Meet the new Graduate Student Association officers

Rice News asked each of the newly elected Graduate Student Association (GSA) officers to answer a few questions to help the Rice community get to know them a little better. Their responses appear below.

President: Sumedh Warudkar

	SUMEDH WARUDKAR

Area of study: Chemical and biomolecular engineering

Hometown: Mumbai, India

Why I came to Rice: The Rice University Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has a number of people coming from my undergraduate university, so I already knew a lot of people here. In addition, as I am finding out, there’s no better place to be in the U.S. than Houston if you are a chemical engineer.

Why I joined GSA: I have always loved getting involved in student clubs because I see it as a way of taking a break from academics while constantly improving myself. As a graduate student, the kind of exposure you get to university affairs, the involved interactions with other students, staff and faculty you get as a part of the GSA officers panel is unmatched. This is why I believe that the little extra effort is worth it.

Vice-president for internal affairs: Kenneth Evans

	KENNETH EVANS

Class: 2013

Area of study: Applied physics

Hometown: Arlington, Va.

Why I came to Rice: Having previously spent a summer at Rice as an undergraduate intern, I wanted to return to Houston to enjoy the experience of being a full-time student. I was struck by Rice’s emphasis on student life and balancing extracurricular opportunities with the demands of graduate research.

Why I joined GSA: Rice has a wonderful student culture. I wanted to play a more active role in maintaining and improving graduate student life and help in planning worthwhile and fun events for Rice students.

Vice-president for external affairs: Clark Needham

	CLARK NEEDHAM

Class: 2012

Area of study: Bioengineering

Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas

Why I came to Rice: I came to Rice because of the community here and because of the excellent bioengineering program. The culture here at Rice can’t really be found at any other institutions, and it is cool to be a part of that.

Why I joined GSA: I joined the GSA to help put together some of the events that make Rice so fun and unique. It is nice to get out of the lab and give back to Rice.

Treasurer: Emily Breazeale

	EMILY BREAZEALE

Class: 2012

Area of study: Business administration

Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.

Why I came to Rice: I was attracted to the small class sizes, the engaging faculty and staff and the tight-knit community at the Jones Graduate School of Business.

Why I joined GSA: Through GSA, I plan to represent the voices of the graduate students on the Rice campus. I aim to make the graduate student experience one of the best in the country.

Secretary: Anne Hellebust

	ANNE HELLEBUST

Class: 2014

Area of study: Bioengineering

Hometown: Carlsbad, N.M.

Why I came to Rice: I work with Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Bioengineering and professor of electrical and computer engineering, in the Optical Spectroscopy and Imaging Lab in the Bioengineering Department. Specifically, I work on early detection of oral and esophageal cancer with topically applied optical contrast agents. The proximity to the Texas Medical Center and the opportunities it provides was one of the major selling points. But the collaborative and friendly graduate student environment here at Rice is what sold me.

Why I joined GSA: GSA does so many wonderful things that add to the quality of life for the graduate students here at Rice. I wanted to do my part and contribute to all of the fun activities that GSA sponsors.

Parliamentarian: Corinne Allen

	CORINNE ALLEN

Class: Fifth-year doctoral candidate

Area of study: Cognitive neuroscience

Hometown: Susan, Va.

Why I came to Rice: I came to Rice to work in the Brain and Language Lab with Randi Martin, the Elma Schneider Professor of Psychology. I’m studying cognitive processes such as executive function and short-term memory in patients with aphasia. Rice’s proximity to and collaborations with the Texas Medical Center offer unique opportunities for joint classes and collaborations.

Why I joined GSA: A few years ago I became active in the GSA to get involved and meet new, interesting people. While those initial motivations still hold, I also want to help ensure that graduate students continue to have representation, support and social/professional events.

Community service chair: Erin O’Brien

	ERIN O’BRIEN

Class: 2016

Area of study: Biochemistry and cell biology

Hometown: San Antonio

Why I came to Rice: Rice appealed to me because of its strong and diverse Biochemistry and Cell Biology Department. Also Rice offers a unique advantage for graduate students — you are able to enjoy the benefits of a smaller department while also benefiting from a close proximity to MD Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine, which allows you the potential to collaborate with many more professors.

Why I joined GSA: I was impressed with GSA involvement on campus. I was especially drawn to the many service opportunities on and off campus. I joined the GSA to continue these service opportunities and become more involved.

Historian: Varun Shenoy

	VARUN SHENOY

Class: 2014

Area of Study: Chemical and biomolecular engineering, with a specialty in carbon nanotubes and heterogeneous catalysis

Hometown: Mangalore, India

Why I came to Rice: Rice is among the best places to work on nanotechnology and is based in a great city. I have many friends here I know from before.

Why I joined the GSA: I wanted to involve myself in a beginning role at GSA to understand more about how the organization functions and also to have the maximum participation given my schedule as a second-year doctoral student. It’s also a great way to know more people!

Graduate lounge manager: Gabriel Ceriotti

	GABRIEL CERIOTTI

Class: I started my doctoral program in August 2009; I plan to finish before I die.

Area of study: I study carbon nanoparticles (mainly graphene and graphene oxide) at Professor Tour’s lab.

Hometown: Montevideo, Uruguay

Why I came to Rice: While visiting programs around the U.S., I visited Rice as well. After coming here, I just knew this was the place for me.

Why I joined GSA: I wanted to start getting involved in organizing student activities and give a bit back to the community as well.

Publicity and marketing co-chair: Sravani Gullapalli

	SRAVANI GULLAPALLI

Class: 2013

Area of study: Catalysis and Nanomaterials Laboratory, chemical and biomolecular engineering

Hometown: Bangalore, India

Why I came to Rice: I work with Michael Wong, professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering and in chemistry. My research interests include synthesizing cool-shaped nanoparticles and utilizing them in solar cell technology applications. I chose Rice University for its great reputation, great location, great weather, great job opportunities and friendly group of people.

Why I joined GSA: I have previously worked as a treasurer, publicity coordinator and events coordinator in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering GSA and Indian Students at Rice. I loved my post as the publicity coordinator, and I wanted to expand from working with more focused groups to the broader Rice graduate community. It was great that both these wishes became a reality with the introduction of a new post in GSA — Publicity and Marketing.

Publicity and marketing co-chair: Michael Domeracki

	MICHAEL DOMERACKI

Class: 2015

Area of study: Religious Studies

Hometown: Boulder, Colo.

Why I came to Rice: I came to Rice University to work with April DeConick, the Isla Carroll Turner and Percy Turner Professor of Religious Studies, and the rest of the Religious Studies Department.

Why I joined SA: I joined the GSA because I want to become more involved in campus life and help publicize the great things that the graduate students of Rice University are doing.