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, farmworking 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 serves as co-signatory with the President. They will keep GEU financial records secure, accurate, and up-to-date including making quarterly reports on the budget to the membership and the Executive Board. They will communicate with committee chairs regarding their respective budgets. They are responsible for receipt and disbursement of all GEU funds and tracking of purchases and reimbursements. This includes 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.

Interested in joining the Treasury Committee? Reach out to treasurer@pdxgeu.org

Cassandra Croft (she/her) – Vice President for Collective Bargaining

Cassandra is a Physics PhD student working on physics education research & curriculum development. Her goal is to become a professor someday, as she loves teaching and showing students that queer women can succeed in this field. She began working with the union in early 2021, and after observing the Bargaining process that spring she knew she wanted to work on fighting for rights and compensations that graduate employees are due. In her free time, Cassandra loves baking, reading fantasy scifi and queer novels, and spending time with her kitty Rosie (short for Rosemary). As VP of Bargaining, she’s driven to discover the needs of other graduate employees and works to find solutions. Interested in the Bargaining process or how to support the process? Send her an email at bargaining@pdxgeu.org

The Vice President for Collective Bargaining is responsible for leading the bargaining process and serving as Chair of the Bargaining Team. They chair or designate a representative to chair the Labor Management Committee. As part of bargaining they oversee and coordinate the monitoring, investigation, and research on relevant issues for bargaining sessions. They work with partners and affiliates for 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. Want to join the bargaining team or have an ideas about our next Collective Bargaining Agreement? Have questions or want to nominate yourself for this position? Contact bargaining@pdxgeu.org

Bethani Turley (she/her) – Vice President of Operations

Bethani is a third year PhD student and GRA in geography studying the politics of energy transition in the rural US. Before moving to Portland from West Virginia in 2020, Bethani worked in urban farming, and folklore and traditional arts. She joined GEU during her first year at PSU and served as a geography department steward, then as VP of Membership in her second year. Bethani looks forward to continuing as VP of Operations for 2023-2024 to provide the organizational support for GEU. Reach her at operations@pdxgeu.org

What does the VP of Operations do for 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. They keep accurate membership records and are custodian of the GEU seal, charter, and constitution and bylaws. They ensure that GEU paperwork is up-to-date and assemble the Voting Committee when necessary.

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, among other tasks. The VP of Communications manages and approves (or delegates approval of) official external communications (e.g. press releases, media statements, official reactions/statements) to ensure that they are consistent with GEU messaging and comply with GEU communication policies/priorities, except in the case of urgent communications and bargaining updates from the President or VP of Collective Bargaining. They are the Communications Committee chair and coordinate GEU internal and external outreach efforts, to facilitate timely and coherent communications to members. 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.

Nicole J. (she/her) – Vice President for External Relations

What does the Vice President for External Relations do?
The VP of External Relations chairs the External Relations (Solidarity) Committee and coordinates with other locals, including PSU-AAUP, PSUFA, SEIU, GTFF, and CGE. They and the President are responsible for originating correspondence between the GEU and its affiliate organizations or other external organizations (not including the University or its agents). They assist with the organization of other graduate employee unions, with support from the VP for Organizing and they assist the VP of Politics in establishing and maintaining contact with external political organizations. Have questions or want to nominate yourself for this position? Contact external.relations@pdxgeu.org

Vacant – President
Want to get involved with GEU or have questions? If so you can reach our information line at info@pdxgeu.org

What does the President do for GEU?
The president presides over GEU meetings. They report to membership on the status of the union and major executive board decisions. They are a member of all GEU committees and co-signatory with treasurer on all investments and accounts controlled by GEU. They act 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, and will notify the membership within forty-eight (48) hours of any action.
The president will be the first point of contact for internal review, and shall lead all internal review process unless they are the member under review. And they will serve as backup and/or provide support for Grievance Officers, Stewards, and the VP for Organizing in grievance proceedings.

Vacant – Vice President of Politics
Do you have questions about politics GEU monitors or do you want to join the Political Action Committee? Email info@pdxgeu.org

What does the VP of Politics do for GEU?
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 endorsement requests and leads the endorsement process. Additionally, 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.

Vacant – Vice President for Social Engagement
The VP of Social Engagement is in charge of scheduling and planning our General Membership Meetings once a term as well other events through out the year to bolster union culture and engagement. To nominate, ask questions or learn more contact info@pdxgeu.org