PRESIDENT

Bram is a fourth-year PhD candidate and Teaching Assistant in the Math department, focusing on stochastic population dynamics and game theory. After joining TUGSA in his first year, Bram served as a Coordinator, Steward, Contract Research Team member, and most recently as Secretary on the 2025-’26 Executive Board. As President and a member of the Contract Negotiations Team, he looks forward to continuing TUGSA’s organizing efforts to improve working conditions for all graduate workers and secure the contract we need.

VICE PRESIDENT

Anna is a third-year PhD candidate and Teaching Assistant in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Anna joined TUGSA as soon as she started at Temple. Recognizing that the benefits she enjoys as a graduate employee were achieved by TUGSA before she got here, she wanted to do her part in pushing for even more improvements. As an international student and worker, she is also deeply aware of the challenges that international workers face in the current climate. Anna strongly believes that by working together and actively participating in our union, we can win meaningful change and secure a stronger workplace for the entire graduate community.

ORGANIZING DIRECTOR

Alex is a second-year PhD candidate, Teaching Assistant, and Research Assistant in the Geography, Environment and Urban Studies Department, interested in the historical development of urban transportation. He previously received a BA in History and Plan II honors from the University of Texas. In his first year at Temple, Alex joined TUGSA and quickly became an active organizer as contract negotiations began. Now, from his position on the board, Alex looks forward to empowering more graduate workers to take an active role in determining their own working conditions.

SECRETARY

L is a second-year Ph.D. candidate and Teaching Assistant in the English department, exploring how Chinese history and myths are used in creative modern community solidarity projects. L has organized around safety and community in multiple non-unionized engineering, research, and manufacturing institutions, and believes strongly in the difference a strong union can make. They joined TUGSA immediately after accepting their position at Temple and quickly got involved in organizing and outreach. L has gained valuable knowledge and experience by attending contract negotiations, and enjoys playing an active role in helping our union organize and communicate effectively so Temple can be a better space for us all to work, teach, and learn.

TREASURER

Ian is a second-year Ph.D. candidate and Teaching Assistant in the Political Science Department researching political violence and secession. He previously received his BA in Global Studies from the University of Arizona and an MA in African Studies from Indiana University. Ian has been an active organizer with TUGSA since his first year, contributing to the Contract Research Time and ongoing membership recruitment efforts. As a Teaching Assistant in the College of Liberal Arts, Ian has also worked to connect grad students in social sciences and humanities. Now as Treasurer, Ian has developed expertise in managing TUGSA's finances and maintaining the budget to support the union's continued growth and success.

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

Exer is a second-year MFA candidate and Teaching Assistant in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture’s Glass Department researching studio art, curation, linguistics, biological sciences, translation, taxonomy, and queer theory, and working primarily as a caster and mold maker. Community building is central to Exer’s art practice and they have several years of experience in leadership roles. The cross-disciplinary relationships built through TUGSA have been incredibly rewarding for their practice, and Exer is eager to continue advocating for the rights of current and future graduate students.

BOARD-APPOINTED PAST OFFICER

Carolina is a fifth-year Ph.D candidate, Graduate Extern, and Teaching Assistant in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Her research focuses on contemporary Latin American literature, with a special interest in children narrators, and feminine and queer writing in Latin America. She is also a translator and interpreter of English, Spanish and Portuguese. Carolina has been an active member and organizer in TUGSA since she became part of the bargaining unit, and believes strongly in the importance of community and labor organizing, especially as an international worker at Temple.

STAFF ORGANIZER

Jolie served on TUGSA’s Stewards’ Council, Contract Research Team, and the 2024-’25 Executive Board while completing her MFA in Playwriting, and continues fighting for graduate workers as co-Lead Negotiator in the campaign for a fair contract. Her experience as a Teaching Assistant made clear that being a graduate worker at Temple is inherently inseparable from the union. She is excited to continue organizing alongside TUGSA members to foster both the collective responsibility that meaningful change demands and the genuine joy to be found in claiming our role in the process.

MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZER

James is a recent graduate of the Political Science Department, where he worked as a Teaching Assistant and researched comparative economic policy. He served as a Strike Captain, Steward, and Organizing Director on the 2024-’25 Executive Board before taking on his current staff position. James has personally benefitted from having a strong union and is committed to building on TUGSA’s past successes by fostering member engagement and materially improving the well-being of all graduate workers.

OFFICE ORGANIZER

Aradhna is from Massachusetts and recently received her MFA in Poetry while working as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of English. As a TUGSA member, she was part of the Stewards’ Council, and was the Director of Community Outreach on the 2024-’25 Executive Board. Aradhna values the community that TUGSA promotes with its ability to connect grad workers from all subjects. She enjoys using her writing and communication skills to strengthen TUGSA’s cause. 

MEMBERSHIP

TUGSA is entirely and only its membership. Together, we have proven we can accomplish material change, winning significant improvements in our pay, benefits, and working conditions. Joining TUGSA is the first and most important step you can take to help secure a stronger workplace for yourself, your colleagues, and all future graduate workers at Temple, and to take an active role in determining your own graduate experience. Join TUGSA today!