Graduate Student Association

Amah Dunor, President

Hi. My name is Amah Dunor, and I am a second-year graduate student in the Masters of Public Administration Program at the Philadelphia West Chester Campus. I attended Lock Haven University for my undergraduate career in which I studied Political Science. During my undergraduate career, I served on the Black Student Union board and was elected president of my residency’s council. The opportunity to obtain positions within those two communities allowed me to gain useful skills in how to work within a team to have a greater impact and accomplish higher-arcing goals. After my junior year of undergrad, I founded a non-profit by the name of Be a Blessing which entailed several projects that were centered around community improvement and advancement. As president of GSA, I look forward to working in tandem with all the board members in creating an inclusive and exciting academic environment for current and prospective students at West Chester through an assortment of engaging activities and student-led initiatives that inspire all to want to have a positive impact on any environment they may encounter.

Cooper Rothman, Vice President

Hi everyone! My name is Cooper Rothman and I'm a masters student in the Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs program here at West Chester. I'm a graduate assistant with the Learning Access and Resource Center as a Student Success Coach and I'm currently doing an internship with the Career Development Center. I'm serving as the Program Coordinator for the 2021-2022 academic year, and my favorite programs so far have been our professional development week and our GSA town hall. I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Delaware with a major in Interpersonal Communications and Psychology. I'm passionate about giving graduate students professional development opportunities and believe we can learn a lot from the alumni that have come before us. I also want to be the voice for problems within West Chester's graduate programs and advocate for graduate student support however possible. Feel free to reach out to connect with me on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/samuel-cooper-rothman/.

Matheeha Majeeth, Speaker of the Council

I am Matheeha Majeeth, a first year International Graduate Student in the Doctorate of Education program at WCU. I previously graduated with my Master's in Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs (HEPSA) program in 2020 at WCU. I have served as a Board Member in GSA between 2018-2020, founded the International Graduate Student Association (IGSA) in 2019, and also received the Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year award in 2020. Both during my Master's and now, I have and still continue to learn more about the challenges that are unique to Graduate Students in the US, both from first-hand experience as well as from others who are on a similar journey. My lived experiences and academic knowledge have helped me build the skillset required to be a critical thinker and an empathetic leader. This led me to choosing my research topic for my Doctorate to be - International Graduate Student Experience in the US : Transition Challenges and Sense of Belonging Post-Pandemic. I am a true believer in companionship making any hurdle a stepping stone towards happier times. So, let's do this TOGETHER!

Alyssa Michniewicz, Recruitment Officer

I am Alyssa Michniewicz, a Master's of General Psychology candidate at West Chester University. I graduated with my Bachelors in 2021 from Bloomsburg University. During this time, I served on the executive board and executive council of Phi Sigma Sigma Fraternity. Within my role as Recruitment Officer of GSA, I hope to create a welcoming and inviting environment for graduate students. I look forward to planning events for our graduate school community for the 2022-2023 school year!

Taylor Risley, Treasurer

My name is Taylor Risley and I am a second-year graduate student in the Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs program. I received my bachelor's degree from Montclair State University in Television and Digital Media with a concentration in Television Production and a minor in Business. A fun fact about me is that during my undergraduate career, I was our University's mascot, Rocky the Red Hawk! I currently work in the Residence Life & Housing department as the Hall Director for Killinger Hall and College Arms Apartments. As of this year I also have the opportunity to oversee our department's Instagram and TikTok accounts (@wcu_rlh). Along with being a part of GSA, I also serve as both the Program Coordinator and Treasurer for Chi Sigma Alpha (CSA) the Higher Education Honor Society. In my free time I love hiking, photography, videography, and doing puzzles. Upon graduation I hope to become a full-time professional in the field of Residence Life and Housing!

Open, Historian