Graduate council
Mahir Akgun
Mahir Akgun is a 4th year Ph.D. student in Instructional System Program at the Department of Learning & Performance Systems. His research focuses on the ways to improve problem solving skills through social computing tools. He also works for the Information Technology Services at Penn State as an IT Support Specialist. Mahir hopes to be a bridge between the Graduate Council and graduate students as a Graduate Council member, and to contribute to the efforts of making graduate students’ concerns part of the decision making process as a member of the University Park Allocation Committee. 
William S. Cossen
Bill is presently a doctoral candidate in the Department of History and a member of the George and Ann Richards Civil War Era Center; he earned his M.A. in History here at Penn State in May 2012. His research focuses mainly on nineteenth- and twentieth-century U.S. religious history, but he also has significant interests in the history of the labor movement, the Old South, and the African American freedom struggle. He was initially drawn to Penn State by the strong intellectual and professional reputation of the History Department, and after two years in University Park, his department and the university have continued to exceed his expectations. Bill joined GSA as a way to continue to ensure the presence of a graduate student voice in the affairs of the wider academic community. In his free time, Bill enjoys spending time with his wife and friends, reading and writing, playing guitar, travelling, and watching a variety of college and professional sports. |
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Manasi Manohar Kamat
Manasi is a soon to be third year PhD student in Immunology and Infectious Diseases, working in the field of reproductive immunology. She belongs to the College of Agricultural Sciences. Her main reason for coming to Penn State was its focus on research and the well ranked immunology program. Other than for research, Manasi came to Penn State because she is a big fan of ice cream, the presence of Berkey Creamery was a big incentive behind joining Penn State. When she has time out of the lab, she love to read, travel to new places, listen to music and dance. Manasi joined GSA because she thought it would be a good way to not only meet new people and have some fun, but also because it is a good platform to address international student issues and be a voice for foreign students here at Penn State.
Manasi is a soon to be third year PhD student in Immunology and Infectious Diseases, working in the field of reproductive immunology. She belongs to the College of Agricultural Sciences. Her main reason for coming to Penn State was its focus on research and the well ranked immunology program. Other than for research, Manasi came to Penn State because she is a big fan of ice cream, the presence of Berkey Creamery was a big incentive behind joining Penn State. When she has time out of the lab, she love to read, travel to new places, listen to music and dance. Manasi joined GSA because she thought it would be a good way to not only meet new people and have some fun, but also because it is a good platform to address international student issues and be a voice for foreign students here at Penn State.
Becky McCauley
Becky is a 5th year Ph.D. student in Geosciences and Astrobiology. Her research focuses on microbial communities that thrive in low-light, energy-limited environments, such as caves and sink holes. As a Graduate Council member, she hopes to represent the interests of all graduate students to the administration. In her spare time, she enjoys hosting fabulous parties, playing with her cat, and watching Revelation Blockade perform improvisational comedy.
Becky is a 5th year Ph.D. student in Geosciences and Astrobiology. Her research focuses on microbial communities that thrive in low-light, energy-limited environments, such as caves and sink holes. As a Graduate Council member, she hopes to represent the interests of all graduate students to the administration. In her spare time, she enjoys hosting fabulous parties, playing with her cat, and watching Revelation Blockade perform improvisational comedy.
David Simpson
David is a 6th year Ph.D. student in Theoretical Physics. His research focus is Loop Quantum Cosmology where he studies cosmological models derived from the full theory of Loop Quantum Gravity. Specifically, he works on applications of quantum corrections to classical solutions of general relativity in a canonical framework. He was formerly a Delegate in the GSA Assembly for the Eberly College of Science and took on the role of Judiciary Chair in the 2011-2012 school year. David has continued to serve as the Judiciary Chair this year.
David is a 6th year Ph.D. student in Theoretical Physics. His research focus is Loop Quantum Cosmology where he studies cosmological models derived from the full theory of Loop Quantum Gravity. Specifically, he works on applications of quantum corrections to classical solutions of general relativity in a canonical framework. He was formerly a Delegate in the GSA Assembly for the Eberly College of Science and took on the role of Judiciary Chair in the 2011-2012 school year. David has continued to serve as the Judiciary Chair this year.
