Executive BoardCurrent E-Board Members
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President: Grace Easterly
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What does the President do?
The President is responsible for overseeing organizing and the day-to-day administration and management of the local union, which consists of contract enforcement, interfacing with UConn’s Dept. of Labor Relations, the Graduate School, and other administrators and offices at the University, working with other union leaders on campus, collaborating with student, activist and community groups on matters affecting the membership, and more. The President is also the primary contact and representative to UAW Region 9A, and is expected to attend monthly Presidents’ meetings. The President is also responsible for the supervision of all staff, and is empowered to delegate whatever authority is necessary for efficient operation of the local. About Grace
Hi! My name is Grace Easterly and I’m the union president this year. To me, a union is about building community and unleashing the power we have together as workers to make change in our workplace. Poor working conditions can sometimes be normalized for grad students and postdocs, but having a union means that no one ever needs to feel alone or powerless and that we can fight together for the rights we deserve as important workers in the UConn community. To that end, as president I’m so excited to build up our organizing power across all UConn departments, enhance our solidarity efforts with unions in our state and across the country, and work closely with our members to make sure they know their rights and options in difficult situations. We are ALL the union!!! I started organizing with the union my first year as a PhD student because I was so inspired to see what a difference a union could make for us as Grad Assistants and postdocs at UConn. Since then, I’ve been a steward and then staff organizer and am excited to take on the role of president. When I’m not organizing with the union, I’m a PhD student in the History department and mom to orange cat Murphy. |
Vice President: Alex Kueny
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What does the Vice President do?
The VP has the next highest responsibility and time commitment after the president. This position is 10-20hrs of paid work. The VP “assists” the President in their duties, frequently fulfilling similar functions––organizing, timely communication, working with members and the university, representing members and the union in the grievance process, and representing the union at regional events. The Vice President is the acting President in the President’s absence. If the President resigns, the Vice President automatically becomes president and remains so until the next scheduled election or upon their resignation. About Alex
I am a second-year History PhD student and I'm thrilled to be the Vice President of the UConn GEU. I was inspired to run for this position because I believe in the strength and resiliency of organized workplaces. I am passionate about labor organizing and I believe the GEU is the best tool we have to win and protect strong rights, working conditions, and benefits for UConn GA's and Postdocs. I have extensive prior organizing experience and have been a leader in social movements for housing justice, immigrants' rights, and black lives. I built on this experience in my previous role as GEU Organizing Coordinator. When I'm not working with the union I'm usually riding my bike, or working on my historical research, which centers around the relationships between slavery, capitalism, revolutions, and state formation in the US and UK. During my VP term I look forward to meeting as many GA's and postdocs as I can from every department at UConn. Let's work together to make our union strong and our campus an incredible place to work and learn! |
Recording Secretary: Marie Nour Nakhle
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What does Recording Secretary do?
About Marie Nour Hello! My name is Marie Nour, and I'm a fourth-year M.A./Ph.D. student in the English department. I'm an international student coming from Lebanon, a tiny country in the Middle East, on the Mediterranean coast. I study and research Romantic Literature and Literary Theory, with a focus on the imagination, irony, and the sublime. I first became involved with the union as a staff organizer in the Fall of 2022. I am a firm believer in labor unions, worker rights, and community solidarity, so when I knew the union was hiring a staff organizer, I went for it, and in Spring of 2023, I ran for and was voted in as Vice President. In that role, I worked with many Graduate Assistants and union organizers on resolving workplace issues. For the next three years, I will be your Recording Secretary. Through grassroots organizing and building solidarity among Graduate Assistants and Postdocs, I hope we can make a difference for all and better our working conditions! |
Financial Secretary: Skyler David Hodell
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What does the Financial Secretary do?
The Financial Secretary also has a high time and responsibility commitment, and comes with a 10 hour GAship. Broadly, it is the Financial Secretary’s job to handle the union’s finances – cutting checks, generating vouchers, paying bills, and keeping records. This position carries a lot of responsibility, because the appropriate handling of union finances carries legal weight for the local union. About Skyler
I am a second-year in the History Department's MA graduate program here at the University of Connecticut. Since my first semester, I have been an active and proud member of UAW Local 6950, UConn's Graduate Employee Union. Growing up globally as a "third-culture kid," I have long sought a deeper understanding of how and why inequality persists, at both global and local latitudes. My lived experience to that end has led me to a truer faith in community- as well as worker-led politics-- one that advocates for the needs of the many over the wants of a few. Graduate workers play two roles: cheap(er) labor as well as students-whenever-convenient-- despite the opportunity to receive a funded education, we are often denied much else: namely wages commensurate with cost of living, as well as a contract that ensures fair and equitable working conditions. These goals require action, and-- to that point-- care and diligence with how our union spends and saves, both as strategy and as a matter with legal weight. That is where the Financial Secretary role comes in-- cutting checks, generating vouchers, paying bills, and keeping records. As public employees, UConn's GAs and postdocs do not have a legal right to strike; we must put our money where our mouths are in other creative ways. To that point, the Financial Secretary makes sure the union holds itself accountable to the achievable standards our members expect, all with an eye toward transparency, democratic decision-making, and worker power. |
Chair of Trustees: Marcus Harris
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What does the Chair of Trustees do?
The e-board has three Trustee positions, and they oversee the functioning of the Union’s finances. This is done primarily through three audits of inventory and financial records each year. About Marcus
Hello, I'm Marcus Harris, a second-year PhD student in the University of Connecticut's Research Methods, Measurement, and Evaluation program. Since the first General Membership Meeting (GMM) I attended in the fall of my first year, I have been present and active in the union. It really is a great place to meet other passionate graduate students to collectively fight for worker rights and benefits. I recommend all graduate students join the union! I am also a part of the organizing committee where we strategize on how to recruit and educate graduate students about the benefits of being a part of the union. I also helped start the union’s first Research Committee. Our goal is to leverage union and UConn data along with other systematic means of collecting data to inform the union in its decision-making activities. |
Trustee: Musawir Abrar
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What does the Trustee do?
The e-board has three Trustee positions, and they oversee the functioning of the Union’s finances. This is done primarily through three audits of inventory and financial records each year. |
Trustee: Jimmy Palmer
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What does the Trustee do?
The e-board has three Trustee positions, and they oversee the functioning of the Union’s finances. This is done primarily through three audits of inventory and financial records each year. About Jimmy
I am Jimmy and am in my second year of the Agriculture and Resource Economics (ARE) PhD program. My work assesses the predicted economic impact climate change has on resources pivotal for survival and to find what economic institutions can be created to mitigate such harms. I gladly and continuously pay union dues, participate in union meetings, and work with the union’s executive board to give back to others who share our common interests as a bargaining unit. As a Trustee of our local union, I will help ensure and improve the fiscal soundness of our union by participating in physical and financial audits. |
Guide: Brenden Ferland
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What does the Guide do?
The Guide is responsible for helping to maintain order at membership meetings, including ensuring the meetings follow proper procedure. The Guide is also responsible for our bi-annual apportionment, which is when the membership rosters are analyzed to ensure each district has the appropriate number of stewards, based on size. About Brenden
I'm Brenden, a PhD student in Polymer Science at UConn, focusing on graphene-polymer composite materials. I joined the Graduate Employee Union in 2022, and the union has been instrumental in my academic journey - I might not have pursued graduate school if not for the excellent health insurance negotiated by our union. In 2023, I became a steward, serving as a friendly face in my department and assisting with grievance intakes. Now, as the Guide on the executive board, I oversee and direct our steward network. I'm passionate about strengthening union membership and fostering a sense of community among UConn graduate assistants. One of my key initiatives is refactoring our district system to better pair stewards with graduate assistants in similar work areas. I'm actively involved in most of the union's committees, demonstrating my commitment to improving working conditions for my fellow graduate employees. |
Sergeant-at-Arms: Anika Agrawal
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What does the Sergeant-at-Arms do?
The Sergeant-At-Arms also helps maintain order at membership meetings, by ensuring everyone there is a member, introducing new members to the e-board and existing members, and assisting the president in the running of the meeting. About Anika
Hello! My name is Anika and I’m a PhD Candidate in Natural Resources and the Environment. I study how contaminants move through food webs and what that means for marine organisms as well as human consumers of shellfish. I love all things ocean! I first became involved with the union as a steward in Fall 2023. I am excited about my role as Sergeant-of-Arms to not only make sure that meetings are running smoothly, but also to continue to engage with fellow graduate students and find ways to get more people excited about the union. I’m passionate about making sure that graduate students are recognized for their contributions and that they are supported during their time at UConn. When I’m not dissertating or organizing, you can find me reading, crocheting, or playing with my cat Mishti. |
GA Unit Representative: Erin Egersheim
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What does the GA Unit Representative do?
The GA unit rep functions as an e-board member-at-large, representing the best interests and needs of the GA unit. The GA representative is elected by members of the GA unit. About Erin
Hello! My name is Erin Egersheim and I am a first-year PhD student in Engineering Education. Outside of academia, I like to read fantasy books, embroider/crochet and be active outdoors. I joined the union in the fall of 2023, and I am excited to be the Graduate Assistant Unit Representative. In my role, I will be attending the general membership meetings, participating in e-board decision making and discussions, as well as sitting in various committees and union activities. My goal is to meet members across the unions, so I can properly advocate their interests. As graduate students, time is limited and meetings are not always doable. I hope to be a voice for those who have limited time but would like to be heard. |
Postdoc Unit Representative: Natalie Warsinger-Pepe
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What does the Postdoc Unit Representative do?
The Postdoc unit rep functions as an e-board member-at-large, representing the best interests and needs of the Postdoc unit. The Postdoc representative is elected by members of the Postdoc unit. |
