The External Affairs Committee is the outreach hub of Northeastern’s Graduate Student Government (GSG). Each term we visit every college orientation, giving clear, practical snapshots of how GSG funding, events, and advocacy can back new Huskies from day one. Our reach goes well beyond Boston: we link global campuses—Silicon Valley, Seattle, Oakland, Arlington, Portland, and others, through joint programs and shared resources. Closer to home, we represent Northeastern in the Boston Graduate Federation (BGF) with Harvard, MIT, BU, Tufts, UMass, and BC, making sure our graduate voice is heard in city-wide conversations. We act as GSG’s link to other local universities, opening doors for collaborative projects and meaningful exchanges.

Inside the university, External Affairs serves as the gateway between GSG and the colleges. We team up with faculty and staff to run networking nights, career panels, and mixers that link students with professors, alumni, and industry professionals. When other GSG portfolios such as Academic Affairs, Programs & Operations, and more, need connections to companies, alumni, or partner campuses, we make the introductions and open doors. Our signature event, the Graduate Masquerade Ball, draws hundreds of graduate students for an evening of connection, celebration, and community. Through these efforts, External Affairs links people, programs, and campuses so graduate ideas turn into real-world opportunities.

Hardi Manish Shah, Raghavendra Prasath Sridhar, Arun Kumar Rayudu, Praveen Ancha, Gautam Raju, Abhinav Tyagi, Venkat Sri Kousthub Nallanichakravarthula, Nithin Bhat

College Orientations

• Ensure that representatives from all nine colleges participate in upcoming orientations.
• Use a clear, slide deck that explains how GSG funds, events, and advocacy can help day-one, effectively communicating the role of the GSG as a vital resource for every student.

Global Campus Engagement

• Keep connecting Boston with Silicon Valley, Seattle, Arlington, Portland, and other NU sites through joint events and shared resources.
• Set up monthly virtual check-ins with global-campus leaders to swap ideas and needs.

Boston Grad Federation & Local University Outreach

• Attend every BGF meeting and update Northeastern grads on key city-wide issues.
• Co-host at least one multi-school panel with MIT, BU, and others.

Networking Events & Industry/Alumni Links

• Host Alumni Connect Week to bring together alumni and industry professionals for sector-specific panels, career guidance, and informal mentorship.
• Run mixers that bring students, faculty, alumni, and employers into one room.

Support for Other GSG Portfolios

• Share our contact list when Academic Affairs, Tech portfolios need guest speakers or global campus networks.
• Set up joint planning calls so portfolios can plug into existing external partnerships instead of starting from scratch

Signature Event: Graduate Masquerade Ball

• Host the annual ball each spring as a standout networking and social experience for 100+ graduate students.
• Secure venue and sponsors by fall, keeping ticket prices low through external funding.