Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association (PPGSA)

  • Students Chris Termunde, David Kihoro Sirengo, and Nisha Rokaya stand under a red Plant Pathology event tent with Kyle Broderick
    Students David Kihoro Sirengo, Chris Termunde, and Nisha Rokaya join Kyle Broderick at the Discovery Days booth in July 2024.
  • Plant pathology graduate and undergraduate students stand in front of a monitor, many of them wearing culturally significant attire
    Students show off their attire at the 2024 International Food Night
  • Students stand in front of bowling lanes holding bowling balls
    Students were joined by PPGSA Faculty Advisor and Plant Pathology Department Head, Dr. Loren Giesler, for a round of bowling in Spring 2023
  • Students smile for the camera in a conference room during a lunch meeting
    Students were joined by Dr. Brett Lynn at the recent October 2024 Student Engagement Lunch hosted by PPGSA
  • Students sit in a half circle around a table, each holding ice cream
    Students gathered in the UNL Dairy Store for an ice cream social in early 2023

The Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association provides educational and social activities for students interested in plant pathology.


Objectives and Purpose:

  • Provides educational, leadership, and extension opportunities and training outside of the classroom.
  • Stimulates interest in plant pathology among university students.
  • Fosters a spirit of cooperation and mutual helpfulness among students, faculty, and staff.
  • Provides an opportunity for wider acquaintances with the general public and activities of other divisions of the American Phytopathological Society
  • Be of service to the university, department, other students, and the general public.

Membership: All undergraduate students and graduate students who are interested in plant pathology are invited to join the PPGSA.


Officer Roles:

  • President: Schedules and presides over the meetings of the PPGSA and communicates club activities to the department.
  • Vice President: Assumes responsibility of the President in case of their absence; coordinates and directs the activities of all Special Committees of PPGSA.
  • Treasurer/Faculty Engagement Coordinator: Maintains and reports on financial records, transactions, expenses, and income for the PPGSA; facilitates student/faculty engagement lunches.
  • Secretary: Records and files records, reports minutes, maintains correspondence, and chairs committees involving document revisions and amendments for the PPGSA.
  • Social Chair/Social Media: Manages PPGSA social media accounts, works with other officers to plan and advertise PPGSA events.
  • GSA Representative: Attends a GSA meeting monthly, practices governing procedures involving graduate students at UNL and collaborates with the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska Senate, officers, and committees on issues affecting the entirety of the University’s student body.
  • Faculty Advisor: Serves as an advisor to the graduate student organization.

Officer elections are held late in the spring semester for all positions except for that of the Faculty Advisor. 

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