Introducing the Saint Mary’s Graduate Student Association
Meet the graduate student leaders who launched this new initiative—and here are the priorities for making a richer graduate student experience across programs.
This fall Saint Mary’s was excited to welcome the creation of the first Graduate Student Association (GSA) on campus. The GSA will fill a critical gap felt by many in SMC’s graduate student community.
Founders Nash Anderson ’23, Carmen Nava, and Luis Angelo Enriquez were discussing one day how difficult they found it to connect with other grad students outside of their classes. After completing his BA at SMC and then beginning graduate studies, Anderson, —the inaugural president of the GSA—identified a number of ways to improve the graduate student experience. “The concept of GSA started when I quickly noticed the abyss of infrastructure, resources, information gaps, events not working with schedules, and lack of interaction between students of varying programs,” he says, “and was then truly set into motion during lunch with two of my peers, Carmen and Luis.”
Nava notes that she, Enriquez, and Anderson started reaching out to others, “eventually conducting a survey to see if our fellow grad students were interested,” she says. “The results were very encouraging, and all grad students who responded seemed to be seeking the same things: connections with other grad students, opportunities to network, and events to create community.”
They began the process by connecting with Vice President of Student Life Jim Scuito, who offered them encouragement and a framework for what they would need. To write the bylaws and constitution, they reached out to other graduate schools with similar pre-existing associations, and went over documents used by SMC’s undergraduate association. Once the documents for the GSA were finalized, and approval was granted by SMC officials, elections were conducted, and soon the inaugural executive team was set.
With the Graduate Student Association now officially in place, the founders as well as the new exec team are looking forward to connecting the graduate and professional student community. “It is very exciting to see that our vision has become a reality and the GSA is now up and running!” says Nava. “Personally, I found this project very fulfilling and am excited to leave the legacy of the first GSA for many future grad students to come.”
All master’s and doctoral students are automatically members of the GSA, and are welcome to attend monthly senate/officer meetings, as well as events that will be held throughout the year.
Graduate Student Association (GSA) Fall Events
- Saturday, November 2 | 1–3 p.m., Intercultural Center | GSOC (Graduate Students of Color) First General Body Meeting
- Sunday, November 3 | 2–3 p.m., Canyon Club Brewery, Moraga | Gaels Hangout
- Thursday, November 7 & Thursday, November 21 | 4–5:30 p.m., Location TBD | GSA General Meeting
- Saturday, November 9 | 6–8 p.m. | Online Trivia Night. Play trivia online with the chance to win prizes!
- Wednesday, November 20 | 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., De LaSalle Quad | GSA Meet Up. Stop by for baked goods and a warm drink.
- Thursday, December 12 | 4–8:30 p.m., 1928 Pub | Post-Finals Social. Come by for food, drinks, games, and celebration.