Graduate Student Senate

The Vice President assists the President in the execution of their duties. In the absence of the President due to resignation or an inability to perform a particular duty, the Vice President will act in the capacity of the President to perform all duties. The Vice President will also oversee all internal committees and working groups and will be the main contact person for external organizations and groups. The Vice President will also perform any duties assigned to them by the President.

Furthermore, the President, Vice-President, and External Affairs Officer will serve on the University Council as the three (3) graduate student representatives per the University Council bylaws.

GSS Vice President 2024-2025:
Luke Yingling

Luke Yingling graduated from Bloomsburg University in May of 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a concentration in Organizational Communication and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Currently, he is a graduate student in the Master of Public Administration program focusing on Nonprofit Management. Luke is in the process of figuring out his plans post-Villanova, hoping to either work in policy in the nonprofit sector or continue his education in a doctoral program.

Luke is looking forward to hitting the ground running as the Vice President of the Graduate Student Senate. He spent his first year on campus gaining as many experiences as possible and believes he has a unique perspective on graduate student life at Villanova. Luke plans on using the connections he has made on and off campus to continue supporting a graduate student body that feels heard and represented. He is excited to work with the graduate student community and strive toward creating an unmatched environment for graduate students.

Outside of the GSS, Luke has gotten involved in a variety of other areas on campus. In his department, he serves as a research assistant supporting different professors with their research as well as a student representative on the Public Administration Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. He is the Graduate Assistant in the Office of Alumni Relations, a Graduate Student Ambassador in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and a Peer Mentor to fellow graduate students. With the limited free time Luke has, he enjoys thrift shopping, trying the local coffee shops, watching sports, and any kind of gaming.

The Treasurer will be responsible for drafting and maintaining the budget and the other financial records of the GSS. This includes preparation and submission of the final budget, recording and reporting all spending, coordinating reimbursements, and assisting with planning of GSS events with the Events Committee. The Treasurer may not be the Treasurer for any other organization while holding this position. The Treasurer will also perform any duties assigned to them by the President.

GSS Treasurer 2024-2025:
Haritha Rajaram

Haritha, a master’s student from India, is currently pursuing her studies in Biochemical Engineering. She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from R.V College of Engineering, Bangalore, where she graduated as salutatorian.

With a passion for research, Haritha is currently engaged in the Biochemical and Bioprocessing Laboratory at Villanova, focusing on topics related to cell therapy. Her interest in this field dates to her undergraduate years, during which she presented papers on subjects concerning sustainability and drug discovery.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Haritha has dedicated her time to teaching Math, English, and regional languages to students at government schools in India. This experience has instilled in her a deep sense of service and a desire to contribute positively to society.

Joining the GSS board as the treasurer, Haritha is looking forward to collaborating with fellow executive members and making meaningful contributions to the further the success of our student community.

The Secretary will be responsible for recording meeting minutes for the GSS Executive Board, General Assembly, and Town Halls. This includes taking attendance, summarizing meeting minutes for all GSS members and other stakeholders, and maintaining GSS records. The Secretary will work with the President and the Communications Officer to oversee internal and external communications to the Villanova Community. The Secretary will also perform any duties assigned to them by the President.

GSS Secretary 2024-2025:
Shaghayegh Fereidounfar

Shaghayegh Fereidounfar is a driven individual with a background in computer engineering and a passion for software development. With three years of experience as a software engineer in Iran, she has honed her skills in coding and problem-solving. Currently pursuing her doctoral studies at Villanova University. She works on applications of machine learning in brain imaging. Shaghayegh is dedicated to furthering her knowledge and contributing to the academic community.

Motivated by her desire to serve and organize, Shaghayegh aspires to take on the role of secretary for the 2024-2025 term at the Graduate Student Senate (GSS) at Villanova University. As an international student, she brings a unique perspective and a strong work ethic to her endeavors. With her attention to detail and commitment to excellence, Shaghayegh aims to make a positive impact on the student body and facilitate effective communication within the GSS.

The Communications Officer will be responsible for maintaining communications with the Villanova Community. These communications may include a website, mailing lists, any and all social media, and meeting announcements. The Communications Officer will also be the liaison to the Villanova University Student Government Association (SGA). The Communications Officer will also perform any duties assigned to them by the President.

GSS Communications Officer 2024-2025:
Luis Gomero

Luis M Gomero, PhD student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, focuses on brain imaging for cognitive activity and physiological monitoring under the direction of Dr. Meltem Izzetoglu in the Optical Brain Imaging laboratory. Specializing in signal processing and programming, Luis uses those skills to improve current methods for assessing cerebral blood flow and monitoring cognitive states and activity.

 A deep belief in the power of technology as a central driver to improve health and access to affordable and accurate health monitoring techniques, along with a great passion for signal processing and biomedical science, led him to pursue studies from Villanova, where he did his master's degree, and is currently doing research using multimodal technologies such as EDA, EEG, fNIRS, DCS.

Prior to joining Villanova, Luis was a data center and corporate cloud product analyst/owner for Claro Ecuador and was responsible for managing and prioritizing the cloud product portfolio, as well as translating product managers' strategies into development.

 Luis is also interested in entrepreneurship and Telecommunications, earned an MS in Project Management from Universitat de Barcelona, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications and Electronics Engineering from ESPOL University in Ecuador.

 During his time in Villanova, Luis has joined different activities, programs, and organizations, such as, Villanova at the European Innovation Academy, Villanova in the Valley, VU Engineering in Medicine and Biology, Villanova Men’s Rowing Club, and Villanova Leadership Program (VLP).

The External Affairs Officer will be responsible for coordinating relationships with organizations outside of Villanova University. The External Affairs Officer will be responsible for following national trends that affect graduate students, bringing opportunities from beyond the University to the attention of graduate students, and reporting any potential issues to the GSS.

Furthermore, the President, Vice-President, and External Affairs Officer will serve on the University Council as the three (3) graduate student representatives per the University Council bylaws.

GSS External Affairs Officer 2024-2025:
Kyle Newman

A graduate of Chestnut Hill College, Kyle Newman is currently pursuing an MBA at Villanova University. Leveraging their passion for athletics, he spent the past four years working in the sports industry serving as a director and lacrosse coach. Kyle looks to bring a strong passion and valuable experience in leadership and management to the Villanova Graduate Student Senate.

The International Student Affairs Officer will be responsible for monitoring issues, initiatives, and institutional, domestic, and international policies related to the well-being of the international students at Villanova University. The International Student Affairs Officer must be an international student.  The International Student Affairs Officer will assist Villanova with the integration of international students into the academic, cultural, and social life of Villanova and its surrounding communities. The International Student Affairs Officer will also perform any duties tasked to them by the President.

GSS International Student Affairs Officer 2024-2025: David Yakubu

David Yakubu is a first-year graduate student in the Political Science and Governance program at Villanova University, where he also serves as the International Students Affairs Officer of the Graduate Student Senate. Coming from Nigeria, David earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Jos, where he studied Criminology and Security. David is constantly seeking to expand his skills and knowledge in leadership and service.

Throughout his career, David worked with Manna Mountains Limited as a Junior Internal Control Officer. He learned a system of collaborative approach to problem-solving and that informed his ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. He is passionate about creating an inclusive community and providing international students with the support they need to thrive academically and socially in Villanova.

As the International Student Officer of the Graduate Student Senate, David is committed to advocating for the needs and challenges of the international and all graduate students at Villanova. Working collaboratively with other members of the Senate to develop and implement initiatives that promote the academic and social well-being of all graduate students.

David is dedicated to making a positive impact on the graduate student experience and advancing the welfare of international students at the university. If you have any ideas or feedback for the Graduate Student Senate or would like to get involved in initiatives, please reach out to dyakubu@villanova.edu

A GSS Senator is nominated by their academic graduate program and will represent their graduate program and its students at the General Assembly and Town Hall meetings. The Senator will serve as the liaison between the GSS and their academic program. If you are interested in serving your graduate program on the GSS, please reach out to your graduate program director.