S. NICOLE CATHEY is currently serving as the 2008-2009 President of the Graduate Student Council. Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, she earned her Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Mass Communications from Jackson State University and a Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) degree from Mississippi State University. She is a third year PhD student majoring in Political Science at Howard University. Her research interest includes the impact of Media on Political Mobilization and Urban Politics. Her primary interests include entrepreneurship, motivational speaking, urban and community development, and traveling. She lives by the philosophy, "In order to change our environment, we must first change ourselves".

Contact:  202-806-5540
snicolecathey@hotmail.com

Sechaba Khoapa serves as the current Vice-President of the Graduate Student Council (GSC) and is a Doctoral Student in the department of African Studies. In the duration of his graduate studies at Howard University he has served as an active and committed member of the GSC and also as Chairperson of the Council’s International Graduate and Professional Student Support Group (IGPSSG). He has worked with and coordinated with various student organizations on campus from not only the GSC, but also the African Students Association, HUSA, Graduate Student Assembly and most recently the African Studies Graduate Student Association where he briefly served as Treasurer. An international student from South Africa, Sechaba has earned a Master of Education in Career and Technology Education, and a  Bachelor of Science in Technology majoring in Visual Communication Technology from Bowling Green State University. His research interests are in New Social Movements in a Post-Apartheid South Africa, Public Policy and Administration; and Africa in World Affairs.

Contact: 202-806-5540
  skhoapa@hotmail.com

CAMONIA LONG, born in Houston, Texas, received both her B.S. and MS Ed. from Baylor University, and is currently working on a Ph.D. in Sociology at Howard University. She is a 3rd year doctoral student in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at Howard. Her areas of interest include urban sociology, medical sociology and community-based research. Camonia serves as the current President of the Organization of Graduate Sociologists at Howard University. She is a member of the American Sociological Association’s Student Forum Advisory Board, the Society for the Study of Social Problems, and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. Camonia is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She currently serves on the Executive Board the Howard University Graduate Student Council as the Interim Judicial Coordinator.

Contact:  202-806-5540
crlong@howard.edu

Christa Freeman a first year graduate student in the MAPA program, currently serves as the 2008/2009 Fiscal Coordinator for the Graduate Student Council. Earning her B.A. in Political Science from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, Christa was heavily involved in Georgia politics. Prior to her acceptance to Howard, Christa served as the campaign scheduler for the 2006 gubernatorial campaign of former Georgia Lt. Governor Mark Taylor which was the 9th largest race of the 2006 election season in the nation. During this time Christa also served dual capacity as one of the coordinators of the “Women for Taylor” program which coordinated events throughout the state of Georgia for women voters. Christa also, interned as a lobbyist for the Georgia Pharmacy Association in which she implemented and facilitated a successful grassroots campaign for GA HB 1371 – Pharmacy Audit Bill of Rights, which passed through the legislature and was signed into law by Georgia’s Governor, Sonny Perdue. Currently, Christa is interning with the Executive Office of the President within the Office of Management and Budget.  

Contact:  202-806-5540
christa.freeman@gmail.com

Deshonna Collier-Goubil is a third year doctoral student in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology at Howard University.  Her areas of concentration are Race/Class/Gender studies and Urban Sociology.  In addition to her current studies she holds an MA degree in Theology from Fuller Graduate Schools in California, where her studies focused on Hiphop and the urban church.  Her current work focuses on the sociology of religion, particularly the evolution of womanist theology.  Being active in the university’s community, Deshonna currently serves as the vice president of the Organization of Graduate Sociologists, Interim Communications Coordinator of the Graduate Student Council, and sits on the Howard University Policy Board. 

Contact:  202-806-5540
dacollier@howard.edu

YIESHA L THOMPSON hails from San Francisco, CA and graduated from San José State University with a BS in Administration of Justice and minor in Sociology. Following graduation she went on to use her newly acquired skills at the California Department of Corrections; where she was able to explore the mentality of inmates and further understand the justice system. Realizing her passion and the need to create fairer laws and policies, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she received a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) and was awarded the Patricia R. Harris Fellowship to work for Congressman Tom Lantos. Currently a doctoral student studying Public Policy and International Relations at Howard University she served as the 2007-2008 Vice President of the Graduate Student Council and is the 2008-2009 Graduate Student Assembly Judicial Coordinator. She previously held the positions of Judicial Coordinator for the Graduate Student Council and President of the Graduate Political Science Association.

Contact: 202-806-5540
ylthompson@howard.edu

Representative

Jerome Hunt is a third year Doctoral Student in the Department of Political Science with concentrations in American Government and Black Politics.  Jerome’s research interests include black leadership in times of crisis and voter mobilization in the black community.  Currently, Jerome serves as the Graduate Student Council Representative to the Graduate Student Assembly and the Coordinator of the Graduate Student Assembly.  Jerome is a native of Philadelphia and a huge Philadelphia Phillies Phan.  He lives by the mantra of film composer John Williams, “that so much of what we do is ephemeral and quickly forgotten, it is good to see something you do linger on in people’s memories.” 

 Contact:  202-806-5540
Jeromerhunt@yahoo.com