The Black Graduate Student Association is entering its next chapter and we're looking for the leaders who will build it.
BGSA is looking for its next generation of leaders. These are real roles with real impact, for Black graduate students at Carey, across Hopkins, and in the broader Black professional ecosystem we're actively building.
5 Roles · 1 Team · 100+ Students Impacted
Everything we build starts here.
We create the spaces Black graduate students at Carey don't find anywhere else. From monthly touchpoints to flagship events to the quiet consistency of knowing there's a table for you here.
We build bridges. To Black alumni. To faculty and staff. To professional organizations, corporate partners, and institutional resources that open doors before and after graduation.
Every cohort inherits what the last one built. We document, transition, and grow intentionally.
Not sure which role is right for you? Come talk to us. We're hosting open Zoom sessions where you can ask anything whether it's about the roles, the time commitment, what the job actually looks like day-to-day, or whether you're the right fit.
Note: Calendar invites will come from a non-Hopkins email.
Five roles. One Team. Each one owns a distinct piece of what makes BGSA run.
President
The President is the face and strategic engine of BGSA. You own the big picture including (but not limited to): the annual strategy, high-stakes institutional relationships, and the culture the board operates within. This role isn't about doing everything; it's about making sure the right things get done, by the right people, at the right time.
AS PRESIDENT, YOU'LL OWN:
YOU'RE A FIT IF YOU:
TIME COMMITMENT
BEST FIT PROGRAMS
VP, Finance
The VP of Finance keeps BGSA financially healthy and strategically funded. Beyond managing the budget, you're the one building toward long-term sustainability by identifying grant opportunities, leading school funding conversations, and advising the board on what's actually feasible. If fund development ever has a real home, it starts here.
AS VP FOR FINANCE, YOU'LL OWN:
YOU'RE A FIT IF YOU:
TIME COMMITMENT
BEST-FIT PROGRAMS
VP, Partnerships
The VP of Partnerships (formally, VP for Community) is BGSA's external face, and is cultivating and sustaining relationships with Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA), Society of Black Alumni (SOBA), and other Black Student Organizations (BSOs) across Hopkins, and corporate partners. You're the one who turns a good conversation into a formal relationship, and a formal relationship into real resources, programming, and visibility for BGSA members.
AS VP FOR PARTNERSHIPS, YOU'LL OWN:
YOU'RE A FIT IF YOU:
TIME COMMITMENT
BEST FIT PROGRAMS
VP, Engagement
The VP of Engagement owns the full member experience; from the first event a student attends to the community they stay connected to. You oversee events, marketing, and membership strategy, and you directly manage the Membership Chair. This is a high-visibility, high-output role best suited for someone who thrives on energy, creativity, and connection.
AS VP FOR ENGAGEMENT, YOU'LL OWN:
YOU'RE A FIT IF YOU:
TIME COMMITMENT
BEST FIT PROGRAMS
Chair, Membership
The Membership Chair is the heartbeat of BGSA's day-to-day community. The Chair handles content, comms, and the consistent touchpoints that keep members engaged. This role reports to the VP of Engagement and is designed to be Flex-student-friendly. If you're someone who's great at systems, staying consistent, and making people feel seen, this one's for you.
AS MEMBERSHIP CHAIR, YOU'LL OWN:
YOU'RE A FIT IF YOU:
TIME COMMITMENT
BEST FIT PROGRAMS
Everything You Need to Know Before You Apply
BGSA membership is open to all Carey graduate students who support our mission. Officer roles, however, are reserved for members who self-identify as Black or a person of color, consistent with our constitution.
BGSA membership is open to all Carey graduate students who support our mission. Officer roles, however, are reserved for members who self-identify as Black or a person of color, consistent with our constitution.
Some roles require or highly prefer regular in-person availability at Harbor East and/or DC due to the nature of the role itself.. The Chair of Membership is the exception however, as it is explicitly designed to be Flex-student-friendly and largely async. Check the individual role profiles for specifics.
Honest answer: it varies by role and by season. Budget 3–5 hrs/wk for lighter roles and up to 15 hrs/wk during event-heavy stretches. Every role profile includes a realistic average and peak estimate. We encourage you read those before you decide.
There's no hard rule against it, but we strongly encourage you to assess your bandwidth honestly. BGSA officer roles are substantive commitments, not ceremonial titles.
No. Incoming officers serve as Officers-Elect from election through May 2, 2026, with structured shadowing, access to our internal knoweledge base, orientation, and a transition dinner with our advisor before your term officially begins. You will not start from zero.
Yes. We're looking for leadership potential and relevant skills, not a specific resume format. Read the "Experience We're Looking For" section in each role profile and make your case.
You have options! You can:
(1) Reach out to the current BGSA Executive Board at bgsa.johnshopkinscarey@gmail.com.
(2) Reach out to the current BGSA Executive Board through our WhatsApp
(3) Join one of the office hours sessions being hosted in April.
We reviewed the curriculum of every program offered at Carey and matched programs to roles based on the skills and knowledge students are most likely to develop through their coursework.
That's ok! It's not a hard requirement, it's a starting point. If your program isn't listed under a role you're interested in, don't let that stop you from applying. The lists are a guide, not a gate.
