GSA Executive Board
2025-26 executive board
NOoshin KianvashRad
Email: gsapres@uncg.edu
Biosketch
My name is Nooshin KianvashRad, and I am a Ph.D. candidate in Nanoscience at the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN). As an international student and researcher, my research focuses on bioinformatics and antifungal drug resistance, particularly how electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers influence drug sensitivity.
I have since dedicated myself to using science as a platform for advocacy, inclusion, and education. I am the founder of a knowledge-based company focused on nanotechnology solutions for skin diseases, for which I received a national patent. I also serve as a lab manager assistant in the Genomics Lab, and I have worked on outreach programs to introduce nanoscience to students of all ages.
As a student leader, I value responsibility, knowledge, and integrity—principles that guide my research and service. I am passionate about mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and empowering underrepresented voices in STEM. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my American host family, volunteering at community health events, staying active through exercise, and listening to educational podcasts.
Purpose Statement
As the elected President of the Graduate Student Association (GSA), I am honored to represent the voices of graduate students across our campus. My role is grounded in a commitment to inclusivity, transparency, and the collective advancement of graduate student experience.
Having served in research, teaching, and leadership positions throughout my academic career, I understand the unique challenges graduate students face—academically, professionally, and personally. I plan to use this platform to foster a strong sense of community among graduate students, ensuring that their feedback is heard and valued by both GSA and university administration.
Goals for the year:
- Advocacy: Build on the legacy of former GSA leaders by advocating for policies that promote equitable funding, resources, and mental health support for all graduate students.
- Engagement & Support: Increase access to professional development opportunities and provide meaningful channels through which students can share their experiences and suggestions.
- Community Building: Develop initiatives that bring together graduate students from across disciplines to network, collaborate, and build friendships beyond the classroom and lab.
I look forward to working with my peers, fellow GSA representatives, and university stakeholders to strengthen graduate experience and make our campus more connected, informed, and empowered.
Kristen Daniel
Email: gsavppgm@uncg.edu
Biosketch
My name is Kristen Daniel (She/Her), and I am currently earning my Doctorate in Musical Arts for Oboe Performance. My research is aimed at expanding the oboe repertoire to include more diversity for the instrument by commissioning living composers. I graduated with my Master of Music degree in Oboe Performance here at UNCG in 2024, and my Bachelor of Music Education grades K-12 at Morehead State University in Morehead, KY. For one semester, I was one of the music substitutes for Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, KY. In my free time, I enjoy reading, collecting succulents, and spending time with friends.
Purpose Statement
I served as a senator in the GSA representing the School of Music during the 2024-2025 school year; during this time, I advocated for the department’s graduate students. Being a senator allowed me to meet other graduate students across campus and helped me understand the challenges that we face, not just departmentally but as a whole. Now, as the vice president, I advocate for all of the graduate students at UNCG while providing more opportunities for all to get to meet and know one another. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me!
Shanna Hilborn
Email: gsafinvp@uncg.edu
Biosketch
My name is Shanna Hilborn and I am a PhD candidate in UNCG’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. I am originally from Traverse City, Michigan, and earned BS degrees in Chemistry and Environmental Sciences & Management from Michigan State University before moving to North Carolina to attend UNCG. Here, I study chemistry education, and explore the way inorganic chemistry instructors support student visuospatial reasoning as they deliver course content surrounding molecular symmetry. My ultimate goal, both professionally and personally, is to empower people to have the tools they need to be successful, and I try to carry that through in every role I take on. Outside of school, I enjoy spending my time hanging out with my dogs, cooking, running, and practicing film photography
Purpose Statement
Whether in school or daily life, it is important to me that people feel supported, confident, and able to succeed. One straightforward way to support graduate students through their degree programs is financially, where we can use allocations to help fund conference travel and research expenses. Maximizing funding for graduate student benefit is something I am excited to work on, and I am eager to broaden the pool of students who access UNCG-sponsored funds. I look forward to continuing the GSA’s commitment to fair allocations, accountability, and transparency in every step of the process!
Abby Askins
Email: gsavppub@uncg.edu
Biosketch
Hi everyone! My name is Abby and I’m originally from Columbia, South Carolina but spent three years in Austin, Texas before returning to the Carolinas for graduate school. I earned a B.S. in Biology at the University of South Carolina, where I spent most of my time either in a lab or camping with the backpacking club. I decided to pursue a career in Genetic Counseling because of my passions for science, compassionate patient care, and making healthcare more equitable in our country. After working in a neuroscience lab at the University of Texas at Austin for three years I was thrilled to join the UNCG Genetic Counseling program, where I served as the GSA representative for our program and a member of the programming committee in my first year. As I head into my final year of training at UNCG I am excited to integrate what I have learned from last year to promote the interests of our graduate students. I aim to make graduate events more accessible through my PR role, improving engagement both through social media and in person
Qualifications for GSA Executive Board Officer:
- UNCG graduate student that is enrolled in the 2025-2026 academic year
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA
- Maintains academic good standing within their department
- Experience as a GSA senator or other student government/leadership experience
You can find the E-Board position descriptions and a full list of qualification requirements in our constitution.
GSA faculty advisor
Nicole Merritt
Associate Director of Student and Family Engagement, Division of Student Affairs
Hello! My role is to oversee our student engagement platform, parent/family communications and initiatives, and UNCG’s co-curriculum program, the Spartan Experience. I received my BA and MA in English from UNCG and am a first-year doctoral student in the Educational Studies program with a concentration in Higher Education. I have worked in higher education for three years in admissions at Greensboro College and UNCG. I am a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma and serve as their advisor and GSA’s. I enjoy reading and playing with my pets: Fiona – dog and Thalia/Ana – gerbils.