GSD Leadership

President

Time Commitment: 5-6 hours per week
Role Transition: Follows one year as Vice President (two-year total commitment).
Position Rotation: Alternates between Production Division (even years) and Foods Division (odd years).

Role Highlight

Enhance executive leadership skills by setting and executing the strategic vision of GSD. Build strong, collaborative relationships with industry leaders, faculty, and graduate students to expand professional networks and foster a connected community. Lead high-impact events, guide board initiatives, and drive purpose-driven fundraising to support GSD’s mission.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all GSD activities and serve as the board’s liaison for graduate student concerns.
• Recruit, welcome, and engage new GSD officers and committee members.
• Create agendas and check in with officers to track progress toward the annual meeting.
• Chair a 1-hour monthly meeting with graduate students and write a monthly report.
• Host the annual ADSA Board Member Welcome Webinar (Production or Foods Division).
• Meet with the GSD liaison (~30 min per week) and Vice President (~30 min bi-weekly) for planning.
• Brainstorm and implement new ideas to enhance graduate student engagement.
• Attend committee meetings as needed.
• Organize the ADSA GSD Symposium at the annual meeting.

Annual Timeline

November-December: Attend an in-person site visit for the next ADSA annual meeting with the Overall Program Committee (up to 3 d). Identify locations for GSD events.
January-April: Fundraise for student travel scholarships. Attend mid-year ADSA Board of Directors meeting (up to 3 d).
May-June: Oversee GSD Business Meeting and elections of new board.
June: Arrive early for pre-conference board meetings.

Vice President & DEI Committee Chair

Time Commitment: 3 hours per week
Role Transition: Succeeds to President after one year (two-year total commitment).
Position Rotation: Alternates between Production Division (odd years) and Foods Division (even years).

Role Highlight

Strengthen leadership, communication, and organizational skills by overseeing and supporting GSD programming. Ensure diverse, accessible, and inclusive events and opportunities for all GSD members.

Responsibilities

• Perform the President’s duties in their absence.
• Host the annual ADSA Board Member Welcome Webinar (Production or Foods Division).
• Attend monthly GSD Advisory Council monthly meetings.
• Support the President in overseeing GSD programs and planning year-round initiatives.
• Present the annual GSD report and goals to the ADSA Board of Directors.
• Meet with the President (~30 min bi-weekly) for planning.
• Recruit and engage graduate students in GSD DEI Committee meetings up to once per month (no fewer than 3 meetings per year). 
• Represent GSD in ADSA DEI meetings.

Secretary & Outreach Committee Chair

Time Commitment: 2 hours per week

Role Highlight

Develop professional communication skills by managing internal and external communications, coordinating elections, and overseeing outreach initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Attend and record minutes at monthly GSD Advisory Council meetings.
• Write and distribute three newsletters annually.
• Oversee the GSD election process.
• Create a posting schedule for all GSD social media accounts.
• Lead the Outreach Committee in developing engaging content for social media and newsletters.
• Recruit and engage graduate students in GSD Outreach Committee meetings up to once per month (no fewer than 3 meetings per year). 

Treasurer & Fundraising Committee Chair

Time Commitment: 1 hour per week

Role Highlight

Develop financial management skills by overseeing fundraising strategies, securing sponsorships, and managing donation records.

Responsibilities

• Participate in monthly GSD Advisory Council meetings.
• Develop and execute fundraising strategies to support student scholarships.
• Identify potential sponsors and manage donor relations.
• Maintain financial records and track fundraising progress.
• Recruit and engage graduate students in GSD Fundraising Committee meetings up to once per month (no fewer than 3 meetings per year). 

Dairy Foods Director

Time Commitment: 1.5 hour per week
Committee: Career Development (when Production Division leads) or Social (when Foods Division leads)

Role Highlight

Represent the needs of dairy foods students and facilitate career development and social networking opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Participate in monthly GSD Advisory Council meetings.
• Represent dairy foods interests in event planning.
• Attend the ADSA Dairy Foods Division business meeting.
• Develop initiatives to engage the food science community.
• Oversee career development or social committee activity planning.
• Recruit and engage graduate students in GSD Career Development/Social Committee meetings up to once per month (no fewer than 3 meetings per year). 

Dairy Production Director 

Time Commitment: 1.5 hours per week
Committee: Career Development (when Foods Division leads) or Social (when Production Division leads)

Role Highlight: Represent the needs of dairy production students and facilitate career development and social networking opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Participate in monthly GSD Advisory Council meetings.
• Represent dairy production interests in event planning.
• Attend the ADSA Dairy Production Division business meeting.
• Develop initiatives to engage the dairy production community.
• Oversee career development or social committee activity planning.
• Recruit and engage graduate students in GSD Career Development/Social Committee meetings up to once per month (no fewer than 3 meetings per year).

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee 

Mission: Foster a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive environment for all graduate students.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure principles of inclusivity and accessibility are embedded in GSD programs and events.
• Promote opportunities for underrepresented student groups.
• Evaluate travel grant rubric for equitable selection criteria.
• Organize programming tailored to diverse student needs.

Outreach Committee

Mission: Increase GSD’s visibility and engagement through strategic communication.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain active social media engagement on ADSA GSD platforms.
• Assist with newsletter content creation and distribution.
• Increase visibility and involvement in GSD activities.

Fundraising Committee

Mission: Secure financial support to expand GSD programming.

Key Responsibilities:

• Secure sponsorships and event funding.
• Develop materials for fundraising campaigns.
• Maintain donor databases and track progress.

Career Development Committee

Mission: Provide professional growth opportunities to GSD members.

Key Responsibilities:

• Organize a 3-Minute Thesis competition.
• Plan career and professional development webinars.
• Host a GSD-USD joint networking event.
• Organize career-oriented workshops and mentorship programs.

Social Committee 

Mission: Strengthen the GSD community through social events and networking.

Key Responsibilities:

• Help to organize the GSD social mixer at the annual meeting.
• Coordinate networking activities and student engagement events.
• Social ambassador at ADSA Annual Meeting (post on accounts with #ADSA2025).
• University Ambassadors: members will be responsible for sharing GSD information with other graduate students within their departments via email, social media, etc.