2009-2010 GSA Officers

Past GSA Officers and Valhalla Managers

Officer Bios:

GSA President - Kristjan Stone

email: kristjan(at)rice.edu

Kristjan Stone is a fifth year graduate student in the Physics and Astronomy Department working on low temperature quantum transport.  He was initially involved with the GSA as the Physics GSA Rep and has since held positions as the External VP, Parliamentarian, and now President. In addition to this he has also been the President of the Physics & Astronomy GSA for the last two years.  Kristjan has his MS from Rice in Physics and his BS from UCLA in Physics.

GSA Internal VP - Bridget Franklin

office: HB42 , email: bridget.franklin(at)rice.edu

Hello!  I am a second year graduate student in the super exciting Department of Mathematics where I'm specializing in algebraic topology.  Before coming to Rice, I got my bachelor's degree in math with a minor in French Languages at the University of Kansas.  But I'm originally from Tuscaloosa Alabama, where I developed a major taste for blackberry cobbler, banana pudding, and college football.  That's enough history for now.  These days, I spend most of my time stressing about GSA, trying to visualize four dimensional objects and drawing them in two dimensions, and listening to NPR.  I've been GSA's math department representative for the last year and a half, and I'm very excited to be the new Internal VP.  I look forward to working with you all, my goal being to bring more graduate students out of their lonely office (take for instance my mathematical colleagues) and ultimately creating a more positive graduate experience.  There's more to life than research and theses.  I believe working hard must be combined with playing just as hard.  See Corinne's comments below

GSA External VP - Brian McCall

email: brian.mccall(at)rice.edu

GSA Treasurer - Sean Walsh

email: srw2(at)rice.edu

GSA Secretary - Corinne Allen

office: SH121 , email: c.allen(at)rice.edu, x2215

I'm a fourth year graduate student in the Psychology Department, more specifically in Cognitive Neuroscience. I moved to Houston from Virginia and still can't get over the humidity that is Houston summers. My involvement with the GSA started simply through sports, a great way to get involved and meet people. I was a GSA department representative for the 08-09 academic year, and recently began chairing the Teaching and Mentoring Committee to increase mentoring opportunities provided to and by graduate students. Although these are all great ways to be involved, I wanted to play a more active role in the GSA - what better way to do so than through an officer position? One of my primary interests is to increase graduate student involvement in Rice/GSA/social events.  Rumor has it taking a break from research & work is actually beneficial to both productivity and mental sanity.

GSA Community Service Chair - Christine Caneba

email: cac7(at)rice.edu

My name is Christine Caneba, and I am a bioengineering graduate student here at Rice. I have lived all over the United States; I was born in California, grew up in Upper Michigan, earned my B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, worked as a product develop for Kimberly-Clark in Neenah, WI, and am now in Houston. Although I have lived a majority of my life in cold, snowy weather, I am really enjoying the hot Houston climate for a change.

At Rice, I am a member of Dr. Richards-Kortum?s lab, working on improving tools for early cancer diagnosis and screening. Outside of school, I like to run long distances and am training to run a marathon. I also really enjoy swimming, working out at the new Rec Center, drinking Boba Tea, baking and cooking, and hanging out with friends in my free time.

GSA Historian - Navneet Aggarwal

email: navneet.aggarwal(at)rice.edu

GSA Parliamentarian - Michael Contreras

email: michael.t.contreras(at)rice.edu

A fan of all things that are gangster, MC hails from the slippery streets of Anaheim, CA where you have to watch out for the Mickey PD and apparently "Chino" according to the OC.  MC would like to highlight that if you are reading this, you (A) have way too much time and should be helping out GSA more (B) are most likely related to MC (C) are getting crazy and wild (D) creating the G-child . . . for all my Warren G fanatics out there.  MC lives by the motto that nothing truly is a waste of time, there are things to be learned in everything except sleep.  MC is happily married to super estrella Alison Contreras and hopes to graduate soon.  Oh yes and in honor of his title and of course George Clinton, MC would like to now be referred to as MC Parliamentarian Funk.