Graduate Student Association

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) of the Institute of Fine Arts acts as a liaison between students and administration at the Institute, advocating for student interests and working to create a welcoming community of peers. The GSA holds regular meetings for GSA officers, hosts town halls throughout the academic year to serve as forums for student issues and concerns, and meets regularly with Institute administration and staff. The GSA conducts an orientation meeting and reception for new students at the beginning of the fall semester, organizes many of the Institute’s social events during the academic year, and coordinates with the library to hold the annual library sale.

Download the current GSA handbook

Please use this anonymous form to submit any questions, comments, or concerns you would like the Graduate Student Association to take under advisement. Responses will be checked regularly and discussed during GSA meetings.

GSA Suggestion box

2023-2024 GSA Executive Board

Co-Presidents

Kirsten Lutley
2nd year M.A. student, Gothic Northern Europe

Kirsten is one of the GSA’s co-presidents. She is responsible for managing the GSA team, and corresponding with faculty and staff concerning student feedback and major GSA events, such as the GSA Forum. She won a Grammy when she was 11!

Kaylee Moua Nok
2nd year M.A. student, Modern and Contemporary Art

Kaylee is one of the GSA’s co-presidents. She is committed to fostering a space for open discussion between faculty and students and within the GSA. With Kirsten, she serves as a sign post to help direct students' questions and needs towards the right direction! She has always loved puns---Kaylee’s childhood pet was a chocolate lab named Kisses, and her mom was named Hershey!

Social Chair

Bella Brogna Daly
2nd year M.A. student, Renaissance and Baroque

Bella is the social chair. She plans fun social events for students throughout the year! She went to wilderness school as a kid and could *probably* survive in a zombie apocalypse because of it.

Academic Office Liaison

Bri Stellini
2nd year M.A. student, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology

Bri is the Academic Office liaison. Bri works as the student connection to the Academic Office to advocate for student needs and success. They also help to compile postings for the GSA Newsletter. Bri is currently a part of a multi-year-long DnD campaign.

Communications Chair

Laura Sofía Hernández González
2nd year M.A. student, Modern Art of Latin America and the Caribbean

Laura Sofía is the communications chair. She documents all GSA meetings and other activities that are impactful to the student body. She also continuously keeps in touch with the students via email to provide information about student affairs, events, and other initiatives. She is very into fiction/high fantasy literature and television.

Alumni Liaison

Lijie Wang
2nd year PhD student, Modern and Contemporary Art

Lijie is the alumni liaison. She works closely with the IFA Development Office and the Alumni Board to create events and facilitate professional relationships between students and alums, providing students with support in relation to career planning and development. She enjoys biking.

Library Liaison

Virginia Ignelzi
2nd year M.A. student, Italian Renaissance

Virginia is the library liaison. She facilitates communication between the library staff and students, ensuring that everyone is aware of the many library resources available. She is very into crocheting right now, but she's not very good yet.

First Year Representative

Veronica Jane Murray
1st year M.A. student, Art Economics and Intellectual Property

Veronica is the first year representative. She is in charge of community building in the cohort. She hosts events for first year students entering the Institute of Fine Arts with the goal of making everyone feel welcome. She has a siamese cat named Mushu!

Medieval Art Area Representative

Giovanni Falcone
1st year M.A. student, Italian Art

Giovanni is the Medieval art area representative. As an area rep, Giovanni's role is to help connect students studying Medieval art at the IFA to one another, and to share events and opportunities related to the study of Medieval art and culture. Giovanni once worked as a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ancient Area Representative

Emma Capaldi
1st year M.A. student, Ancient Mediterranean

Emma is the Ancient area representative. She manages communication between the GSA and students pursuing studies focused on material from the ancient world. Emma enjoys cooking and loves trying out new recipes.

Additional GSA Members

Catherine Lammersen: Treasurer
Shumeng Zhang: International Student Chair
Alexa Kline: Conservation Representative
Katia Taylor: Renaissance Art Area Representative