Building a Community, Empowering Graduate Success
Building a Community, Empowering Graduate Success
Building a Community, Empowering Graduate Success
The Graduate Students Association (GSA) is the backbone of McMaster’s graduate community, offering unparalleled support, advocacy, and resources. From fostering connections among students to championing initiatives that matter most, we are here to empower every step of your graduate journey.
The Graduate Students Association (GSA) is the backbone of McMaster’s graduate community, offering unparalleled support, advocacy, and resources. From fostering connections among students to championing initiatives that matter most, we are here to empower every step of your graduate journey.
The Graduate Students Association (GSA) is the backbone of McMaster’s graduate community, offering unparalleled support, advocacy, and resources. From fostering connections among students to championing initiatives that matter most, we are here to empower every step of your graduate journey.
Vision & Mission
Vision & Mission
What Drives Our Commitment to You?
What ignites our drive to
move forward?
Vision: To create an inclusive and vibrant community where every graduate student thrives academically, socially, and personally.
Vision: To create an inclusive and vibrant community where every graduate student thrives academically, socially, and personally.
Mission: To advocate for graduate students' needs, provide essential resources, and cultivate opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Mission: To advocate for graduate students' needs, provide essential resources, and cultivate opportunities for personal and professional growth.
7,000+
7,000+
7,000+
Graduate Students Represented
Graduate Students Represented
Graduate Students Represented
100+
100+
Resources & Workshops
Resources & Workshops
Resources &
Workshops
50+
50+
50+
Events Hosted Annually
Events Hosted Annually
Events Hosted
Annually
Meet the GSA Leadership Team
Dedicated, diverse, and driven—get to know the passionate individuals working to support and empower McMaster’s graduate community.
Dedicated, diverse, and driven—get to know the passionate individuals working to support and empower McMaster’s graduate community.
Dedicated, diverse, and driven—get to know the passionate individuals working to support and empower McMaster’s graduate community.
Executive Committee
Kusum Bhatta
President
gsapres@mcmaster.ca
Liping Song
VP – Services
gsavpserv@mcmaster.ca
Rishav Jaiswal
VP – Administration
gsavpadmin@mcmaster.ca
Aman Kumar
VP – Internal
gsavpint@mcmaster.ca
Raunak Pandey
VP – External
gsavpext@mcmaster.ca
Office Staff
Ashley Van Eck
Director of Operations
gsaesa@mcmaster.ca
Emily Rafuse
Executive Secretary
macgsa@mcmaster.ca
Faculty Representative
Hesam Nojavan
Faculty: Business
Saba Khorasani
Faculty: Business
George Fares
Faculty: Engineering
Harsh Patel
Faculty: Engineering
Gursimran Deol
Faculty: Health Science
Tishani Thiviyakumar
Faculty: Health Science
Bridget Marsdin
Faculty: Social Science
Elizabeth Grigg
Faculty: Social Science
Grace Yao
Faculty: Science
Niloofar Hooman
Faculty: Humanities
Bhawya Wadhera
Faculty: Humanities
Board of Directors
Oluwakorede Ologun
Internal Director (within membership)
Ayush Thummar
Internal Director (within membership)
David Moore
Community Members (without membership)
Marie Ahmed
Community Members (without membership)
Smita Nepal
Community Members (without membership)
Letizia Dondi
Past President
Senate
Kusum Bhatta
Social Science
Sanamdeep Matharu
Health Sciences
Olakunle Oluwakorede Ologun
Business
Maxwell Altman
Science
Rachelle Sabourin
Humanities
University Governance
Rishav Jaiswal
Board of Governors (BoG)
Shivam Gupta
University Planning Committee (UPC)
Spencer Naylor
McMaster Community Homes Corporation
Executive Committee
Kusum Bhatta
President
gsapres@mcmaster.ca
Liping Song
VP – Services
gsavpserv@mcmaster.ca
Rishav Jaiswal
VP – Administration
gsavpadmin@mcmaster.ca
Aman Kumar
VP – Internal
gsavpint@mcmaster.ca
Raunak Pandey
VP – External
gsavpext@mcmaster.ca
Office Staff
Ashley Van Eck
Director of Operations
gsaesa@mcmaster.ca
Emily Rafuse
Executive Secretary
macgsa@mcmaster.ca
Faculty Representative
Hesam Nojavan
Faculty: Business
Saba Khorasani
Faculty: Business
George Fares
Faculty: Engineering
Harsh Patel
Faculty: Engineering
Gursimran Deol
Faculty: Health Science
Tishani Thiviyakumar
Faculty: Health Science
Bridget Marsdin
Faculty: Social Science
Elizabeth Grigg
Faculty: Social Science
Grace Yao
Faculty: Science
Niloofar Hooman
Faculty: Humanities
Bhawya Wadhera
Faculty: Humanities
Board of Directors
Oluwakorede Ologun
Internal Director (within membership)
Ayush Thummar
Internal Director (within membership)
David Moore
Community Members (without membership)
Marie Ahmed
Community Members (without membership)
Smita Nepal
Community Members (without membership)
Letizia Dondi
Past President
Senate
Kusum Bhatta
Social Science
Sanamdeep Matharu
Health Sciences
Olakunle Oluwakorede Ologun
Business
Maxwell Altman
Science
Rachelle Sabourin
Humanities
University Governance
Rishav Jaiswal
Board of Governors (BoG)
Shivam Gupta
University Planning Committee (UPC)
Spencer Naylor
McMaster Community Homes Corporation
Executive Committee
Kusum Bhatta
President
gsapres@mcmaster.ca
Liping Song
VP – Services
gsavpserv@mcmaster.ca
Rishav Jaiswal
VP – Administration
gsavpadmin@mcmaster.ca
Aman Kumar
VP – Internal
gsavpint@mcmaster.ca
Raunak Pandey
VP – External
gsavpext@mcmaster.ca
Office Staff
Ashley Van Eck
Director of Operations
gsaesa@mcmaster.ca
Emily Rafuse
Executive Secretary
macgsa@mcmaster.ca
Faculty Representative
Hesam Nojavan
Faculty: Business
Saba Khorasani
Faculty: Business
George Fares
Faculty: Engineering
Harsh Patel
Faculty: Engineering
Gursimran Deol
Faculty: Health Science
Tishani Thiviyakumar
Faculty: Health Science
Bridget Marsdin
Faculty: Social Science
Elizabeth Grigg
Faculty: Social Science
Grace Yao
Faculty: Science
Niloofar Hooman
Faculty: Humanities
Bhawya Wadhera
Faculty: Humanities
Board of Directors
Oluwakorede Ologun
Internal Director (within membership)
Ayush Thummar
Internal Director (within membership)
David Moore
Community Members (without membership)
Marie Ahmed
Community Members (without membership)
Smita Nepal
Community Members (without membership)
Letizia Dondi
Past President
Senate
Kusum Bhatta
Social Science
Sanamdeep Matharu
Health Sciences
Olakunle Oluwakorede Ologun
Business
Maxwell Altman
Science
Rachelle Sabourin
Humanities
University Governance
Rishav Jaiswal
Board of Governors (BoG)
Shivam Gupta
University Planning Committee (UPC)
Spencer Naylor
McMaster Community Homes Corporation
History of GSA Leadership
Explore the legacy of leadership through past elected representatives who have shaped the Graduate Students Association at McMaster University.
2025-26
2024-25
2025-26
2024-25
2024-25
2023-24
2023-24
2022-23
2022-23
2021-22
2021-22
2020-21
2020-21
2019-20
2019-20
2018-19
2018-19
2017-18
2017-18
2016-17
2016-17
2015-16
2015-16
2014-15
2014-15
Make an Impact: Volunteer with Us
Share your skills, build your network, and leave a lasting impact on the graduate student community.
Make an Impact: Volunteer with Us
Share your skills, build your network, and leave a lasting impact on the graduate student community.
Make an Impact: Volunteer with Us
Share your skills, build your network, and leave a lasting impact on the graduate student community.