Graduate Student Senate Executive Board

Meet the 2023-24 GSS Executive Board

There are five executive officers that make up the executive board of the Graduate Student Senate (GSS). The executive board is primarily responsible for the coordination, implementation, and evaluation of all GSS initiatives, programs, and services.

Emmanuel Abuenyi Odum Headshot

GSS President

Emmanuel Abuenyi Odum
Degree: MBA
Program: Masters in Business Administration 
School: School of Management
Hometown: Winneba, Ghana
Email: eodum@dons.usfca.edu 

Officer Bio: Emmanuel is a Leader, Entrepreneur and a Finance person.Currently pursuing Full Time MBA with concentration in Finance. 

Leadership style: Servant Leadership

Favorite quote: ‘’we rise by lifting others’’ - Robert G. Ingersoll

Office Hours:
M-W: 1:00-3:00pm

Vice President of Internal Affairs

Teresa Leyva
Degree: EdD
Program: Organization and Leadership
School: School of Education
Hometown: Antelope, CA
Email: taleyva@dons.usfca.edu 

Officer Bio: Teresa Alejandra Leyva is a Mexican American First Generation Graduate student. Her family is originally from a small town in Penjamillo, Michoacan. She currently serves as an Education Specialist and Case Manager at a Charter School in Sacramento. Teresa is in her 2nd year of the Organization & Leadership Doctoral Program. In joining GSS, she is passionate about working with students of all ages to provide access to education and meeting their needs to overcome challenges in order to guide them towards their futures.

Office Hours: By appointment only

Vice President of Treasury

Ajeet Singh Rajpurohit
Degree: Master of Business Administration
Program: MBA - Finance
School: School of Management
Hometown: Jodhpur, India 
Email: arajpurohit@dons.usfca.edu

Officer Bio:  I am currently pursuing an MBA with a focus on finance. My educational background includes a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I have gained professional experience through roles in energy management, project planning, and data analytics at PJM Interconnection LLC. Beyond my professional life, I am an avid swimmer and have a strong love for sports in general.

Office Hours: Monday 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Wednesday - 4-5 pm, Thursday : 5:15 pm - 6:15 pm 

Ela Gapeyeva

Vice President of External Affairs

Ela Gapeyeva
Degree: MA
Program: TESOL
School: School of Education
Hometown: Kobrin, Belarus
Email: egapeyeva@dons.usfca.edu

Officer Bio: I have a deep passion for continuous learning, whether through interactions with others, work-related experiences, or travel opportunities. I firmly believe that learning is an ongoing, integral aspect of life, relevant to every facet of our existence. My approach is rooted in thinking ambitiously while acting locally, initiating meaningful transformations through incremental changes.

Office Hours: By appointment, from Monday to Friday but also available for meetings over a weekend 

Headshot of Andrew Hall

Vice President of Mission

Andrew Hall 
Degree: Masters
Program: International and Development Economics
School: 
Hometown: Accra
Email: ahall8@dons.usfca.edu

Officer Bio: Everyone’s favorite. Andrew cares about others and makes sure he provides positive energy wherever he finds himself. He is an aspiring economist looking forward to contributing to solving world problems through research. 

Office Hours: By appointment, Ideally, any day after from Wednesday - Sunday