Candidates
Kiana Ejercito
Department: Physics
Statement:
My name is Kiana Ejercito, and I am a first-year graduate student in the Physics
Department. I am interested in running for the Vice President of Communications and Events
position because I am very passionate about connecting with other graduate students and
building a strong community. Graduate school can be extremely stressful and isolating- moving
to a new place, taking intense classes, and balancing research can be very overwhelming.
Therefore, I believe that having a strong community to help guide and support you is crucial to
navigating graduate school. The Graduate Student Association is a wonderful resource for us
graduate students, and therefore, I hope to help plan events to provide opportunities for graduate
students from various departments and backgrounds to connect.
Previously, I have planned several events at my undergraduate university as the Vice
President of the Society of Physics students, including undergraduate-graduate student socials
and lunches with professors to discuss graduate school and possible research opportunities.
When planning these events, my goal was to consider the students’ interests and help create
opportunities for them to meet new students and professors. I have continued to be committed to
my goal of strengthening community, as I am currently involved in planning a few social events
for the Physics graduate students and postdocs.
If elected, I hope to help plan engaging, fun events for graduate students. I would like to
incorporate students’ interests and feedback to hold a variety of events and possibly collaborate
with fellow graduate student clubs.
Ginger Mueller-Testerman
Department: Feminist Studies
I am running for Vice President of Events because I care deeply about creating spaces
where graduate students can connect, feel supported, and build a sense of community across
departments. As a third-year PhD student in Feminist Studies, my academic work and teaching
are grounded in fostering inclusive, accessible, and engaged environments, values I would bring
directly into GSA programming.
Over the past year, I have been an active participant in GSA meetings and currently serve
as my department’s representative. In this role, I facilitate communication between graduate
students, faculty, and staff, and advocate for student needs and concerns. I am also involved in
the Public Arts Committee at UCSB, where I’ve contributed to thinking about how shared spaces
and events can foster creativity and connection across campus.
Within my department, I saw an opportunity to build stronger community outside of
formal academic settings. I organized quarterly social events to bring students, faculty, and staff
together in relaxed, low-pressure environments. Prior to this, gatherings were largely limited to a
welcome event and an end-of-year celebration. I also initiated a project to remodel our student
lounge, working to transform it into a more welcoming and supportive space. These experiences
reflect my commitment to building community intentionally and to reimagining the spaces we
share.
My approach to event planning is shaped by my feminist pedagogy. In my teaching, I
prioritize accessibility, multiple ways of participating, and attentiveness to difference—
principles I would carry into this role. If elected, I hope to develop a range of events that are
accessible, culturally inclusive, and responsive to the diverse needs of graduate students. This
includes thinking carefully about cost, scheduling, physical and sensory accessibility, and
creating different kinds of social spaces that don’t assume a single model of engagement.
I am especially interested in expanding opportunities for interdisciplinary connection,
supporting graduate student well-being, and offering both casual and more structured events so
that students can engage in ways that feel meaningful to them. I also value feedback and would
work to ensure that programming evolves in response to graduate student input.
I do not have any conflicts of interest that would interfere with my ability to serve in this role.