Ryan Wicklund (he/him)
President | gpsspres@uw.edu
Ryan is a second-year MPA student at the Evan’s School of Public Policy and Governance. Ryan began his student government journey as the Speaker of the Senate for the Associated Students of the University of Washington Tacoma where he also served on the SAF committee for the Tacoma Campus. As GPSS President, Ryan is determined to help postgraduate students and ensure their voices are heard at all levels of the university and beyond. In his free time, Ryan trains with the Boxing Team at UW, exercising both mind and body to take on greater challenges. He also enjoys cooking and exploring world cultures.
Juan Andres Contreras Mora (he/him)
Vice President of Internal Affairs (VPIN) | gpssvpin@uw.edu
Juan Andres Contreras Mora is currently pursuing his Master of Health Administration (MHA). Originally from Colombia and raised in Texas, he earned his B.S. in Marketing from Trinity University. Passionate about healthcare equity, Juan aims to incorporate patient education and empowerment into healthcare marketing strategies. He is excited to serve as VP of Internal Affairs, where he looks forward to building a strong, inclusive community and planning fun and engaging events for all.
Annika Peterson (she/her)
Vice President of External Affairs (VPEX) | gpssvpex@uw.edu
Annika is an MPA student at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, focusing on Analysis & Evaluation and Public Finance & Budgeting. She earned her undergraduate degrees from Washington State University, where she studied political science and criminal justice. Last year, Annika served as the GPSS Senate Director, which helped spark her involvement in student advocacy. She is excited to continue building on that experience and looks forward to representing UW’s graduate students this year! Outside of school, Annika enjoys hiking, reading, and exploring Seattle.
Pavandeep Josan (he/him)
Vice President of Equity and Inclusion (VPEI) | gpssvpei@uw.edu
Pavandeep is a Fulbright scholar and a second-year MA student at the Jackson School of International Studies, where he is studying South Asian Studies. He is from the United Kingdom and received a BA in History from the University of Exeter in 2022. As VP of Equity and Inclusion, Pavandeep is committed to ensuring that GPSS advocates for a respectful and inclusive environment for all graduate students at UW. He is passionate about advancing social mobility, especially for first-generation graduate students. Outside of college, Pavandeep has had professional experience in the world of policymaking. He worked for the UK Government as a policy advisor at the Department for Education between 2022 and 2024. He is also a huge sports fan and enjoys watching rugby and cricket.
Maitri Karia (she/her)
Vice President of Administration (VPA) | gpssvpadmin@uw.edu
Maitri is pursuing her Master’s degree in Digital Marketing at the Communication School. She holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, where she led the university’s primary student governance body. She is deeply committed to building environments where students can discover their passions, build meaningful connections, and develop professionally and personally. Driven by her belief in storytelling’s transformative power, Maitri has explored diverse roles including theatre artist, assistant film director, management trainee, and UX consultant. In her spare time, she enjoys pursuing spiritual practices and reading autobiographies.
Riley Talamantes (she/her)
Vice President of Finance (VPFB) | gpssvpfb@uw.edu
Riley is a second-year MPA student at the Evan’s School of Public Policy and Governance, where she is studying public finance, budgeting, and environmental policy. She was raised in Boise, Idaho and attended the University of Wyoming on a collegiate debate scholarship, where she double majored in Political Science and Gender and Women’s Studies. Riley was the former President of her undergraduate student government and is eager to bring her knowledge and experience to GPSS. As VP, she is eager to explore new avenues of funding, collaborating with the UW foundation and alumni association, and advancing initiatives related to graduate student affordability and funding. Riley enjoys live music, reading sci-fi books, paddleboarding on the lakes, and spending time in the sun with her friends and family.
