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 2023-2024 are:
President: Nickolas Almodovar - nia4009@med.cornell.edu
Vice President: Yanira Guerra - yag2006@med.cornell.edu
Treasurer: Chenlian (Tom) Fu - chf4012@med.cornell.edu
Secretary: Stephanie Tam - swt4002@med.cornell.edu
Nickolas (President):
Hi, I'm Nick. I am a rising 4th year in the BCMB program. Before becoming president, I served as GSEC Vice President for the past two years. During that time, I work alongside my peers to plan social events, attend meetings, as well as plan and execute both recruitment and orientation programming. I also have the opportunity to serve as a lesion between the student body and Weill Cornell administrators. I am eager to bring these experiences to the table to foster a welcoming and collaborative environment and to promote academic excellence. Outside of the lab, I like to work out and explore the opportunities NYC has to offer. I look forward to supporting the student body this academic school year.
Yanira (Vice president):
My name is Yanira and I am a 3rd year PhD student in the BCMB program. I am thrilled to have been elected as GSEC Vice President for the 2023-24 year and look forward to fostering an inclusive environment, ensuring every voice is heard and valued. Whether it be championing innovative initiatives, organizing engaging events, or advocating for student welfare, I am committed to making a positive impact on campus life. Should you have any ideas you would like to run by me or if you believe I can support you in any way, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Outside of the lab I enjoy playing with Maya, my golden retriever, running, and planning get togethers for my lab mates/cohort.
Tom (Treasurer):
Hi everyone, I am Chenlian (Tom), a second year in the Tri-i CBM program. I have been honored to serve as the first-year parliamentarian at GSEC last year and am excited to rejoin GSEC as the treasurer. I will be primarily working on club and event budgeting, as well as interfacing with the school administration about GSEC and student finances. I hope to continue to help rebuild the WCMC student community by supporting the events and club activities, as well as bettering the communication between students and the school leadership. Outside of school and research, I enjoy singing, playing piano, binging cat/dog videos, and biking. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about clubs and event budgeting!
Stephanie (Secretary):
My name is Steph, and I am a second year in the PBSB program. I will work hard to communicate effectively with the graduate school at large and be a voice for student issues. Outside of the lab, I enjoy painting and going for walks around the city. I am looking forward to serving as your GSEC Secretary this year!
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.