Executive Board 2026-2027
Stacey Swanson, President
Stacey is a 3rd-year 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
Diana Laura Valcárcel, Vice President
Diana Laura Valcárcel (she/her) is Vice President of GSA and a fourth-year Ph.D. student of Literary, Cultural, and Linguistic Studies at the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the University of Miami. She also teaches Spanish and Italian classes at UM. Previously an immigration paralegal, editorial assistant, and environmental policy researcher, she involves her varied interests and background in her PhD, where she’s passionate about decolonial ecology and anti-fascism in the Spanish-speaking Greater Caribbean.
Email: gsavicepresident@miami.edu
Trey Santorine, Chief of Staff
Born and raised in West Virginia, Trey did his undergraduate degree at WVU, studying English & French Literature. After graduating, he moved to Florida and studied sociology at Florida Atlantic University for his master’s degree before starting at the University of Miami with concentrations in medical sociology and criminology. His research focuses on substance use, treatment, social services, urbanization, and homelessness. On the weekend he likes to bike, work out, bake recipes from around the world and hang out with his rotund cat Coco.
Email: GSAStaff@miami.edu
Jiayu Wang, Co-Director of Communications
Jiayu is a doctoral student in the Higher Education Leadership program at the School of Education. His research Jiayu (Arthur) Wang is a third-year doctoral student in Higher Education Leadership at the School of Education and Human Development. His research focuses on higher education leadership, educational equity, student development, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in educational environments. He is particularly interested in how institutional structures, leadership practices, and emerging technologies influence student engagement, learning experiences, and educational outcomes. In addition to his scholarly work, Jiayu has held leadership and student affairs roles across student engagement, campus programming, organizational advising, and university governance. These experiences have strengthened his commitment to fostering inclusive learning environments and advancing student success through research-informed practice. Drawing on perspectives from higher education, sociology of education, organizational leadership, and community psychology, Jiayu examines the intersection of policy, practice, and innovation in postsecondary education. Through research, service, and professional practice, he seeks to contribute to the development of equitable, effective, and future-oriented educational institutions.
Email: gsacommunication@miami.edu
Abram Abdou, Co-Director of Communications
Abram Abdou is a PhD student in Medical Physics at the University of Miami. His research focuses on radiation oncology, brain tumors, stereotactic radiosurgery, and spectroscopic MRI-guided treatment planning. He is passionate about making complex scientific and academic topics more accessible, especially through clear communication, student outreach, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. As Co-Director of Communications for the UM Graduate Student Association, Abram aims to strengthen how graduate students connect with opportunities, resources, events, and one another. He is especially interested in making GSA communication clear, engaging, and representative of the diverse graduate student community at UM. Outside of research and academics, Abram enjoys science communication, leadership, fitness, and connecting with students across different programs.
Email: gsacommunication@miami.edu
Jessica “Jess” Okutsu, Director of Finance
Jess is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biology at the University of Miami, where she studies the potential mechanisms behind environmentally relevant cadmium concentrations. Before pursuing graduate school research, she worked in industry as an Aquatic Ecotoxicologist, GIS Analyst, Health and Safety Manager, and Project Manager, handling purchasing, client billing, and weekly financial reporting. She received an NSF GRFP Honorable Mention in 2025 and was a UM Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing Fellow in 2025. She has mentored eleven undergraduate students since 2023 and currently serves as treasurer of the Green Grad Group. Beyond UM, she is the graduate student representative for the Southeast Chapter of the Society of Toxicology (2026–2028). As Director of Finance, Jess is committed to transparent, accessible budget reporting and to expanding direct support for graduate students. Outside the lab, she enjoys photography.
Email: gsafinance@miami.edu
Biwansh Khatri, Co-Director of Engagement
From Nepal | Research in Statistical Mechanics | Love Urban Planning | Tennis Aficionado
Email: gsaengagement@miami.edu
Maria Fernanda Chen, Co-Director of Engagement
Maria Fernanda Chen Benavides is a Master of Public Health student at the University of Miami and a Clinical Research Coordinator passionate about student leadership, advocacy, and community engagement. Originally from Panama, she brings an international perspective and a strong commitment to supporting graduate students from diverse backgrounds and experiences. At the University of Miami, Maria Fernanda contributes to clinical and public health research focused on cancer, behavioral health, and health promotion. Through her work in research, mentorship, and student organizations, she has developed a deep appreciation for the importance of collaboration, inclusion, and service. As Co-Director of Engagement & Advocacy for the Graduate Student Association, Mafe is dedicated to creating opportunities that help graduate students feel connected, represented, and empowered throughout their academic journey. She believes that meaningful engagement begins with listening to students, building community, and fostering environments where everyone can thrive both personally and professionally. Outside of academics and research, Mafe enjoys writer novels, horse riding, traveling, exploring different cultures, and building connections worldwide. She is excited to serve the graduate student body and contribute to a welcoming, engaging, and supportive graduate experience for all.
Email: gsaengagement@miami.edu
Arturo Sebastian Gonzalez, Director of Policy
Arturo Sebastian Gonzalez is a PhD Candidate in the Department of History whose work focuses on transnational histories of the Americas, especially as they pertain to the topics of imperialism, immigration, and nationalism. His dissertation examines the activities Cuban diplomatic consulates stationed in the United States from the independence of the republic in 1902 until their permanent closure in 1961, in the aftermath of the Cuban Revolution. Particularly, his research inquires into how Cuban consulates sought to foster a paternalistic interpretation of Cuban nationalism among the Cuban diaspora, how the diaspora responded with their own visions of Cuba’s destiny, and how a dialectical process unfolded between the two which synthesized into a widespread notion of “cubanos emigrados” having special, revolutionary duties vis-a-vis “la patria.”
Email: GSAPolicy@miami.edu
Rey Sunglao, Director of Technology
Rey Sunglao is a 3rd-year PhD student in Music Education 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. At the University of Miami, Rey was a recipient of the 2025-2026 AELS Academic Excellence Award. He is an instructor of record and teaching assistant for the Music Education Department of Frost School of Music and he is also the coordinator and curriculum manager for the Early Childhood Division of Frost Preparatory Program. As the GSA Director of Technology, Rey manages the GSA website and is the project head of the AELS Awards.
Email: GSATechnology@miami.edu
Kent Waller, Director of Logistics
Kent E. Waller is a historian and doctoral student in the Department of History who received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Missouri. Originally from Aurora, Illinois, Kent has proudly brought “Midwest nice” to South Florida. Before arriving in Miami, he gained professional experience in both the criminal justice system and the federal government, perspectives that continue to shape his scholarship. His current research focuses on modern Latin American history, particularly feminism, militancy, and political violence in Argentina during the 1960s and 1970s. When he is not reading and writing, Kent enjoys college football, long walks on the beach, and passionately overexplaining Argentine history to anyone who makes the mistake of asking.
Email: gsalogistics@miami.edu