Meet your union representatives!
Alexis Guizar-Diaz – Treasurer and Interim President
Alexis Lisandro Guizar-Díaz (he/him/el) Alexis Lisandro Guizar-Díaz is a first-generation Chicano and proud son of immigrants from Michoacán y Nayarit, México. He hails from a working class, farm working background in the Columbia River Basin, being born and raised in Adams County, Washington. He graduated from Eastern Washington University and was chairman of el Movimento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MECh.A). He was also selected as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and is currently pursuing a doctorate in environmental sociology at Portland State University (PSU), where his research interests revolve around political ecology, rural and agrarian communities, water, agriculture, and Latinx populations. His most recent project examined the social and economic effects of groundwater depletion in the Columbia River Basin. Alongside his academic pursuits, Alexis is the treasurer for the Graduate Employees Union of PSU and Electoral Field Manager at Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), Oregon’s largest farmworker and Latinx working families advocacy organization.
His upbringing in a poor rural community has significantly shaped his work as both a scholar and activist. Committed to challenging oppressive systems and structures, he dedicates his work to enhancing the well-being of working people, striving to improve their quality of life, and advocating for the empowerment of fellow workers and students.
Alexis also serves as the Treasurer/Interim President of the Graduate Employees Union of PSU. He is also the Field department manager for Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), Oregon’s largest farmworker and Latinx advocacy organization.
What does the Treasurer do for GEU?
The Treasurer oversees management of all financial aspects of the GEU. The treasurer serves as co-signatory on our bank account with the President, and keep our financial records secure, accurate, and up-to-date. The Treasurer creates and maintains quarterly budgets and keeps the Executive Board informed of our financial information. The Treasurer creates and maintains a Treasury Committee to ensure all auto-payments and invoices are paid and are they are responsible for receipt and disbursement of all GEU funds and tracking of purchases and reimbursements, including the tracking and management of member dues and the payment of per capita dues to affiliates and coordinating the pooling of GEU funds for other forms of payment or donation. For more information about the Treasurer, check out this quick reference!
Interested in joining the Treasury Committee? Reach out to treasurer@pdxgeu.org
To nominate someone or yourself for this board role, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org
Amy Johnson (she/her) – Vice President for Collective Bargaining
The Vice President for Collective Bargaining is responsible for leading the bargaining process and serving as Chair of the Bargaining Team and delegate or chair the Labor Management Committee. As part of bargaining they oversee and coordinate the monitoring, investigation, and research on relevant issues for bargaining sessions. The VP for Collective Bargaining works with partners and affiliates to support bargaining as needed, including cooperation with AFT and other union affiliates. They are the liaison between the Bargaining Team and the Executive Board, and they coordinate and facilitate updates to the general membership on bargaining proceedings. For more information about the VP of Collective Bargaining, check out this quick reference!
Want to join the bargaining team or have an ideas or questions about our next Collective Bargaining Agreement? Contact bargaining@pdxgeu.org
To nominate someone or yourself for this board role, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org
Sloan Oakrest (they/them) – Vice President for Communications
VP of communications, Sloan Oakrest (they/them) is a second year Ph.D. student in Chemistry. They are focusing on the development of solar fuel to replace fossil fuels and mitigate climate change. Sloan is a parent of a young child and is very passionate about fighting for the equitable, healthy future that they know humanity is capable of. They feel the responsibility of being an activist in all aspects and are honored to be a part of the fight for the liberation of all peoples and the planet. They have a partner and two dogs and was a muralist in their KY hometown before they went back to school for chemistry. Reach them at communications@pdxgeu.org
What does the VP of Communications do for GEU?
The VP of Communications oversees all internal communications including the newsletter and social media. The VP of Communications coordinates and approves official external communications such as press releases, media statements, and official reactions/statements to ensure that they are consistent with GEU messaging and comply with GEU communication policies/priorities. The VP of Communications is the creates and chairs the Communications Committee. They serve as the “voice” of GEU, acting as the official spokesperson and the main contact for official communications. This position is vital to ensuring open and thorough communication between rank and file and the executive board. For more information about the VP of Communications, check out this quick reference!
To nominate someone or yourself for this board role, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org
Nicole J. (she/her) – Vice President for External Relations
What does the Vice President for External Relations do?
The VP of External Relations creates and chairs the External Relations (Solidarity) Committee and coordinates with other local unions, including PSU-AAUP, PSUFA, SEIU, GTFF, and CGE. They coordinate with the President to foster correspondence between the GEU and its affiliate organizations or other external organizations (not including the University or its agents). They coordinate with the VP of Organizing to support other graduate employee unions around the country, and they assist the VP of Politics in establishing and maintaining contact with external political organizations. For more information about the VP of External Relations, check out this quick reference!
To nominate someone or yourself for this board role for next year, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org
Vacant – Board President
While the President does not have any specific duties, they are the head and face of GEU both internally and externally and can shape their involvement to suit their interests. The president presides over GEU meetings, and coordinates with the VP of Communications to report major executive board decisions and the status of the union to membership. They are a default member of all GEU committees and co-signatory with treasurer on all investments and accounts controlled by GEU. The President acts as the first point of contact for internal review of board members, and provides backup support for grievance processes and proceedings.
The President acts as the official GEU representative at university and community events. In the case of an emergency, the president has the authority to act on behalf of the GEU. For more information about the President, check out this quick reference!
To nominate someone or yourself for this board role, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org
Vacant – Vice President of Operations
The VP of Operations is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the GEU. The VP of Operations keeps minutes at meetings or arranges for another attendee to do so. They issue notices and handle correspondence at the direction of the President, keep accurate membership records, and are custodian of the GEU seal, charter, and constitution and bylaws. The VP of Operations ensures that internal GEU paperwork and membership rolls are up-to-date, and assemble the Voting Committee yearly. For more information about the VP of Operations, check out this quick reference!
To nominate someone or yourself for this board role, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org
Vacant – Vice President of Organizing
The Vice President of Organizing supports our Stewards and organizing efforts for the GEU. The VP of Organizing creates and maintains an Organizing Committee in order to plan organizing actions and events, and maintains and trains a strong community of Stewards. For more information about the VP of Organizing, check out this quick reference!
To nominate someone or yourself for this board role, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org
Vacant – Vice President of Membership
The Vice President of Membership manages all aspects of new membership. They work closely with the VP of Organizing to coordinate outreach to potential members, organize attendance at PSU orientations, and generally encourage membership signups from the wider graduate employee bargaining unit. The VP of Membership supports the VP of Organizing in training and maintaining Steward relationships. For more information about the VP of Membership, check out this quick reference!
To nominate someone or yourself for this board role, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org
Vacant – Grievance Officer
The Grievance Officer creates and oversees the Grievance Committee in order to ensure a safe, confidential, and accessible grievance process. They oversee all grievances and maintain an understanding of our current contract in order to ensure that proper steps are taken to resolve issues of breach of contract or unfair labor practices from PSU. The Grievance Officer is a vital part of GEU’s fight to support our membership and see that your rights are respected. For more information about the Grievance Officer, check out this quick reference!
To nominate someone or yourself for this board role, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org
Vacant – Vice President for Social Engagement
The VP of Social Engagement is in charge of scheduling and planning GEU’s social meet-ups, meetings, and our General Membership Meetings once a term to bolster union culture and engagement. For more information about the VP of Social Engagement check out this quick reference!
To nominate someone or yourself for this board role, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org
Vacant – Vice President of Equity and Inclusion
The Vice President of Equity and Inclusion coordinates financial support for GEU members in need, oversees hiring of paid GEU support, and creates and oversees the Equity and Inclusion Committee. They research, create, and implement programs and projects to expand our equity and inclusion practices. For more information about the VP of Equity and Inclusion, check out this quick reference!
To nominate someone or yourself for this board role, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org
Vacant – Vice President of Politics
The Vice President of Politics monitors political developments relevant to the GEU, and engages and encourages member engagement in political action. The VP of Politics serves as the GEU delegate for local political matters and is the point of contact for local, state, and national endorsement requests and leads the endorsement process.
The VP of Politics serves as Chair the Political Action Committee and coordinates the Committee’s monitoring and research of local, state, and federal-level political and legal developments relevant to GEU, higher education, and labor rights in general. For more information about the VP of Politics, check out this quick reference!
To nominate someone or yourself for this board role, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org