The Graduate Student Alliance (GSA) at CCA is an association founded to connect graduate students from all programs at CCA. GSA organizes and leads graduate student events such as the new graduate student welcome events, monthly mixers and semester capstone events. Behind the scenes we act as liaison between the graduate student community and the Board of Trustees, president, and other members of the college community.

We believe student voices fuel CCA's efforts and direct the college's focus at every stage of activity.

GSA's mission is to champion on behalf of all graduate students and create opportunities for community, cross-pollination and collaboration.

Goals:

• Sponsor events or initiatives proposed and executed by graduate students that foster community, discourse, and entertainment across departments
• Provide convenient venues for open communication among students, faculty, and administration
• Maintain and publish an annual survey that records student opinions about classroom, facilities, department, and campus-wide issues
• Advocate for students on issues from greater diversity in the curriculum to greater accessibility of campus facilities

(Note: Neither membership application nor fees are required to join.)

Julia Weir (she/her)

MFA Industrial Design - 3 year

I was born and raised in San Francisco, and I earned my bachelor’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies at Goucher College in Maryland. After graduating, I served a year with AmeriCorps here in San Francisco and then worked as a manager in a local art gallery for two years. This inspired me to take my art practice—which I have consistently developed since childhood—seriously as a career path, and I applied to CCA.

I view my work within the context of contemporary design as an exploration of beauty, functionality, sustainability, and intentionality. As an industrial designer, I want to work on projects that improve the lives of people who are too often shut out of the economy and to see diverse voices included in the design conversation. I am particularly passionate about the social potential of design, speculative design, and the areas where art and design intersect.

Fostering community engagement and empowering my fellow students is extremely important to me. I feel that my background in social justice and art gives me a unique perspective on what makes our program great, as well as what we can improve. For example, I am currently collaborating with a fellow student to build an information resource for incoming MFA students next year. As GSA Co-Director, I will strive to ensure that the voices of my peers are heard so that we can reach our full potential as members of the incredible CCA community.

Mariam Behbehani (she/her)
M.Arch - 3 Year Track

I’m from Kuwait, and currently based in San Francisco to pursue a graduate degree in architecture. I have always been involved in something creative since childhood, whether it was singing, playing the piano, joining sports teams, hosting events with my high school’s Student Council, designing posters, sketching, or photography. Prior to coming to CCA, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Kingston University London. Afterwards, I attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where I focused on site-specific material research and object design projects which have brought me back to the architecture field.

My past outlets of creativity have sparked my interest in pursuing a career deeply rooted in human wellbeing and coexistence with the environment, which is why I chose to continue my architectural education at CCA. This mindset stems from being in the architecture discipline and witnessing the blind acceptances of mined minerals being continuously used as building materials. 

I believe that in order for myself to design on land, I have to firstly understand the land’s resources prior to building on it. The latter is the philosophy which I would like to bring to students as a GSA Co-Director. I am motivated to get to know the student body, to be a good ear, and an accessible figure for them to share their needs with. With CCA being a small community of creatives, it is vital to foster a healthy and enjoyable environment for each students’ wellbeing, and to tailor experiences and events that fit everyone’s choices.

Please participate in our ongoing Graduate Student Experience Survey. The information collected is used to help us prioritize our work for the graduate student community.

Have a question or interested in getting involved email us at gsa@cca.edu.

GSA is made up of two co-director positions. These positions are perfect for individuals who enjoy communicating, advocating for others, planning events, networking, and reporting.

• Active leaders have the greatest accessibility to all students, faculty, and administrators.
• GSA directors play a significant role in involving others in the student life experience. The two selected directors should plan to work closely together on all aspects of the one-year and receive leadership fellowship.
• The position tenure begins at the start of the spring semester and is completed at the end of the fall semester. The position's responsibilities average 16-18 hours per month.
• These positions are available to first-year graduate students or continuing second-year dual-degree students on a three year track, as they will not interfere with your final thesis semester.

(Note: Active GSA members receive priority consideration for leadership positions.)

Criteria:

A student must be a returning, full-time student, as well as remain in satisfactory academic and disciplinary standing through the spring semester.

Students must meet the following criteria:

• Good academic standing, with a minimum 2.5 GPA
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of team members, students, and parents
• Desire to learn about all aspects of the college life, from academic studies to policy and procedures
• Demonstrated record of flexibility, responsibility, and willingness to assist others.

For more information email gsa@cca.edu.

GSA Directors are required to participate in graduate new student orientation and monthly meetings for the academic year.

You will:

• demonstrate your understanding of growth in leadership style
• understand the role students play in the operation of the college
• understand shared governance by participation in committees, events, and programs
• serve as mentors to new GSA Directors
• engage in thoughtful discussion and dialogue about priorities, initiatives and programs that impact the student community
• coordinate events, initiatives and programs that have a positive impact on the student community
• role model what it means to be a creative citizen

Skills you will experience according to the 2016 PayScale Workforce-Skills Preparedness Report:

• Critical thinking/problem solving
• Communication
• Leadership
• Interpersonal skills/teamwork
• Curiosity