Knudsen's GPSA Experience

It has been a pleasure to serve as the GPSA President this last year. As part of of my presidential duties I served as the Chair of the Student Fee Review Board, a board made up of 4 undergraduate members and 3 graduate/professional student members, I oversaw an executive board that administered grants ($800K in quasi-endowments and monies from the state legislature provide close to $40K each year to support graduate student research and travel), balanced the GPSA budget for the 1st time in years, held social and fund raising events, provided a show place for graduate student art, and coordinated two elections. In addition I employed office staff and managed the GPSA office. Throughout the year my administration reached out to community members, students from across the state, student organizations (Student Vets, Office of International Programs and Services, PNMGC, NM Public Interest Research Group, etc.), undergraduate students, faculty, staff, politicians, and local media representatives.

We initiated two brand new programs - 1) graduate student art show and 2) the GPSA office volunteer program. I am happy to report that both of these programs were a huge success with graduate student art being displayed throughout the year and a volunteer cadre that ensured the office was open during both business and after hours.

Prior to serving as GPSA President I also served as the GPSA Council Chair (to date I am the only female to serve in both the Council Chair and President positions), a Justice on the GPSA Court of Review, the GPSA Council Child Care and Family Friendly (CC&FF) Committee Chair, and the GPSA Assistantships and Benefits Committee Chair.