Milan Rosen
Co-President - I am very excited to self-nominate for the co-president of the EGSA role! As a leader, my skills focus on networking and fostering true heartfelt discussion amongst peers. Despite only being a first year in the GEM MSc program, I have managed to deepen bonds with and between my peers, and assist in the creation of warm, welcoming spaces that grad students can feel comfortable and at home in. As such my passions, and the strengths I will bring to this role, revolve around hearing the voices of grad students, building strong and real connections, and developing a sense of community at Waterloo. This is the dream I have for our Waterloo campus, and I believe that the EGSA can make this dream a reality.
Prishaa Rajalathan
External Communications Chair - My background in coordinating outreach, developing educational content, and managing digital communications aligns perfectly with the responsibilities of the External Communications position.
My experience as a Summer Programming Assistant at Let's Talk Science and Volunteer Lead has equipped me with the skills for effective external outreach and event marketing. I am proficient in crafting and disseminating information to diverse audiences, having developed workshop content, managed national program delivery, and coordinated outreach visits. This directly translates to the role's need for External Affiliates Outreach and Event Marketing via Emails.
Furthermore, in my roles as President of the Applied Life Sciences Club and Peer Wellness Educator, I was responsible for maintaining vibrant and timely communication channels. I frequently updated members and the wider student body with announcements and event details, which required the same diligence and promptness needed to maintain the EGSA email and update the website.
My experience with Compass North Clinical Outreach involved assessing community needs and developing tailored workshops, honing my ability to craft targeted and relevant content. This, combined with my experience in scheduling, documentation, and client relations at ABA Toronto and I.D.A Pharmacy, has instilled in me a strong sense of meticulousness and organization essential for crafting and distributing monthly newsletters and ensuring a smooth flow of information.
I am confident that my blend of practical communication experience, technical skills in content development, and proven commitment to collaborative outreach make me a strong candidate to contribute to your team.
Yimeng Wang
Events Director - During my master's studies, I spent six months as a visiting student in GEM, Which allowed me to deeply appreciate its inclusive academic atmosphere, vibrant community culture, and supportive interactions between faculty and students. I was truly inspired by this environment and am eager to contribute actively to our own community.
In the past, I organized Earth Day initiatives—including item swaps and plant adoption events—to promote environmental awareness. I also coordinated research sharing seminars to facilitate academic exchange across disciplines. My goal is to create an enjoyable and relaxed environment where students can share research experiences and promote the idea of sustainable development.
Hayley Tong
GEM Representative - I am running for the GEM Representative position to continue strengthening the connection between faculty and students within the GEM Department. Having served as Academic Representative and GEM Representative in the Waterloo Association of Geography Students (WAGS) during my undergraduate degree, I gained extensive leadership experience advocating for student voices, coordinating events, and fostering collaboration across the department and among students.
Through these roles, I developed strong communication and organizational skills, from hosting town halls, 'Meet the Fizzam', and career workshops to liaising with faculty on academic concerns in both formal and casual settings. I understand the value of transparent and two-way communication between students and faculty, especially when addressing academic concerns, research support, and professional development. I will contribute to EGSA by ensuring student input is actively collected and represented at faculty meetings to guide meaningful academic improvements.
I am deeply passionate about fostering an inclusive and supportive graduate environment where every student feels heard and valued. With my background in academic representation and community leadership, I am confident in my ability to serve as a strong bridge between GEM students and faculty. By strengthening collaboration within our department, I hope to enhance both the academic and social experience of GEM graduate students and ensure our voices play a meaningful role in shaping the direction of our program.
Rebekah Kim
GEM Representative - Hi everyone! As the GEM representative, I’d love to get more involved in our Environment graduate community and help other students feel more connected, as well! During my undergrad, I was part of the Planning Students’ Association as a Merch Coordinator and Social Media Manager, so I know how important it is to keep students engaged, make sure they’re heard, and include them in decisions. As I’ve done both my undergrad and now my Master’s here at UW, I know my way around the Environment faculty and UW in general pretty well, so please feel free to reach out if you ever have questions! I’d like to help organize fun events, share helpful resources, and do my absolute best to make sure we have the best grad student experience possible!!
Bashirah Salami
SEED Representative - Other than being incredibly curious about how you all truly experience grad events, I want to enter this role to make sure you are championed at department meetings. I take great notes in real time so getting your thoughts down to then bring up later at meetings is my secret superpower.
This is my first year in SEED as a Masters Student. Before this, I worked as a project manager, and before that my undergrad was spent at UBC getting engineering students together to drive environment initiatives (#Engineers for a Sustainable World). Along the way, I would often tweak how program events were run as feedback poured in so that eventually everyone felt comfortable to engage in a way that felt gratifying.
Fast forward to now: My mission should you choose to accept me will be to help TA’s voices get to the right ears and prevent event feedback from disappearing into a void. Plus, I solemnly commit to sliding GIFs into as many surveys as I am allowed to—because GIFs make everything better.
Nathaniel Leung
Co-President - Howdy! My name is Nathaniel, I’m an MSc student in Geomatics, and I’m putting my name forward for co-president of the EGSA.
I've been through phases of being on student bodies and also not really caring about them at all, so I know what it's like to be on both sides. I have a ton of experience leading events, engaging with the community, and actioning items that are important for students. However, I also know the frustrations of not being able to stay updated on important events/info and feeling really disconnected despite 100 irrelevant weekly emails.
As a volunteer with Scouts Canada for over 15 years, I regularly work on leadership teams to curate weekly programs designed for the goals of the collective. I've planned, organized, and executed over 200 events, including galas, fundraisers, and community service events, so you know I host some killer socials. As someone who has been working with the federal government for the last 3 years, I've also learned to efficiently navigate the bureaucratic hellhole and implement important policies that have been demanded for decades.
In short, I am the people's people, I host sick events, and I "get stuff done". It'll be rad 😎.
MJ Mast
Internal Communications Chair - I am a strong believer that great university experience is built on the community you cultivate. Because of this, I am excited to run for the role of Internal Communications Chair. As chair, I will be the first line of connection between the EGSA members and important events that foster inclusion, networking, and community building. I believe I have the skills to perform this role including organization, graphic design, and clear communication. In my previous roles as both Arthur B McDonald Summer Fellow at my undergraduate university and as a Program Assistant at Loving Spoonful, I have gained a deep understanding of graphic design and communication principles through community engagement and events marketing across diverse local populations. As internal communications chair, it will be my goal to both keep members well informed as well as working closely with the community to relay what type of events, workshops, and other news they’d like to hear from the EGSA. I want to make sure all voices in the community are heard, and that everyone feels welcomed, informed, and supported in our graduate school experience.
Sheridan Hill
Social Chair - As a first-year graduate student, I am applying to this role as I am seeking an avenue to build connections with my fellow graduate students from the faculty of environment and play a role in supporting the greater environment graduate community. I believe I could be a great candidate for social chair, as I am interested in organizing events that allow graduates to connect with their greater graduate community and provide an avenue to take a break from the day-to-day stresses of being a graduate student. I am interested in building new relationships with my fellow graduate students and would hope to contribute to running more events that the graduate community is looking for, whether these be academic opportunities or social breaks. It can be challenging for graduate students not to feel overwhelmed or isolated, and I feel that building a community here with peers can play a significant role in reducing stress and improving student well-being. As graduate students, we have a lot going on, and I hope, as social chair, that I can help facilitate events that provide students with much-needed breaks. Although I am new to UWaterloo as a graduate student, I also studied at UWaterloo as an undergraduate in the Department of Biology. While here, I was co-president of campus compost and found this role very fulfilling and in many ways, my time as a club exec is what led to much of my involvement in the Environment faculty and contributed to my decision to study in the faculty for my masters. In this role, I organized many events as well as a team of volunteers, and I feel that this experience could really guide me in this role. All in all, I am very excited for the opportunity to be a part of the EGSA team and look forward to chatting more!
Rose Simard
GEM Representative - As the GEM representative to the EGSA I would work to listen, communicate and have an open minded and proactive approach in my role. In my previous role as treasurer and subsequently Vise-President of the Environment Club at my undergraduate university, I lead and organized events, communicated with faculty and worked to make student’s voices heard. I think it is important to be present and attentive to current affairs in the student community and provide opportunity for open dialogue so that opinion, concerns and issues can be addressed promptly and effectively. My experience has helped me to see the impact that an active student society can have in improving the academic experience. I would love the opportunity to have an active role in fostering a vibrant student community, particularly advocating for students in GEM. I am passionate about what I study and I am also always eager to learn about the wide variety of work within the geography field here at UWaterloo.
Hemera Xianyu Li
GEM Representative - I’m running for student representative because I care deeply about building a supportive, inclusive, and high-functioning learning community. Throughout my academic and professional experiences—from public policy work to climate change research—I’ve seen how thoughtful representation can bridge gaps, strengthen communication, and make everyone’s voice feel valued. I want to bring that same commitment to our program.
I believe I’m a strong candidate because I listen actively, communicate clearly, and work collaboratively. My background in public administration and legislative analysis has trained me to understand diverse perspectives, navigate complex issues, and advocate effectively on behalf of others. I’m comfortable engaging with faculty, raising student concerns, and translating feedback into practical solutions.
If elected, I will prioritize transparency, timely communication, and creating opportunities for students to be heard—whether through surveys, open conversations, or structured feedback channels. Most of all, I will work to ensure that every student feels supported academically, professionally, and personally.
I’d be honoured to serve as your representative and to help shape a positive, responsive learning environment for us all.
Sim Sitzer
SEED Representative - I’m running for the position of SEED Representative to EGSA to bring about just and equitable representation for all SEED students. Whether you are pursuing a research degree in sustainability management, or if you are undertaking one of our school’s unique professional course-based master’s programs, you deserve to have your voice heard within EGSA and within the university community more broadly.
I am pursuing the Master of Development Practice, and it’s been a privilege to study alongside my wonderful classmates and colleagues. I also had the opportunity to meet many other environment students at the Environment Graduate Conference this past September.
My candidacy is rooted in progressive values. We need people at the table who will call out greenwashing initiatives or unethical international and corporate partnerships whenever they may arise so that we can achieve truly just and ecologically forward programs and initiatives. You also have in me someone who will stand in solidarity with our academic workers, whether they be TAs, RAs, or Sessional Instructors: I stand with the workers of CUPE Local 5524.
In solidarity,
Sim Sitzer