def _process_json(data):
    """
    return a list of GradCommittee objects.
    """
    requests = []
    for item in data:
        committee = GradCommittee()
        committee.status = item.get('status')
        committee.committee_type = item.get('committeeType')
        committee.dept = item.get('dept')
        committee.degree_title = item.get('degreeTitle')
        committee.degree_type = item.get('degreeType')
        committee.major_full_name = item.get('majorFullName')
        committee.start_date = datetime_from_string(item.get('startDate'))
        committee.end_date = datetime_from_string(item.get('endDate'))
        for member in item.get('members'):
            if member.get('status') == "inactive":
                continue

            com_mem = GradCommitteeMember()
            com_mem.first_name = member.get('nameFirst')
            com_mem.last_name = member.get('nameLast')

            if member.get('memberType') is not None and\
                    len(member.get('memberType')) > 0:
                com_mem.member_type = member.get('memberType').lower()

            if member.get('readingType') is not None and\
                    len(member.get('readingType')) > 0:
                com_mem.reading_type = member.get('readingType').lower()

            com_mem.dept = member.get('dept')
            com_mem.email = member.get('email')
            com_mem.status = member.get('status')
            committee.members.append(com_mem)

        requests.append(committee)
    return requests
return a list of GradCommittee objects.