Graduate Student Council
The mission of the GSC is to promote, serve, and empower the UMKC graduate student community by addressing their scholarly, social, and professional growth needs. We want to make the graduate experience here at UMKC the best it can for everyone.
The UMKC Graduate Student Council (GSC) was formed in 2015 with the aim of providing an opportunity for graduate students to interact and support each other in their academic research endeavors. The GSC organizes a variety of social and academic programs throughout the year to promote the scholarly, social, and professional growth needs of our students.
More Graduate Student Council Content
The GSC was established to serve and empower the graduate student community of UMKC. Comprised of a five-person elected cabinet and a 15-member executive committee, our council members come from diverse disciplines.
2025-26 Cabinet members:
- Interim President - Tiana Ford
- Secretary - Shavelle Shaw
- Treasurer - Alica Amehia
- Media Coordinator - Taylor Gernigin
SGA Senators are Ruhul Amin and Sharareh Khaleghizadeh.
General Executive Members include:
- Sina Sadeghi and Keerti Bajaj (School of Science and Engineering)
- Kiel Corkran (School of Medicine)
2024-25 Cabinet members:
- President - Kiel Corkran
- Vice President - Tiana Ford
- Secretary - Michelle Bell
- Treasurer - vacant
- Media Coordinator - Masha Mackey
SGA Senators were Duke Deatherage and Justin Wu.
GSC Committee Goals and Outcomes - created November 2024
Our initiatives showcase our ongoing projects and programs. Our projects span a variety of areas, aiming to promote and stimulate the highest academic and research endeavors.
- Graduate Programs Representative Committee
- Graduate Officers and other faculty from units
- Graduate students within various programs
- Communications and interactions with students and issues from different graduate programs
- Faculty-Student Relations Committee
- Listening sessions and potentially one-on-one sessions
- Building Graduate Community Committee
- Ph.D. support club
- Social gatherings and meetings
- Career Development and Opportunity Committee
- Career skills workshops and potentially a large career fair
- Graduate Data Committee
- Surveys to graduate students to gather relevant data
- Mental Health Committee
- Future workshops and potentially a large mental health conference
Helpful links to various kinds of resources for graduate students
Resource guides:
- Working with your advisor - Guidelines for Effective Graduate Student - Faculty Mentorship
Learn how you can become a council member, volunteer for events, or participate in council activities.
The Council is always looking for assistance from fellow graduate students in serving on the executive board, cabinet, and committees. These individuals are charged with event planning and initiatives to improve the student experience.
We are also consistently looking for feedback! Please send us feedback on your UMKC experience. A Council representative will get back with you as soon as possible.
Reach out to us at gradstudentcouncil@umkc.edu if interested in an open position.
Reach out to us!
- Our RooGroups page is available 24/7.
- The official email account is gradstudentcouncil@umkc.edu.
- LinkedIn: UMKCGSC
Transparency is one of our core values. Our meeting minutes provide detailed accounts of council meetings.
October 20, 2024 - Building Graduate Community Committee meeting minutes
October 25, 2024 - GSC General meeting minutes
Events
Discover our past and upcoming council meetings, social events, seminars, workshops, and other activities. All events are kept on our RooGroups site, so join us as a member to receive communications and updates, as well as being able to RSVP.
Community of Scholars 2026 Research Conference
The Graduate Student Council hosted the Community of Scholars 2026 Research Conference on February 27. This event showcases the essence of interdisciplinary research and collaboration. A 2027 date is yet to be determined.
Please visit the full conference web page for more details.
Upcoming Events
Register in RooGroups to see upcoming events.