Medical College of Wisconsin Graduate Student Association

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is a student-led governing body focused on supporting and uplifting the voice of graduate students at MCW. Led by an elected Representative Council, we work with faculty and staff to make positive social, academic, and financial changes within the MCW School of Graduate Studies. Our Representative Council is made up of representatives from each MCW graduate program to ensure all voices are heard, regardless of the size or length of program. Participating in the GSA is also a great opportunity to build professional connections and to develop leadership skills.

All graduate students are welcome to join our monthly meetings, which occur on the first Wednesday of every month. If you are interested in learning more about the GSA or potentially being a part of the Representative Council, please reach out gsa@mcw.edu for more information.

Each spring, the GSA hosts a school-wide research symposium. The goal of this student-led symposium is to foster student communications between all degree programs in the MCW School of Graduate Studies. Traditionally, there are over 45 student talks, an invited keynote speaker, and recognition of Outstanding Talk and Outstanding Poster Presentation.

Registration and abstract submissions are delegated through the GSA email (gsa@mcw.edu). If you have any questions about this year’s symposium, please contact them.

Guy Berst Award:

• Guy Berst Memorial Training Award Information (PDF)
• Guy Berst Memorial Training Award Application (PDF)
• Guy Berst Memorial Training Award Rubric (PDF)

Kayoko Ishizuka Award:

• Kayoko Ishizuka Award Information (PDF)
• Kayoko Ishizuka Award Application (PDF)
• Kayoko Ishizuka Award Rubric (PDF)

Ravi Misra Award:

• Ravi Misra Training Award Information (PDF)
• Ravi Misra Training Award Application (PDF)
• Ravi Misra Training Award Rubric (PDF)

The Graduate School offers a Paper of the Season award. This award is granted to an outstanding original research manuscript. The Awards Committee of the Graduate Studies Council (GSC) reviews all of the applications submitted to determine if all criteria has been met, and then scores and votes on a winning paper. Awards are granted 4 times per year – 1 for every season.

• Paper of the Season Policy & Criteria (PDF)
• Paper of the Season Award Deadlines (PDF)

2025 Spring Paper of the Season Award Winner:
Raymundo Nuñez
PhD candidate, Biochemistry

2025 Winter Paper of the Season Award Winner:
Meera Krishna
PhD candidate, Cell & Developmental Biology

Erika Johansen
PhD candidate, Microbiology & Immunology

2024 Summer Paper of the Season Award Winner:
Karina Bursch
MSTP candidate, Biochemistry

2024 Spring Paper of the Season Award Winner:
Dianise Rodriguez Garcia
PhD candidate, Cell & Developmental Biology

2023 Winter Paper of the Season Award Winner:
Thomas Kelly
MSTP candidate, Pharmacology & Toxicology

2023 Fall Paper of the Season Award Winner:
Jean Bikomeye
PhD candidate, Public & Community Health

2023 Summer Paper of the Season Award Winner:
Samantha Swift
PhD candidate, Cell & Developmental Biology

2023 Spring Paper of the Season Award Winner:
Claudia Rohr
PhD candidate, Cell & Developmental Biology

2022 Winter Paper of the Season Award Winner:
Jonathon Young
PhD candidate, Cell & Developmental Biology

2022 Spring Paper of the Season Award Winner:
Reilly Allison
PhD candidate, Cell & Developmental Biology

2021 Summer Paper of the Season Award Winner:
Yao Chen
PhD candidate, Microbiology & Immunology

2021 Fall Paper of the Season Award Winner:
Melissa Whyte
PhD candidate, Microbiology & Immunology

Teacher of the Year is someone who has demonstrated exceptional teaching qualities including great connection with the students and an ability to convey and impart knowledge in a meaningful way. The Mentor of the Year is someone who has provided a learning environment throughout someone’s graduate school career that has driven students to reach their goals in a constructive and supportive way.

To nominate a teacher or mentor, email gsa@mcw.edu. Please be sure to regard the Graduate Student Handbook on the rules for nominations. Nominations are accepted in the spring.

Teacher & Mentor of the Year 2023-2024:
2024 Mentor: Julie Freed, MD, PhD
2024 Teacher: Jamie Harriman, MS, CGC

Teacher & Mentor of the Year 2022-2023:
2023 Mentor: Daisy Sahoo, PhD
2023 Teacher Erin Syverson, MGC, CGC

Teacher & Mentor of the Year 2021-2022:
2022 Mentor: Allison Ebert, PhD
2022 Teacher: Allison Ebert, PhD

2024-2025 Executive Board:

President: Rocky Mazorow

Vice President: Ryan Bonate

Treasurer: Aysan Nazari

Secretary: Taylor Wilcox

Public Relations: Allison Hall

2024-2025 Department Representatives:

Biochemistry: Katie Harty

Biomedical Engineering: Brea Brennan

Biophysics: Aleks Winiarz

Biostatistics: Sakib Salam

Biostats & Data Science: Open

Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy: Alex Gallo

Clinical & Translational Science: Open

Genetic Counseling: Ashlyn Arneson

Global Health Equity: Gabby Lettie

Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program (IDP): Daniel Dorbin

Master's in Medical Physiology: Open

Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP): Matthew Brown

Microbiology & Immunology: Tyler Laib

Neuroscience PhD Program (NDP): Taylor Rau

Pharmacology and Toxicology: Knisha Bowell

Physiology: Katie Kaminski

Precision Medicine: Christine Ryan

Master's of Public Health: Open

Doctorate of Public Health: Susan Seabrooks

Doctorate of Pharmacy: Benjamin Meiselwitz

Public and Community Health: Tinuola Oladebo

2024-2025 Faculty & Staff Advisors:
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs: Neil Hogg, PhD
GSA-Elected Faculty Advisor: Brandon Tefft, PhD
Director of Enrollment and Student Services: Angela Backus
Education Program Coordinator II: Skylar Eisman

Looking to be an elected representative? Elections are held each March and April. Be sure to look out for a student wide email coming from the GSA for information. Check the Graduate Student Handbook for eligibility requirements.

Interested in attending monthly GSA meetings? Everyone is welcome! Meetings are usually the first Tuesday of each month from 12-1 p.m.

Join us for social events! The GSA Social Committee hosts monthly social events for all graduate students. Our social events range from professional sporting events, to casual gatherings. Check with your department representative for any upcoming social events.

For more details on how to get involved, please contact the GSA at gsa@mcw.edu

Want to join a committee? Any student can get involved and serve on most committees, regardless of whether or not they are a GSA representative.

Committees:

1. Academic Standing and Welfare Committee
2. Awards Committee
3. Course Evaluation Committee
4. Curriculum & Program Committee
5. Fundraising Committee
6. Graduate Outreach Program 
7. Program Evaluation Committee
8. Research Affairs Committee 
9. Social Committee
10. Spotlight on Science Committee
11. Symposium Committee
12. Travel Award Policy

Contact us at gsa@mcw.edu if you are interested in any of the committees described above.

Art Club:
Description: Facebook group created to share artwork created by members of the MCW community.

How to Join: Request to join on Facebook

Social Media: Art Club Facebook & Art Club Instagram

Board Game Interest Group:
Description: Our mission is to provide a fun and welcoming space for students to relax and connect with fellow MCW graduate, medical, and pharmacy students while playing games. Whether you are a casual gamer or a heavy euro enthusiast, all are welcome to our monthly on-campus game nights! Basically, the name says it all for our group - we get together to play board games of all kinds (with plans to expand that to RPGs, Nintendo Switch games, etc)

How to Join: Members will be added to our email list and are welcome to attend any events as their schedule allows. Please reach out to Brandon Adkins (badkins@mcw.edu) or Ryan Bonate (rbonate@mcw.edu) if you are interested in joining our group or if you have any questions. Happy gaming!

Chess Club:
Description: Casual unofficial club that meets on Thursday lunchtimes in the MCW cafeteria for friendly games of chess.

How to Join: Email Dr. Neil Hogg (nhogg@mcw.edu) to join the email list.

Council for Women's Advocacy:
Description: The Council for Women's Advocacy (CWA) serves as an advisory committee on issues of professional development of all faculty members, including networking, mentorship, advocacy and recognition. The council consists of faculty members from both basic science and clinical departments. CWA values and promotes equity in all aspects of MCW faculty life, and strives toward this through collaborative efforts as diverse as promotion of salary equity to development of programs to provide back-up childcare.

How to Join: Email the chairs, Jen McMahon (mcmahon@mcw.edu) or Dr. Michelle Riehle (mriehle@mcw.edu)

COSS:
Description: Community Outreach by Students in Science (COSS) strives to enhance the Community Engagement mission at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). To do so, COSS aims to connect MCW students and bring science to the greater Milwaukee area through education and advocacy around careers in science. A few examples of the work that COSS members have accomplished in pursuit of these goals is volunteering at Froedtert’s Kathy’s House and demonstrating hands on science experiments at the Milwaukee Academy of Sciences (MAS), a school founded by former MCW President T. Michael Bolger. Committee members also participate in judging local area STEM fairs for young students. Through this work, we share our personal scientific journeys with school age students to demonstrate the feasibility of careers in science related fields. Each year the committee considers additional initiatives to broaden its’ impact. Consider joining us and making an impact today!

How to Join: Email Meera Krishna (mkrishna@mcw.edu) or Jade Harris (jlharris@mcw.edu) for more information or to join.

Learn More about COSS

ESCC:
Description: The Enhancing Scholarly Culture Committee (ESCC) is a group of graduate students from all programs/departments that plans and hosts science based social events. Our mission is to provide an informal environment to engage colleagues in scientific communication with a strong focus on hands-on interaction and entertainment. The committee meets once a month to plan multiple events per semester. We also have lots of leadership opportunities available to anyone on the committee! The ESCC provides an opportunity to take a break from your regular day, work with a great group of students, and have fun!

How to Join: Email Brooke Greiner (bgreiner@mcw.edu) or Missy Eilbes (meilbes@mcw.edu) to join or if you have interest in joining.

Links to Website/Socials: ESCC Instagram

MCW CEIG:
Description: CEIG is a student-led organization at MCW focused on civic awareness, voter education, and community engagement. We’ve participated in the organization fair, hosted weekly Hub tables, and collaborated with the Saturday Free Clinic for voter registration outreach in recent times. Students can expect to engage in civic action, leadership development, and discussions on social issues.

How to Join: Email Sakib Salam (msalam@mcw.edu) to join.

MCW Orchestra:
Description: The purpose of the MCW Orchestra and its MCW Jazz Band is to provide opportunities for MCW and MCW affiliated institution faculty, students, and staff to form and strengthen relationships through the creation of music for the enjoyment of the Milwaukee community while also supporting local community charities. The MCW Orchestra further endeavors to provide performance opportunities to guest soloists and to welcome camaraderie and partnerships among the greater MCW and Milwaukee area musical community.

Any MCW faculty, student, or staff member, or MCW-affiliate institution faculty or staff member or other Milwaukee community members as determined by the MCW Orchestra Steering Committee, is eligible to participate in membership in the MCW Orchestra provided there is need for that instrument in the orchestra and the musician maintains a respectful and positive attitude. Auditions will not be required except in cases of oversubscription in a section, as determined by the MCW Orchestra Conductor or the Jazz Director, and agreed upon by the Steering Committee, or if needed to determine principal chair(s). Membership dues will not be required.

How to Join: We can be contacted at orchestra@mcw.edu for any further information or questions. We also have a website which has more information as well.

Social Media: MCW Orchestra Instagram & MCW Orchestra Facebook

SHIPP:
Description: SHIPP is the student organization that supports the curriculum development, logistics and delivery of programming for MCW’s pathway programs such as StEP-UP, Ignite, and the MCW Summer Programs. We work with MCW staff and faculty to provide opportunities for middle, high school and college students in the Milwaukee are who are interested in medicine and the biomedical sciences.

How to Join: For more information, or if you would like to join, please email us at shippmcw@mcw.edu.