Graduate Council

The Graduate Council is representative body responsible for formulating, reviewing, disseminating, and monitoring the implementation of policies and procedures concerning graduate education at North Dakota State University.

The Graduate Council is composed of :

  • Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies, ex-officio member
  • Graduate Council Chair (and alternate)
  • Two members from each academic college (5) either appointed or elected by the members of their faculty
  • One member representing the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary studies appointed by the Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Three faculty representatives appointed by the Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies
  • One graduate student designated or elected by the Graduate Student Council
  • One graduate student appointed by the designated or elected by the Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies

2026-27 Graduate Council Members

Member College Term Ends
Joel Hektner, Interim Dean College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies Ex-Officio
Mary Larson, Council Chair, Public Health
College Representative
Health and Human Sciences May 2027
Maria Alfonseca Cubero, Mathematics
Graduate Dean’s Appointment
Arts and Sciences May 2029
Marisol Berti, Plant Sciences
Graduate Dean’s Appointment
Agriculture, Food Systems & Natural Resources May 2027
Linlin Chai, Management and Marketing
College Representative
Business May 2029
Xinhua Jia, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
College Representative
Agriculture, Food Systems & Natural Resources May 2029
Buddhadev Layek, Pharmaceutical Sciences
College Representative
Health and Human Sciences May 2029
Lu Liu, Computer Science
College Representative
Engineering May 2029
Jeremy Mattson, Transportation and Supply Chain
College Representative
Business May 2027
Andrew (AJ) Myer, Criminal Justice
College Representative
Arts and Sciences May 2028
Sheela Ramamoorthy, Animal Sciences
College Representative
Agriculture, Food Systems & Natural Resources May 2027
Yildrim (Bora) Suzen, Mechanical Engineering
College Representative
Engineering May 2027
Changhui Yan, Genomics, Phenomics, & Bioinformatics
Graduate Dean's Appointment
Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies May 2029
Graduate Student Members
Anne Bjornson, Counseling
Master's Student
Graduate Dean's Appointment May 2027
Mahmuda Rahman, Communication
Doctoral Student
Graduate Student Council Representative May 2027

2026-27 Meetings

September 8, Peace Garden

October 13, Meinecke Board Room

November 10, Peace Garden

December 8, Peace Garden

January 12, Peace Garden

February 9, Peace Garden

March 16, Peace Garden

April 13, Peace Garden

May 11, Peace Garden

Additional Resources

Graduate Council By-laws

Review the by-laws

Affiliate Graduate Faculty (AGF)

Learn more

Graduate Teaching Waivers

Review Information