Elections Candidates

Brittany is a Registered Nurse with a background in pediatric and adult critical care and has recently transitioned to a more formal management role in healthcare. She holds a Master of Nursing degree through Athabasca University and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree through AU as well. Through her MBA studies, she hopes to gain the necessary skillset to be an effective manager in a healthcare environment. Through her role as Vice-chair for AUGSA this past year, she played an active role in advocating for meaningful changes for graduate students and in her time on Council, was most proud of seeing graduate tuition fee freezes and helping bring forward graduate student concerns to faculty councils. Through Brittany’s professional role as an RN, she is well-versed in respectfully and professionally advocating for changes that will have a meaningful impact for the individuals involved. She has a passion for education and would love the opportunity to represent AU graduate students again this year as an AUGSA Council member.

• Sunny is a courageous and passionate researcher and leader who helps organizations solve complex problems and achieve difficult goals, with successful global experience with SMEs, large global enterprises and organizations, governments and public institutions.
• He is currently a doctoral candidate at AU, researching the application of AI and ML technologies to strategic problem solving and decision making.
• Professionally, he is an enterprise architecture and strategy prime in the office of the Chief Technology and Information Officer at Bell Canada.
• Organizations trust Sunny to provide strategic and operational direction that enhances their capabilities, growth and profitability through innovation and competitive out-performance, while mitigating risks.
• Sunny is an inventor or co-inventor on 23 patents globally.

Hello, folks; my name is Pamela Ferguson, and my pronouns are she/her. I’m a graduate student in the Master of Counselling Program at Athabasca. I find myself so inclined to advocate and chat with strangers that I’m making it my career! My life in Edmonton is winding down for my final year in my program. I’m leaving an intense full-time job and trading to a part-time position to better focus on school, practicum, and hopefully your needs as AU graduate students. I’m running for student council to lend some of the skills I’ve developed professionally working with young people and survivors of trauma. A decade of work experience in non-profit organizations developed patience within groups facing conflicting mandates. I’ve been privileged in travel opportunities and have experienced graduate school abroad. My AU journey started almost five years ago when I registered for undergraduate courses in psychology because I wanted to keep learning. My candidacy is driven by a passion for seeking the perspectives of others and finding creative solutions within rigid systems.

You can view my platform at https://pnferguson4.wixsite.com/my-site-2 with full details starting March 3^rd.

Hello, my name is Sarrah Ahmed and I am running to represent the Faculty of Health Disciplines. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Saskatchewan and I am currently enrolled in the Master of Counselling program at Athabasca University.

 Over the past few years, I have gained experience in supporting and advocating for students. At the University of Saskatchewan, I was the fundraising coordinator for the Saskatoon Psychology Students Society (SPSS). My position entailed planning fundraising events for SPSS, helping plan events for psychology students, and answering psychology students’ questions about the psychology program and SPSS. I was also a Peer Health volunteer, which entailed providing mental health support to staff and students who needed it. Lastly, I was a student representative for Athabasca University at the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) from 2022 to 2023. Together with my own experiences as a student, these positions provided me with the opportunity to learn about educational barriers faced by students from different walks of life and different ways to support students. I would be honoured to be a source of support and advocacy for Athabasca University students throughout their journey to success.

My fellow graduate students,

I intend to be your liaison and represent any of your concerns at Council meetings, the University, and/or the Government. I have a BA in Concentrated Psychology from Laurentian University, which I studied through Distance Education. It was during that time I learned about human memory. I also realized I aspired to be an educational researcher. I was thrilled to be accepted to the Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education program at Athabasca University. I look forward to applying what I learn to Distance Education, Human Memory, and Serious Games research. It will be an honour to serve my constituency.

Best Regards,

Dave Roy

Welcome (nno)!

I am a mum, writer, researcher, author of anthology Child of My Mother (2015), public speaker, fundraiser, community builder, multi-lingual Nigerian Canadian, and a member of the Governing and Nominating Committee of the Canadian Author’s Association. As a daughter of intellectuals, writers, and educators, I was born into a world of books, intellectual debates, chalk boards, dusty bookshelves, newspapers, Alighieri, and Achebe. I am Igbo. My name “Thank-Great-spirit” (Kenechukwu) is a prayer from my mother, thankful for my birth after six sons.

Having withdrawn from my University of Saskatchewan PhD English program in 2018 (to care for my newborn), I restarted my studies via MAIS focusing on Canada and the North, seeking a deeper knowledge of Canada based on my lived experiences in Saskatchewan, NWT, Alberta, and Yukon. Prior to Canada, I was an Assistant Professor of English (University of Calabar) soon after obtaining a Master of Arts in English (University of Lagos). As a young professor, I advocated within faculty circles for the needs of students to whom I was a rallying point.

I live in the beautiful town of Whitehorse. I love writing, the outdoors, deliciously spiced bison steak, and playing with my beloved daughter.

Gagan graduated from the University of Alberta with a BSc in Computing Science and a minor in Political Science. During his undergrad, Gagan got involved with various groups focused on scientific outreach and literacy aimed at junior high and high school students and got involved in student governance. Gagan enjoyed teaching and scientific communication and was fortunate to become a teaching assistant for students with disabilities. He has also received a research certificate in biomedical research due to his extensive research efforts during his undergrad. He has previously held developer positions at companies such as Genetec and General Motors. Currently, through his master's program at Athabasca University, Gagan is focusing on leveraging Machine Learning models to help create adaptive learning and practicing systems to aid both educators and students alike. In the future, he plans to stay involved in student governance and continue into a PhD program. He hopes to engage more graduate students in AUGSA and promote programs and initiatives to help students find funding for their programs.

Paul Ackah embarked on a journey of growth and opportunity when he migrated to Canada in 2009. My academic foundation started at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, I pursued a degree in Computer Engineering from 2001 to 2004, honing my experience in the tech industry.

In December 2022, I embarked on a new academic pursuit, commencing his Master of Science in Information Systems, further enriching my knowledge base. Demonstrating my commitment to community engagement, I volunteered with AUGSA from October 13-15, 2023, showcasing my dedication beyond academia.

With a passion for education and advocacy, I will be a voice for graduate students in Athabasca University and beyond, pushing for assess to affordable education and the various tools and parameters which they will need to advance their education, keeping in mind the challenges graduate student facing combining education with challenges in family, workplace, and their business.

Additionally, I am a student member of the following professional associations such CPA, APEGA, and ISC2 indicating my commitment to professional development and adherence to industry standards. Through my multifaceted involvement in education, volunteering, and professional affiliations, I will continue to make significant contributions to my field and community in Canada.