Sarah Jones graduated from UPEI in 2008 BSc (with Honours) and began her MSc in the Biomedical Science Department of the AVC in 2009. During her first year as a graduate student, she had the opportunity to work with the GSA and the CFS (Canadian Federation of Students) on issues such as tuition increases/decreases, as well as global and national campaigns (women's rights, poverty, human rights). She also held the position of Ombudsperson for the Student Union at UPEI for the year 2009-2010. Sarah would like to see the continuation of social networking that is becoming well established throughout the graduate community. She would also like to engage fellow students in campaigns and increase awareness regarding issues that face graduate students at both UPEI and across Canada. If you have any questions or comments you may contact Sarah at sajones@upei.ca
Angela is a second year MSc candidate in the Biomedical Sciences department at AVC studying analgesic efficacy in fish. She is a UPEI alumnus, completing an undergraduate degree in Biology (honours) in 2008. Angela also works as a watershed coordinator and is an active member of the UPEI Sustainability advisory committee.
Angela is a second year MSc candidate in the Biomedical Sciences department at AVC studying analgesic efficacy in fish. She is a UPEI alumnus, completing an undergraduate degree in Biology (honours) in 2008. Angela also works as a watershed coordinator and is an active member of the UPEI Sustainability advisory committee. She a very outgoing person with an aptitude for event planning and as this is her second year on the GSA executive, Angela hopes to increase graduate student morale through various campaigns and events.
Iskandar is a second year MSc. student at the Department of Chemistry. His research is driven by the search for environmentally benign nanomaterials for the application of lithium-ion batteries. As VP-External, he will be working closely with external organizations, campus groups, and university committees to ensure a close relationship between graduate students and these organizations. Outside of his campus life, he is very outgoing and maintains an active lifestyle by playing tennis, squash, and cross-fit training.
Bob Déziel is a second year M.Sc student in biology studying the effects of phytochemicals on the behaviour of human prostate cancer cells. He was previously the GSA representative to Student Union having served for two years as a member of the GSA executive.
Because of the efforts put forward by the GSA in previous years, graduate students now have a permanent position on the UPEI senate. The senate is responsible for academic issues concerning students including approving new courses, changing the structure of existing programs, and student academic appeals.
This will be Bob’s third year serving on Student Council and his first year sitting on the UPEI senate. He hopes to serve graduate students well by bringing up issues and concerns relevant to all graduate student disciplines.
If you have any specific questions about the UPEI senate and wish for more information you can contact Bob by e-mail (bdeziel@upei.ca) or by phone at 566-6088."
Ben was born and raised on Prince Edward Island and is a UPEI alumnus (BSc with Honours (Biology) 2008). After sailing internationally onboard a Canadian Navy Reserve warship, Ben joined the AVC’s department of Biomedical Sciences as an MSc student and began working out of the National Research Council-Institute for Nutrisciences and Health’s Functional Biology Lab. As a former UPEI men’s varsity soccer team member, Biology Society member and treasurer, and UPEI employee, Ben has a broad understanding of both studies and student life at UPEI. Ben served as the 2009-2010 GSA VP Finance, and is looking forward to working once again with fellow graduate students to make the GSA the best it can be.
I am an alumnus of UPEI, having graduated in 2009 with a B.Sc in Biology, and I am currently beginning the second year of my M.Sc program at UPEI. I work under the supervision of Dr. Pedro Quijon in the Department of Biology. My research focuses primarily on the response of sandy beach marine invertebrate communities to climate-change related disturbance on the north shore of Prince Edward Island, as well as their potential use as biological indicators. I look forward to being an active member of the GSA by serving as the Science Rep, and to meeting all new students beginning grad studies at UPEI.
Hannah Bell is in her second year of the executive-style MBA program in the Innovative Management stream. She is the recipient of an MBA Entrance Scholarship in 2009; mother to preschooler Ava Grace; community volunteer and board member; and works at Veterans Affairs in Corporate Planning and Project Management. She entered the MBA based on her extensive and varied work experience - this will be her first but probably not her last degree, depending on the continued patience and support of her friends and family. As business rep, Hannah will be providing a voice on the GSA for those students who are not seen on campus but have a strong presence in the graduate population at UPEI.
My name is Erin Kielly and I am the Arts representative for 2010-2011. I completed my arts degree in Geography at the University of Regina and I was an active member of the Geography Student Association during that time. I am a student in the MA in Island Studies program and I have been involved with the Island Studies Student Association since 2008. I look forward to being a part of the GSA and will work hard to bring fulfill my responsibilities as Arts Representative.
Tom Hilton is a 1987 graduate of Bowdoin College (BA -Economics and Government) in Brunswick, Maine. Prior to beginning the Master of Education program at UPEI in 2008, Tom worked in San Francisco, CA and then Hartford, CT as a sales representative for several large US insurance companies. Since 2008, Tom satisfied his MEd coursework requirements and is focused on completing his thesis: “Out: Schooling Experiences of Queer Youth and their Families on Prince Edward Island”. In this research, Tom applies a Foucaultian lens to explore both the explicit and implicit marginalization of non-heterosexual identified students on PEI. As of August, 2010 Tom is the Executive Director of AIDS PEI. Tom hopes to promote activism and anti-status quo thinking amongst UPEI graduate students “While the 1960’s may be long-gone its’ spirit can endure in today’s generation of graduate students!”
My name is Michelle Patterson and I am a first year PhD student who has just reclassified from the MSc program in the Biomedical Sciences department at the AVC. I complete my BScHon in Physics at UPEI in 2008 and I am now working on a project investigating a new medical imaging system (optoacoustic imaging) for prostate cancer treatment monitoring using a mouse model of prostate cancer.
As the AVC rep for the 2010/11 year I am responsible for representing the wants and needs of AVC graduate students at the GSA meetings and keeping AVC students informed on the discussions of the association. I look forward to getting to know as many of you as possible over the next year. If you have any comments,questions or concerns I can be found in my office most days (2327N) or by email anytime.
