The Graduate Student Assembly Executive Committee is elected by the graduate student body and is comprised of the President and seven Vice Presidents. The Executive Committee is responsible for convening monthly general body meetings, advocating for graduate student issues, and contributing to the creation of a holistic graduate student experience. GSA also has two dedicated staff members, our Program & Events Coordinator and our Financial Assistant, who support the day-to-day operations of GSA.
Andy Hammer
President
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Bio
Andy Hammer is a 4th year PhD student in Software Engineering. Originally from the cornfields of Iowa, Andy graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University in May of 2023. Coming to Â鶹¹ÙÍø directly after completing their undergraduate degree, their research focuses on the safety of software systems. Their main PhD research analyzes formal recovery of cyber-physical systems and after safety conditions have been violated. In their free time, Andy enjoys watching horror movies, baking, and making tatted lace.
Jessica Ezemba
Vice President, Internal Affairs
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Jessica Ezemba is a 4th year PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University before coming to Â鶹¹ÙÍø, where she earned both a Master's in Integrated Innovation for Products & Services and is now pursuing her PhD. Her research focuses on building AI tools that help engineers spend less time on repetitive analysis and more time on creative problem-solving, from teaching AI to read complex simulation outputs, to designing networks of AI agents that can collaborate the way human teams do. Outside the lab, she can usually be found with a book in hand, planning her next trip, or volunteering at the local animal shelter. In her new role as VP of Internal Affairs, she looks forward to keeping GSA running smoothly and making sure every graduate student feels connected to the community.
Cameron Drayton
Vice President, Campus Affairs
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Cameron Drayton is an incoming 3rd year PhD student in Public Policy and Management at Heinz College. Originally from Washington, D.C., Cameron brings experience working for the Democratic National Committee and the agencies within the Federal Government before coming back to Â鶹¹ÙÍø for his PhD. His research focuses on the causal effects of eviction on labor market outcomes. As VP of Campus Affairs, Cameron hopes to strengthen the connection between graduate students and the broader Pittsburgh community. In his free time, he can be found exploring the city's neighborhoods or working on housing policy initiatives.
Aden Eagle
Vice President, External Affairs
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Aden Eagle is a 4th year PhD student in Neural Computation studying how the brain coordinates movement. Originally from South Florida, he completed his bachelor's in data science at Florida Atlantic University before moving to Pittsburgh. In his free time he enjoys playing tennis and reading.
Vaibhav Khandelwal
Vice President, Finance
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Vaibhav Khandelwal is a 4th year PhD student in Systems Neuroscience. Originally from India, Vaibhav studied Neuroscience and Chemistry at THE Ohio State University (go bucks!) and spent two years conducting research on Parkinson's Disease at the University of Iowa. His work at Â鶹¹ÙÍø aims to uncover the neural correlates of higher-order learning and categorization.
Sarthak Bisht
Vice President, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
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Sarthak Bisht is a PhD student in Language and Information Technology in the School of Computer Science. Originally from Uttarakhand, India, he earned his B.E. (Hons.) in MechE from BITS Pilani, an M.S. in MechE Research from Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s College of Engineering, and a Master of Language Technologies from Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s School of Computer Science. His research focuses on making multimodal conversational agents more compute-efficient and accessible. In his free time, he develops low-cost AI and technology solutions for street vendors and micro-entrepreneurs in India, with a broader interest in using AI to support underserved communities. He also serves as the lighting and sound board operator for Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s ballet company, En Pointe.
Elizabeth Dieterich
Vice President, Academic Affairs
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Elizabeth Dieterich is a 6th year PhD candidate in Literary and Cultural Studies. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts and an MA in Literature, both from Eastern Michigan University. Her research focuses on the works of Shakespeare and early modern drama in performance, particularly how ideas of race were shaped in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century England. At Â鶹¹ÙÍø, she teaches First-Year Writing courses in the English department and is a Senior Teaching Consultant Fellow at the Eberly Center. Before coming to Â鶹¹ÙÍø, she lived in Chicago, IL and worked a variety of jobs in higher education, professional theater, hospitality, and media.
Tejus Surendran
Vice President, Graduate Student Life
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Tejus Surendran is a fourth-year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering. Originally from a small town north of Boston, Massachusetts, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Before beginning his PhD in 2023, Tejus spent two years as a staff scientist at Boston University. His research focuses on understanding how articular cartilage in the knee deforms and recovers after daily activities, with the long-term goal of using these changes to help predict joint health outcomes. Outside of research, Tejus enjoys playing basketball, watching sports, and trying new restaurants.
Haley Kenney
Program & Events Coordinator
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Haley Kenney joined the GSA team in April 2022. In her role, Haley handles the administrative needs and event coordination for GSA and serves in an advising role for the Executive Committee and GSA Reps. Haley received her Bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in 2018 and her Master’s in Higher Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 2020. In her free time, Haley can be found hanging out with her dog Charley and her cat Rosie, tending to her many houseplants, reading, or exploring the city.
Suzanne Flieschel
Financial Assistant
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Suzanne Fleischel is the Financial Assistant, hired in March 2023 to help the Graduate Student Assembly manage and spend their funds. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and happy for the chance to return here after living in eastern Pennsylvania for many years. She works part-time, remotely from Bridgeville, but is on campus occasionally for events and some meetings. Outside of work, she likes spending time with her family, re-discovering the Pittsburgh area, reading and walking her dog, Piper.