Board members are elected once per academic year, following a nomination process (at the end of Winter or at the Spring GMM) and a vote among all GTFF members.
Please feel encouraged to email us with any and all questions!
For more information on each of the positions, see the GTFF Bylaws.
Meet your 2026-27 Executive Board!
Carver Goldstein | President
president@gtff.net
Pronouns: he/him
Department: Physics
Carver is a fourth-year physics PhD student working in the discipline of high-energy theory. He is very passionate about the GTFF and organizing to build power within it. When not building worker power in our union, he can often be found biking, camping, or extolling the beauty of the Northern Nevada desert.
Michelle Fieser | VP for Organizing
organizing@gtff.net
Pronouns: She/They
Department: History of Art and Architecture
Michelle is a 5th year PhD Candidate in the History of Art and Architecture program. Their dissertation research focuses on architecture in National Parks constructed during the 1950s-1960s. Outside of work and research, they enjoy traveling to places they’ve never been, spending time on tedious crafts, creative writing, and simply being outside. On the labor organizing front, Michelle has been a unionist since studying labor movements for their undergraduate history degree. During the 2023-2024 bargaining cycle, they were inspired by the strength of their fellow GEs as they fought for better working and living conditions. They accepted the role of department steward to keep that effort alive in their own department even after bargaining ended. Since then, Michelle has attended several organizing trainings, participated in solidarity organizing, and served as the Lead Steward of Arts and Education. As VP of Organizing, they’re excited to use what they’ve learned to build membership power and win a contract that the Graduate Employees of the University of Oregon deserve!
Kathleen Gekiere | VP for Grievances
grievances@gtff.net
Pronouns: she/they
Department: Environmental Studies and English
Kathleen is a fourth year PhD Candidate in Environmental Studies who approaches environmental issues from a multispecies humanistic and literary perspective. Currently she is working with Troubadour, a 4 year old wild horse she adopted from the Malheur National Forest, merging scientific research with speculative futurity, and feminist science and technology studies. Outside work at UO and the GTFF, Kathleen enjoys sci-fi, backcountry horseback riding and fiber arts (knitting, crochet, sewing, embroidery, and, most recently, mohair cinch tying!).
Sophia Spangler | VP for Political Education
political.education@gtff.net
Department: Philosophy
Sophia is a second-year PhD student in the Philosophy Department. Her research interests include feminist and queer phenomenology, existentialism, philosophy of psychology, and philosophy of love and sex. She is currently working on a phenomenology of anorexia and an existential account of authentic eroticism. When not in the office, she enjoys embroidery, ceramics, and wandering through the woods.
Cassidy Dillard | Co-VP for External Relations
external.relations@gtff.net
Pronouns: she/her
Department: Special Education and Clinical Sciences
Cassidy Dillard is a fourth-year school psychology Ph.D. candidate at the University of Oregon. She obtained her Masters in the Art of Teaching from the University of Portland and worked as a 5th grade general education and 7th grade English language arts teacher in Tampa, FL. Cassidy holds a Florida professional teaching license for grades K-12 with an ESOL and reading endorsement. She is interested in neurodiversity-informed practices in school-based settings and brings expertise in learning and educational supports for students with disabilities. She has published work on social camouflaging, and the Autistic experience and has led several professional development trainings for school district staff on neurodiversity informed intervention. Within research, Cassidy has supported the grant funded activities of Project SIMPLE and LSAIL within the College of Education SPECS department at the University of Oregon. Currently, Cassidy is working on finishing her PhD and serves as a Qualified Mental Health Provider (QMHP-A) for adolescents of neurominority status with experiences of complex trauma.
Alex Dillard | Co-VP for External Relations
external.relations@gtff.net
Pronouns: he/him
Department: Chemistry
Alex is a third-year school Chemistry Ph.D. candidate at the University of Oregon. He obtained his Masters in the Art of Teaching from the University of Portland and worked as a 7th grade life sciences teacher in Tampa, FL. Alex holds a Florida professional teaching license for grades K-12. Alex is part of the Agne lab at the University of Oregon where he acts as the safety officer. His research involves the quantification of human thermal perception in relation to material properties as well as the development of phase change polymers for the use of energy storage and perception manipulation. Fun Fact: During his undergraduate years he ran for the University of Portland Track and Cross-Country teams during which they placed 3rd at the D1 cross country nationals.
Alexa Davidson | VP for Operations
operations@gtff.net
Department: History of Art and Architecture
Alexa is a 3rd year doctoral candidate studying classical art and architecture. Alexa’s research is about the metaphorical use of childhood games in Greek art. They enjoy fiber arts, video games, and (when she has time) reading non-scholarly books and comics. Alexa is committed to GTFF and its missions to make not just our workplace better, but the living and working conditions of all peoples. They have served as steward for her department for a year and a half and have been on bargaining team since the fall. He encourages any and all members to stop by the office and utilize the space and speak to them about how they can make the space better.
K Hadley | Co-VP for Member Communications
member.communications@gtff.net
Pronouns: they/them
Department: English
K Hadley (settler) is a third-year English PhD student also pursuing a graduate certificate in Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies. Their work considers horror media and literature, particularly depictions of cannibalism, through the lenses of performance studies, queerness, and Indigeneity. K also enjoys playing video games, collecting tattoos and tchotchkes, crafting, and wearing obnoxious earrings.
Ava Guihama Olson | Co-VP for Member Communications
member.communications@gtff.net
Pronouns: they/them
Department: Environmental Studies and English
Ava Guihama Olson is a settler scholar of Environmental Studies and English, with a graduate certificate in Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies. They research nature/culture borderlands, habitat restoration, contamination, and eschatology. Outside of work, Ava enjoys sewing, watching baseball, climbing trees, knitting, oversalting their food, and jumping into cold water.
Alexander Symonette | VP for Equity and Inclusion
equity@gtff.net
Pronouns: they/he
Department: Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies
Alexander is a 4th-year graduate student and employee in the Department of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies, and is currently VP of Equity and Inclusion. They have been a rank-and-file GTFF member since arriving in 2023. He has also served as a department steward, and this past year, has co-chaired the Black Graduate Caucus. From Alexander: “Union power means a shared commitment to one another’s livelihoods, job security, and dignity. My vision for GTFF is to create more creative and equitable ways for us to gather, organize, and support one another through the bargaining cycle.”
Marie Kerns | VP for Membership
membership@gtff.net
Pronouns: she/her
Department: Chemistry
I’m Marie, a third year PhD candidate in Chemistry. My work involves studying biologically-relevant sulfur reactivity through physical organic methods. I have previously served as a chemistry steward and RAGE caucus chair. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy reading, fiber arts, trying new restaurants, and exploring the outdoors!
Camille Pastore | VP for International Affairs
international@gtff.net
Department: Earth Sciences
My name is Camille and I’m Canadian (québécois) PhD candidate in the Earth Sciences department. My research focuses on the caldera forming eruption of Mount Mazama (Crater Lake). Off work, I love knitting, hiking and spending time with friends!
Aislinn McCann | Treasurer
treasurer@gtff.net
Pronouns: she/her
Department: Physics
Aislinn is a third-year PhD student in the Physics department. Her research is centered on computational astrophysics as part of the LIGO gravitational wave collaboration. As a former steward, she cares deeply about making sure that GEs are fairly treated and feel included and represented in their workplace, and she strives to continue this work in her role as an officer representing the GTFF. Outside of research and union affairs, she enjoys playing video games, getting gains, and bouldering.
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