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Graduate Academic Council

Membership: Graduate Academic Council (GAC) is chaired by the Vice Provost and Dean, College of Graduate Studies Dean and is comprised of a single representative from each graduate degree program*, a representative from Faculty Senate, a representative from the Office of the Registrar, a representative from the Library, a representative from Financial Aid, two graduate student representatives selected by the GAC chair, and a representative from Office of Student Research & Innovation. Graduate degree program representatives are selected by department chairs. Only faculty representatives from graduate degree programs and the Library have voting privileges.

*Should a department have multiple graduate degree programs then the number of representatives will be determined by the Dean of the degree program’s College and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

Description: The Graduate Academic Council (GAC) is the prinicpal body for the establishment of policies and procedures relating to the administration of graduate programs. The purpose of the GAC is to provide effective participation and deliberation by those concerned with graduate programs. The GAC receives and deliberates additions and amendments to graduate courses and curricula as well as policies/regulations/guidelines impacting graduate programs, and makes recommendations to University Curriculum Committee and/or other University officials. GAC may initiate studies that are concerned with the welfare of graduate programs.

(Approver: Provost)

2025-2026 Membership:

Name Title Department/Area Service Term*
Chad Brooks, Chair Vice Provost and Dean College of Graduate Studies College of Graduate Studies Permanent
Ex officio
Mollie Cashner Faculty, CoSTEM Biology
(MS, Biology)
2025-2026
Amye Melton Faculty, CoB Management and Marketing
(MBA, Business Administration)
2025-2026
Valerie Leake Faculty, CoBHS Psychological Science and Counseling
(PsyD, Counseling Psychology)
2025-2026
Christina Hicks-Goldston Faculty, CoAL Communication
(MA, Communication)
2025-2026
Jiang Li Faculty, CoSTEM Computer Science and Information Technology
(MS/PSM, CSC Data Analysis)
2025-2026
Mir Hasan Faculty, CoSTEM Computer Science and Information Technology
(MS/PSM, CSC Cybersecurity)
2025-2026
Laura Barnett Faculty, CoE Teaching and Learning
(MAED, Educational Leadership)
2025-2026
Heather Philips Faculty, CoSTEM Allied Health Sciences
(Medical Technology)
2025-2026
Andrea Lee Faculty, CoE Educational Specialties
(Ed.D, Educational Leadership)
2025-2026
Benita Bruster Faculty, CoE Teaching and Learning
(MAED, Reading; Curriculum and instruction and Science)
2025-2026
Charles Gonzalez Faculty, CoE Teaching and Learning
(MAT, Teaching)
2025-2026
Wes Atkinson Faculty, CoAL Languages and Literature
(MA, English)
2025-2026
Andrew Hendrickson Faculty, CoBHS Health and Human Performance
(MHA, Healthcare Administration)
2025-2026
Kelly Kleinhans Faculty, CoBHS Health and Human Performance
(MSLP, Speech-Language Pathology)
2025-2026
Kadi Bliss Faculty, CoBHS Health and Human Performance
(MPH, Public Health)
2025-2026
Gregg Steinberg Faculty, CoBHS Health and Human Performance
(MS, Health and Human Performance)
2025-2026
David Snyder Faculty, CoAL History and Philosophy
(MA, History)
2025-2026
Matt Jones Faculty, CoSTEM Mathematics and Statistics
(MS QM Predictive Analytics)
2025-2026
Jennifer Yantz Faculty, CoSTEM Mathematics and Statistics
(MS QM Math Instruction)
2025-2026
Ramanjit Sahi Faculty, CoSTEM Mathematics and Statistics
(MS QM Math Finance)
2025-2026
Michelle Robertson Faculty, CoBHS Nursing
(MSN, Nursing)
2025-2026
Kathryn Woods Faculty, CoBHS Leadership
(MSL, Leadership and related Certificates)
2025-2026
Eva Gibson Faculty, CoBHS Psychological Science and Counseling
(MS, Counseling)
2025-2026
Adriane Sanders Faculty, CoBHS Psychological Science and Counseling
(MSIO, Industrial-Organizational Psychology)
2025-2026
Tatsushi Hirono Faculty, CoBHS Social Work
(MSW, Social Work)
2025-2026
Michael Chandler
(backup)
Faculty, CoAL Music
(MMU, Music)
2025-2026
Koore Foster Faculty, CoAL Music
(MMU, Music)
2025-2026
Christine Mathenge Faculty, CoSTEM Earth and Environmental Sciences
(Sustainability Certificate)
2025-2026
Chris Wright Faculty, CoBHS Criminal Justice
(MS, Criminal Justice)
2025-2026
Maxwell Schabe Student Student Affairs 2025-2026
Brandon Di Paolo Harrison Faculty, CoB Faculty Senate Representative 2025-2026
Felicia Nagel Assistant Provost and University Registrar Office of the Registrar 2025-2026
Martina Malvasi Director of the Library Library 2025-2026
Randi Robinson Executive Director  Student Financial Aid 2025-2026
Cindy Taylor Director Student Research and Innovation Biology 2025-2026