Candidates
Janna Haider
Department: History
Statement: I have been involved in advocating for the UCSB graduate student community since I first came to campus in 2019. I have been a leader in my own department's Grad Student Association, the Asian and Pacific Islanders Graduate Student Alliance, and UAW 2865. This breadth of experiences has given me skills and knowledge on how to advocate for graduate students in multiple areas.
If elected I will work with the administration to fairly and equitably honor the Collective Bargaining Agreements governing employment for Academic Student Employees and Graduate Student Researchers. I will also push for the Graduate Student Association to divest its budget from any avenues that finance the state of Israel and its ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
Sloane Stephenson
Department: Bren School
Statement: Hello friends and colleagues! My name is Grace (Sloane) Stephenson, and I am a first year PhD student at the Bren School. As someone who struggles with chronic illness and who has been involved with community organizing and advocacy since 2015, healthcare and housing are two matters close to my heart. If I was nominated as VP of Graduate Student Affairs, I would leverage both my lived experiences and my professional background to advocate tirelessly for the healthcare and housing needs of our community, both at UCSB and within the broader UC system.
I'm excited to bring my background in student government and community advocacy experience to serve the community at UCSB--a community that has already given me so much in my first year here. In college, I served as leader in several capacities, including leading a fossil fuel divestment campaign, running a DACA support and education campaign in the Midwest, and building an educational curriculum to support regenerative community farming. I was Student Union Treasurer at my university for two years, interfacing both with the wider student government body as well as with a dedicated financial team. Central to my leadership philosophy is a commitment to authenticity and open communication.
I believe that fostering inclusive dialogue and transparency is essential for effectively representing the diverse interests of our graduate student body. Drawing upon my experience in facilitating productive conversations and driving actions among stakeholders, I am confident in my ability to facilitate communication between the GSA and housing, student health, UC-wide health insurance, UCShip partners, and students.
I am honored to run for this position and thank you for your consideration!