Q&A with Graduate SGA President Kiera Tran

Seven years ago, Ngoc Thuy An “Kiera” Tran moved to the United States from Vietnam as a first-generation college student. Today, she's a Ph.D. candidate studying geophysical glaciology in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) – and president of Georgia Tech’s Graduate Student Government Association (Graduate SGA).

Tran campaigned for that role with a focus on student’s mental health and well-being, preparing grad students for life beyond college, and helping them navigate “one of their most important college relationships: the one they have with their advisor.”

Getting to know Kiera Tran
 

Can you tell us a little about your background?
Tran: I moved here from Vietnam about seven and a half years ago and barely spoke any English. But, I am not shy so I just kept trying to speak English to friends and people I would meet. I am also a first-generation college student, and my parents are low income. As an undergraduate, I worked three part-time jobs while also taking 19 to 21 credits a semester. There was no time to participate in any clubs or activities — but I hoped I might be able to as a graduate student. 

What made you decide to go to Georgia Tech? 
Tran: I’ve always been passionate about STEM, especially environmental sciences and engineering. Knowing Georgia Tech is the best institute in Georgia to pursue this major, I transferred here. (Also, a small inside joke in my family, my sister went to UGA, and I didn’t want to graduate from the same school!) 

Why did you decide to pursue a Ph.D. in geophysical glaciology? 
Tran: I transferred to Georgia Tech as a third-year student. I really want to become a professor, so I wanted my Ph.D. to obtain that dream. I have a fascination with earth science, and my focus is on studying melting glaciers in Antarctica using airborne radar. When I met my current advisor, Wing (Winnie) Chu, assistant professor in EAS, she was using ice-penetrating radar to study anything below the surface of the ice in Greenland and Antarctica. I found it fascinating and knew I wanted to stay with her and continue that work. 

How difficult is your course load as you pursue your Ph.D.?
Tran: Graduate classes are more concentrated and complicated than any of my undergraduate classes. I spend more time studying while also trying to balance the time for research. Even though it is challenging, I’m learning to manage all my tasks and excel in both studying and research. 

Why did you want to get involved with the Graduate SGA? 
Tran: First of all, I wanted to help enhance the experience of other students. As an undergraduate, I received a lot of help from faculty and staff, and I thought it was important to let other students know how supportive Georgia Tech is. So, when there was an email sent out by the graduate student government, I decided to apply.

The first year, I was the vice president of campus services. I was in charge of communicating students' concerns about anything student-related, like dining or housing situations. I realized I really enjoyed being involved and helping other students. I went on to become the executive vice president and now the president. 

How has your experience been thus far? 
Tran: I think because I’ve had the experience of serving in the cabinet the past two years, I was prepared for the work and the way the SGA operates. But, between planning events, understanding the initiatives, overseeing the cabinet and the ten committees, and trying to make sure we are more collaborative, it is still a lot of work!

The agenda for Graduate SGA
 

What are your main goals as president? 
Tran: My main goals focus on creating a more supportive and stress-free environment for graduate students. Many of the issues I want to address are related to student well-being. I think one of the biggest concerns facing graduate students is the sense of belonging. Students feel isolated because they don’t have a lot of interactions with their peers or even people outside their departments. One solution we’ve come up with so far is creating a program to pair incoming students with seniors so they can offer advice and a friendly voice. 

I also want to figure out how we can support students better financially. I’d love to create a program designed to help ease the stress of international students moving here, to an entirely different country. And, I also want to create a career and professional development program for graduate students. I think, sometimes, after spending two to seven years in the Institute doing research as a master’s student or Ph.D. student, you can lack the right skills to go into industry. We want to collaborate with the Career Center and offer a series of workshops to help these students with their resumes and interview skills.

Another big goal of mine as president is to help foster the advisor and advisee relationships. A student’s funding [can rely on this], but it can be hard for many international students. So we want to educate students about differences in cultures, how you can better work with your advisor, and assure the students that they have a right to benefits. 

Finally, a big issue is housing for graduate students, so we want to address that as well. 

Is it possible to achieve all those goals? 
Tran: It’s very possible. I have an amazing team. Each of us serving in the SGA has our own motivations and we are all in the positions we are in because of our strong desire to help and to serve. I’m very pleased with the caliber of talented and ambitious students involved in student government, who give their time and energy to help other students. 

Tips for success
 

With so much on your plate, how do you manage your time? 
Tran: I try to spend 60% of my time on my research and 40% of my time on SGA. I think that working such long hours as an undergraduate gave me resilience and helped me not get overwhelmed. I also communicate a lot with my advisor, and she supports me as I try to get everything done. 

It’s not easy though. I’m still learning how to manage everything all at once. Prioritizing important tasks helps me stay on track with deadlines, and I always make sure to ask for help when I need it. Having great people around me is an essential part of my life. I am surrounded by people who are thoughtful, respectful, and supportive of my decisions, so it makes things easier. 

What would you say to other Georgia Tech students with similar feelings and goals? 
Tran: I would say to make friends and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Academic life becomes so much more enjoyable when you share it with others. I think as Georgia Tech students, we are ambitious, and we tend to forget how much work we put into everything we do. I think it’s okay to feel proud of ourselves. I know that I always want to make my parents proud, and I like to acknowledge that I am proud of myself. And, as SGA President, I am going to do everything in my power to help other students.