LAURA GIBSON, ADMINISTRATOR
Program: PhD in U.S. History
Email: aucasgsc@gmail.com

Laura Gibson graduated from American University with a B.A major in American Studies and a minor in Cinema Studies. She followed this with an M.A in Cinema Studies from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in U.S History.

Laura’s main research interest is the connection between history and popular culture with a strong cinema/television focus.

Her Hogwarts house is Ravenclaw. 

ROBERT DANIEL JONES III, VICE PRESIDENT
Program: Master of International Economics
Email: rj6722a@student.american.edu 

Robert is pursuing a master of international economics where he is focused on the implications and ramifications of multinational corporations and foreign direct investment involvement in emerging markets.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, SHANNON MCNAUGHT
JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
Program: Intercultural & International Communication
Email: ausisjournal@gmail.com

Shannon McNaught is studying public and cultural diplomacy at the School of International Service, where she serves as Editor-in-Chief for the student-run Journal of International Service, which helps promote SIS graduate student research and writing. Additionally, Shannon works as a Graduate Research Assistant and AU Connects Diversity & Inclusion Facilitator (and a District Trivia host on the side!)

Originally from southern California, Shannon studied Art History and French at the University of Notre Dame before moving overseas to continue her studies at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. Since arriving in Washington, DC, Shannon has conducted research on behalf of IO Sustainability, Americans for the Arts, and the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies.

In her spare time, Shannon is usually found wandering the District looking for the best bakeries, breweries, and bookstores.

AHMAD ABDEL RAHIM, VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMMING
Program: Master of Business Administration
Email: Ahmad.AbdelRahim@student.american.edu

Ahmad Abdel-Rahim is pursuing his MBA at American University with a focus in analytics. In addition to serving on the Executive Board of the Graduate Business Association at Kogod, Ahmad is also working as a Project Manager in The Office of Information Technology at American University and is in the process of obtaining the Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate.

Prior to attending American University, Ahmad had 6 years of professional experience in the financial services sector in Lebanon focusing on IT based national and international projects from analysis to design and implementation of complicated, big-scale, distributed, real-time on-line systems as a system engineer, database administrator, consultant, technical support, team leader and project manager.

Ahmad graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science from American University of Beirut.

PARTH TANNA, VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
Program: Master of Business Administration
Email: parth.tanna@student.american.edu

Parth Tanna is pursuing his Master of Business Administration with a focus in analytics. In addition to serving as Vice President of the Graduate Business Association at the Kogod School of Business, he also works as a research assistant for cybersecurity project and teaching assistant for managerial statistics, financial accounting, and operation management MBA courses.

Prior to joining American University, Parth worked as a research and development engineer at Samsung Electronics in Noida, India where he worked closely with cross-functional teams based in multiple global locations. He was responsible for initial requirement gathering to a final product launch for client organizations.

ERIN WHITE, EVENTS DIRECTOR
GRADUATE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL – American University
Email: events@auglc.org
College of Arts & Sciences – Master of Education

Erin White is pursuing a Master’s in Education in the Education Policy and Leadership program with American. This is Erin’s first semester with the Graduate Leadership Council and hopes to gain great insight and experience in her position with the Council.

Erin graduated with a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science from Temple University, where she was a member of her school’s Model UN, a study abroad advocate, and a member of three academic honor’s societies. During her time at Temple, she participated a summer semester study abroad program at Temple University Rome.

Born and raised in the DMV area, Erin returned home upon graduation from Temple. Following this return and prior to joining American University, Erin has been working with low-income, at-risk youth around the DC area where she currently holds a position managing a nonprofit afterschool education program. She also has worked part time in restaurants in the area since undergrad where she has gained background knowledge of event hosting and planning.

In her very little free time, Erin enjoys (more so, endures) working out, spending time with friends and family, cooking (and has sometimes been known to bake), and traveling. Her biggest passion in life is education advocacy and program development and has hopes of one day launching her own nonprofit program that targets family and youth needs and policy development on their behalf.

TBA, ALUMNI AFFAIRS LIAISON
GRADUATE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL – American University

VACANT , ONLINE LIAISON
GRADUATE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL – American University
Email: TBD
School TBD – Program TBD

No Bio Available.

MALLORY PAYNE, VICE PRESIDENT
Program: Master of Political Communication
Email: mp1071a@student.american.edu

TMallory is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Political Communication. She graduated from the University of San Diego in the spring of 2016 with a B.A. in Communication Studies. Prior to coming to AU, Mallory worked at an advertising agency in Nashville, TN.

R. Amalia Laksmiputri, INTERNATIONAL STUDENT LIAISON
GRADUATE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL – American University
Email: Rl6800a@student.american.edu
School of International Service – Master in Intercultural and International Communication

Amalia is a first-year international student from Indonesia, pursuing an MA in Intercultural and International Communication. She completed her bachelor degree in International Relations at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, and went to study abroad in Hong Kong and Singapore. During her undergraduate study, she served as the Project Manager of Cross-Cultural Understanding Club. She also had working experience interning at the Indonesian Embassy for the USA, worked as International Student Affairs officer at Global Engagement Office, and participated in an ASEAN internship in Thailand. Amalia is passionate about cross-cultural communication, public diplomacy and mental health awareness. She loves to sing, traveling and exploring the city, but she started to learn piano in Covid-19 quarantine. She is excited to serving the international graduate students at American University.