Graduate Student Association
Diversity and Inclusion Committee Student Members: Christin Anthony, Kai Bracey, Mary Chalkley, Christian de Caestecker, Alex Pfannenstein, Gabriella Robertson, Alejandra Romero-Morales
The Cell & Developmental Biology Graduate Student Association (CDB GSA) focuses on strengthening student interactions, and student scientific and professional discussion. A major activity of the group is to identify and invite two speakers per year for the CDB seminar series and arrange all aspects of their visits. The GSA also meets once during each IGP rotation to introduce rotating IGP students to CDB Graduate Students in an informal environment. All meetings are relaxed, often with pizza and beer; many take place at a local restaurant within walking distance to Vanderbilt. A Town Hall Meeting occurs each fall, when the GSA meets with the Director of Graduate Studies and Graduate Program Manager. Issues related to student training are discussed and the GSA-invited speakers are selected. Elections are held for the leadership of the GSA at the yearly Spring Meeting. The GSA has one president, one president emeritus, and an events committee. A new president is elected each spring and is expected to stay on for a second year as president emeritus. A GSA representative to the graduate school is also selected. The GSA President is responsible for inviting and scheduling the student-chosen seminar speaker and coordinating with the event committee in charge of all social events. Students are eligible to become a GSA president only after passing the Qualifying Exam.
GSA Events and News
July 11, 2024
- President: Amelia Cephas
- Vice President: Amanda Ruelas
- Treasurer: Simone Nevills
- Social Committee Chair: Anna Schwarzkopf
- Community Development Chair: Anthony Wokasch
- Social Committee: Diego Torres Martinez, Davis Aslaner
- GSA Liaison: Sarah Harmych
- Online Coordinator: Isabella Silvestri
- Seminar Refreshment / AV Runner: Elizabeth Ruark, Casey Gailey
- Graduate Education Committee Student Liaison: Emma Koory
July 3, 2023
- President: Maggie Fye
- President Emeritus: Megan Stanchfiled
- Vice President: Stephanie Medina
- Treasurer: Alexandra Mulligan
- Social Committee Chair: Leah Caplan
- Community Development Chair: Amelia Cephas
- Social Committee: Diego Torres Martinez, Amanda Ruelas, Jen Peek, Simone Nevills, Ryan Finnel, Kianna Robinson
- GSA Liaison: Zachary Sanchez
- Online Coordinator: Monica Brown
- Seminar Refreshment / AV Runner: Elizabeth Ruark, Casey Gailey
May 24, 2023
We welcome five new students!
- David Aslaner – Julie Bastarache Lab
- Monica E. Brown – Ken Lau Lab
- Emma Koory – Dylan Burnette Lab
- Zachary J. Lehmann – Matt Tyska Lab
- Anthony S. Wokasch – Maureen Gannon Lab
June 20, 2022
- President: Megan Stanchfield
- President Emeritus / Community Development Chair: James White
- Vice President: Zachary Sanchez
- Treasurer: Alexandra Mulligan
- Social Committee Chair: Aubrie Stricker, Stephanie Medina, Margret (Maggie) Fye
- GSA Liaison: Ela Contreras Panta
- Online Coordinator: Anna C. Cassidy
- Seminar Refreshment / AV Runner: Elizabeth Ruark, Casey Gailey
June 1, 2022
We welcome nineteen new students!
Caroline Bodnya – Vivian Gama Lab
Anna Cassidy – Marija Zanic Lab
Amelia Cephas – Kathleen DelGiorno Lab
Oliver Chalkley – Qjangjun Zhou Lab
Adam Ebert – Jason MacGurn Lab
Ryan Finnel – Mark Magnuson Lab
Sarah Harmych – Bhuminder Singh Lab
Caleb Hayes – Vivian Gama Lab
Junmin Hua – Andrea Page-McCaw Lab
Simone Nevills – Guoqiang Gu Lab
Piilani Noguchi – Irina Kaverina Lab
Sudiksha Rathan Kumar – Kevin Ess Lab
Kianna Robinson – Matthew Tyska Lab
Elizabeth Ruark – Kristopher Burkewitz Lab
Amanda Ruelas – Kathleen DelGiorno Lab
Anna Schwarzkopf – Ethan Lee Lab
Claire Scott – Irina Kaverina Lab
Halee Scott – Eunyoung Choi Lab
Diego Torres Martinez – Alissa Weaver Lab
August 17, 2021
Please join us in congratulating the newly elected 2021-22 CDB GSA executive committee!
- President: James White
- President Emeritus: Sara Ramirez, Mary Chalkley
- Vice President/Secretary: Gill Fitz
- Treasurer: Deronisha Arceneaux
- Social Committee Chair & Department social committee chair: Aubrie Stricker, Xinyu Dong
- GSC Liaison: Ela Contreras Panta
- Seminar Refreshments/AV runner: Andreanna Burman, Olivia Feehan-Nelson
June 1, 2021
We welcome fourteen new students!
Alexandra Mulligan – Kristopher Burkewitz Lab
Zachary C. Sanchez – Dylan Burnette Lab
Alexis Guenther – Eunyoung Choi Lab
Leah Caplan – Kathleen DelGiorno Lab
Andreanna Burman – James Goldenring Lab
Stephanie Medina – Jonathan Irish Lab
Margret Fye – Irina Kaverina Lab
Casey Gailey – David Miller Lab
Julissa Burgos – Matthew Tyska Lab
Olivia Feehan-Nelson – Matthew Tyska Lab
Jennifer Silverman – Brooke Matthew Tyska Lab
Andrew Dixson – Alissa Weaver Lab
Jennifer Peek – Matt Wilson & Lauren Woodard Lab
Malek Jacobs – Irina Kaverina Lab
April 12, 2021
In March, CDB GSA in partnership with the GSAs of Pharmacology (organizer), Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, and Pathology Microbiology and Immunology hosted a food drive benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank that supports families and people in the Nashville area dealing with hunger. We are proud and thankful for the generosity of the Vanderbilt Basic Science research community. Together, we were able to donate 719 pounds of food to Second Harvest! We look forward to continuing to support our neighbors in the Nashville community.
July 21, 2020
Welcome to our incoming CDB students from IGP/QCB!
Deronisha Arceneaux, Tierney Baum, Deanna Bowman, Ela Contreras Panta, Sarah Glass, Kyle Riedmann, Nabil Saleh, Aubrie Stricker
May 13, 2019
Welcome New CDB Students!
Mary Chalkley
Gillian Fitz
James Hayes
Sara Kassel
Gabriella Robertson
Andrew Siladi
James White
May 31, 2018
Meet the new 2018-2019 CDB GSA executive members.
Congratulations to these students who were elected and will serve the CDB Graduate Student Program this year!
Co-Presidents: Natalya Ortolano + Megan Merolla-Rasmussen
Social Chairs: Isabella Gaeta + Alejandra Romero Morales
GSC Liaison: Karrie Dudek
Seminar Refreshments Runner: Alexander Pfannenstein + Trevor Hann
A/V Runner: Linh Trinh
Outreach Coordinators: Veronica Farmer + Meagan Postema
May 31, 2018
New 2018 CDB Students
Cayetana Arnaiz Marija Zanic
Caroline Cencer Matthew Tyska
Christian de Caestecker Ian Macara
Eric Donahue
Trevor Hann Ethan Lee
Alexander Pfannenstein Ian Macara
Sara Ramirez Sabine Fuhrmann
Dylan Ritter Ela Knapik
Anthony Rossi Kathy Gould
Paige Spencer Ken Lau
Linh Trinh Mark Magnuson
Andrea Wojciechowski Bill Tansey
May 31, 2017 Meet the new 2017-2018 CDB GSA executive members
Congratulations to these students who were elected and will serve the CDB Graduate Student Program this year
- Co-presidents: Erica Tross and Meagan Postema
- Social chairs: Megan Dumas, Karrie Dudek and Cherie Scurrah
- GSA liaison: Allie Fuller
- Seminar refreshments: Bella Gaeta and Colbie Chinowsky
- A/V runner: Bryan Cawthorn
- Movie night coordinator: Tessa Popay
Thank you to the 2016-2017 CDB GSA executive members
May 31, 2017 Welcome New CDB Students!
Kai BraceyIrina – Kaverina Lab
Colbie Chinowsky – Tyska Lab
Isabella (Bella) Gaeta – Tyska Lab
Nicole Kendrick – R. Ohi Lab
Alejandra Romero Morales – Gama Lab
Abbigail (Abby) Neininger – Burnette Lab
Edwin Morales Obregon – Tyska Lab
James OConnor – Page-McCaw Lab
Yoojin Sohn – Goldenring Lab
June 20, 2016
Casey Nielsen (MacGurn) received “The Ubiquigent Young Scientist Award” at the recent FASEB Ubiquitin meeting. The award was given for the “best student poster” out of 82 total posters across two sessions.
May 25, 2016 Welcome new CDB students!
Cassandra Awgulewitsch – Hatzopoulos Lab
Veronica Farmer – Zanic Lab
Megan Merolla – Gama Lab
Anne Meyer – Goldenring Lab
Natalya Ortolano – Gama Lab
Claire Strothman – Zanic Lab
Michael Yarboro – Reese Lab
Bryan Cawthon – will begin in August as a direct admit student in the Page-McCaw Lab
May 24, 2016
The CDB GSA held our annual business meeting today. The new officers for 2016-2017 are :
President – Angela Howard
Vice President – Karrie Dudek
Social Committee – Meagan Postema
Social Committee – Cherie Scurrah
GSC Rep – Amrita Banerjee
Movie Night Coordinator – Karrie Dudek
Monday Seminar Refreshment makers – Erica Tross, Meagan Postema
Monday Seminar A/V caretaker (picks up pointer and microphone) – Nilay Taneja
Congratulations to the new officers! We appreciate the officers and the volunteers for your willingness to serve this year.
June 4, 2015
Welcome new CDB students! And congratulations to our new 2015-2016 GSA representatives.
President: Erica Shannon
Social Committee: Meredith Weck, Heather McCartney, Chuck Williams
GSA rep: Alex Andrews
July 15, 2015
New from Andrea Page-McCaw: My student, Erica Shannon, won an award for “Emerging Scientist Best Short Talk” at the 19th International Symposium on Calcium Binding Proteins and Calcium Function in Health and Disease.” Erica’s talk was titled, “Calcium Dynamics as a Potential Readout of Mechanotransduction at Epithelial Wounds”. Her award included a $100 prize as well as a certificate.