The Graduate Student Association has appointed a new vice president of external affairs.

Naomi Hammonds, a graduate student in community health sciences, was elected to the role Nov. 7. Hammonds replaced now-former External Vice President Sonya Brooks, who will serve as the UC Board of Regents’ student regent for the 2025-2026 academic year.

[Related: UC Regents appoints UCLA graduate student Sonya Brooks as 2025-2026 student regent]

According to the GSA’s bylaws, when a member of the GSA Forum – the association’s executive board – resigns, a replacement is elected by the membership of the forum.

GSA President Noor Nakhaei did not respond to subsequent emails after responding to a request for comment.

Hammonds, previously the 2023-2024 president of the Undergraduate Students Association Council, said she wanted to continue to be involved with student government after graduating in May.

“Once it (her presidency) ended, I didn’t want my advocacy and service to end either,” Hammonds said. “After I graduated from undergrad, I immediately looked for ways to get involved with graduate students and helping support them.”

Hammonds added that she previously worked as an undergraduate teaching assistant, and that through that job, she quickly bonded with graduate students. Hammonds said hearing their perspectives prompted her to consider the similarities between undergraduate and graduate students’ needs.

Among these similarities are high housing costs and a need to improve habitability, she said, adding that some housing units have mold and pests. Hammonds said she plans to expand basic needs support for graduate students, especially to mitigate food insecurity.

Hammonds added that during her time as USAC president, she collaborated with members of GSA, including Brooks.

“I think it’s honestly a great group,” she said. “Being involved in USAC last year, I got to work closely with Noor and some of the other representatives.”

Brooks, a doctoral student in education and community health sciences, said she hopes GSA continues to provide resources and hold events for students.

[Related: Q&A: Sonya Brooks aims to be ‘voice for the voiceless’ as student regent]

Like Hammonds, Brooks said she aimed to improve graduate student housing during her tenure as vice president of external affairs. She added that she was able to secure a new property on Canfield Avenue for graduate student housing.

While Brooks said she is proud of her impact as external vice president, she added that she hopes her successor can feel empowered to pursue new goals.

“The piece of advice that I would give is chart your own journey,” she said. “You don’t have to follow in someone else’s footprints to be successful.”