GEU StaffCurrent 2023-2024 Staff Employees
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President: Grace Easterly
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
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! |
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Financial Secretary: Marcus Harris
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. In my role as interim-trustee I ensure that all expenses and incomes are reported and that Union finances are used appropriately through 3 audits a year. I am also a member of the Executive board and vote on such matters that related to the function of the union. |
Organizing Coordinator: Urvi Kaul
About Urvi
I'm one of the new Organizing Coordinators of the Union, this role includes focusing on organizing events that are meant to recruit and educate graduate and postdoc employees here at UConn. I'm excited to be working with GAs, and other unions on campus to help facilitate a better workplace for us all. |
Communications and Grievance Coordinator: Sage Montana
About Sage
Hi! My name is Sage Montana, and I am pursuing my PhD in chemistry. My research is in the polymer division with an emphasis on nanocomposites for the use of water purification. I was raised in Colorado and recently graduated from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor of science in chemistry and a bachelor of science in communication with a minor in writing. Having chosen to continue my chemistry education, I am excited to work in the realm of my other degree at the union as the communication coordinator. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, crocheting, and spending time with my friends. |
Operations Coordinator: Darlis Juvino
About Darlis
I'm Darlis, a third year graduate student in Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) specializing in Diversity and Culture. I'm broadly interested in parental ethnotheories, multicultural/multiracial socialization and identity, in addition to cultural adaptations of family interventions. In the summer of 2023, I joined the GEU staff. In this role my responsibilities are to support our union with administration and organizing activities. Beyond graduate and union work, I enjoy traveling especially to visit friends and family. |