Graduate Student Advisory Council

The Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC) represents graduate students and serves as the student advisory group to the Dean and Director of the College of Graduate Studies (CoGS). GSAC’s function is to encourage involvement with the University and the advancement of graduate and professional studies. GSAC also serves as a conduit for information between CoGS, the CoGS Director, and graduate students, as well as assisting the Dean in advocating and supporting graduate education on campus.

Meetings will normally be held monthly.

Quorum is 35%.

GSAC members may at times wish to form Working Groups which would then report back to GSAC.

A summary of the discussion will be circulated to committee members within 5 business days of the meeting, to be shared with their graduate program colleagues.

upcoming meetings:

  • October 7, 2026
  • November 4, 2026
  • December 2, 2026
  • January 6, 2027
  • February 3, 2027
  • March 3, 2027
  • April 7, 2027
  • May 5, 2027
  • June 2, 2027

The purpose of the Graduate Student Advisory Council is to:

  • To provide advice and feedback to the Dean, the Associate Dean(s), and the Director of the College of Graduate Studies on key issues for graduate students at UBC Okanagan;
  • To provide information on policies, procedures, workshops, other events and funding from the CoGS office and from Graduate Council;
  • To enable a forum for in-depth discussion on important issues, as identified by GSAC members and their graduate program colleagues;
  • To advocate for change, and to provide leadership, on key issues such as, but not limited to, student services and funding;
  • To provide a forum where GSAC members can also discuss issues and strategize with Graduate Student Senators and the Graduate Student Association
  • Dean, College of Graduate Studies (Chair) (ex officio)
  • Associate Dean(s), College of Graduate Studies (Vice Chair) (ex officio)
  • Director, College of Graduate Studies (ex officio)
  • Graduate Student Senators (non-voting)
  • Graduate student representatives from the following communities (1 each):
    • Indigenous students
    • International students
    • Black students
    • 2SLGBTQ* students
    • Disabled students
    • Graduate Student Association
  • Graduate student representatives from the following Faculties/programs:
    • Faculty of Applied Science (3)
    • Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (2)
    • School of Education (2)
    • Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (2)
    • Faculty of Health and Social Development (1 representative each from Nursing, Health and Exercise Sciences/Kinesiology and Social Work)
    • Faculty of Science (3)
    • Faculty of Management (1)
    • Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (2)
  • Invited guests, as appropriate

2026/2027 GSAC Student Members

Community/Faculty/Program

Representative

Graduate Student Senator Thomas Letcher-Nicholls
Graduate Student Senator Jamie Stevens
Indigenous Students Nikki Marchand
International Students Tamara Palamar
Black Students TBD
2SLGBTQ* Students Johanna Elizabeth Manrique Hernandez
Disabled Students Chris Isaak
Graduate Student Association Fabiola Melchior
Faculty of Applied Science Zejia Xu
Faculty of Applied Science Laya Feizabadi
Faculty of Applied Science Lixin Tu
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Dimuth Horagampita Gamage
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Kassandra Roul
School of Education TBD
School of Education TBD
Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies TBD
Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies TBD
School of Nursing Niki Soroush-Asghari
School of Health & Exercise Sciences Rebecca Reitsma
School of Social Work Rhonda Smith
Faculty of Science Babak Dehkordi
Faculty of Science Wangyang Dai
Faculty of Science Soonuk Kwon
Faculty of Management TBD
Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Emily Rubooga
Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Joshua Raphael