Both newcomers and veterans will make up next year's Graduate and Professional Student Council executive board.
Alethea Duncan, a third-year Ph.D. candidate in chemistry, won the unopposed presidential race and will lead the council next year. She ran on a platform of "personal touch," according to her candidate statement, citing the importance of transparency of the executive board.
"We're here as a voice for everyone to represent themselves to the University community, but we need to be aware of what's going on," Duncan wrote in her statement.
She said her past experience as co-chair of the GPSC Student Life Committee and president of the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association prepared her for the upcoming role as GPSC president.
She also discussed increasing graduate and professional student involvement in Duke programs and organizations that are often used only by undergraduates.
"I'd like to establish a better relationship with [the Office of Student Activities and Facilities] and work with them... for Duke Conversations and DukeEngage," Duncan said.
Christie Eyler, a fourth-year M.D./Ph.D. candidate in the molecular cancer biology program, will lead GPSC alongside Duncan as executive vice president. Eyler is stepping up from her current post as executive secretary.
She and Duncan both discussed creating a venue for graduate and professional students to voice their opinions in a more informal matter to members of the executive board.
"I would like to foster an environment of open and honest communication because without it, it's all false transparency," Eyler said.
She stressed the importance of teaching council members about Robert's Rules of Order and agreed with a suggestion to have a portion of the meeting allocated for new business.
Kat Mitchel, a second-year Ph.D. candidate in molecular genetics and microbiology, was elected to the position of executive secretary. The council also chose Bart Michalczuk, a first-year graduate student in economics, as next year's treasurer.
Jennifer Seger, a first-year Ph.D. candidate in medical physics, beat two other candidates to become the 2008-2009 community outreach coordinator-a new executive board position.
"I think [elections] went really well," said current GPSC President Crystal Brown, a third-year law student. "I think we got some great people in office..., and I think everyone [elected] definitely has a passion in the organization."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.