President
Clay Michael Awsumb
Clay Awsumb is a doctoral candidate in sociology, a life-long Illinois resident from Belleville, and SIU alumnus with a B.A. and M.A. in sociology from SIU Edwardsville. Clay researches and theorizes power, resistance, culture, governmentality, and structural violence. His dissertation explores the formative roles of community organizers’ attitudes, beliefs, and values in community mobilization, organization, action, and politics. As a graduate assistant at SIUC, Clay has taught courses in the sociology department and served as an officer in the Graduate and Professional Student Council.
Email: gau.siuc@gmail.com
Vice President for Membership
Steven Gear
Email: membership.gau.siuc@gmail.com
Vice President for Communication
Peter Owens
He/Him
Peter is a PhD candidate in Philosophy and his research focuses on race, intersectionality, and whiteness in America. He received his MA in Philosophy from Loyola Marymount University and his BA in Religious Studies from Huntington University. He grew up in Indianapolis and is currently in his second stint in southern Illinois after living in Los Angeles for four years. He is passionate about teaching, umpiring youth baseball and softball, and playing old video games.
Email: gau.siuc@gmail.com
Secretary/Treasurer
Leroy T. Jones III
Leroy T. Jones, III is a graduate of the College of Business and Analytics with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management with a specialization in Healthcare Enterprises and a minor in Healthcare Management. This summer 2021, Leroy will pursue a dual degree in the Master of Health Informatics and Master of Health Administration programs which will position him to obtain his dream of opening multiple clinics and hospitals in underserved communities. Throughout Leroy’s college tenure, he has been involved in various registered student organizations and leadership roles such as:
- Saluki Ambassador (Senior Ambassador)
- College of Business & Analytics Ambassador
- Student Programming Council (Social Media Director, Homecoming Director, and Executive Director)
- Young Alumni Committee
- Student Alumni Council
- Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
- College of Business & Analytics Peer-2-Peer Mentor
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. (President & Vice President)
- Undergraduate Programming Committee
These organizations and positions have equipped Leroy with many skills such as leadership, integrity and flexibility while providing service back to the university and student body. Leroy’s passion for the student body has driven him to continue involvement on and off campus where he can be an advocate for students and some help in the community.
Email: gau.siuc@gmail.com
Steward Council Chair
Alex Lockwood
He/Him
Alex Lockwood is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Communication Studies. He received his M.A.from Southern Illinois University, and his B.A. from Georgia College and State University. He is involved with SIU’s Kleinau Theatre, the Student Communication Organization, and edits the graduate research journal Kaleidoscope: A Graduate Journal of Qualitative Communication Research. His academic interests lie in performance studies, rhetoric, and environmental communication. His current research explores the performances enacted within ecovillages, and the communicative processes involved with establishing alternative communities.
Email: gau.siuc@gmail.com
Grievance Officers
Anna Wilcoxen
They/Them
Anna is a PhD candidate in Communication Studies. They are originally from a small, mostly blue collar farming village in northern Illinois. They have undergraduate degrees in Theatre and Communication Studies, and are currently focusing their studies on socioeconomic class, performance studies, the Midwest, and gender. They also really love dogs.
Email: grievance.gau@gmail.com
Adedeji Disu
Email: grievance.gau@gmail.com
