GSO Leadership

2024-25 GSO Leadership Board

  • Co-Presidents: Maria Acevedo and Marston Copeland
  • Vice President: Yi Wang
  • Secretary/Treasurer: Abbie Young
  • 1st Year Reps: Aaron Petersen and Brenna Wells
  • 2nd Year Rep: Govind Sidhardh
  • 3rd Year Rep: Natalie Jones
  • 4th Year Rep: Julie Campos
  • 5th Year Rep: Johnny Chiles
  • 6th + Year Rep: Katherine Parham

Members of the leadership board are elected by all graduate students in the middle of the summer and serve until the following year's election. The board meets monthly to discuss committee progress, plan for social activities and ensure all students are informed of current issues and concerns. The President oversees meetings, organizes volunteers for committee work and confirms that every leader and volunteer completes appropriate tasks. The Secretary/Treasurer records meeting minutes and manages the GSO budget. Each class cohort has a representative who is tasked with being the liaison between his/her class and the leadership board.

2024-25 GSO Committees (updates forthcoming):

  • Colloquium Committee: Natalie Jones, Chair Members choose the field of physics that will be represented along with the specific speakers and organize the lunches with the colloquium speakers. 
  • Curriculum Committee: Yi Wang, Chair; Marston Copeland  Members serve with faculty, including the DGS. They are tasked with reviewing the graduate curriculum and make recommendations for change as necessary.
  • Duke Quantum Center (DQC): Govind Sidhardh, Chair; Committee aims to cultivate an inclusive and cohesive  environment between students in the DQC and the Physics Department.
  • Graduate & Professional Student Government (GPSC) Representative: Qifeng Cheng, Chair Student representatives serves as a liaison between the graduate school at the GSO Leadership Committee.
  • Election Commissioner: TBD This student oversees the GSO elections in the Spring and Fall (for incoming students). In addition, he/she administers the Graduate Student Survey.
  • Graduate Student Seminar Committee: Maria Acevedo, Chair Members organize the graduate student seminars: recruitment of speakers, venue reservation and food order for complimentary lunch for all attendees.
  • Intramural Sports:  Johnny Chiles, Chair
  • News/Web Committee: Maria Acevedo, Chair; Abbie Young Members work with administration to collect, maintain and improve departmental communications both on the website and in general. 
  • Recruitment Committee: Marston Copeland, Chair; Yi Wang, Johnny Chiles, Abbie Young and Natalie Jones Members work in conjunction with staff and faculty on the recruitment events in the Spring.
  • Social Activities Committee: Katherine Parham, Chair; Abbie Young and Emma van Nieuwenhuizen Members coordinate and manage all social activities (Welcome Picnic, Tea Time, Cookie Time, S'mores and Cider, Thanksgiving Dinner, T-shirt Design Contest etc. etc.)
  • Graduate Representative to the Physics Conduct Accountability Committee: TBD
  • Outreach Committee: Natalie Jone, Chair;Marston Copeland, Leo Lin and Isabella Goetting Members organize  and participate in various outreach activities (Also check PhysicsOutreach@Duke - separate GPSC group)
  • Professional Development Committee: Marston Copeland, Chair; Maria Acevedo and Yi Wang
  • Undergraduate Outreach: Natalie Jones, Chair; Govind Sidhardh, Marston Copeland and Gregory MatousekMembers organize events toward Duke undergraduates in coordination with the Duke SPS (Society of Physics Students)
  • Women in Physics: Katherine Parham, Co-Chair; Maria Acevedo Co-Chair; Yi Wang Members organize events to provide a supportive community for women and gender minorities within the Physics Department and advocates for improvements in gender equity.