Virginia “Nia” Smercina is the manager and advisor for UNLV’s graduate student government, the Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA), housed in the Graduate College. She supports student leaders through governance advising, compliance and operational continuity, budget and financial process oversight, and administration of student funding and signature programs, including the GPSA Sponsorship Program, Cap & Gown Program, and the Annual Research Forum. Nia is also a doctoral student in sociology at UNLV, holds a B.A. in Anthropology from The Ohio State University, and an M.A. in Anthropology from UNLV. Her interests include institutions and governance structures, political economy, and the changing nature of work and mobility.