Platforms

 
President
Bushra Khadra

Hello! My name is Bushra Khadra, and I am a third-year student in International Development and Globalization in french immersion. Before coming to uOttawa, I served as the Student Trustee for the Upper Canada District School Board, where I advocated on behalf of 27,000 students across 81 schools in my region. During my time at uOttawa, I have served as the VP Social for the Development Students Association and Director of Outreach for Telfer WMN. In my spare time, I enjoy working out and reading. I am running for President of the Development Students’ Association because I hope to make a student association that works for and represents everyone. Due to my current and previous experience, I believe I am an excellent candidate. Check out my votebushra on Instagram if you want to learn more about my platform.

Showmia Chandrabala

Hi! I’m Showmia Chandrabala (she/they), I am a fourth year in International Development and Globalization, and I am running to be your AEDSA president. A little about myself, I’m really into film and music, and if it’s warm enough outside, you can probably find me skateboarding around centretown.
As your current Vice President of Equity and Activism, I spent the last year successfully supporting student wellness, namely for compassionate grading and deadline leniency during one of our most challenging terms with a pandemic and a convoy. As well, through working with our current president I established a scholarship for our student body with four separate bursaries. 

Additionally, as a research fellow, I have been continually working alongside the dean at the faculty of social sciences and the associate vice dean of undergraduate studies to intentionally strategize for a more anti-racist academic environment. 

My two main priorities as your future president are improving conditions of anti-racism and student wellness in our faculty, and I believe I have the experience to do it too! My origins are rooted in advocacy and activism; organizing and showing up for my community is what I grew up doing as a racialized and queer individual. I have contributed over 10,000 hours towards volunteering for causes I am passionate about such as immigration rights, anti-Black racism, and anti-incarceration. 
Since I entered university, my objective has not deterred. Using a grassroots approach, I want to center the voices and experiences of marginalized individuals in our faculty by emphasizing how we are not a monolith, and how our diverse needs require diverse solutions. I am a firm believer that university should be challenging, not demanding. 

Here are a few of my action items to make institutional change happen given the increased mobility this chair will give me. 
  • Pushing for better standards of student wellness including more coop placements, compassionate grading not just during epidemics, and endorsing the continuation of hybrid learning.
  • Facilitating more opportunities and events to create a more connected community between anglophone and francophone students, and between the student association and the rest of the student body.
  • Increasing transparency and input between student associations and the rest of the student body by creating a forum on our website. 

If you like my ideas and want to help make a positive change happen in our faculty, come say hi at any of these pages: 
INSTAGRAM: @voteshowmia 
FACEBOOK: Showmia Chandru


Vice President of Academic Affairs Anglophone

Taamara Thanaraja

Hello DVM students! My name is Taamara (she/they) and I am a third year International Development and Globalization student. I am currently running for Vice President of Academic Affairs (Anglophone) for the Development Student Association. My experience includes attending two previous International Development Week events, as well as having experience with a variety of courses within DVM, POL, and ECO among others. I also have a variety of extracurricular experiences within the university community, as well as in other organizations. My experiences include: an internship through the Omprakash website, the role as coalition leader for the United Nations’ Girl Up Ontario coalition, volunteering with a non-profit organization called Pen Pals 4 Peace, all while completing a full course load has given me ample insight into how to succeed in our program. I am looking to enrich the academic lives of DVM students, while also giving them the support to succeed in their endeavors beyond school. 
 
If elected, I plan to focus on these aspects of DSA community: 
 
Exposure: 
  • Collaborate with other University of Ottawa student associations in order to diversify experiences and promote networking opportunities.
  • Collaborate with professionals and other organizations when possible. 
    • This would help to enrich the experience of students and give them an insight into how development studies can be applied to the outside world.
  • Using our events each semester to be an opportunity to learn, network, as well as have strong social aspects. 
  • Encouraging students outside of the DSA to participate and see the work we do.  
 
Collaboration:
  • Creating a workshop to help DVM students navigate the other opportunities offered at our school and outside of our school: 
    • Internships 
    • Research opportunities
    • Co-op
    • International Exchange 
    • FSWEP 
    • Work study program 
  • Hosting study groups for specific courses, and also using these opportunities to connect students with new people and opportunities.
  • Hosting interactive events to help students become more proactive in the Canadian and International community:
    • Letter writing to government officials, organizations, etc.
    • Educational sessions on international events. 
    • How to take advantage of your platform 
 
Equity:
  • Upholding a safe and accommodating environment where DSA members and any students participating in International Development and Globalization courses feel welcomed. 
  • Maintaining transparency and assisting students to the best of my ability. 
  • Helping students uphold balance in their academic lives, as well as making sure that they are succeeding in other aspects.
  • Upholding the integrity and enriching the dynamics of the DVM community. 
  • Attending events hosted by and collaborating with our Francophone counterparts. In order to enrich the experience of DSA students. 
  • Hosting a primarily Francophone event. 
  • Assisting with the preparation and execution of 101 week in whatever capacity is possible. 
 
Accessibility:
  • Making the effort to ensure accessibility for all students and ensure the safety and wellness of students. 
  • Create a safe and welcoming environment for students.
  • Making sure that the wellbeing and academic integrity of students in our program are upheld. It is imperative that all students feel supported. 
  • Constantly accepting constructive criticism and being open to any suggestions and concerns of students and faculty alike. 
  • Understanding the needs of the professors and students equally. 
  • Being able to look at our curriculum critically and seeing the places that need improvement and collaborating with other departments and students to ensure that we are providing the best academic experience and guidance that is possible within our capacities. 

Vice President of Senior Affairs
​
Anamaria Barbul

Hello all undergraduate International Development students, I’m Anamaria and I’m running to be your 2022-2023 Vice President of Senior Affairs!

During my past four years at uOttawa, the Development Students’ Association has fostered a positive and welcoming space for me to learn, grow, and build community and I look forward to the opportunity to spend my last couple of semesters ensuring that the DSA continues to offer opportunities for social connection, academic and professional development, and student advocacy for all students.

Through my past experience as VP Junior, VP Internal, President and 101 Week Guide, I’ve planned various events for students, worked to make the DSA more transparent and accountable to student constituents, and created the first DVM Student Scholarship series.

This upcoming year, I have three main goals.
  • First, I hope to increase participation and engagement within the two mentorship programs, the Junior-Senior Mentorship Program, which matches first and second year students to third+ year students, as well as reinstate the Senior Mentorship Program which matches senior students to development graduates, young professionals, and development practitioners through regular events and ongoing resources. I believe that these are two areas will help students feel supported, connected, and foster a heightened sense of community while supporting graduate students in exploring post-grad opportunities.
  • My second goal is to build upon the Senior Mentorship program to offer a variety of resources, networking opportunities, and supports to senior students who are preparing for life after graduation.
  • Lastly, I hope to work together with senior students to find out what sort of social events both in the online and in-person format they would like to see the association offer to help them feel better connected with other students, on top of the DSA intramural dodgeball team of course.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions about my platform, goals, or campaign!

​Vote yes for Anamaria via your UOttawa email March 28-30!

The following positions will be filled by application in the Spring 2022 Semester:
President
  • Vice President of Internal Affairs
  • Vice President of Finance
  • Vice President of Academic Affairs Francophone
  • Vice President of Social Affairs Anglophone
  • Vice President of Social Affairs Francophone
  • Vice President of Philanthropy
  • Vice President of Equity and Activism
  • Vice President of Junior Affairs
  • Director of Marketing and Design
  • Director of Bilingualism and Translation
  • Director of Communications
  • Director of Outreach and Student Engagement
  • Director of International Development Week 
  • Director of Sustainability
Please note the position of Vice President of Junior Affairs will be filled via the Fall 2022 by-elections.

If you have any questions about applications or positions, please do not hesitate to reach out to president@aedsa.ca.
© 2022 AÉDSA.