Executive Board 2025-2026
Stacey Swanson, President
Stacey is a PhD student in Music Education at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL. She received her BMus in Music Education and Music Performance in Bassoon from the University of Georgia and her MM in Music Education from the University of Miami. Her career spans nearly 20 years in the classroom, private studio, and the music products industry. Recent roles include editor-in-chief for In Tune Partners, Chief Operating Officer for Practicing Musician, and National Lesson Manager for Music & Arts. She also serves as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Give a Note Foundation, the executive board for the Association for Popular Music Education, and as an industry mentor for young professionals in the National Association for Music Merchants’ Young Professionals (NAMM YP) and Women in Music (WIM) programs. At UM, Stacey is honored to represent students as GSA President and sits on the university’s Graduate Council, Faculty Senate, and Grievance Committee. Stacey is a sitting member of the University Board of Trustees and the UM Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Email: GSAPresident@miami.edu
Sydney Shamblin Anderson, Vice President
Sydney Shamblin Anderson is a Ph.D. candidate in the English Department, proudly serving as the Vice President of GSA. She is the Founding Chair of the Shakespeare Association of America (SAA)’s Graduate Committee and is the President of UM’s English Graduate Organization. In addition, Sydney is the UGrow Fellow for the Center for the Humanities, and she serves as the Graduate Representative to the Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee, where she contributes to university-wide academic policy discussions.Sydney’s dissertation explores British early modern drama, female anatomy, and the interplay between artistic and scientific forms of knowledge production. Her research investigates how Renaissance playwrights utilized stage properties as experimental technologies to challenge and reshape emerging conceptions of the female body.
Email: gsavicepresident@miami.edu
Trey Santorine, Chief of Staff
Trey is a doctoral student studying sociology and criminology whose research looks at the criminalization of homelessness and social services. Born and raised in West Virginia, he has lived in South Florida for 8 years, graduating from Florida Atlantic University in 2023. When not researching or teaching, he likes exploring nature in the area, cycling and hanging out at the beach.
Email: GSAStaff@miami.edu
Jiayu Wang, Director of Communications
Jiayu is a doctoral student in the Higher Education Leadership program at the School of Education. His research interests are social equity issues, student engagement, and educational technology. Jiayu also serves as the graduate assistant at the Department of Student Activities & Student Organizations. He has extensive experience working with graduate and international students, focusing on fostering inclusivity and building strong community connections. Outside of academics, Jiayu has a golden retriever and enjoys traveling. Jiayu looks forward to collaborating on events and initiatives that enrich the graduate students’ experience and create a more vibrant and supportive campus environment.
Email: gsacommunication@miami.edu
Anshao Cao, Director of Communications
Anshao Cao is a second-year graduate student in Live Entertainment Management at the Frost School of Music. With a deep passion for stage, theater, and all forms of live performance, Anshao enjoys being part of the creative energy that brings live events to life and hopes to help build experiences that truly stay with people.
Email: gsacommunication@miami.edu
Kristofer Perez, Director of Finance
Kristofer M. Perez is the newly elected Director of Finance for the Graduate Student Association at the University of Miami Herbert Business School. A Master of Science in Accounting candidate, Kristofer brings a deep commitment to integrity, leadership, and service—values shaped by his upbringing in a family of accountants and his early exposure to the financial advisory world. Kristofer earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance with honors from Florida International University, where he was actively involved in Beta Alpha Psi and the FIU Honors College. His professional experience includes client accounting, payroll, and financial reporting at The Compass Advisory Firm, as well as volunteer work with organizations such as Mana Food Bank. As Director of Finance, Kristofer leverages his technical expertise and collaborative spirit to support the GSA’s mission and ensure responsible stewardship of resources. Kristofer’s long-term goal is to become a CPA and serve clients with precision, empathy, and a client-first mindset. He views his role on the executive board not just as a leadership opportunity, but as a continuation of his family’s legacy and a platform to empower the next generation of accounting professionals.
Email: gsafinance@miami.edu
Mykaya Kelly, Director of Engagement
Mykaya Kelly is a dedicated Engagement Officer at the University of Miami, where she fosters meaningful alumni connections across the United States. She also serves as the Director of Engagement for the Graduate Student Association (GSA), championing initiatives that empower graduate students and strengthen community ties. Originally from Texas, Mykaya brings Southern warmth and a strategic mindset to everything she does. She earned her BBA in Marketing from Florida International University in 2020, and has since built a career rooted in collaboration, innovation, and purpose. With a passion for student advocacy and a talent for creating inclusive spaces, Mykaya is committed to enhancing the graduate experience and building bridges between communities. Whether she’s planning events, mentoring students, or leading engagement efforts, she brings empathy, and excellence to every endeavor.
Email: gsaengagement@miami.edu
Neta Kanny, Director of Policy
Neta Kanny is an Israeli-American Ph.D. student of Literary, Cultural, and Linguistic Studies at the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the University of Miami. Neta graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2020 with an M.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies (Spanish concentration) and received her B.A. in Spanish and Portuguese with honors in 2017 from the University of Georgia. Her research, publications, and conference presentations focus on transnational and diasporic representations of the Venezuelan migrant crisis, providing a regional comparative approach to the study of cultural productions (films, theater, diasporic literature, etc.) from Venezuela and Brazil resulting from the crisis. Previously, Neta interned for the U.S. Department of State as the Venezuela Intern for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, served as a research consultant for the Carter Center on their Nicaraguan Elections 2021 project, trained as a Spanish literacy Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic, and taught English in a bilingual elementary school in Jaén, Spain, for the Spanish Ministry of Education. In her free time, Neta loves learning languages (currently fluent in 4 and basic proficiency in 2) and reading by the beach.
Email: GSAPolicy@miami.edu
Rey Sunglao, Director of Technology
Rey Sunglao is a PhD in Music Education student at Frost School of Music, University of Miami. He holds a double Master of Music in Music Education and Double Bass Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, where he received the Eastman Inclusive Excellence Award and was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda. Rey earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with Double Bass Principal from St. Scholastica’s College, Manila, Philippines, holding the very first double bass graduate and very first male valedictorian. He was also named a regional finalist for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines.
Email: GSATechnology@miami.edu
Niloy Bhattacharyya, Director of Logistics
Niloy is currently in his 2nd Year as a Graduate Student at RSMAS pursuing an M.S. He is a student in the Environmental Science and Policy Department, with a focus on Aquaculture Research and its impact on Fauna. He has greatly enjoyed being a Senator at GSA and is the incoming Director of Logistics at GSA. He is excited to plan and administer events for the campus community. A fun fact about Niloy that he has lived in five countries!
Email: gsalogistics@miami.edu
