Graduate and Professional Student Assembly

students walk across the Arts Quad in spring

The Graduate and Professional Student Assembly ensures direct and continued involvement of graduate and professional school students in the governance of non-academic affairs of the University.

The GPSA brings together Cornell’s community of graduate and professional students to address non-academic issues of common concern. Drawing upon the strengths of its diverse community, the GPSA is responsible for setting and distributing the graduate student activity fee and representatives to University committees.

The GPSA voting member body is composed of 36 voting members including delegates from each graduate division, the graduate and professional schools, and standing committee chairpersons, elected from the larger body of field representatives. Voting members must attend all GPSA meetings (twice per month) and remain sufficiently informed about issues brought before the assembly.

Get Involved

Join the Assembly Attend a Meeting Learn About the G&P Community Initiative GPSA Faculty Awards

Meet the Leadership

Melia Doyas Matthews

Melia Doyas Matthews

President
mdm345@cornell.edu
Melia Matthews is a Biomedical and Biological Science PhD candidate in the lab of Professor Karl Lewis. She studies bone cells in the lab and outside of the lab she is an avid swimmer, scuba diver, and skier. At Cornell she has also been involved with Graduate Women in Science, the Cornell Undergraduate Research Journal, the Club Swim Team, and MAC Peer Mentoring.
Michelle Ming-Yu Heeney

Michelle Ming-Yu Heeney

Executive Vice President
mmh265@cornell.edu
Michelle (she/they) is a third-year Plant Biology Ph.D. student. In her research, she focuses on intercellular RNA signaling in grafted plants. As Executive Vice President for the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, Michelle aims to work on issues facing transportation and medical access. In addition she is looking for other large funding projects GPSA may be able to support with the reserve funds. Last year Michelle helped GPSA fund Big Red Barn renovations. In her free time, Michelle shoots film, gardens, and spends time with her kitten Ez.
Andi Garcia-Ortiz

Andi Garcia-Ortiz

Vice President for Communications
asg259@cornell.edu
Andi (she/her) is a second-year Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. student in the Dr. Karl Lewis Lab. She previously served as the Communications Director for the graduate student chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). She is originally from North Plains, OR, and received an Honors Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering from Oregon State University. In her free time, Andi enjoys playing competitive soccer with other Cornell graduate students.
David Axel Browne

David Axel Browne

db827@cornell.edu
Annika Marie McGraw

Annika Marie McGraw

Vice President for Operations
amm573@cornell.edu
Annika McGraw (she/her) is a second-year student pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree, concentrating in Science, Technology, and Infrastructure Policy. She currently acts as Editor-in-Chief for the Cornell Policy Review and President of the Daring Discussion Club. As Vice President of Operations for the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, Annika hopes to fully revise the organization's bylaws to ensure efficiency in guidelines and streamline the bureaucratic process. Annika enjoys learning Norwegian and German in her free time, reading, and playing with her cat, Luna.