Executive

The GSA Executive are elected in the winter term from amongst the graduate students at the University of Waterloo. The term of office begins May 1, and ends on April 30 of the following year. Click here for information about elections.

The GSA Executive receive financial remuneration which is meant to preclude the need to spend excessive time on TAing or other jobs. These values are publicly posted here.

The executive also maintain the Executive Procedures of the GSA.

President
Hassan Nasir

The President is the head of the GSA, and the chief representative of graduate students when interacting with the University and other external organizations such as the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. To this end, the President sits on many high-level committees such as the Senate and Board of Governors of the University of Waterloo, and co-chairs the Graduate Student Relations Committee with the Associate Provost, Graduate Studies.  Internal to the GSA, the President is the chair of the Board of Directors, the governance body that oversees financial and corporate matters of the GSA.

Hassan Nasir is in the third year of a PhD program in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He came to Waterloo in the fall of 2006 to start his Master’s degree. He became involved with the Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate Student Association (CE2GA) as Vice President, External and represented his department in the Graduate Student Association (GSA) as a councillor. His love for student politics and the desire to work for graduate students motivated him to become more involved with the GSA. Hassan became at-large director, Vice President of Operations and Finance of the GSA for 2009-2010 and President of the GSA for 2010-2011 and Vice President External for 2011-2012.  He likes to visit and explore new and beautiful places, play snooker, swimming and enjoys good food.

Vice President, Internal
Mahdi Safa

The Vice-President Internal oversees all financial aspects of the GSA and the Grad House.  The VP Internal’s responsibilities include the preparation of the annual budget and managing the 4 Corporate financial funds,  co-managing the FEDS/GSA Health plan and managing the GSA Dental plan, Chair of the Policy & Bylaw Review Committee, the GSA Council and the GSA General Meetings.  The VP Internal will initiate an annual review of the GSA Official Positions.

Vice President, Communications & Events
Malwina Mencel

The Vice President Communications & Events acts as the Secretary of the GSA for the purposes of the Ontario Corporations Act.  VP CE responsibilities include the publication of events and other important information to UW Graduate students on the GSA Website, through regular emails and through the GSA e-news, and the publication of the GSA Annual Report.   The VP CE maintains the list of recognized graduate student organizations and oversees the GSA Donations to graduate departmental societies/associations and Clubs. The VPCE assists the CRO and DRO with GSA Elections and Referenda procedures and oversees the technical aspects of the elections/referenda.

Vice President, Student Affairs
Robbie Henderson

The Vice President Student Advocacy strives to be aware of issues of graduate student concern of a non-academic that affect the quality of student life.  Issues include, but are not limited to, student services, health and safety, student activities and funding.  The VP Student Advocacy has oversight responsibilities of the Graduate Student Housing Committee,  the Gender and Family Issues Committee, the Graduate Funding Committee and the  International Graduate Student Committee.  The VP Student Advocacy represents graduate students on a number of UW Committees, the Joint Health and Safety Committee, the Student Services Advisory committee and the Grad Student Support Advisory Committee.

Vice President, External Michael Makahnouk

The Vice President External is responsible for media relations and communications and is the primary delegate of the GSA to the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA).  The VP External  interprets the GSA by-laws and policies, the Ontario Corporation’s Act and Robert’s Rules of Order, and advises the Executive, Board or Council when required. The VP External oversees the administration of the GSA Upass.  The VP External chairs the Audit Committee, the External Affairs Committee and the UPass Contract Review Committee. The VP sits on the GSEF Board of Directors, Student Technology Advisory Committee, Pandemic Planning Committee, Student Life Centre Management Board External/media relations.

Michael Makahnouk is a  Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences.  He is a past president (2005-06) and more recently completed two terms as At-Large Director (2009-11) and is the past President (2011-2012.  Michael is committed to improving the student experience at the University of Waterloo.  When not focusing on research and the GSA, Mike spends time helping students and his family.

*******************************************

The following people have served as Executive since the GSA formed the current structure.  The italicized name was the President.

• 2011-2012: Michael Makahnouk, Mahdi Safa, Joshua Armstrong, Krista Mathias, Hassan Nasir
• 2010-2011-Hassan Nasir, Umar Shafique (resigned March 18, 2010), Mike Makahnouk, Cristina Ribeiro, Allaa Hilal, Mohamed AbdElrazik
• 2009-2010-Jonathan Aycan, Hassan Nasir, Graeme Turner, Ray Zou, Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
• 2008-09 – Craig Sloss, Michele Heng, Michael Kani, David Pritchard
• 2007-08 – Ian MacKinnon, Maria Trainer, Craig Sloss, Christina Boucher
• 2006-07 – Marek Ratajczak, Maria Trainer, Beatrice Orchard, Fatima Kakal
• 2005-06 – Mike Makahnouk, Jennifer Hunter, Beatrice Orchard, Joe Mikhael
• 2004-05 – Nadir Budhwani, Kelly Byers, Manju Chandran, Simon Guthrie, Jennifer Hunter
• 2003-04 – Simon Guthrie, Justin Wozniak, Candace Newman, Angela Garabet, Kelly Byers, Shabnam Ivkovic
• 2002-03 – Shannon Puddister, Justin Wozniak, Angela Garabet, Simon Guthrie
• 2001-02 – Sabesh Kanagalingam, Marc Aucoin, Andreanne Bouchard, Ben Youn
• 2000-01 – Bill Bishop, Tim Lahey, Angela Kyveris, Sabesh Kanagalingam
• 1999-2000 – Jason MacLean, Daniel Piche, Stephanie Faint, Tim Lahey
• 1998-99 – Peter Wood, Daniel Piche, Lara Varpio, Jason MacLean