“Let me be your advo-Kate”
#advok8
Running for Vice President Student Advocacy (VPSA)
I am very fortunate to have been given the opportunities and experiences that will help me succeed in this role. I currently serve on the UWSA’s Board of Directors as the Faculty of Education representative, and have over four years of professional and volunteer experience in both the political and non-profit sectors. I have worked in non-profits across Canada for a variety of causes, all surrounding equity for marginalized individuals. I have over six years of experience in post-secondary education in the background of political science. I am passionate about political efficacy and voter agency. I recognize that a lack of representation and recognition from elected officials leads to lower participation and involvement within one’s own community, and hope to rectify that should I be elected. I hope to bring practical applications from my own experiences into the role of Vice President Student Advocacy.
Should I be elected into the role of Vice President Student Advocacy, I would enact several initiatives that will build a stronger sense of community both within the University and Windsor as a whole. I hope to plan workshops for faculty that highlight the barriers to education that will shed light on barriers to student success such as financial barriers, accessibility barriers, and other aspects that effect student wellbeing and success. The goal of these workshops is to give faculty a student perspective that may help in their approaches to student issues that will create a more equitable environment.
I also intend to host cultural celebrations throughout the year that will create a positive environment that highlights the beautiful diversity within Windsor. Fostering opportunities for collaboration between university institutions – such as BIDE, Turtle Island, or the Office of the VP EDI – and UWSA organizations like the Pride Centre and Afro-Fest to host regular celebrations of diversity will help bolster a strong sense of community amongst all students.
Finally, I hope to regularly host walk-in office hours for students to discuss issues they may be experiencing related to their classes whenever they need to. Therefore, I can help students resolve challenges they may be experiencing and advocate on their behalf to our University’s administration in order to prevent issues from continuing or worsening.
I plan to continue fostering established relationships with my fellow Board members through frequent communication and recognizing their needs to be addressed appropriately. This can be achieved through understanding the individual circumstances of Board members when arranging an appropriate time to meet for sub-committees and Board meetings. Furthermore, I am fortunate to have established strong relationships with many members of UWindsor’s administration through my work with the Office of Student Experience. If elected, I hope to extend the professional communications and relationships through effective and productive meetings. Finally, I plan to host regular office hours at a variety of times to invite UWSA members at large to meet should they have any concerns I can help address. This way, I can hopefully accommodate all undergraduate students. Should my original office hours not be accessible for anyone, I will extend the opportunity to make an appointment with an easy–to–use digital method to address individual student needs.
The University of Windsor Students’ Alliance is an essential part to student success through upholding foundational pillars of advocacy, representation, and service. The UWSA advocates on students’ behalf to give all students a fair and equitable services like health and dental plans. In addition, the UWSA is a key leader in organizing events that create a sense of community on campus like Welcome Week and a host of different events throughout the year. Without the UWSA, there would not be an accessible route for students to contact university administration should any issues arise. The UWSA is a valuable group of individuals nominated and elected by their peers to represent their best interests during their studies.
