When Ridhi Bhola, a fourth-year PhD student in immunology, pathology and infectious disease, worked with the UNMC Graduate Student Association (GSA) the past two years, she felt there might be a disconnect between grad students who worked in the Durham Research Center towers, and the western end of campus, and those who worked east of 42nd Street in the pharmacy labs.
So as the new GSA president for the 2026-27 academic year, she put together a survey. And the results confirmed her suspicions.
There was no rivalry. But they did feel like disparate groups. Distance meant distance.
As GSA president, Bhola felt the organization’s first directive was clear: “To create a big umbrella for all graduate students to come and be a part of,” she said.
Or put another way, “A more collaborative environment,” she said.
She said GSA plans to work with “small organizations” on campus – for example, the International Student Association and Campus Against Cancer – and use them as convenors, bringing people together. Joint events and activities will help with promotion, turnout and resources, “which are currently short everywhere,” Bhola said.
The graduate student survey revealed that students are looking to GSA for information and opportunities in professional development, mentoring and networking. With so many working so hard in the lab, “they want to learn about more than just the lab,” Bhola said.
Some are interested in outreach efforts. And the 2026-27 GSA will continue to reach out to the next generation, keeping collaborative partnerships with the UNMC High School Alliance and with Morton Magnet Middle School and its affiliated Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands after-school program.
GSA has planned an icebreaker with CAPS (UNMC Counseling and Psychological Services) and a meet-and-greet with UNMC Graduate Studies, which has a handful of new leaders and staff this year.
And, there will be fun, including a Halloween party and a paint and sip activity.
But no matter the event, the underlying theme is building a graduate student community across campus.
“This is the only association on campus by grad students and for the grad students,” Bhola said. “No faculty.
“You can come talk to us about (anything) and we can help you,” she said.