBA Department: N/A Advisor: N/A Email: justinf@udel.edu Justin joined GSG in 2025 as a senator for his department. He is currently pursuing an MBA with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence through the University of Delaware’s 4+1 program. His academic...
Daria Bloniva
Degree: Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations Advisor: Email: blinovad@udel.edu It is my third year serving as a Senator of the Political Science & IR Department. I am very much happy that my department colleagues entrust me with this role. I am...
Jacob Burger
Degree: Ph.D. in Linguistics Advisor: Dr. Arild Hestvik Email: jburger@udel.edu Jacob joined the GSG in 2024 as a senator for the Linguistics and Cognitive Science department. His research focuses on the discovery and analysis of the neural markers associated with...
Karli Sunnergen
Degree: Ph.D./MBA in Biological Sciences Advisor: Dr. Jessica Tanis Email: ksunner@udel.edu This is my first year serving on the GSG. My research uses the model organism C. elegans to investigate genetic and metabolic factors that impact aging and age-related...
Shannon Pfeiffer
Degree: Ph.D. in Biological Sciences Advisor: Dr. Aimee Jaramillo-Lambert Email: scpfeiff@udel.edu I am a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Jaramillo-Lambert lab. in the Biological Sciences department. This is my first year as a GSG senator. Outside of work, I love to...
Kim Motz
Degree: M.S. Biological Sciences Advisor: Dr. Erica Selva Email: kmotz@udel.edu This is my first semester as a part of GSG! I am a second year Master's student in the Biology Department here at UD. I came here for my undergraduate degree as well. When I am not in the...
Foluke Mary Oyawole
Degree: Ph.D. in Art History Advisor: Professor Ikem Okoye Email: folumary@udel.edu Foluke Mary Oyawole is a Ph.D. student in Art History at the University of Delaware. Her work focuses on African art, cultural heritage, and the legacies of colonialism. She recently...
Alyssa Pirolli
Degree: Fine Arts M.F.A. Advisor: Aaron Terry and Brandan Henry Email: apirolli@udel.edu Alyssa Pirolli is earning her M.F.A. during her time at U.D. She joined the GSG in Fall 2025 and is looking forward to representing the Art Department. Her love of painting...
Matthew Reichner
Degree: M.S. Agricultural & Resource Economics Advisor: Dr. John Bernard Email: mattreic@udel.edu I was a proxy senator last year assisting our former Senator, so this is my 2nd year in the GSG but first as a full senator. My hobbies include running, lifting,...