GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL

President: Makayla Harden

Makayla "Mkay" Harden, born and raised in West Philadelphia, is a second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) at Villanova University, where she also earned her bachelor's degree in Italian Studies with a minor in Psychology. As an undergraduate, she directed two social justice documentary films, Mestre Guga and Peaking Through the Sand, studied abroad in Bologna, Italy, and became a three-time published author in Writing In Tongues. Outside of the classroom, Mkay is an independent recording artist who uses her creativity to connect with others and has a lifelong love for animals and various cuisines. Passionate about storytelling, advocacy, culture, and building community, she strives to use her voice to inspire change, empower others, and create a lasting impact through servant leadership and public service.

VP of Communication: Ashon Calhoun

Ashon Calhoun is a second-year graduate student pursuing a master's degree in communication. He earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Penn State Harrisburg. Ashon works in digital marketing and communications and is also a researcher, photographer, and visual storyteller with interests in social justice, representation, and community-centered storytelling. He served for seven years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant and working in public affairs and visual communication. Ashon is passionate about creating opportunities for students, strengthening graduate student engagement, and using communication to help build stronger communities. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a PhD in Communication and continue his work as a researcher, educator, and visual storyteller.

VP of Social Activities: Prottoy Roy

Prottoy Roy is a second-year student in the MS in Environmental Science program. Originally from Bangladesh, he earned his undergraduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning, where he was actively involved in student organizations, volunteer initiatives, and social work. His strengths in team building, management, and leadership were developed through leading multiple student organizations during his undergraduate years. Before pursuing graduate studies in the United States, Prottoy gained over three years of professional experience in the manufacturing, research, and public engagement sectors. In his free time, he enjoys watching and playing sports, particularly soccer, cricket, and badminton. Since moving to the U.S., he developed an interest in strategic board games. Prottoy is passionate about innovation in problem-solving and aspires to build a career developing meaningful, sustainable, and impactful solutions to real-world socioecological challenges.

VP of Finance: Kimberly Bonhomme

Kimberly Bonhomme is a Lehigh Valley native and a second-year Masters student in Biology researching cancer immunology. She holds a bachelor's degree in Biology with a Biomedical Engineering minor from Carnegie Mellon University, alongside professional experience in the pharmaceutical industry & education space as an AP/STEM tutor. Kimberly brings extensive financial leadership to her current role, having previously managed a $1.3 million annual budget for CMU's Student Senate Finance and Joint Funding Committees. As VP of Finance, she looks forward to actively promoting togetherness across the Villanova graduate community. Outside the lab, she runs a massive online pop music community, where she loves debating album rollouts and discussing which artists are in the Khia Asylum.

VP of Community Outreach: Jessie Roncevic

Jessie M. H. Roncevic is a second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Biology. A native of Florida, she graduated from the University of North Florida, where she conducted her undergraduate research in wetland ecology. At Villanova University, she is focusing on mangrove ecology and is part of the WTFEET project. She is a researcher and scientific illustrator who pairs her scientific expertise with a background in painting, theatre, music, and writing. Outside of the lab and the studio, she enjoys reading, watching movies and visiting forests to connect with the environments she studies. Committed to sustainability and community engagement, she has extensive volunteering experience working with plants, animals, children, and outreach initiatives. She also designed and created an urban food forest based on permaculture principles and founded the Traveling Magic Seed Library, a community project dedicated to distributing free seeds. 

VP of Academic Affairs: Skylar Livengood