Meet the GSA Executive Board

Maddie Bowman – GSA President 2024-’25

“I am Maddie Bowman (she/her/hers), the Graduate Student Association president.  I am a third-year graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry.  I graduated from Radford University in 2022, where I was a member of their women’s lacrosse program, competing in the Big South Conference. One of my favorite parts of the Wake Forest community is the emphasis on collaboration and building relationships with others. I look forward to leading, interacting with, and connecting with other graduate students at WFU. Here to serve and Go Deacs!”

Robert Santiago – GSA Vice President 2024-’25

“I am Robert Santiago (he/him), the Graduate Student Association Vice President, halfway into my pursuit of a Master of Arts in Counseling from Wake Forest University and licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC). My education and certifications in crisis intervention and trauma-informed practices demonstrate my compassionate approach to healing trauma and empowering individuals to reclaim control over their lives. I started my Practicum this semester and will begin my Internship in Spring 2025 at a private practice, lasting the entire academic year. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, playing sports, watching storm-chasing videos, listening to music, engaging in ink therapy, and drinking coffee while petting my dogs. Go Deacs!”

Chase Alston – GSA Diversity & Inclusion Co-Chair 2024-’25

I am Chase Alston (she/her), a master’s candidate for Spanish Interpreting and Translation Studies. My veins bleed black and gold, as I am a Double Legacy Demon Deacon from Winston Salem, NC. In 2023, I graduated from High Point University with a bachelor’s in Spanish and double minors in Biology and Studio Art. As a future Doctor of Dental Medicine, I will use my linguistic and artistic competencies to improve the smiles and confidence of individuals in underprivileged Latino and Black communities. More importantly, I have a bubbly personality and a strong sense of justice.  I am your ally and champion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I). Dr. Maya Angelo once said the most fundamental quote is, “People will  forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I will forever embrace this quote.

Tryphena Adams – GSA Diversity & Inclusion Co-Chair 2024-’25

I am Tryphena Adams (she/her), a third-year PhD student in the Biology Department. I completed my undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of Ghana. I am the diversity and inclusion co-chair.

Social Co-Chair – Kevin Coffey

I am Kevin Coffey, a Social co-chair to the Graduate Student Association. Currently, I am a 4th-year PhD student in the Biology department. I graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2019. Some of my favorite pastimes include cooking, swimming, playing tennis, and bird watching. My goal as Social co-chair is to create opportunities for graduate students to put down their pens and pipettes, relax, and engage with others. One of my favorite things about serving graduate students at Wake Forest is meeting different people across the country and world and finding we have a lot more in common than we initially thought. It is my pleasure to continue in this role to find ways to help graduate students make new connections and form new bonds.

Student Resource Chair- Linn Zapffe

“My name is Linn Zapffe (she/her/hers), and I am a psychology student from Norway. I will be your student resource chair on GSA next school year. I am on several additional councils and committees, such as the International Student Leadership Council, the Student Technology Advisory Committee, and the Provost Student Leadership Advisory Council. In addition, I am involved in several activities on campus, like climbing, boxing, singing in the choir, and building theater sets. A fun fact about me is that I am a certified bartender in New York, and I hope you won’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything I can help you with through GSA.”

Olutosin Olusola – GSA Community Engagement Chair 2024-’25

“My name is Olutosin Olusola (Samuel), a PhD student in the Department of Biology and the Community Engagement Chair. I hold a master’s degree in biology from Wake Forest University and an undergraduate degree in microbiology from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Nigeria.

In my role as Community Engagement Chair, I am dedicated to building meaningful connections, fostering inclusivity, and creating accessible, impactful opportunities for engagement within our organization and the wider community, both within Wake Forest University and across the city of Winston-Salem. In my role as Community Engagement Chair, I am dedicated to building meaningful connections and fostering inclusivity. I work to create accessible, impactful opportunities for engagement within our organization, the university, and the broader Winston-Salem community.

Beyond my academic and organizational roles, I am an avid photographer and drone enthusiast. These hobbies allow me to explore and capture the beauty around me.”

Toni Hines – GSA Social Co-Chair 2024-’25

Scott Dawson – GSA Downtown Wake Engagement Chair 2024-’25