2024/25 Executive Candidates

UMGSA 2024-2025 Executive Nominations

See below for a list of executive profiles. The candidates names are listed below in alphabetical order by first name and are sorted by the position they have applied for, with their slate name in bold. The election takes place solely online and you will receive a link in your University of Manitoba email account that will connect you to your ballot.

President & Senator:

Christopher Yendt (Education, PhD), Experience

Vice-President Academic & Senator:

Harshani Nadeeshani Vidana Hewage (Food Science, Ph.D), Experience

Oyomikon Jakpa (Business Administration, Masters), Synergy

Ritesh Kumar Yadav (Plant Science, Ph.D)

Vice-President External & Senator:

Albert Boakye (Education Ph.D), Experience

Anh Pham (Business Administration, Masters), Synergy

Vice-President Finance and Administration:

Armin Aghajani (Electrical Engineering, Ph.D), Experience

Vice-President Services and Support:

Timilehin Oluwajuyitan (Food Science, Ph.D), Experience

President & Senator

Christopher Yendt (Education, PhD), Experience

Hello Bisons!

My name is Christopher Yendt (they/him) but you can call me C! I am a PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Education where my research explores queer student mental health and leadership within post-secondary education. I am running for re-election as your UMGSA President because of my passion for improving graduate student life, and my experiences in student government.

Throughout my post-secondary education, I’ve been involved in student government. As an undergraduate student at Brock University (Vice-President, Finance and Administration, Board Chair and nine term council member), a graduate student (two terms as GSA VP, Finance, three as GSA President, as well as Board Chair), and institutionally having served six years on the senate of my alma mater and three years on their Board of Trustees.

Since joining the graduate student community at UM I’ve served as VP, Finance for the Education Graduate Students’ Association (EdGSA), UMGSA Councilor, ERC Co-Chair, and most recently as your 2023-24 UMGSA President, jointly serving on both UM’s Senate and Board of Governors. These experiences have furthered my passion for leadership and transformation, and the collective journey the UMGSA has embarked upon.

Last year our team campaigned on bringing a Vision to the UMGSA, a vision to redefine the trajectory of the association following the COVID19 pandemic. Our team has done incredible work this year, we’ve restructured our executive team and planned succession for our staff, while increasing partnerships across campus, sourcing new opportunities for graduate students and pivoting to a return to in-person. With many more projects well under way I am looking to build on our collective Experience to continue this momentum for 2024-25.

What does Experience mean? What does it look like? My platform for President & Senator is focused around three key pillars:

External Advocacy – Connecting UMGSA with new provincial and federal partners to address the challenges facing our graduate students, and using our voice as the only GSA in Manitoba to make sure graduate concerns are heard and addressed. We’ve re-established the role of Vice-President, External to help build on our wins, such as the announcement of the return of provincial healthcare access for international students. This means direct lobbying at all levels of government to improve the graduate experience for students, their families and friends.
Internal Transformation – Completing efforts underway to increase organizational capacities around what services we provide and how advocacy is prioritized within the UMGSA. To achieve this, we will grow our capacities, through additional staff and a fully realized executive transformation that will position UMGSA for success over the next decade. We complete and launch our first strategic plan, providing a roadmap for the organization that connects and reflects other long-term plans across campus.
Strategic Partnerships – Continue intentional and focused partnership development, whether that be strengthening with existing partners or new relationships, such as our growing partnership with Postdoctoral Fellows with the aim of increasing our voice on campus. We will look to establish new relationships to help our advocacy efforts alongside exploring new opportunities for services that would benefit graduate students. Creating relationships that are sustained year over year takes time, energy, and a focused understanding of our needs, goals, and capacities, ones I believe that position us well leverage our team’s expertise.

I believe that serving as your 2023-24 UMGSA President has given me the Experience and insight necessary to complete the work necessary to position the UMGSA for future success, to continue to advance the interests of graduate students and collectively improve the graduate student experience. If you want to learn more, please reach out. I would love to chat! I hope you’ll consider voting for me, and for Experience. On March 18^th and 19^th Vote to Re-Elect Christopher Yendt as your UMGSA President & Senator!

Vice-President Academic & Senator

Harshani Nadeeshani Vidana Hewage (Food Science, PhD), Experience

My name is Harshani Vidana Hewage (Harshani), a Ph.D. student at the Department Food and Human Nutritional Sciences. My Ph.D. work focuses on using novel and eco-friendly methods to extract high-purity protein ingredients from legumes and their functionality modification, which may improve sustainability in the alternative protein industry. My bachelor’s and master’s degrees are in Food Science from Sri Lanka. During my undergraduate and graduate studies, I have been active in several leadership positions in different associations.

Campaign Goals:

1 . Organizing and coordinating academic events such as workshops, seminars, and conferences to actively encourage all graduate students to have excellence in research, teaching, and scholarship.

2 . Providing adequate service and support to more graduate students in financial need by prudently screening them in every department and faculty of the university.

3 . Providing advocacy, leadership, and coordination to ensure excellence in academic programs, assisting in expediting the academic functioning of the university on behalf of graduate students, and promoting positive and strong relationships among academic units, faculty, and graduate students.

Oyomikon Jakpa (Business Administration, Masters), Synergy

Hello BISONS, my name is Oyomikon Jakpa, you can call me Oyo. I am an MBA candidate at the Asper School of Business with a background in Sales, Marketing, and Education. I hold a Bachelors and Masters in Communications Engineering from Nigeria and the UK respectively.

Over the past 15 years, I have served voluntarily within various student communities as an Instructor, Career Coach, and Policy advisor, where I collaborated with the stakeholders to organize relevant workshops, seminars, policies advisory, and funding for students.

My compass for leadership is founded on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion which I am passionate about and has also been pivotal in my success story. In this role, I will leverage my experience of successfully leading diverse teams with student communities to serve you in the most reward way.

Campaign Goals:

1 . Improved Funding Opportunities:

Gain additional sponsorship from new corporate partners via academic and industry-relevant events, fireside chats, and panel discussions.
Leverage on Canadian Alliance of Students Association (CASA) to get funding from the government.
Harness financial support from the alumni community.
Provide relevant financial literacy programs.
Match available funding to student profile.

2 . Student Advocacy and Support:

Work with student departments and association leaders across campus to address concerns promptly and work closely with academic advisors to implement necessary changes.
Develop a comprehensive Academic Advocacy Program that actively seeks input from graduate students.
Raise awareness of all relevant student support on campus

3 . Foster Stakeholder Collaboration:

Implement regular town hall meetings and focus groups to understand the diverse academic concerns of students.
Conduct surveys and town hall meetings to gather input on academic policies. This will enable me to relate to your ongoing concerns and prioritize them accordingly. (Communication and Collaboration between Students and the University)
Present outcomes of the stakeholders’ meeting to the decision-makers at the University. iv) To ensure accountability, I will speak to you directly via town halls, social media platforms, and other digital communication channels to reach a wider audience.
Setup an online platform for anonymous reporting to encourage feedback and suggestions.

4 . Accelerate Academic Engagement via Workshops and Speaker Series:

Organize need-based panel discussions, and workshops by leveraging the value within the graduate community and industry leaders during the Speaker Series.
Improved flexibility in scheduling activities, to accommodate diverse student needs, including both on-campus and virtual participation options.

I am not just your candidate; I am YOUR ADVOCATE, YOUR VOICE, and YOUR PARTNER in shaping the future of our academic journey. Vote OYOMIKON for SYNERGY.

Ritesh Kumar Yadav (Plant Science, Ph.D)

Hi! I am Ritesh Kumar Yadav (he/him/his), a PhD candidate in Plant Science ( Crop Genomics and Plant Breeding) and an international student from Nepal at the UofM. I am passionate about improving the academic journey and overall experience for graduate students at the UofM. With a diverse experience spanning NGOs (Program Officer/Budget manager), INGOs (Program manager), and academia in both student (President – Nepalese Agriculture Student Liaison Forum, Vice-President – University of Manitoba Plant Science Graduate Student Association (UMPSGSA), Volunteer/Orientation Ambassador/Panelist speaker/Student Mentor –International Center (UofM), Student Ambassador – Tribhuvan University (Nepal) and staff’s leadership roles (Tenure Faculty and Student Career Advisor at Agriculture and Forestry University (Nepal), Advisor and Volunteer – Nepal Red Cross Circle, I bring a unique perspective to address the challenges graduate students face at different stages.

Campaign Goals:

1 . Enhanced Academic Support:

Collaborating with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.
Developing tailored workshops and events for professional growth.
Advocating for policy changes at Senate meetings, focusing on systemic issues.
Securing targeted subsidies for essential software access.
Initiating a survey to identify demand for travel awards, and negotiating for increased opportunities.

2 . Fair and Adequate Stipend:

Conducting surveys among graduate students, gathering data on living costs, and presenting evidence-based arguments for stipend revisions.
Advocating for clear stipend guidelines within each department, leveraging U15’s collective efforts.
Collaborating with student associations across universities to share successful advocacy strategies.

3 . Increased Representation and Enhanced Advocacy:

Ensuring representation in university decisions by attending Senate and Student Senate Caucus meetings.
Preparing comprehensive Senate Reports and strengthening communication channels.
Strengthening advocacy efforts on academic issues and university policies, collaborating with UMSU in research and policy development.

Vice-President External & Senator

Albert Boakye (Education Ph.D), Experience

I am a PhD student in the Faculty of Education. I have worked as a Policy Analyst with the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba for the past 6 years. I was formerly involved in the GSA during my masters and served on several committees such as Joint Discipline Committee, Joint Senate Committee, Awards and Campaigns Committee, I recently Co-Chaired the UMGSA’s External Relations Fund.

I volunteer on several campaign issues on healthcare, immigration, and transitional support for newcomer families in Winnipeg. I have experience working in diverse groups in pushing policies and programs to support students’ needs and programs. My ultimate interest is to serve the graduate student body to ensure funding support, reinstatement of healthcare needs for international students and pushing policies to support international graduate students’ work transition. I am also interested in pushing policies to ensure students best practices as well as improving alumni relations.

I am an open-minded individual with a practical approach to problem-solving and seeing things to completion. I am passionately driven to serve graduate students in diverse ways to enable them to enjoy their educational journey in UM.

Campaign Goals:

1 . Strengthen relations and support on immigration and healthcare issues for international graduate students. Step: Engage the Minister of Immigration at both federal and provincial to deliberate on immigration and healthcare reforms to be sell-suited for international students.

2 . Liaise with provincial and municipal authorities on housing for graduate students. Step: Engage with University officials, provincial and municipal authorities to deliberate and find solutions to illegal rooming housing and the entire housing challenges for students.

3 . Build partnership with the Minister of Education to improve graduate students funding support. Step: Engage with Canadian Alliance for Students Association, Minister of Education etc. to continuously push for funding supports for graduate school education.

Anh Pham (Business Administration, Masters), Synergy

Hello graduate students,

I am Anh Pham, currently pursuing my M.B.A at Asper School of Business, and I am thrilled to put myself forward for the Vice President External & Senator position at UMGSA Election this year.

Throughout my academic journey, I have been deeply involved in student engagement and advocacy within the university and external organizations, driving positive change in creating various employment opportunities for students. Drawing from my experiences as a leader in the Vietnamese Student Association and as a Brand Ambassador at KPMG, I have had the privilege of representing student interests in various forums, engaging with government officials. My passion lies in driving positive change by creating diverse employment opportunities for students, advocating for better policies that benefit all students’ career potentials, ultimately contributing to more job creation in both government and the professional financial industry for students.

I intimately understand the challenges encountered by both international and domestic students, and I am dedicated to ensuring our voices are heard. By building collaborative partnerships with universities, alumni, and other reputable organizations, I tirelessly advocate for the resources and diverse job opportunities that each student deserves. Additionally, I take a proactive approach in addressing key issues facing graduate students, such as affordable housing, tuition fees, mental health support, and access to funding and resources, through initiatives like appeals, petitions, and organizing events that fostering meaningful connections and opportunities for academic and professional career growth. Together, let’s join hands to build meaningful connections, drive positive change, and create a future where every graduate student not only survives but thrives. Together, let’s embark on this journey, united in our vision for a stronger, more supportive UMGSA community. I sincerely appreciate your kind support. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am more than happy to have a chat with you.

Campaign Goals:

1 . Enhancing External Relations and Advocacy

Lead efforts to speak up to address key issues facing graduate students, such as affordable housing, tuition fee, mental health support, and access to funding and resources.
Strengthen strong partnerships/collaborations with external organizations and relevant stakeholders, including government bodies, businesses, and community groups, to advocate for better resources, support, and employment opportunities for graduate students, ensuring graduate student voices are heard and enhancing students’ academic and professional experience.

2 . Improving Networking and Alumni Relations

Organize events, workshops, and seminars that facilitate meaningful connections between current graduate students and alumni, creating tangible opportunities for graduate students to expand their networks and access valuable resources for their academic and professional growth.
Collaborate with the university’s alumni to develop and implement strategies aimed at enhancing networking opportunities and mentorship programs tailored specifically for graduate students.
Advocate for the allocation of resources to support initiatives that strengthen alumni relations, recognizing the significant role alumni play in supporting and mentoring the next generation of graduate professionals.

3 . Advocating for Policy Changes and Program Enhancements

Work closely with the university administration, faculty, and relevant committees to review existing policies impacting graduate student experience, identify areas for improvement, ensuring their academic and professional success within the university community.
Collect feedback and insights from the graduate student body to identify areas for improvement and propose policy recommendations to the university that promote inclusivity, accessibility, and equity for all graduate students.

Vice-President Finance and Administration

Armin Aghajani (Electrical Engineering, Ph.D), Experience

Hello, fellow students! I am Armin, and I am running for the Vice-President of Finance & Administration role. Building on my previous experience, I am eager to share my two primary goals for the upcoming term:

1. **Continuing Last Year’s Goals**: I am committed to stabilising the financial status of graduate students through Provincial insurance coverage. This initiative remains a top priority, as it is vital for ensuring that all students have access to the province’s health support and resources without paying for them.

2. **Enhancing Efficiency in Utilizing UMGSA Financial Resources**: A key focus will be helping graduate students benefit more effectively from UMGSA’s financial resources. Revising departmental student associations, especially those less active after the pandemic, will achieve this. By doing so, we can ensure a more equitable and impactful distribution of resources across different departments and groups.

My commitment is to work tirelessly towards these goals, ensuring that our association remains responsive, inclusive, and supportive of every graduate student’s needs.

Vice-President Services and Support

Timilehin Oluwajuyitan (Food Science, PhD), Experience

Hello graduate student!

My name is Timilehin Oluwajuyitan (Timi). I want to say thank you for your support and votes in the 2023/2024 University of Manitoba Graduate Student Association (UMGSA) election. I am a PhD student of the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences. My PhD work focuses on extraction and purification of proteins and peptides, which may serve as health promoting nutritional tools to remedy diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney failure and dementia (Alzheimer’s).

I have interacted with students on different platforms seeing the challenges encountered daily. Therefore, I am channeling my experience in student leadership to create an enabling environment by organizing different workshops and social activities to make our daily academic pursuit easier. As a team player, good listener, and communicator, be rest assured of effective service and support to all graduate students.

The 2023/2024 term achievements include: UMGSA Meet and Greet Pizza Day/ Orientation lecture; sharing of over 200 PC gift cards ($100 each) to graduate students to celebrate the holiday/ new year; Mental Health Workshop; Halloween/ Pumpkin calving competition; UMGSA awards for graduate students including full time/ part time students; free-tax clinic in both Fort Garry and Bannatyne Campus; and a collective Gala night by UMGSA and HSGSA; Recognition/Ratification of four new clubs to make international graduate students interact/ communicates in units that makes them feel at home. We have an on-going initiative program such as the Food Poverty Program Initiative to reduce the cost of food and groceries on the campus.

Furthermore, if elected, an inter-faculty football match among other social activities will be implemented.

Campaign Goals:

1 . Organization of more social and academic workshops to improve overall graduate student experience.

2 . Soliciting for more welfare package for graduate students to reduce the high cost of living for graduate students.

3 . Student advocacy to ensure smooth academic experience for all graduate students within and outside the University.