Michigan State University
Department of Community Sustainability
Graduate Student Organization
Your Officers
2022-2023
Rafael Cavalcanti Lembi
Co-Coordinator
I'm a PhD student at the Department of Community Sustainability. When I'm not sitting in the office at the Natural Resources building, you'll find me biking around town and taking care of my plants. Academically, I'm interested in investigating resilience, governance, and justice in social-ecological systems. Feel free to reach out: lembi@msu.edu
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Jonathan Vivas
Co-Coordinator
Hi! I’m a PhD student at CSUS. I’m from Nicaragua thus I love sunny days and a cup of hot coffee. In my free time I enjoy biking around the campus. In terms of research, I’m interested in the resilience and sustainability of social-ecological systems. email: vivasara@msu.edu
Maheshwari Elapata
Finance Coordinator
I'm a PhD student at the Department of Community Sustainability. My research interests revolve around agriculture extension and rural development. I am currently working on research related to capacity development of agricultural extension workers. I love to spend my leisure time reading fictions and memoirs or listening to spiritual videos. I am a nature person, and love spending a quality time in nature. I also never miss a chance to appreciate the untamed beauty of the natural world through the lens of my mobile phone. email: elapatam@msu.edu
Maria Alejandra Garcia
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Representative
I am a Ph.D. Candidate in Community Sustainability. I am interested in social justice and sustainability. I work especially on gender and power in rural Latin America, and also on the social impacts of hydropower. I love to dance - especially salsa. In Michigan, I discovered that I loved outdoor activities. I am very honored to contribute to DEI strategies in the CSUS Department. Feel free to reach out to me: garci425@msu.edu
What do the officers do?
They represent and support YOU.
Each spring, all CSUS grad students have the opportunity to run for and vote on officer positions. Each position serves a different role to support and represent CSUS graduate students. The officers serve official roles, but they are not the entire GSO.
Hunter Lee
Graduate Affairs & Curriculum Committee Liaison
Hunter is a master’s student and GRA at Michigan State University in the Department of Community Sustainability. After graduating with a B.S. in Environmental and Plant Sciences from the University of Arizona, Hunter served in the Peace Corps as an Agroforestry Specialist in Senegal. Before moving to MI, she served with the Student Conservation Association in New York as an AmeriCorps volunteer and was then hired on as a Program Coordinator for the SCA/AmeriCorps. Her interests include DEI and outreach, climate change, resilience, and community engagement. In her free time, Hunter enjoys traveling, volunteering as an EMT, running, working on her motorcycle, and rock climbing. email: hlee@msu.edu
Titas Dutta
International Students Liaison
Hi! My name is pronounced as Tee-Tash and I am a PhD student at CSUS. I study the issues of international development and political economy of India. In my free time, I enjoy taking walks around the campus during summers and I am yet to figure out what to do in the winters (other than eating ramen 😊).
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Lydia Kiewra
Faculty Liaison
Hello! I am a PhD student studying Sustainable Tourism and Protected Areas Management in the CSUS department. My research focuses on visitor use management in protected areas, relevance building, and human dimensions of wildlife. When I’m not diligently working from my cubical in the Natural Resources Building, you can find me doing ceramics, birding around the many greenspaces in MI, gardening and taking care of plants, and pickling things. Ask me about my 12 chickens please, and feel free to reach out: kiewraly@msu.edu
Jacob White
University Council of Graduate Students + Student Sustainability Leadership Council Representative
Hi! I’m a master’s student at CSUS. My current research focuses on local community involvement and perceptions of solar energy projects. Outside of work I enjoy napping with my cats, hiking with my partner, and complaining about suburban sprawl. If you need anything or just wanna chat email me at: white202@msu.edu