President | Daniel J. Kimmel
Contact at gsopresident@syr.edu
Daniel J. Kimmel (they/them) is a sixth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Religion. They specialize in religion, philosophy, and magic in the classical and late ancient Mediterranean (c.500BCE-500CE), especially Christianity in the Roman Empire. Their dissertation focuses on Lactantius’ /Divine Institutes/ and the genealogy of religion, excavating the influence of ancient humanism, philosophy, and rhetoric on the emergence of religion as a category of thought.
Daniel is currently serving as President & Chief Executive Officer of the Graduate Student Organization. They are committed to strengthening the GSO’s capacity to effectively advocate on behalf of graduate students at Syracuse University and beyond. Prior to the Presidency, Daniel served for two terms as the GSO’s Vice President of Internal Affairs & Chair of the Senate (2021-2022; 2022-2023), during which tenure they authored and successfully advanced key institutional reforms as well as augmented graduate student engagement and representation in and outside of the GSO Senate. Before that, they served three terms as a University Senator (2018-2019; 2019-2020; 2020-2021).
“We are not born for ourselves alone…”—Cicero, /De Officiis/
Vice President of Internal Affairs | CJ Arnell
Contact at gsointernalvp@syr.edu
CJ Arnell is a Ph.D. candidate in the field of Biology with a specialization in neurodevelopment. His academic journey is dedicated to unraveling the fabrication of the intricate tapestry of the developing brain, with a keen focus on a pivotal protein that orchestrates the expansion of the neocortex’s superficial layers.
CJ’s foray with the GSO began as an At-Large Senator. Demonstrating a steadfast commitment, the following year witnessed CJ’s transition to the role of an Academic Program Senator, representing the Department of Biology. In a parallel stride, CJ assumed leadership as one of the Vice Presidents of the Biology Graduate Student Organization (BGSO), a testament to their capacity to guide, shape and serve academic communities. This multifaceted commitment extended to his role as Chair of the Graduate Employee Issues Committee (GEIC) within the GSO, emblematic of CJ’s dedication to advocating for the holistic well-being of his peers.
CJ has consistently demonstrated a pattern of dedicated service to the academic community. During his tenure as School Community Organiser at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom, CJ left an indelible mark by contributing substantively across varied committees, including the Health and Safety Committee, the LMS Curriculum Committee, and notably, the Athena SWAN Charter Committee. The latter exemplifies CJ’s fervent dedication to fostering an inclusive, equitable environment within academic and research spheres.
CJ is excited to continue serving Graduate Students in his new role and is always happy to answer any question about the GSO or graduate student life here at Syracuse University.
Director of External Affairs | Becca Vinciquerra
Contact at gsoexternalvp@syr.edu
Becca Vinciquerra is a first-year master’s student in the Department of Political Science at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Specializing in American Politics, her work focuses on civil rights and media, particularly investigating the role of media and its effects on voting behavior.
Becca is serving as Interim Director of External Affairs and Co-Chair of the Outreach and Civic Engagement Committee of the Graduate Student Organization, as well as a University Senator. Her previous roles as Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee and Director of Health and Sustainability of the Student Association at University at Albany have provided her with the opportunity to represent students and implement innovative initiatives. These experiences have informed and enriched Becca and have provided a foundation upon which her continuing acquisition of involvement and knowledge is predicated on.
In her work, she emphasizes the importance of serving as a bridge between the graduate student population and University Administration, highlighting engagement, outreach, and service. Her time in office is dedicated to strengthening a sense of community for graduate students and increasing external relations in the Syracuse area. She looks forward to representing her fellow graduate students and working with the members of the Graduate Student Organization in a variety of capacities.
Comptroller | Melissa Alvisi
Contact at gsocomptroller@syr.edu
Melissa Alvisi is a student at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University studying towards her dual master’s degree in public administration and international relations, pursuing a certification in national security. Her regional focus is East and Southeast Asia.
Her drive for public service comes from her experience with the Student Government Association at SUNY Cortland where she was treasurer of an organization, member of numerous committees such as public relations and finance, and where she was ultimately elected chief financial officer.
Melissa had a positive experience as financial secretary of the GSO, which is why she decided to run for comptroller and be involved with the graduate student community for her last year at SU. She says what she likes the most about the GSO is how it shows the interconnection between different department, students, staff and how the one thing we all have in common is that we want to make sure the student has access to as many resources as possible and has a positive experience at Syracuse.
Inspired by her experiences as a public servant in collegiate higher education student government, Melissa is looking into applying her practical and theorical budgeting skills, along with her foreign policy knowledge, pursuing a career as a commercial diplomat. She is looking forward to working with the rest of the Executive Board, solidifying the collaboration with the returning and new GSO officers, and strengthening the relationship with the graduate student body.
Fun fact: she is 24 years old, studied 5 other languages besides English, and has been to 23 countries!