Hello again everyone. The Graduate Student Advocate election is here, and we’ve received 4 self-nominations this year! The election form is here, and you will have until Sunday night (Jan 30) to fill it out! Please note you must be signed into your UD email account to access the form!
Social Chair Nominees: Chinmay Burgul, Sulav Kafle, Farida Ahmed Koly, Annie Porter
Chinmay ‘s Statement:
From the day I decided to accept my PhD admission I was in contact with MEGA board members, I got help in finalizing my advisor, housing, course planning for my quals and off course got free textbooks. This helping culture, passing resources and valuable experience to new PhD students makes their journey a lot smoother. MEGA has been a wonderful platform to connect with other ME PhD students apart from lab mates. When I meet first year PhD students from other departments struggling without such peer help, I appreciate the importance of MEGA even a lot more. I enjoyed attending MEGA social events and now I want to give back to the community being part of the team.
I nominate myself as a 1st year representative.
Sulav’s Statement:
I am first year PHD student. I know what first year student thinks and feels during their intial days. I myself faced difficulty in finding appropriate supervisor with my research interest. There are going to be many similar problems. I want to represent their voice. Therefore, I filed nomination for this post.
Farida’s Statement:
Before coming I was in need of a temporary accommodation, my mentor Jan Calalo help me, giving suggestion and one of our 4th year graduate student helped me by accommodate me in his home. For that ,I am really grateful so I believe as I received lots of help its my turn, if I can return some.
Annie’s Statement:
As an undergraduate at UD in the ME department, I was involved in the ME Student Squad, and now that I am a graduate student I would love to be able to keep being involved in the department in a different role as the 1st year rep. Since I was here as an undergrad, I am already very familiar with the department faculty and staff, which I believe could be helpful in the position. I also hope that through working with MEGA I am able to meet more other grad students both within my year and also other years since starting during covid meant a lot fewer opportunities to meet other students in class and in department events.
Jan Calalo
2021- 2022 MEGA Vice President