The GEO Steering Committee is elected each Spring by GEO members. The Steering Committee members volunteer their time to help improve the working conditions of graduate employees at UIC.
 | Co-President: Nick Christo (he/him) Nick is a 3rd year Math PhD student. Nick was born in Chicago Heights, IL, and is a frequent enjoyer of hotdogs, boards games, and the Bean. |
 | Co-President: Marty Heath (they/them) Marty is a 4th year PhD student in the Communication department. Marty enjoys baking, retellings of Greek mythology, and analyzing the representation of gender, sexuality, and (dis)ability in narrative media. They’re always down to talk about musicals or GEO’s new contract. |
 | Treasurer: Jenny Vaccaro (she/her) Jenny is a 3rd year Math PhD candidate, studying geometry. This summer, she explored the mountains of the southwest, and wrote songs about her visions for a happier, more just society. |
 | Secretary: Ronan Rock (they/them) While they may or may not be 17 praying mantises inside a human suit, Ronan is definitely the union secretary and a 3rd year in the Curriculum & Instruction PhD program. They come from a long line of labor organizers and community activists. They passionately believe that unions are a powerful tool for social change. |
 | Grievance Chair: Loren Ezra Whitman (they/them) Loren Ezra Whitman is a Communication PhD candidate and a contract organizer at SEIU Local 73 representing workers across UIC and CPS. They believe in fighting for not only a great contract but ensuring that contract is respected by the company. LE has 3 cats and a dog with their partner in Northwest Indiana. |
 | Chief Steward: Carlo Reyna (he/him) Carlo is a human that enjoys gardening, swimming, and eating the rich. Other interests include working with stewards and other GEO leaders to increase our union membership, build solidarity, and collectively bargain for a fair workplace. |
 | Organizing Chair: Bethany Austhof (she/they) Bethany is a third year math PhD student, studying combinatorics and machine learning. As Organizing Chair, Bethany leads efforts to further GEO’s goals to serve members, increase membership and continue unionization efforts. |
 | Outreach Chair: Andrea DaViera (she/her) Andrea DaViera is a 6th year phD candidate in the community psychology program. As the Outreach Chair, she works to build community and solidarity across the campus and student organizing groups. She loves to paint and has two dogs. |
 | Communications Chair: Mo Arvan (he/him) Our outspoken communication chair was interested in politics, privacy, and human rights at a very young age. In his free time, he runs, bakes, and writes; though not at the same time but a person can dream? |