Christian Fotang
Chair
University of Alberta Student Union
[email protected]
Christian Fotang is the Vice President External at the University of Alberta Students' Union (UASU), a Bachelor of Science student studying Biology and Psychology. Christian is grateful for the opportunity to serve once more as Chair of the Board of Directors.
Christian hopes to use his prior experience in advocacy and awareness campaigns to promote the student voice at the Federal level. Having served as Chair for CASA for the winter semester of 2022, Christian understands how thousands of students nationwide have benefitted from CASA’s advocacy work. He is humbled by the trust placed in him by membership and is optimistic for the future ahead of student advocacy. Fueled by the stories of students' lived experiences, the dedication of student leaders across our post-secondary community, and the experience and wisdom of our home office staff Christian is prepared to fight for students for a more accessible and affordable Post-Secondary system.
When not busy talking about advocacy and student governance, you can find Christian equally passionate about soccer, bike rides in the Edmonton River Valley, trying (although terribly) to learn Norwegian on Duolingo, and debating the merits of ketchup on steak, pineapple on pizza, and milkshakes on fries!
If you ever like to have fierce debates about food or discuss how we can advance the student movement from coast to coast to coast, feel free to reach out to him!
Kyle Cook
Secretary
Saint Mary's University Students' Association
[email protected]
Kyle Cook is the Vice-President Advocacy of the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association. He is 5th year Bachelor of Arts student studying Social Justice and Community Studies, originally from Newfoundland & Labrador. Kyle’s focus this year as the elected Secretary is to work with CASA’s Governance and Internal Review Committee and the National Indigenous Advisory Committee to ensure the revitalization of Indigenous knowledge and equable governance policies are established that represent the diverse lived experiences of the student voices at CASA.
He is passionate about grassroots organizing to address social inequality and environmental racism in racialized communities. He often spends his free time checking out a local coffee shop or hiking the shorelines of Nova Scotia. He has previously held positions as a Research Analyst, Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, Peer Success Coach, and often engages in his own community projects.
Kairvee Bhatt
Treasurer
University of Lethbridge Students' Union
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Kairvee Bhatt (she/ her, elle/ sa) is Treasurer at the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) Board and serves as President at the University of Lethbridge Students Union (ULSU) located in Lethbridge, Alberta, on the Treaty 7 lands of the Siksikaitsitapi- Blackfoot Confederacy.
She is an engaged Human Resources and Labour Relations student with co-operative education (Co-op), and work- integrated learning experience, pursuing the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation. She brings experience through education and involvement in both for and non- profit sectors, in various industries ranging from: healthcare, banking, and finance, higher- education, entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and production, energy, technology.
Kairvee commits to maintaining and developing, a fiscally strong and responsible organization, that supports advocacy efforts to improve student learning, federally.
When she is not running into a meeting or preparing work, you can find her spending time with friends and family, volunteering in the community, and developing her passion for photography.
Kordell Walsh
Director-at-Large, Advocacy
University of New Brunswick Student Union
[email protected]
Kordell Walsh (pronouns he/him/il) is in his second year as President at the University of New Brunswick Student Union (UNBSU), and is in his 6th year of study, studying a Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership. He is honored and thrilled to be serving as this year's Director-at-Large, Advocacy for CASA. Kordell is honored to be trusted by CASA's membership to work with the Board and staff in shaping our advocacy as we come out of the pandemic that intensified many of the issues students are facing.
When not working in the world of student governance, you can find Kordell cooking, playing chess, or doing photography!
Sana Banu
Director-at-Large, Membership
Conestoga Students Inc.
[email protected]
Sana came to Canada as an international student in 2018 from Hyderabad, India. She is a graduate of Advertising & Marketing Communications program. Sana has been involved with my student association since 2018 and has been involved with CASA since my first year in Canada. She wanted to ensure that International student voices are represented and advocated o on the Parliament hill. Many international students face unique problems accessing post-secondary and she wanted to amplify their voices .
In her personal time, Sana loves going for walks, making new friends and cooking.
Ngoc Huynh
Mount Allison University Students' Union
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Ngoc Huynh is an international student from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He is at his 4th year in Mount Allison University, pursuing Honours in International Relations, and double minor in Political Science and Economics. He is the current Vice President External Affairs at Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU) and has been elected to the CASA Board of Directors as the Director at Large of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).
His priorities for this year surrounds two main projects: to continue laying the groundwork of EDI Roadmap for CASA that recognizes and celebrates differences, including individual, social, cultural, and political differences. Secondly, he is passionate in exploring strategies to support the international students, who were willing to leave their country and study in Canada, in order to receive better education.
Shannon Cornelsen
Co-Chair, National Indigenous Advisory Committee
Cree mother, researcher, student at the University of Alberta
[email protected]
Shannon is an urban member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation living in Edmonton, Canada. Shannon's adventurous spirit has taken her to live abroad in the UK, Germany, and most recently Northern Iraq with her children and cat in tow.
Life has continuously presented Shannon with both opportunities for change and lessons in human kindness, including starting her B.A. in Native Studies at the age of 50.
As an Indigenous Peoples interpreter at Fort Edmonton Park, Shannon strives to communicate the effects of intergenerational trauma and PTSD on the children of residential school Survivors to the general public.