Executive Directors
About GPSA Directors
Directors and other executive positions are integral to the operations of GPSA. Each Director addresses specific issues related to student life at UNM and works to represent graduate & professional students and issues to UNM and the community.
The GPSA Directors manage the various services of GPSA. In addition, the GPSA President can create new Director positions to accomplish specific tasks as needed. These positions dissolve at the end of the President’s term unless extended.
Most GPSA Directors are appointed by the GPSA President but must be confirmed by the GPSA Council at the beginning of Fall semester. If you questions about GPSA positions or would like to hold a position, please feel free to contact us at gpsa@unm.edu.
Director of Boards, Committees, and Elections:
The Director of Boards, Committees, and Elections organizes the GPSA General Election to elect the GPSA President and approve any ballot items passed by Council, the President, or Student Body. They promote the General Election, accept applications for those running for GPSA President & Council Chair, and plan and host debates. The Director may also hold special elections as necessary or work with recognized departmental student associations (RDSAs) to plan their elections. The director also identifies campus boards and commissions that need graduate student representation and ensures these seats are filled with active graduate students. This position enhances and empowers the lives of graduate students by providing support and access to information about resources available and contact information for appropriate community and University programs.
More information on this year's General Election can be found here.
Duties:
- Plan and execute GPSA General Election (March)
- Plan and execute GPSA Special Elections (As Needed)
- Help students with navigating UNM
- Maintain a database of all committees GPSA serves on, including committee description, representative contact information, and UNM Staff/Faculty contact for each committee
- Intake committee invitations received by GPSA among the many facets of UNM and seek graduate-level student input on important matters
Finance Director:
The Finance Director organizes the annual GPSA budget and works with the GPSA President, Chief of Staff, and officers to keep a balanced budget. The Finance Director, Vice Chair, and Committee supervise the allocation of GPSA funds to departmental and non-departmental graduate and professional student organizations. The chair and two committee members are selected by the GPSA President. The vice-chair and two committee members are selected by the GPSA Council Chair.
Duties:
- Receive and organize Budget and Appropriation Requests
- Make Recommendations to Council
- Hold Budget workshops (Spring)
- Manage GPSA Budget
- Work with SGAO for budget allocations
Finance Vice Chair:
The primary responsibility of the Finance Vice Chair is to help allocate GPSA funds to chartered student organizations through monthly appropriation requests and the annual GPSA budget process. The Vice Chair is tasked with recording meeting minutes and ensuring funds are equitably distributed. The Finance Vice Chair shall be dedicated to financially supporting the initiatives CSO’s bring to student life through the appropriate GPSA mechanisms.
Duties:
- Assist in the administration of the executive and legislative branch budgets
- Review the Finance Code and provide any necessary updates to be approved by GPSA Council
- Present Committee recommendations regarding the budget and all appropriations that come before Council at each Council meeting if the Director of Finance cannot attend
- Promote appropriations, budgeting, and other funding mechanisms to GPSA members to maximize efficient use of GPSA fees and return on investment to students
- Make updates to the Finance Committee page of the GPSA website
- Hold Director of Finance accountable for committee meetings and appropriation hearings at least one (1) time per month when Council is in session
Grants Director:
The Grants Director organizes and executes the annual GPSA Grant Cycles (Summer, Fall and Spring). Grants supported through GPSA are the Student Research Grant (SRG, up to $750, all cycles), Professional Development Grant (PDG, up to $600, all cycles), and the New Mexico Research Grant (NMRG, up to $3,000 for general priority and up to $5,000 for high priority, offered only during Fall cycle). Furthermore, the GPSA offers the Graduate Scholarship Fund (GSF, up to $1000, all cycles).
For additional information regarding individual grants and information regarding open grants, please click here.
Duties:
- Administer the annual GPSA grant cycles during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters
- Receive and process grant applications
- Organize training programs for grant applicants
- Recruit and train grant readers
- Score and notify grant recipients
- Work with SGAO for grant allocations
Political Director:
The Political Director works with the GPSA President and officers to determine legislative priorities for GPSA on behalf of Graduate and Professional students at the University of New Mexico. The Director regularly meets with NM legislators and the UNM Governmental Affairs office, as well as the Alumni Association to determine UNM's priorities and coordinate GPSA's lobbying efforts. The Political Director is also responsible for spearheading any GPSA Capital Outlay requests through the NM State Legislature.
Duties:
- Work with UNM Office of Governmental Affairs
- Work with the GPSA President to identify and plan for GPSA legislative priorities
- Attend the New Mexico legislative session and UNM Day (Spring)
- Submit legislation on behalf of GPSA to the New Mexico Legislature
- Establish and maintain positive, professional relationships with State Legislators, Departments, and Offices
Public Relations & Development Director:
The Public Relations & Development Director pioneers effective communication strategies and skills to help GPSA realize its goals of providing awareness of educational services, programs and events, grants and scholarships, and advocacy for professional and graduate students at UNM. This position implements programs that serve students and/or facilitate interaction between graduate & professional students at the University of New Mexico and provides service to the University and local community, collaborating with the programming of other student organizations as appropriate. For suggestions on events please contact the Public Relations & Development Director. Updates on GPSA Events can be found on our home page.
Duties:
- Create and disseminate promotional materials in print and online, including on social media
- Implement strategies for cooperation between GPSA and current or potential partnerships
- Create and/or update training videos or scripts for GPSA personnel
- Running all social media for various events for GPSA’s Executive Branch
- Creating visual marketing campaigns
- Updating and renovating the GPSA Website
- Serving as an advisor to the president on external matters
- Working with the Programs and Student Support & Advocacy chairs on events
- Running social media campaigns and spearheading the GPSA social media platforms
- Plan graduate and Professional events
- Enable close working relationship with UNM Community
- Assists with all other public relations and marketing efforts
Sustainability Director:
The primary responsibility of the Sustainability Director is to assist and advocate in sustainability-related issues for the Graduate and Professional students at the University of New Mexico. The Director facilitates regular semester events to support sustainability within campus and across student life. The sustainability Director strives to promote UNM substantiality initiatives including, but not limited to, sustainable building design, reducing waste, increasing renewable energy generation on campus, and more.
Duties:
- Assist and advocate for students requesting GPSA support in sustainability topics and initiatives
- Enable close working relationships with the UNM sustainability community
- Act as a GPSA Liaison for students on UNM administrative committees relating to sustainability
- Conduct on-campus outreach and education about services and resources available through GPSA and the University, or lack thereof
- Collaborate with graduate and professional student organizations to ensure organizational longevity
- Plan and execute sustainability themed events and educational initiatives to inform graduate and professional students
North Campus Liaison:
The primary responsibility of the North Campus Liaison is to advocate for a strong networking relationship between Main Campus and North Campus student life. The Liaison strives to ensure north campus students have the resources they need to achieve their goals. The North Campus Liaison works to distribute funding, wellness, and involvement information to students to enhance the graduate and professional student experience on North Campus.
Duties:
- Propose and advocate for initiatives that benefit graduate and professional students specifically on the North Campus of UNM (e.g., wellness services, infrastructure, parking, student support)
- Act as the primary representative for North Campus students within GPSA leadership and committees.
- Identify and communicate the diverse concerns, needs, and interests of students across the Health Sciences and Law School to GPSA.
- Establish and maintain effective communication channels with North Campus student organizations and departments.
- Disseminate information regarding GPSA programs, scholarships, events, and policy updates to North Campus constituents.
- Organize feedback sessions, surveys, or forums to solicit input from students.
