Student Forum is the executive board level of the GSD's elected student government. The Student Forum works to improve student life at the GSD and serves as a link between the student body and the school administration.

Members of Student Forum meet regularly with Student Services and with the Dean, as well as the Class Representatives for each program and year. The members of Student Forum, along with the elected Class Representatives, also participate in the Student Academic Affairs Committee. Through the roles of the different Chair offices within Student Forum, the student government maintains regular communications with major offices at the GSD such as Alumni Relations, Building Services, Career Services, the office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, the Frances Loeb Library, etc. Members of Student Forum also serve on other ad-hoc administrative and student committees. Student Forum holds weekly internal meetings, and meetings open to the entire student body are scheduled at least once every semester, as well as an open meeting with the Dean.

Student Forum manages budgets for various activities, events, and projects, as well as the funding for GSD student groups. Funding for Student Forum and student groups is drawn from the Student Activity Fee. Student Services staff work with Student Forum on budgeting and approve allocations.

Student Forum officers are elected by the GSD student body each spring. They serve for a full academic year, taking over from the outgoing leadership each May, and serving for the following fall and spring semesters. Student Forum elected chairs also have the option to appoint officers and committees to help them carry out their work.

In addition to Student Forum, GSD students are represented by Class Representatives from each graduation-year cohort of each academic program stream. In the MDes program, an additional role for one or more MDes Liaisons helps ensure communication between MDes areas. The GSD also sends elected representatives to the university-wide Harvard Graduate Council. Starting in academic year 2021-2022, reflecting changes in the HGC constitution, there will be just one HGC Representative position, and that representative will be one of the Student Forum Chairs.

Student Forum, Academic Year 2020-2021:

President:
Mena Wasti Ahmed

Academic Chair:
Stephanie Lloyd

Diversity and Inclusion Chair:
Aeshna Prasad

Student Groups Chair:
Nupur Gurjar

Professional Development Chair:
Chloe Soltis

Resources Chair:
Kevin Liu

Social Events Chair:
Angela Moreno-Long (fall 2020)
Position not filled for spring 2021

Download a PDF of the Student Forum Leadership

Read the Student Forum Bylaws

To contact Student Forum, email studentforum@gsd.harvard.edu

GSD Harvard Graduate Council Representatives, 2020-2021:

Laier-Rayshon Smith
Moulshree Mittal
Nima Shariat Zamanpour

Note that starting in academic year 2021-2022, there will be just one HGC Representative position, and that representative will be one of the Student Forum Chairs.

Student Forum Elections

These positions will be elected for academic year 2021-2022:

Student Forum:
President
Academic Chair
Diversity and Inclusion Chair
Student Groups Chair
Professional Development Chair
Resources Chair
Social Events Chair
Harvard Graduate Council Representative

Class Representatives:
MDes Liaison (2)
Class Representatives for all cohorts of returning students
Class Representatives for incoming student cohorts will be elected in the fall

Note that in addition to declaring candidacy, each candidate for Student Forum and MDes Liaison will also be asked to submit a brief statement and photo of themselves that will be circulated to the student body. This statement should be a paragraph or two and serve both to introduce the candidate, and express the candidate's reason for running and vision for how they will act in the role they seek to fill. Students running for Class Representative seats do not need to submit a statement.

Students interested in running for election should note these important dates and times:

All times are EDT (Eastern Daylight Time)

Saturday, April 10, 10 – 11 am
Info Session
Hear from Student Forum chairs, HGC Reps, MDes Liaison, and Class Reps about their positions and what it's like being part of student government

Monday, April 12, 11:59 pm
Deadline to declare candidacy (all candidates)
Also deadline for Student Forum (including HGC Rep) and MDes Liaison candidates to submit candidate statements

Saturday, April 17, 10 – 11:30 am
Candidate Forum
Hear from candidates for Student Forum (including the new HGC Rep position within Student Forum) and MDes Liaison

Voting will open shortly after the Candidate Forum concludes

Tuesday, April 20, 11:59 pm
Voting Closes

Winners will be announced by the end of that week