Graduate Student Senate Senators

College of Arts and Sciences Representative

Valentina Ocampo Beltrán
Program: Master's in Migration Studies
School: College of Arts and Sciences
Hometown:  Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
Email: vocampobeltran@dons.usfca.edu

Officer Bio:

I’m really excited to be part of the Graduate Student Senate while continuing my Master’s in Migration Studies at USF. I’m originally from Colombia, where I studied International Relations and worked with the Red Cross, experiences that inspired me to keep working toward justice and community support. Since moving to San Francisco, I’ve been working at the Women’s Building and focusing my studies on migration, storytelling, and community building. Through the Senate, I hope to advocate for international students and undocumented communities, creating initiatives that help everyone feel welcomed and supported on campus. I’m also committed to working on ways to expand access to higher education by helping direct resources toward these communities. Most of all, I look forward to collaborating with fellow students to make our graduate community more inclusive, connected, and supportive.
 

College of Arts and Sciences Representative

Wyatt del Valle
Degree: 
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School: College of Arts and Sciences
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School of Education Representative

Dede Adote
Degree: SOE Doctoral Student International and Multicultural Education
Program: School of Education
School: School of Education
Hometown: Togo, West Africa 
Email: dadote@dons.usfca.edu

Officer Bio:

Dede Adote is a second-year doctoral student in the International and Multicultural Education (IME) program at the School of Education. Originally from Togo, West Africa, she has an academic background in political science, international relations, and political economy. Her research focuses on Black migration—including refugees and international students—while examining democratization, neoliberal racial capitalism, and global education in developing nations. She aims to challenge the fragility of liberal inclusivity rhetoric in education and disrupt limited understandings of the Black struggle within and beyond the classroom. Her mission is to move beyond superficial fixes and instead foster change rooted in deeper understanding, belonging, and meaningful policy action. As the Graduate Student Senate (GSS) representative for the School of Education, Dede is dedicated to advocating for international students and others who often feel underrepresented. She is committed to building a supportive and inclusive graduate community where all students feel seen, connected, and empowered.

School of Education Representative

Paul David Terry
Degree: EdD
Program: Doctorate in International and Multicultural Education, concentrations in Human Rights Education and Racial Justice & Education
School: School of Education
Hometown: Davis, CA
Email: pdterry@dons.usfca.edu

Officer Bio:

Paul has received multiple freedom dreaming grants from the Center for Humanizing Education and Research to explore queering education, decolonizing marketing and communications, leading through a Native lens, and rethinking human rights and social justice advocacy through Indigenous and queer frameworks. A Point Foundation scholar and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Paul is dedicated to enhancing belonging and visibility within the School of Education during the 2024-2025 year. He aims to help groups become more accessible and is developing a schedule for Fall and Spring to align with cyclical events, promoting collaboration among faculty, staff, and students. This initiative seeks to make critical resources more accessible and improve resource references across USF and beyond.

School of Management Representative

Sophia Scipi
Program: Master of Science in Accounting 
School: School of Management 
Hometown: Lafayette, CA
Email: sfscipi@dons.usfca.edu

Officer Bio:

Sophia Scipi, a local to San Francisco, is currently in the College of Management’s Master of Science in Accounting program. Her background in law and policy gives her a methodical and analytical approach to student advocacy, while her professional experience in fiscal management and orchestrating large-scale operations complements these skills. This unique combination provides her with a strategic vision for her term. Sophia is dedicated to fostering a more connected community by bridging the gap between online and in-person students. For all students, she is committed to fostering new opportunities for communication, networking, and a shared sense of belonging through collaboration with her peers to build a more connected and equitable student body. She invites everyone to reach out to her with ideas and feedback.
 

School of Management Representative

VACANT
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SCHOOL OF NURSING AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS REPRESENTATIVE

Satinderpal Kaur 
Program:  Master of Public Health (MPH)
School: School of Nursing and Health Professions
Hometown: Punjab, India
Email: skaur87@dons.usfca.edu

Officer Bio:

Satinderpal is a Master of Public Health student with a professional background in nursing and over three years of clinical experience. Building on this foundation, she is pursuing advanced training in public health with a focus on maternal and child health and the unique challenges faced by international student dependents. Her experiences as both a healthcare provider and an international student fuel her commitment to advocacy, equity, and community-based solutions. In her role with the Graduate Student Senate, she is dedicated to amplifying student voices, strengthening support systems, and fostering inclusive spaces for all graduate students.
 

SCHOOL OF NURSING AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS REPRESENTATIVE

VACANT
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School: School of Nursing and Health Professions
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SCHOOL OF LAW REPRESENTATIVE

Nyssa Newman
Degree:  J.D. program (2L)
School: School of Law
Hometown: Los Angeles, by way of Las Vegas
Email: nsnewman2@usfca.edu

Officer Bio:

Nyssa is a current 2L in the J.D. program at the University of San Francisco School of Law. She previously attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she received her B.A. in Theatre with a concentration in Stage and Screen Acting, as well as a minor in Film. She is proud to not only serve as the School of Law representative, but also as the Co-Vice President for the Sports and Entertainment Law Association (SELA) and Co-Professional Development Chair for the Black Law Students Association (BLSA). Her interests include mixed martial arts, American football, dance, attending live music events, and anything Halloween and/or horror related. She is honored to be able to foster a culture of growth and unity within the Dons community. 

SCHOOL OF LAW REPRESENTATIVE

Mahdi Fugfugosh
Program: Law Program at the University of San Francisco school of law
School: School of Law
Hometown: Castro Valley, CA
Email: mafugfugosh@dons.usfca.edu 

Officer Bio:

Mahdi Fugfugosh is a second-year law student at the University of San Francisco School of Law and currently serves as one of two Senators for the Law School on the USF Graduate Student Senate. As a first-generation law student, Mahdi is passionate about equity, accessibility, and building stronger connections between the law school and the broader USF community. Mahdi believes that, as the law program keeps law students extremely busy, the law should also bring all USF students together. Mahdi's legal interests span a broad spectrum, including public law, aviation law, civil rights, intellectual property law, and government accountability. He has explored these areas through his work with Bay Area Rapid Transit’s Office of General Counsel and the Hayward South Alameda County NAACP. In his role as Senator, Mahdi is focused on advancing initiatives that make graduate education more affordable and connected to the Bay Area, including a proposal brought to his attention by one of his fellow classmates, which he fully supports: a “Bay Pass” program that would give all 400 law students free access to Bay Area public transit. Mahdi is committed to using his platform to ensure that law students have the resources, representation, and opportunities they need to thrive.

Beyond the hilltop - sacramento REPRESENTATIVE

VACANT

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Beyond the hilltop - ORANGE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE

Jaylene Dizon Gomez
Program: ME-MSN 
School: School of Nursing and Health Professions
Hometown: Los Angeles, Koreatown, CA
Email: jedizongomez@dons.usfca.edu

Officer Bio:

Hi, I’m Jaylene! I’m in Cohort 19 of the MSN-CNL program and the Orange County Senator Rep. I’m big on student advocacy, bringing more spirit to our campus, and making sure we all feel connected to the main USF community. I try to live with purpose every day, whether that’s inspiring happiness, sparking transformation, or just uplifting the people I meet. Honestly, I’m just a regular millennial trying to make the world a little better, and like our USF motto says, “Change the World From Here,” that’s exactly what I plan to do! Please reach out if you would like to connect with our campus and explore our city! Go Dons!