Dear Colleagues and Friends, 

It has been my pleasure to serve as the WHA-Graduate Student Caucus Chair for the last year. I enjoyed making new connections with grads from programs all across North America. I continue to work to make the WHA a welcoming and accessible conference for grad students. In April 2025, at the spring council meeting, I successfully lobbied the WHA Council to address structural issues which have negatively impacted the conference experience and voted to stop an increase in graduate student registration rates. 

Our team has accomplished so much in just one year! Abi, while researching in France, promoted the WHA and increased our organization’s visibility internationally. She organized the upcoming WHQ Zoom Workshop where grads will pitch their academic articles to the new WHQ Editor, Jared Orsi. Annie continues to grow the GSC’s social media presence with student spotlights and videos. Hailey revived the GSC Newsletter and worked to streamline the communication between graduate students and the WHA Office. Justin organized a diverse and intersectional panel on gender and sexuality in the west. David continues to fundraise to keep meals and social events at the WHA affordable. David has increased the amount of funds raised by almost 25% (technically 24%) compared to last year! We continue to receive support from some long term donors as well as adding another donor who intends to donate annually.

As we turn towards another year we welcome a new board. Abi Scott and Annie Delgado were both reelected to serve a second year as Vice Chair and Social Media Coordinator, respectively. We welcome Dale Mize as Outreach and Membership Coordinator and Matthew Beil as DEI Coordinator to the WHA Graduate Student Caucus board! 

Your 2025-2026 GSC Board:

Chair: Leah Cargin, University of Oklahoma

Vice Chair: Abi Scott, University of Kansas

Social Media Coordinator: Annie Delgado, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Outreach and Membership Coordinator: Dale Mize, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

DEI Coordinator: Matthew Beil, University of Kansas

Fundraising Coordinator: David Morales, University of California, Davis

I am looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones this fall in Albuquerque!

Best Regards, 
Leah Cargin
WHA Graduate Student Caucus Chair