The UVSS Board of Directors’ offices are located in the Student Union Building (SUB Room B103).
The Board of Directors is made up of 22 student directors:
- Five Lead Directors
- One Director of International Student Relations
- Nine Faculty Directors
- Two Directors at Large
- Four Constituency Organization (Advocacy Group) Representatives
- One Native Students’ Union Representative
The Board is the collective decision-making body for the Students’ Society. They organize events, provide services, and advocate for students. Board members are elected annually and are accountable to the 19,000+ undergrads they represent.
Lead Directors
Director of Outreach & University Relations
Email: outreach@uvss.ca
Lane O’Hara Cooke
Director of Outreach and University Relations
Hi UVic! My name is Lane O’Hara Cooke, your UVSS Chairperson and Director of Outreach and University Relations. I spent the past year serving as the Director of Finance and Operations and the Advocacy Representative for the Gender Empowerment Centre (GEM).
I returned for a second term because of my belief in the invaluable nature of a student union. If we stand together, we can strive towards common goals and build sustainable, vibrant student life on campus. This year I hope to persist in tackling issues like the housing crisis and food insecurity while strengthening the collective power of student voice.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my cat, chatting about local politics, drinking coconut milk lattes from the Munchie Bar, and learning about lesbianism’s rich histories and cultures. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions, I look forward to continuing to serve you.
Director of Events
Email: events@uvss.ca
Sarah Buchanan (she/her)
Director of Events
Hi folks, my name is Sarah Buchanan, and I’m the director of events! I’m from Calgary – treaty 7 territory, specifically Tsuu T’ina land. I came out here in 2020, and made the switch to sociology after my first year. My engagement with the board has been great for applying what I’ve learned – I’ll be bringing that knowledge with me, and making scientifically the best events you’ve seen 😉
I’ve been interested in student politics for a while now. I helped push for better housing policy, and got to meet some of you while tabling or serving food last year. I’m really excited to come back this year! I’ve got some great stuff in the works, I can’t wait to see it all come together. I’m usually hanging out in my office, so feel free to stop by! I love meeting people. Outside of the board, I’ll usually be playing my guitar, or seeing my friends. I also like to play video games and watch movies, when I get the chance. I’m looking forward to seeing you all at our events!
Director of Finance & Operations
Email: finance@uvss.ca
Khushi Wadhwa (she/her)
Director of Finance & Operations
Hi everyone, my name is Khushi Wadhwa. I am currently in my 4th year at UVic as an economics student. I have worked with a lot of clubs and groups on campus in different capacities and I hope to bring my learnings to this role. I am an international student from India who loves a good coffee and an even better conversation (which I hope to have with many of you). I am super excited to work on sustainability initiatives and expanding our insurance coverage wherever possible. Please don’t hesitate to reach out via email or office hours 🙂 I am grateful and honoured to serve you through my role.
Director of Student Affairs
Email: affairs@uvss.ca
Bunni Williams (They/Them)
Director of Student Affairs
Hey! I’m Bunni, and I’m excited to step into the role of Director of Student Affairs! I am a fourth year Sociology and Indigenous Studies major, from the unceded territories of the Katzie, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples whose relationship to the land is ongoing. I’m passionate about improving diversity and inclusion within the UVSS so that we strengthen and serve all UVic students to the best of our ability. I believe that radical love and a strong sense of community are powerful methods of transformation that I want to lead with in my role.
Director of International Student Relations
Director of International Student Relations
Email: internationalrep@uvss.ca
Nico Caparas
Director of International Student Relations
Hello! I’m Nico, a second-year CompSci student from Manila, Philippines, and I currently serve as the Director for International Student Relations. As an international student myself, I understand the struggles that many international students face, such as homesickness, culture shock, concerns about study permits and work, and the high costs of tuition, housing, and food. Therefore, I want to ensure that all international students are aware of the services and resources available to them on campus to address these challenges. I would greatly appreciate your engagement and participation, particularly in the UVSS, as we work to tackle some of the major problems UVic students are currently facing. If you have any problems, questions, concerns, suggestions, or simply need someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to send me an email or drop by the SUB for a quick chat! 🙂
Faculty Directors
Tarek Alakkad
Director of Engineering and Computer Science Student Relations
Naomi Tran
Director of Fine Arts Student Relations
Hey! My name is Naomi and I use she/her pronouns. I grew up in northern BC, situated on the unceded territories of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation. I will be in my second year Visual Arts and Computer science in the fall. In addition, I will be working with the events portfolio this year! In my free time I love exploring different artistic mediums and going on long walks. I am passionate about making a difference and I am excited to be a part of this year’s board of directors.
Kate van Oort
Director of Science Student Relations
Directors at Large
Alisa Atanackovic
Director-at-Large (DaL)
Prym Goodacre
Director-at-Large (DaL)
Hi champions! My name is Prym, and I’m a fourth year humanities student here at UVic. I was born in Victoria on unceded and unsurrendered lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ land. As one of your Directors-at-Large, I’m excited to help the UVSS continue the wonderful work it’s already been doing, and push for even greater change. From lobbying the government for critical housing policy changes, to ensuring our advocacy groups have the power to combat bigotry on and off campus, there is still much work to be done. Championing our union, the voice of our campus united, is such a profound honour, and I can’t wait to start fighting for our collective flourishing. My hobbies include spending far too much time in the SUB (just kidding, there’s no such thing), making really good pasta, and writing little stories. If you ever want to chat about policy, campus life, or Stardew Valley, you can usually find me in the Directors’ offices, the Gender Empowerment Centre, or grabbing a bite to eat at Munchie Bar.
Shaan Brar
Director-at-Large (DaL)
Hi! My name is Shaan and I am a commerce student here at UVIC. I am pleased to be serving UVic and advocating for my campaign promises throughout my term as DAL here with the UVSS. As a UVIC student of numerous years at this point in time, I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the body as a whole. Some of my spare time on campus is usually spent at CARSA, or grabbing a bite to eat in the SUB. If you ever see me around campus, never hesitate to say hi! I look forward to meeting new faces, and I am always up for a chat or a chess game.
Gabrielle Miller
Director-at-Large (DaL)
I am one of UVIC’s proud UVSS Directors-at-Large and a third-year international student hailing from sunny isles of The Bahamas. I am a sociology major with a passion for humanitarianism, specifically how it relates to racialized minorities. Having worked in the legal field for close to a decade, my natural inclination has always been toward the goal of justice and effective representation. Having had the opportunity to volunteer with multiple human rights advocacy groups focused on anti-human trafficking, refugee rehabilitation and women’s rights in North America, Eurasia and Southeastern Africa, I strongly believe in the power of effective leadership, occupying space, deepening educational engagement through the amplification of diverse intellectual voices, and addressing the needs of underrepresented demographics through proactive means. I seek to maintain an open forum of communication with students and constituents in such a way that would yield beneficial outcomes for them at the policy-making level.
Lauren Aimoe
Director-at-Large (DaL)
Lauren Aimoe is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a Combined BSc. in Neurobiology and Psychology with a minor in Indigenous Studies. She comes from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Métis Nation British Columbia but grew up on the land of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Selkirk First Nation, Ta’an Kwach’an Council, Kwanlin Dän kwächa’ǟn and Kluane First Nation. Some of her family names include Ballantyne, Bear, Faulkner and McCallum. Lauren is a traditional Indigenous beadwork artist and draws upon its teachings in much of her academic and governance work. When she is not studying or researching, Lauren enjoys exploring the land when biking or walking, wandering through bookstores, mentoring Indigenous youth and teaching swim lessons and lifesaving. Lauren also has two French Bulldogs who are her favourite study buddies.
Aidan Dias
Director-at-Large (DaL)
Andrew Loe
Director-at-Large (DaL)
Mackenzie McNiven
Director-at-Large (DaL)
Eric Liu
Director-at-Large (DaL)
NATIVE STUDENTS UNION FIREKEEPER
Website: http://uvicnsu.ca
Email: firekeeper@uvicnsu.ca
Delwyn Marcoux (Any/All)
The Native Students’ Union (NSU) Firekeeper
CONSTITUENCY ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES
Callum Carroll-Ireton (Any/All)
Pride Collective Representative
I’m Callum (Any/All), and I am a pan autistic enby studying computer science. I’m representing the UVic Pride group on the UVSS board. My role involves liaising with between the UVSS board and the Pride council, working with the other advocacy groups and the UVSS board to develop policy and put on events, and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community at UVic. I love math, programming, video games, electronic music, and 5+ hour long video essays. You can often find me in the Pride room or the UVSS office at the SUB working on assignments, reading, or watching youtube. As the current advocacy group representative, I look forward to representing our community at the UVSS, and I hope to see you at some of our events!
Website: soccollective.com
Email: soccrep@uvss.ca
Anna King (She/They)
Students of Colour Collective (SOCC) Representative
Hi I’m Anna! (she/they) I am the Board Representative for SOCC! I am a fourth year English student, mixed Sierra Leonean, and have been living on unceded lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ land since 2020. I am here to advocate for the collective’s needs and interests on the Board, and in the interests of BIPOC students attending UVic. Though I cannot speak to each individual’s experience I aim to empower our community and provide the support, care, and solidarity we need. Outside of SOCC, I also love skateboarding and run the club on campus, playing guitar, going to music gigs, and reading books. I am excited to get to know everyone this year, and excited to be on board.
Website: uvicssd.com
Email: ssdrep@uvic.ca
Cate Freeborn (She/Her)
Society for Students with a Disability (SSD) Representative
Cate Freeborn serves as the Advocacy Representative for SSD, working with the Board of Directors and other members of the UVSS to further the interests of disabled and neurodivergent students at UVic.
A fourth-year major in Writing, Cate found herself drawn personally and politically to disability justice following her late diagnoses with autism and ADHD. In her time at SSD, she seeks to advocate for academic accessibility and improvements to material conditions for disabled students, as well as to carve out inclusive and educational social space (including support groups, community events and programming, and so forth).
She’s often seen lingering around the SUB, listening to too-loud music or willing away all her money at Munchie Bar.
Website: genderempowermentcentre.ca
Email: gemrep@uvss.ca
Eric Willis (They/Them)
Gender Empowerment Centre (GEM) Representative
Hey! I’m Eric (they/them), a queer, non-binary, white settler of mixed European descent. I was raised on the territories of the Qualicum First Nation and Snaw-naw-as Mustimuxw Nation and now live here on lək̓ʷəŋən Territory, home to the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ. I am in the final year of my major in Honours Gender Studies and a minor in Applied Ethics. I am passionate about discussing all things gender, settler colonialism, sexuality, and trans-inclusive feminism. Please, feel welcome to visit the GEM Centre in B107 of the Student Union Building to say hello and chat. You may also contact me directly via email.
I am excited to step into the role of the Gender Empowerment Centre (GEM) Board Representative! My responsibilities are to collaborate with other advocacy groups, act as a liaison between the GEM and the UVSS, amplify events and outreach, and advocate for the interests of the GEM community. I have been a GEM collective member since 2020; during this time, I have offered GEM’s Gender Diversity Workshop to UVic students, supported GEM’s annual Sexpo and co-facilitated the Non-Binary/Gender Non-Confirming Community Circle.