Graduate Student Advisory Council Members

Meet the members of the Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC).

Derek Lough

Doctoral student in Teaching and Learning (he/him)

I am a second-year doctoral student in the School of Teaching and Learning at Illinois State University. I am currently fulfilling a pre-professional graduate assistantship with the newly established Illinois Tutoring Initiative aiding the facilitation of a $25 million grant using federal COVID-19 relief funds in support of the Governor's Office, Illinois Board of Higher Education, and Illinois State Board of Education high-impact tutoring initiative.

I completed my fieldwork at the Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy before earning my Master’s Degree in International & Multicultural Education from the University of San Francisco a few years after my Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at Wabash College. I've previously completed contractual work with Northwestern University and Johns Hopkins University at the intersection of civic engagement education and youth development. Prior to coming to ISU, I volunteered as the Policy Director for the Young Democrats of Illinois and organized a mutual aid group in McLean County.

Today, I volunteer my time as a member of the “Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals” Working Group for The Forum on Education Abroad and as a United Nations Publishers Compact SDG Fellow when I'm not researching climate justice education for my graduate school studies. I enjoy spending time at the Rec Center, attending Zoom conferences worldwide, and trying not to ruin new recipes in the kitchen. You can often find me at the Bone Student Center and are encouraged to approach me to discuss your graduate school experience here at Illinois State University.

Email dlough@ilstu.edu

Sayanti Mondal

Doctoral student in English

Hello, my name is Sayanti Mondal, a fourth year Doctoral student in the Department of English Studies focusing on transnational literature. I'm excited to work and contribute as the new GSAC member to the Institution!

Email smondal@ilstu.edu

Maryna Teplova

Doctoral Student in English

I am a PhD student and Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Department of English. Prior to becoming a grad student at ISU, I’ve been teaching English as EFL at Dnipro National University in Ukraine for 22 years. I am alumna of US Department of State programs in the areas of American Studies and civic education: New York University (2007); California State University, Chico (2004). I have presented at a number of conferences and delivered professional development seminars for EFL teachers in Ukraine. As Fundraising Director at NGO New Vision (Dnipro, Ukraine), I have also been involved in civil society activity, in particular, debate and other educational projects implemented by NGO New Vision with the support of the US Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, and the US Department of State. As an international student (and, probably, the only Ukrainian grad student on campus), I would like to promote projects involving cultural exchange, multicultural events on campus, as well as contributing to the betterment of graduate programs at ISU. On a personal note, I love cooking and playing the piano, as well as spending time with my baby granddaughter in Ukraine.

Email mteplov@ilstu.edu