PRESIDENT (He/Him/Il)

During my time as President of the Graduate Institute Student Association, I hope to be able to create spaces for all students voices to be heard and their needs repressed. Building on the work of previous dedicated boards, I will aim to boost student engagement in GISA by advocating for the academic, administrative, and social needs of students at all levels of the Institute and helping to coordinate the efforts of the rest of the Executive Committee.

Outside of GISA, I am passionate about studying the politics and impacts of climate change, and I love Liverpool FC, rugby, and cricket.

VICE PRESIDENT OF MASTER’S (He/Him/Il)

Alexandre El Meouchi s a second year MINT Student, specializing in Conflict, Peace and Security. He comes from Lebanon and France. He focuses on peacemaking, peacebuilding and international organizations.

As Vp of Master's Alexandre thrives to empower students and elevate their voices. Focused on academic advocacy and master's student concerns he favors a grassroots approach to advocacy, using his position to voice student concerns and try to find compromise.

TREASURER (She/Her/Elle)

Sameeksha Matta is a first year MINT student, specialising in Sustainable Trade and Finance. She comes from India and holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Hindu College, University of Delhi.

Within the vibrant IHEID student community, she is also Co-Director of Marketing and Communications of the Geneva Impact Investing Association (GIIA) and has previously worked as the Events Coordinator of the Professional Development Committee (PDC). On the professional front, she is working as a Project Management Intern at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) since June 2023.

Beyond the realm of academia, she likes playing badminton, going for long walks and hanging out with friends. She is a coffee addict who loves exploring new cafes in new places, sipping coffee while engaging in interesting conversations. Her dream is to travel the world.

She is fluent in English and Hindi and is currently learning French. She is passionate about the 2030 SDG Agenda and aspires to make a meaningful impact in the development sector, particularly focusing on the emerging markets and developing economies.

VICE PRESIDENT OF PhD

Nivedita is a second year PhD student in the International History and Politics Department. Previously, she completed her masters at the Graduate Institute in the IRPS department. Her research interests are transnational history and feminist activism. In her spare time, Nivedita loves to play the piano and take a walk by Lac Leman.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR (She/Her/Elle)

Mentari is a second-year MINT Conflict, Peace, and Security student from Indonesia. Her academic focus is on the study of memory and silence in post-authoritarian regimes.

Mentari is part of a solidarity network for families of victims of gross human rights violations in Indonesia. She is well-versed in human rights activism, particularly against political or state-sanctioned violence. She strongly suggest everyone to read Paulo Freire’s “Pedagogy of the Oppressed”.

Mentari loves art in forms of words, colours, and movement. Poetry, paintings, and classical dances hold a very special place in her heart. Mentari is currently pursuing a hobby in powerlifting. In her spare time, she sleeps.

As the GISA Administrative Director, Mentari is dedicated in making sure GISA matters are followed-up, clear, and transparent. She believes things should not be overcomplicated or pretentious.

Mentari warmly welcomes any and every student who needs help with anything.

EVENTS COORDINATOR

Vrishalee is the Events Coordinator of the Student Union, with a strong academic background in International and Developmental Studies, specializing in Human Rights and Humanitarianism, earned from the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Prior to this, she completed her BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature at Symbiosis College of Arts & Commerce, where she developed a diverse skill set, including effective communication.

In her role as Events Director, Vrishalee is dedicated to planning and executing a variety of engaging events that cater to the interests of the student body. Her expertise in human rights and humanitarianism, coupled with her event management skills, allows her to create meaningful and impactful experiences for students.

Vrishalee is committed to fostering a campus environment that values inclusivity, diversity, and social responsibility through these events. Her dedication enriches the university experience and brings students together to connect, learn, and grow.

With Vrishalee leading as the Events Director, the Student Union benefits from her passion for creating memorable experiences and her ability to align events with the values and interests of the student body.

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR (She/Her/Elle)

Mary is a second year student in the MINT Human Rights and Humanitarianism programme. She is from Ohio in the U.S and graduated with her bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in International Studies and Russian Language. Mary has many years of experience working in communications for a non-profit specializing in post-adoption education as well as with a university research center on early childhood development and policy.

Outside of the institute, Mary enjoys baking, watching horror films, sewing, and she loves any kind of craft or project! Her favorite books are Watership Down and Crime and Punishment, and her favorite TV show is Parks and Recreation.

Mary is committed to helping students to the best of her ability and would love to chat any time!

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE PRESIDENT (She/Her/Elle)

Grusha is pursuing a Master in International and Development Studies with a specialisation(s) in Environment and Sustainability at the Geneva Graduate Institute. With a Bachelor's in Political science, Economics and Mass Communication from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi (India) and a background in social work, her academic interests include working on action-research projects for sustainability solutions. She has worked on development projects in India with Governments, civic and private bodies before coming to the Institute.

She is an advanced Yoga teacher and continues to teach yoga on Saturdays at The Grand Morillon student residence. She enjoys spring time walks, cooking for people, baking and loves curating events and experiences. She loves travelling and is an admirer of arts & culture. She has great interest in indigenous knowledge and traditional handlooms. She is excited to serve the student community this year as the PDC president and is more than happy to have a chat over a glass of wine or a cup of coffee!

WELFARE COMMITTEE CO-PRESIDENTS

Anjali (she/her/elle) is a 2nd year student in the MA IRPS programme. Born and raised in Gujarat, India, she completed her bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Her academic interests lie in feminist perspectives on identity, ideology, and radicalism. She has worked before with cancer care networks and brings those insights of empathy, warmth, and collaborative solution-searching to her advocacy role as the Welfare Committee co-president. She values the importance of inclusivity at our campus and is dedicated to encouraging dialogue and tolerance within the student community. She speaks English, Hindi, Gujarati, and Korean and is learning French. When she is not working, she is curled up with a good novel, drinking tea with friends, or taking walks along the lake.

Erika (she/her/elle) is a 2nd year student in the MINT programme, specialising in global health. The daughter of Japanese and American parents, she grew up in Yokohama, Japan and attended high school in Vancouver, Canada. She did her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts at Sophia University, Japan, focusing on international relations and political science in East Asia and the Pacific. Her academic interests are in health systems-strengthening and global health governance, especially focusing on universal health coverage. She is an avid music lover and does choir on her off days. Through collaboration and partnerships, she brings her love for music and dance, as well as her academic passion for health into her activities and advocacy as Welfare Committee co-president.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE PRESIDENT

Varun Vithalani is a second-year MINT Candidate specialising in Environment and Sustainability. Prior to being elected at President, he served on the Environmental Committee's Board as the liaison for the Target Initiative on Sustainability.

Professionally, he works as a Sustainability Innovation and Strategy consultant at rePurpose Global, a world-leading platform addressing plastic pollution. In this role, he represents his venture at multistakeholder forums, supports with new product development and strategic planning for the venture.

Beyond professional endeavours, he is deeply committed to sustainability in is his daily life. In his free time, he loves biking, and all other things outdoorsy.