The Graduate Student Executive Council (GSEC) is the student government of the Weill Cornell Graduate School (WCGS). The purpose of GSEC is to represent the academic, social and administrative interests of our graduate student body, and to act as a liaison to WCGS administration. GSEC is responsible for distributing funding to graduate student organizations and organizing monthly student body meetings, annual student-run symposia, outreach opportunities, and social activities.
GSEC also has representation on several WCGS committees, including the curriculum committee, program-specific committees, and various executive faculty committees.
The GSEC Officers for 2024-2025 are:
President: Kenneth Johnson - kej2010@med.cornell.edu
Vice President: Sarthak Tiwari - sat4017@med.cornell.edu
Treasurer: William Phu - wip4002@med.cornell.edu
Secretary: Citlalli Thomas Baltazar - cit4001@med.cornell.edu
Wellness Liaison : Lauren Hollmer - lvh4001@med.cornell.edu
President- Kenneth Wayne Johnson (4th year, Pharmacology)
Hello everyone, I’m Kenneth Johnson a 5th year in the Pharmacology Program. I’m honored to serve as this year's GSEC president and hope to support all the great community building efforts being led by our fellow students. Graduate school is a great time for self-discovery, scientific curiosity, overcoming obstacles and stepping outside your comfort zone. These efforts come with moments of great joy and satisfaction, and also moments of feeling frustration, being lost, and unable to see a clear path forward. Please know, you’re not alone, let us celebrate your successes and commiserate the challenges of pursuing a doctoral degree together. GSEC’s primary purpose is to foster community, build social networks and provide outlets for students. I am here to support you in all your efforts, and encourage you to reach out to me to voice your concerns.
Vice President- Sarthak Tiwari (2nd year, Tri-Institute CBM)
Hi, I'm Sarthak, a now 2nd year student in the Tri-I CBM program. I'm excited to work as VP and to host events to better connect the students within Weill Cornell. I particularly want to focus on hosting events that can be helpful, but also both fun and relaxing for students. I am comentored by Drs. Kushal Dey and Christina Leslie at MSK, and my research is focused on using machine learning to identify the functional role of non coding genetic variation. Outside of lab, I enjoy reading, going to the gym, and playing pokemon go. Please reach out if you have any questions or any suggestions on ideas for events and GSEC, I'm more than happy to chat!
Treasurer- William Phu (2nd year, Tri-Institute CBM)
As treasurer of my undergraduate dorm, as well as a member of my school's undergraduate association, I have experience communicating and coordinating with different clubs and activities and managing funds.
Secretary- Citlalli Tomas Baltazar (2nd year, Neuroscience)
Hi! I'm Citlalli, a rising 2nd year neuroscience student. As your current parliamentarian and 1st year representative, I've developed a deep understanding of our student government's operations and the importance of clear, efficient communication. This experience, combined with my dedication to transparency and organization, drives me to apply for the secretary position. As always, my goal is to ensure all voices are heard and that information is effectively conveyed to the entire student body. I'm eager to facilitate seamless communication within GSEC, manage records accurately, and keep everyone informed about important developments and events. Outside the lab, I enjoy going on road trips, watching horror movies, and working on my artistic skills. I'm excited about the opportunity to serve as your secretary and contribute to a more connected and informed community. Per usual, please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions. I'm here to help!!
GSEC Info
GSEC meets monthly between September and June each year, and additionally when necessary. The meetings are open to all graduate students, and serve as forums to discuss past and upcoming events, issues that may have arisen in specific committee meetings, and any other student concerns. GSEC also works closely with WCGS administration, including the dean of the graduate school and the administrative director, to address the various issues of our student body.
Specific GSEC committees organize annual graduate student events, including recruitment, orientation and the Vincent du Vigneaud Annual Research Symposium. The du Vigneaud symposium each spring affords more than 100 graduate students the opportunity to share their research through posters and oral presentations. The symposium honors the late Dr. Vincent du Vigneaud, former Chair of Biochemistry at Weill Medical College and recipient of the 1955 Nobel Prize for Biochemistry. Furthermore, a unique aspect of WCGS is our student-run recruitment and orientation events. This sets WCGS apart from other graduate schools, and allows prospective and matriculating students a chance to discover Weill Cornell from an authentic student perspective.
One of GSEC’s main functions is to organize social and charitable activities. Popular GSEC-sponsored activities have included a Halloween party, a Thanksgiving potluck, outreach Science Days with local middle and high school students, a winter ski trip and social activities associated with annual graduate student recruitment. GSEC also provides funds to clubs and organizations tailored to specific hobbies or interests such as soccer, yoga, volleyball and crafting, as well as vocational clubs such as consulting and biotechnology. For more information, students may email gsec@med.cornell.edu.