2019-2020 DAGS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Check Brightspace for the voting page! Email our CRO, Tam Pham, at cro@dags.ca
Each of the Candidate Nominations are included below!
Each of the Candidate Nominations are included below!
RESULTS
Here are the results for the 2019-2020 DAGS Board Elections
President - Martine Panzica (81.87% voted yes)
Vice President Academic - Nima Mayanmandi (68.21% of the vote)
Vice President External - Hailie Tattrie (78.36% voted yes)
Vice President Finance and Operations - Kayla Preston (85.29 % voted yes)
Vice President Student Life - Fallen Matthews (80.59% voted yes)
Director: Engineering, Architecture and Planning - Rohit Shivarkar (81.29 % voted yes)
Director: Health and Medical Sciences - Alexandra Fox (81.5% voted yes)
President - Martine Panzica (81.87% voted yes)
Vice President Academic - Nima Mayanmandi (68.21% of the vote)
Vice President External - Hailie Tattrie (78.36% voted yes)
Vice President Finance and Operations - Kayla Preston (85.29 % voted yes)
Vice President Student Life - Fallen Matthews (80.59% voted yes)
Director: Engineering, Architecture and Planning - Rohit Shivarkar (81.29 % voted yes)
Director: Health and Medical Sciences - Alexandra Fox (81.5% voted yes)
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
- Director - Arts and Social Sciences, Management, Journalism, and Law
- Director - Sciences and Computer Science
MEET THE CANDIDATES
PRESIDENT
Description: The President represents DAGS to Dalhousie University administration and serves on the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) Council. They work with the Board as a team to implement decisions made by the Council and bring new initiatives to the Council. They chair the Board, Council, and Administration Committee; and serve on the Governance Committee of DAGS.
Candidate: Martine Panzica
Program: MA International Development Studies
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points.
- Planning various events throughout the year to create strong community within the graduate studies programs
- Events for inclusion of international students and Halifax newcomers to the graduate student as well as Halifax community
- Communicating to students the healthcare resources available to them at Dalhousie, specifically in terms of mental health resources
- Using social media platforms to communicate available grants, bursary and scholarship opportunities to graduate students
- Supporting the DAGS board of governors’ team in fulfilling their roles to the best of their ability
Top 3 things Martine would like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS
- Stronger presence with Dalhousie graduate students in terms of resources and accessibility from DAGS
- Creating resources and events for international students and newcomers
- Promoting the financial and healthcare resources available for Dalhousie graduate students in order to create conversations surrounding student well-being
The issues that matter most to Martine include:
- Student mental health and support resources
- Refugee and immigrant support
- Crisis support: specifically for sexual and gender based violence
- Environmental sustainability and climate change
Program: MA International Development Studies
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points.
- Planning various events throughout the year to create strong community within the graduate studies programs
- Events for inclusion of international students and Halifax newcomers to the graduate student as well as Halifax community
- Communicating to students the healthcare resources available to them at Dalhousie, specifically in terms of mental health resources
- Using social media platforms to communicate available grants, bursary and scholarship opportunities to graduate students
- Supporting the DAGS board of governors’ team in fulfilling their roles to the best of their ability
Top 3 things Martine would like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS
- Stronger presence with Dalhousie graduate students in terms of resources and accessibility from DAGS
- Creating resources and events for international students and newcomers
- Promoting the financial and healthcare resources available for Dalhousie graduate students in order to create conversations surrounding student well-being
The issues that matter most to Martine include:
- Student mental health and support resources
- Refugee and immigrant support
- Crisis support: specifically for sexual and gender based violence
- Environmental sustainability and climate change
VP ACADEMIC
Description: The Vice President Academic attends Dalhousie Senate and Faculty Council Meetings. They also chair the Academic and External Relations Committee. The VP Academic sits on the FGS Academic Planning and Curriculum Committee and Academic Appeals Committee. The main duty of the VP Academic is to support graduate students in navigating the academic policies and programs at Dalhousie.
Candidate: Nima Mayanmandi
Program: PhD Civil Engineering
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points
1. Try to keep school affordable! - Negotiate about the tuition fees for graduate students. Grad students are the heart of the university and they should not look as a source of income for the university. Increase in tuition fees in recent years cause many students to have less intention to peruse their post-graduate at Dalhousie, and also faculty members have difficulties to provide sufficient funds for grads.
2. Mental health awareness - The other issue that is necessary for a graduate student is their mental health, especially an international student who came from different culture and face with the new environment.
3. Get the support we need! - I will increase efficiency in student funding in order to maximize the impact and benefits to students from all faculties to mediate financial burden.
4. Create strong connections - Encourage and facilitate communication between student societies and student professional development organizations. With greater collaboration, these groups can reach a larger audience and students will gain more exposure to the various opportunities for development offered by our student teams and societies.
These are 3 things that Nima would like to accomplish during a term at DAGS
1- Talking to different groups of graduate students with different points of view to understand all their problems and find a perspective in our job.
2- Find the best solution to the most important issue in the graduate community.
3- Talk to university officials and discuss these issues to eliminate them.
The issues that matter most to Nima
• Health Care for Graduate Students, especially their mental health
• Tuition Cut Fees and financial stabilities of grad student
• Quality of the graduate course offering and university equipment
Candidate: Anas Tahir
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points
1. Dynamic
2. Spontaneous
3. Leader
4. Team player
5. Responsible
Top 3 things Anas would like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS
I would like to reach to each and every graduate student in Dalhousie University, understand their problem, make sure that there is no communication gap between campuses, make sure that the voices of graduate students is heard. We all graduate students are one part big family in Dalhousie University, together we can change and fix all the problems.
The issues that matter most to Anas
Communication gaps between Sexton, Studley, Carlton and Turo Campuses. We are all part of Dalhousie University and we need to make sure that graduate students in either of the campuses can easily reach to us.
Campaign Links: Facebook Page
Program: PhD Civil Engineering
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points
1. Try to keep school affordable! - Negotiate about the tuition fees for graduate students. Grad students are the heart of the university and they should not look as a source of income for the university. Increase in tuition fees in recent years cause many students to have less intention to peruse their post-graduate at Dalhousie, and also faculty members have difficulties to provide sufficient funds for grads.
2. Mental health awareness - The other issue that is necessary for a graduate student is their mental health, especially an international student who came from different culture and face with the new environment.
3. Get the support we need! - I will increase efficiency in student funding in order to maximize the impact and benefits to students from all faculties to mediate financial burden.
4. Create strong connections - Encourage and facilitate communication between student societies and student professional development organizations. With greater collaboration, these groups can reach a larger audience and students will gain more exposure to the various opportunities for development offered by our student teams and societies.
These are 3 things that Nima would like to accomplish during a term at DAGS
1- Talking to different groups of graduate students with different points of view to understand all their problems and find a perspective in our job.
2- Find the best solution to the most important issue in the graduate community.
3- Talk to university officials and discuss these issues to eliminate them.
The issues that matter most to Nima
• Health Care for Graduate Students, especially their mental health
• Tuition Cut Fees and financial stabilities of grad student
• Quality of the graduate course offering and university equipment
Candidate: Anas Tahir
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points
1. Dynamic
2. Spontaneous
3. Leader
4. Team player
5. Responsible
Top 3 things Anas would like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS
I would like to reach to each and every graduate student in Dalhousie University, understand their problem, make sure that there is no communication gap between campuses, make sure that the voices of graduate students is heard. We all graduate students are one part big family in Dalhousie University, together we can change and fix all the problems.
The issues that matter most to Anas
Communication gaps between Sexton, Studley, Carlton and Turo Campuses. We are all part of Dalhousie University and we need to make sure that graduate students in either of the campuses can easily reach to us.
Campaign Links: Facebook Page
VP EXTERNAL
Description: The Vice-President External Advocacy serves on Dalhousie Student Union (DSU) Council and maintains a collaborative and working relationship with the DSU President and Vice-Presidents. They act as a representative of graduate students to organizations of which DAGS, the DSU, or Dalhousie University is a member and as a delegate at conferences of external organizations of interest to DAGS as directed by Council. They develop and formulate policy on external matters and ensure that Council is kept informed of and has opportunity to respond to initiatives of the DSU and external bodies that impact graduate students. They serve as co-chair of the Academic and External Relations Committee and chair of the Governance Committee.
Candidate: Hailie Tattrie
Program: MA Sociology
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points.
- Create a better connection with Dalhousie Indigenous Student Centre
- Provide accessible and adequate support for first generation university students
- Advocating for better funding for resources for grad students,specifically with relation to library documents
- Creating a better sense of community within the graduate student group at Dalhousie
- Have a close working relationship with Divest Dalhousie
Top 3 things Hailie would like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS
- Create a better working relationship with the Indigenous Student Centre
- Host more events for graduate students to build a better sense of community
- Provide resources and events for First Generation University students
The issues that matter most to Hailie?
- Creating better relations between Indigenous and settler students
- Fair wages & working conditions
- Climate Change
Program: MA Sociology
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points.
- Create a better connection with Dalhousie Indigenous Student Centre
- Provide accessible and adequate support for first generation university students
- Advocating for better funding for resources for grad students,specifically with relation to library documents
- Creating a better sense of community within the graduate student group at Dalhousie
- Have a close working relationship with Divest Dalhousie
Top 3 things Hailie would like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS
- Create a better working relationship with the Indigenous Student Centre
- Host more events for graduate students to build a better sense of community
- Provide resources and events for First Generation University students
The issues that matter most to Hailie?
- Creating better relations between Indigenous and settler students
- Fair wages & working conditions
- Climate Change
VP FINANCE & OPERATIONS
Description: The Vice-President Finance and Operations oversees the operations of DAGS in cooperation with the Office Manager, and the Administration Committee. They work closely with the President to ensure collaboration between DAGS and member societies and act as the Chair of the Administration Committee and Governance Committee.
Candidate: Kayla Preston
Program: MA Sociology and Social Anthropology
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 Platform Points
- Provide better support and outreach to Dalhousie clubs, groups, and societies.
- Facilitate funds to provide more opportunities for graduate students to interact.
- Provide more transparency of the operations of DAGS for students.
- Create a better outreach for students who may be struggling applying for grants and scholarships.
- Work closely with fellow DAGS executives to promote the visibility of DAGS services such as Professional Development Grants and Travel Grants and to advocate for more services.
Top 3 things Kayla would like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS
- Promote DAGS services such as Professional Development Grants and Travel Grants to graduate students.
- Provide more transparency of DAGS operations and finances for graduate students.
- Advocate for more events that foster interdepartmental interaction between graduate students.
The issues that matter most to Kayla?
- Transparency of DAGS financial activities so that students know how money is being spent.
- Providing support for students and advocating for fair work treatment and wages for students both on and off campus.
- The promotion of already existing DAGS services for financial support and advocacy for my services for Dalhousie graduate students.
Program: MA Sociology and Social Anthropology
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 Platform Points
- Provide better support and outreach to Dalhousie clubs, groups, and societies.
- Facilitate funds to provide more opportunities for graduate students to interact.
- Provide more transparency of the operations of DAGS for students.
- Create a better outreach for students who may be struggling applying for grants and scholarships.
- Work closely with fellow DAGS executives to promote the visibility of DAGS services such as Professional Development Grants and Travel Grants and to advocate for more services.
Top 3 things Kayla would like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS
- Promote DAGS services such as Professional Development Grants and Travel Grants to graduate students.
- Provide more transparency of DAGS operations and finances for graduate students.
- Advocate for more events that foster interdepartmental interaction between graduate students.
The issues that matter most to Kayla?
- Transparency of DAGS financial activities so that students know how money is being spent.
- Providing support for students and advocating for fair work treatment and wages for students both on and off campus.
- The promotion of already existing DAGS services for financial support and advocacy for my services for Dalhousie graduate students.
VP STUDENT LIFE
Description: The Vice President of Student Life and Communications is a new position for the 2019-20 year! This position is responsible for overseeing DAGS communications (website, social media, etc.), as well as planning events (ex. Orientation events) and programming for graduate students. They Chair the Student Life committee and work closely with member societies to put on events for graduate students.
Candidate: Fallen Matthews
Program: Interdisciplinary PhD
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points
• Work with university administration and students to expand graduate campus initiatives
• Foster diversity in graduate student activities, events, representation, and campaigns
• Strengthen communication between DAGS executives, graduate students, and campus societies
• Create and implement inclusive, interactive social media graduate resources and campaigns
• Aid graduate executives in the visuality of information management
The top 3 things Fallen would like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS
• Stronger outreach initiatives between executives, students, and societies
• Supporting students in meaningful scholarship and making connections
• Providing positive, useful feedback to executives and students
The issues that matter most to Fallen
Many graduate students I’ve spoken to tend to be unaware of their rights as students and their membership of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). Although there are several issues which distinctly afflict graduate students—heavy workloads, faculty and/or departmental issues, etc.—I believe that the lack of awareness of their rights, CFS membership, and overall disconnection from one another to be very significant; and these issues are ones I can actively work towards relieving. I can speak from experience as I used to be relatively unaware of these things myself, but my entire outlook and campus life changed once I began to attend information sessions, connect with other students, and set boundaries [which I was afraid to set prior] with faculty and workloads. For me, CFS has proven to be an indispensable resource and support network; and knowing my experience—negative and positive—were shared gave me closure and strength to persevere.
Program: Interdisciplinary PhD
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points
• Work with university administration and students to expand graduate campus initiatives
• Foster diversity in graduate student activities, events, representation, and campaigns
• Strengthen communication between DAGS executives, graduate students, and campus societies
• Create and implement inclusive, interactive social media graduate resources and campaigns
• Aid graduate executives in the visuality of information management
The top 3 things Fallen would like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS
• Stronger outreach initiatives between executives, students, and societies
• Supporting students in meaningful scholarship and making connections
• Providing positive, useful feedback to executives and students
The issues that matter most to Fallen
Many graduate students I’ve spoken to tend to be unaware of their rights as students and their membership of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). Although there are several issues which distinctly afflict graduate students—heavy workloads, faculty and/or departmental issues, etc.—I believe that the lack of awareness of their rights, CFS membership, and overall disconnection from one another to be very significant; and these issues are ones I can actively work towards relieving. I can speak from experience as I used to be relatively unaware of these things myself, but my entire outlook and campus life changed once I began to attend information sessions, connect with other students, and set boundaries [which I was afraid to set prior] with faculty and workloads. For me, CFS has proven to be an indispensable resource and support network; and knowing my experience—negative and positive—were shared gave me closure and strength to persevere.
DIRECTOR: HEALTH AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
Candidate: Alexandra Fox
Program: MSc Occupational Therapy (entry-level)
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points
- Increasing funding and support for improving accessibility and mental health services on campus
- Challenging the FGS (and in particular the Faculty of Health, Medicine & Dentistry) to incorporate better social justice and anti-oppression work into their curriculums
- Improving funding and short-term employment opportunities for graduate students on campus (primarily TA, RA positions, etc)
- Working in allyship with DAGs and other student program reps to fight for broad and long-lasting changes that impact and support graduate students at Dalhousie
- Working with DAGs to push for lower tuition fees (and fight the university on the proposed increase!)
Top 3 things Alexandra would like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS
- Prevent the impending tuition fee hike (and ideally lower fees!)
- Support and implement the equitable admissions policy in the works for Faculty of Health Professions and advocate for other programs to implement a similar policy
- Promote DAGs and engage graduate students more in their activities (especially those on campuses further away, ie. Carleton and Sexton campuses)
The issues that matter most to Alexandra
Equitable and fair admissions to graduate programs, especially prioritizing diverse voices and experiences, and challenging the curriculum (particularly in “professional” programs like nursing, law, dentistry, etc) to include more social justice and anti-oppression education. Also improving accessibility and mental health services on campus. Outside of proposed DAGs work, I currently primarily work on disability justice and queer/feminist organizing.
Program: MSc Occupational Therapy (entry-level)
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points
- Increasing funding and support for improving accessibility and mental health services on campus
- Challenging the FGS (and in particular the Faculty of Health, Medicine & Dentistry) to incorporate better social justice and anti-oppression work into their curriculums
- Improving funding and short-term employment opportunities for graduate students on campus (primarily TA, RA positions, etc)
- Working in allyship with DAGs and other student program reps to fight for broad and long-lasting changes that impact and support graduate students at Dalhousie
- Working with DAGs to push for lower tuition fees (and fight the university on the proposed increase!)
Top 3 things Alexandra would like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS
- Prevent the impending tuition fee hike (and ideally lower fees!)
- Support and implement the equitable admissions policy in the works for Faculty of Health Professions and advocate for other programs to implement a similar policy
- Promote DAGs and engage graduate students more in their activities (especially those on campuses further away, ie. Carleton and Sexton campuses)
The issues that matter most to Alexandra
Equitable and fair admissions to graduate programs, especially prioritizing diverse voices and experiences, and challenging the curriculum (particularly in “professional” programs like nursing, law, dentistry, etc) to include more social justice and anti-oppression education. Also improving accessibility and mental health services on campus. Outside of proposed DAGs work, I currently primarily work on disability justice and queer/feminist organizing.
DIRECTOR: ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, AND PLANNING
Candidate: Rohit Shivarkar
Program: M.Eng. Internetworking
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points
1. Expand communication to students about tuition and market modifiers:
• Nova Scotia’s tuition has been constantly increased past few years for international students and students should expect around 3 % increase afterwards which becomes almost 11% throughout course.
• Students were unsure of how this would affect their future throughout the program. I want to ensure that students are aware of potential increases and can have their voices heard.
2. Mental Health Awareness
• Work closely with the Wellness Center to host seminars to improve awareness for serious mental health issues, as well as interactive workshops to promote healthy stress-coping mechanisms.
• Make professional counselling more readily accessible to students’ busy schedules through partnership with the Wellness Centre and other organizations.
• Bring more of the DSU’s Stress Less events, such as yoga or Pet Therapy, into centralized Engineering locations.
• Work together with Mental Health Alliance to continuously advocate for utilizing student feedback about their mental health concerns.
3. Promote Professional Development:
• Build a strong, direct relationship with the Internship Office and Bissett student success centre to offer specialized engineering career support for internship and post-graduation job hunts.
• Help students gain valuable soft skills, such as networking and public speaking, through workshops and events.
4. Transparency- Seek innovative ways to allocate funding for student researches and increase awareness of research, scholarship and job opportunities through the use of portals.
5. Representation – Enabling students not involved in Student Government roles to voice themselves on Engineering Boards & Committees.
What are the top 3 things you’d like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS?
1. Funding to the students.
2. Increasing inclusion of students and creating awareness about facilities provided by DAGS to grad students.
3. Increasing transparent Representation of/and graduate students.
The issues that matter most to Rohit
Mental Health and increased funding for TA’s
• Every faculty has their own unique demands and expectations and I want to ensure that engineers don’t receive any generic type of assistance but specifically one that is tailored to their demands.
• I want to work with the current engineering services and mental health services to bring awareness and support for my faculty.
• I will ensure to increase funding for TA’s to become more comfortable and worry less about basic needs.
Campaign Links: Facebook
Program: M.Eng. Internetworking
Year of Study: 1st
Nomination Form
Top 5 platform points
1. Expand communication to students about tuition and market modifiers:
• Nova Scotia’s tuition has been constantly increased past few years for international students and students should expect around 3 % increase afterwards which becomes almost 11% throughout course.
• Students were unsure of how this would affect their future throughout the program. I want to ensure that students are aware of potential increases and can have their voices heard.
2. Mental Health Awareness
• Work closely with the Wellness Center to host seminars to improve awareness for serious mental health issues, as well as interactive workshops to promote healthy stress-coping mechanisms.
• Make professional counselling more readily accessible to students’ busy schedules through partnership with the Wellness Centre and other organizations.
• Bring more of the DSU’s Stress Less events, such as yoga or Pet Therapy, into centralized Engineering locations.
• Work together with Mental Health Alliance to continuously advocate for utilizing student feedback about their mental health concerns.
3. Promote Professional Development:
• Build a strong, direct relationship with the Internship Office and Bissett student success centre to offer specialized engineering career support for internship and post-graduation job hunts.
• Help students gain valuable soft skills, such as networking and public speaking, through workshops and events.
4. Transparency- Seek innovative ways to allocate funding for student researches and increase awareness of research, scholarship and job opportunities through the use of portals.
5. Representation – Enabling students not involved in Student Government roles to voice themselves on Engineering Boards & Committees.
What are the top 3 things you’d like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS?
1. Funding to the students.
2. Increasing inclusion of students and creating awareness about facilities provided by DAGS to grad students.
3. Increasing transparent Representation of/and graduate students.
The issues that matter most to Rohit
Mental Health and increased funding for TA’s
• Every faculty has their own unique demands and expectations and I want to ensure that engineers don’t receive any generic type of assistance but specifically one that is tailored to their demands.
• I want to work with the current engineering services and mental health services to bring awareness and support for my faculty.
• I will ensure to increase funding for TA’s to become more comfortable and worry less about basic needs.
Campaign Links: Facebook
Can't find what you are looking for? For questions and/or concerns, contact us at dags@dal.ca