Candidate Profiles: 2022-23 SMUSA Board of Directors Election

Compiled by Claire Keenan on behalf of the SMU Journal

Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the candidates and may not necessarily reflect those of the SMU Journal.

This article is intended to serve as a stable source of information regarding the 2022 SMUSA Presidential Candidates. This year, there are nine individuals running for the Board of Directors positions. The SMU Journal has reached out to all nine candidates and given them all equal chances to publish a campaign platform in this article. The candidates are listed alphabetically by last name.

Toni-Ann Bennett (she/her)

Toni-Ann Bennett (born December 1, 2000) is a 2nd year engineering student. She is an international student from the island of Jamaica. She enjoys listening to various genres of music and spending time with her family and friends. She is an active member of Saint Mary’s University Caribbean Society with vast expertise and managerial skills, while also assisting in the food room and working at the library. Her objectives and aspirations are aimed at being a better person every day, and she is determined to make her dream of becoming an auto-mechanical engineer. "The way we communicate determines the answer we get- Adam Dean," is her guiding concept towards governance. One of the most crucial parts towards excellent governance, in her opinion, is communication. She believes once you communicate positively you’ll receive positive feedback. Being in university, it is difficult to find student support for students, which is why she is inspired to serve on the board. The students are the driving force for her decision to serve on the board. She hopes to bridge the gap between students and SMUSA by assisting in the development of policies that will benefit them in the future. She believes in continuing to change like the dynamic environment. In working with other board members, she would inspire them, be an active listener to any concerns they might have and work tirelessly with them to solely benefit the student body.

Rishi Bhalla

No bio submitted.

Meghan Boudreau (she/her)

My name is Meghan Boudreau, and I am a second-year student at the Sobey School of Business. I am pursuing a double major in Finance and Human Resource Management & Industrial Relations, and a minor in Political Science.

I am motivated to serve on the board to advocate for students who face challenges they are unable to overcome by themselves. I want to ensure that every student receives the support they need to focus their time and energy on their academics at SMU.

I would love to improve and build on the current policies. The areas I would like to implement changes include advocating for a more sustainable academic environment, improving accessibility regarding mental health and disabilities for students, and more financial aid for international students.

The board of directors focuses on the long-term plans for SMU students. Many great policies are currently in place, however as society evolves, the needs of students are always changing. Improving and advancing the current programs surrounding mental health and disabilities is crucial in supporting future students. SMU has a diverse student body, and it is important to ensure that all students, and international students, have the proper educational funding. Finally, because the board of directors is focused on SMUSA’s future, we need to acknowledge our environmental impact and strive to becoming a more sustainable university.

Being a part of the SMUSA Board of Directors will give me the opportunity to work with a team to implement policies that will benefit all SMU students.

Ashish Ganapathy (he/him)

Hey there, I’m Ashish Ganapathy and I am running for BOD! Vote for me on Feb 16-17! My platform is built upon the values of sustainability, inclusivity, and accessibility. I have conducted a completely paperless campaign to show how committed I am towards these values! Check it out at @ashishxix and @voteashishganapathy on Instagram.

Making the transition back and forth from online learning can be challenging, so I would work towards making this smoother and accommodating for students experiencing difficulties through policy-making that enables greater access to online learning resources. I would also work towards making international students feel more at-home through inclusive and increased opportunities for participation, be it on-campus or online. Additionally, I would push for having extended access to online learning resources, even in a post-pandemic world, so that students always have the option to catch up on classes, attend from elsewhere, or even attend when sick. This would enable greater flexibility whilst also promoting sustainability in terms of reduced paper usage, for those who wish to do so.

As a first-year student, I have a unique understanding of the difficulties faced by other first and second year students. Such students could be included further in the student community and connected with seniors (in their field of interest) to combat the challenges of impersonal online semesters. This would help reduce feeling disconnected and remaining uninformed about student services, financial resources available, and so much more. Vote for me to bring this vision to life!

Alexis Keizer

No bio submitted.

Nikita Lakhanpal (she/her)

Hello Everyone! My name is Nikita and I am a Fourth-Year Undergraduate student pursuing a major in PGeo. Geology Honours with a minor in English Literature. I work as a Research Assistant in the Organic Geochemistry Lab, and I am also a Treasurer for D. Hope Simpson Geology Society. I have always been quite passionate about the environment, and I occasionally also volunteer for the Ecology Action Centre.

My reason for running for the Board of Directors candidacy is hugely owed to my vast experiences at SMU which have been motivating as well as challenging to me as an individual. I feel that student representation requires someone who is willing to listen and interact with the students and I know I can bring that to the table.

My platform is based on Equity, Student Advocacy and Creating a safer Community at SMU. We are all diverse people here at SMU, coming from different backgrounds and stories. Unlike Equality, I believe Equity would be more beneficial to the students because Equity recognizes that every individual has different needs and circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. When talking about Student Advocacy, I believe that sometimes the representation for students gets lost in translation. Every student at SMU deserves the chance to be heard and to feel like they matter and I'd like to be that voice to echo what you need. Lastly, my idea around creating a Safer Community at SMU has several different definitions, but they all come down to the idea that no matter what color/race/gender/pronoun you carry, YOU Matter. Your campus must be a safe space for every individual where you have the freedom to express your views uninterruptedly.

So, You and Me together, Let’s do just that!

Sorav Sogy

No bio submitted.

Francesca Southwell (she/her)

Francesca Southwell is a driven, enthusiastic and trustworthy first-year international student running for SMUSA Board of Directors. Having been born in Venezuela, raised in the Caribbean twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda, and traveled to countries spanning across three continents, she is a cosmopolitan at heart and seeks to continue to broaden her horizon, especially here at Saint Mary's University with the multicultural atmosphere it provides.

As a first-year, she will bring forth a fresh perspective to any lingering issues and will definitely listen to student concerns as she loves hearing what others have to say.

As a potential BOD, she currently aims to bring more awareness to not only SMUSA events, services and activities, but also to the student services available here on campus. In addition, with her campaign slogan of "Leading With Purpose", she looks to act not just for the sake of it, but with reason.

Back in her home island, she was the former President of Girl Up Antigua, is a member of the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Association, and is currently a part of the National Youth Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda. At SMU, she has volunteered with a local sorority off campus, volunteered on-campus, and has joined the SMU cheerleading squad as well as the Toastmasters club, so you will definitely see her around!

In closing, Francesca is someone with drive, enthusiasm and is certainly trustworthy. Once she puts her mind to it, she will work to do her best, and in this case, do her best for the students at Saint Mary's University.

Thomas Waithe

No bio submitted.

As students, we have the unique ability to have a direct say in who is our voice when advocating for students’ needs. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the candidates’ platforms before you vote and check out our articles on the presidential platforms and a general overview of the election process.

You are still able to vote until 5pm on Thursday, February 17th so be sure to do so here!