The American Studies Graduate Student Association (ASGSA)

The American Studies Graduate Student Association (ASGSA) is a body consisting of all American Studies Graduate Students at Michigan State University. The ASGSA exists to promote a collegial atmosphere among graduate students, faculty, and alumni and to improve the quality of life of graduate students in American Studies by representing students on departmental committees, providing opportunities for professional development, and creating a welcoming academic environment.

The ASGSA organizes and sponsors periodic events for graduate students to meet and share research as well as organizing and hosting less-formal social events. The American Studies list-serve—a forum for all announcements regarding American Studies at MSU—and the American Studies website, are also maintained by the ASGSA. All graduate students in American Studies are automatically added to the list. Anyone wishing to contact the ASGSA may e-mail the current president Ben Dettmar (dettmarb [at] msu.edu).

There are three elected officer positions in the ASGSA (President, Vice-President, and Secretary). The ASGSA also holds elections for a Graduate Employees Union Representative (GEU - two positions), a representative for the College of Graduate Students (COGS - one position), an MA and a Ph.D. student representative for the American Studies Advisory Board and various other college committees. All positions are one-year terms and there is no limit as to how many times an individual can hold a position. Elections are held at the first ASGSA meeting of the academic year—usually at the beginning of fall semester.

Current Officers (2008-2009):

President: Ben Dettmar
Vice-President: Mike Spencer
Secretary: Kelly Myers
GEU Reps: Jack Taylor III and Andrea Riley
COGS Rep: Natalie Graham
AMS Advisory Board: Kyra Glass von der Osten and Amanda Tigner
Website Technician: Rikk Mulligan
College Curriculum Committee (pending election) Jesse Draper and Shaun Young
College Advisory Council (pending election) Lisa Williams and Joe Darowski
College Graduate Council (pending election) Morgan Shipley and Anthony Kolenic III