People profiles

Yessenia Guerrero

President

Term of office: 2022–2025
(2023–24 president)

Pronouns: she/her

"At its core, I believe the UWSA should defend, protect, and advocate for staff. We should be the ones dealing with the concerns voiced by our members. We should be working collaboratively with the University to make important changes that will improve our working environment on campus. I want to encourage our staff to be involved within the association so that we can hear the voices within our community. I hope to see our association grow and with everyone’s support, we can build a better workplace."

Read Yessenia's full profile.

Lisa Habel

President-elect

Term of office: 2023–2026
(2024–25 as president)

Pronouns: she/her

"I wanted to get more involved and give voice to those who felt they weren’t being heard. I hope to make an impact and ensure staff is being treated equitably across campus and recognized for all we do. We are the backbone of the institution."

Agata Jagielska

Past president

Term of office: 2021–2024
(2022–23 as president)

Pronouns: she/her

"I am motivated by meaningful work and eager to help advocate for our staff. Helping people is my passion and it is extremely rewarding."

Read Agata's full profile.

Gitanjali Shanbhag

Chair (2024–2026)

Term as director: 2023–2026

Pronouns: she/her

“The voices of the BIPOC community need to be amplified and I am here to advocate for and be the voice of my community. I am dedicated to instigating positive change for our staff contending with unfair workplace challenges. This commitment entails ongoing learning, promoting awareness, and championing the cause of our staff, aligning with UWSA's strategic priorities.”

Read Gitanjali's full profile.

Sara Perkins

Vice chair (2024–25)

Director term of office: 2022-2025

Pronouns: she/her/they

"I have always been a vocal advocate for safer and healthier work conditions, physically and psychologically. I want to make the University a better place for ALL workers, and represent the needs of neurodivergent staff."

Read Sara's full profile.

Kathy Becker

Secretary (2024–25)

Director term of Office: 2022–2025

Pronouns: she/they

"I care about the people who make up our campus and I’m driven to make things better."

Read Kathy's full profile.

Agata Antkiewicz

Director

Term of office: 2022–2025

"I take true joy in meeting and talking to people, resolving differences and finding a constructive way forward to advocate for and empower staff as well as to help ensure the growing influence and appreciation of staff in the decision-making processes on campus."

Read Agata's full profile.

Bill Baer

Director

Term of Office: 2022–2025

About bill: I'm the Information Technology (IT) Director in the Arts Computing Office and have worked on campus for twenty-plus years. During my Engineering undergraduate years, I volunteered with ESQ and realized I had a passion for outreach.

Ken Berry

Director

Term of office: February–October 2024

"As a strategic thinker, I am a firm believer in thinking long term while maintaining a focus on the vision of the board in guiding the high-level strategic governance of the UWSA."

Read Ken's full profile.

Kelan Hirtle

Director

Term as director: 2023–2026

"My vision for the UWSA is an organization that fights for every single member in order to ensure that they are properly compensated, treated fairly, and can work in a safe environment."

Read Kelan's full profile.

Kosi Ike-Orji

Director

Term of office: 2024

"I ran for office because making an impact in every situation I find my self is, is very important to me. When I started working for University of Waterloo, I set out a task to find ways I could provide a positive impact not just for myself but for others."

Read Kosi's full profile.

Lillian Liao

Director

Term of office: February–October 2024

"Having been part of the University community in various roles for many years including as a graduate student, I continually meet, learn, and draw inspiration from the diverse members of the UW campus. My vision is for the UWSA to become a more prominent and diverse voice in unifying and empowering all staff in advocating for healthier working conditions and fulfilling opportunities."

See Lillian's full profile.