Purpose
The Engineering Education (EEd) Graduate Student Council (GSC) exists to advance student leadership and leadership practices. It will foster a community of students interested in the field of engineering education, provide professional development opportunities, facilitate networking among peers and professionals, and promote the exchange of ideas and research in engineering education.
Meet the Executive Board
President
Name: Gadhaun Aslam
Pronouns: he/him/his
Email: gadhaunaslam@ufl.edu
Biography: Gadhaun Aslam is a Graduate Student Assistant in the TWISTER Lab within the Department of Engineering Education at University of Florida (UF). His research interests include extracting data from institutional websites to understand the trajectory of engineering education, exploring student learning experiences using multi-modal tools (e.g., eye tracking and physiological electrodermal sensors) and integrating data science and machine learning in understanding the links between cognition, motivation, and performance in STEM classrooms and connected activities, and improving faculty mentoring experiences. He is actively involved in graduate student organizations. He is serving as President of Global Connections at UF, and as Student Division Information Chair at the American Society of Engineering Education.
Vice President
Name: Kassandra Fernandez
Pronouns: they/them
Email: kfernandez1@ufl.edu
Biography: Kassandra Fernandez is a Graduate Research Assistant pursuing their PhD in Engineering Education. They graduated from Miami Dade College with a B.S. in Biological Sciences & from the University of Florida with an M.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science. They have worked as a science teacher at a Title I school in Homestead, FL and as an adjunct Microbiology professor at a Hispanic-serving community college in Miami, FL. They are currently exploring undergraduate perceptions of STEM mentorship within student organizations and near peer mentorship between undergraduate student mentors and K-12 student mentees within educational out-of-school time STEM programs. Outside of research, they are the President of the Policy Advocacy in Science and Engineering (PASE) student organization and the Strategy Consultant for the Gator Major-4-Major Mentorship Program.
Secretary
Name: Caroline Lubbe
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: clubbe@ufl.edu
Biography: I am a second-year PhD student at the University of Florida working with Dr. Sindia Rivera-Jiménez in her Engineering Communities & Participatory Change (ECoPaC) Research Group. My research interests include the experiences of engineering community college transfer students as they adjust to a four-year institution. Outside of work, I like to read, watch reality TV, and try new foods & drinks.
Treasurer
Name: Naqash Gerard
Pronouns: He/Him
Email: naqash.gerard@ufl.edu
Biography: I’m an international PhD student by day, tech wizard by night, living for all things computer science and IT! Whether I’m diving into research or tackling the latest coding challenge, I keep the energy high and the coffee flowing—always ready for the next adventure!
Advisor
Name: John Mendoza Garcia
Pronouns: He/Him/él
Email: jmendozagarcia@ufl.edu
Biography: I was born and raised in Colombia where I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I came to the United States in 2011 when I started my PhD in Engineering Education at Purdue University. Traveling, hiking, and biking with my family are my preferred activities. My research interest is in how people can develop professional skills such as systems thinking, problem-solving, design thinking, and computational thinking.