This is your leadership

The Students' Union President is the primary spokesperson of the Students' Union. This position oversees all the other executives, as well as the organization's strategy, operations, employees, advocacy and more! This wide-ranging position is responsible for an enormous range of tasks, including heading major initiatives, working with the Board of Governors and the General Faculties Council and advocating on behalf of students to the University administration and all levels of government.

Lisa Glock (she/her) is entering her fifth year of a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Political Science and Women’s & Gender Studies, with certificates in Leadership, International Learning, and Sustainability. Lisa strives to build connections and foster community through all avenues of her work. She wants to promote equity of access on campus and advocate for climate action. She wants to make university an easier, safer, and more enjoyable time for all students. As someone who has always been interested in social justice and activism, Lisa wants to foster advocacy on campus and ensure students can always make their voices heard. 

Sustainability is also a large priority for her in this role working towards a greener campus. Lisa grew up in small-town Alberta after her parents immigrated from Germany in 2005. Her dual citizenship of Germany and Canada inspired her to partake in international learning which furthered her passion for sustainability. Lisa has been involved on campus throughout her time at the U of A, by participating in various student groups, working as a TA, volunteering as a U of A Ambassador, and sitting on the Registrar’s Office Student Advisory Committee.

Outside of her time at the UofA Lisa is an avid reader, runs a book club in her free time, and enjoys hiking with her dog.

The Vice-President Academic is responsible for all advocacy related to academic issues at the University of Alberta. This position sits on many board and committees, including the Students' Union Policy Committee, the General Faculties Council, multiple GFC standing committees and subcommittees, the Council of Faculty Associations and its working groups and more. It works closely with all of the student faculty and department associations to ensure that students receive the best possible education at the University of Alberta.

Layla Alhussainy | ليلى الحسيني (she/her) is your 2024-25 Vice President Academic. Layla recently completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Religious Studies and is now currently an Open Studies student. Layla was previously the Vice President Internal for her faculty association, the Organization for Arts Students and Interdisciplinary Studies (OASIS), where she sat on the Council of Faculty Associations (CoFA) and also represented her Arts faculty as a General Faculties Council (GFC) member.

Layla is devoted to enhancing accessibility for every student across all three campuses, ensuring they can reach their full potential and thrive academically. She is committed to pushing for an increased culture of inclusivity and dismantling barriers to learning. Layla is working on promoting the integration of mandatory Indigenous course content, advocating for the expansion of online learning options, and starting dialogue around the establishment of clear guidelines for the use of AI in education as a tool. Additionally, she will push for improvements to the exam deferral process and will uphold affordability by expanding the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiative. Moreover, Layla prioritizes transparency and open communication between student representatives and the student community, as she values the importance of fostering an environment conducive to student awareness and academic success for all.

Outside of governance, Layla loves spending time with her family and friends, reading, and eating fried chicken.

The Vice-President External is focused primarily on external advocacy, working with the municipal, provincial and federal governments on issues that impact students, such as tuition, financial aid, and student debt. The person in this position frequently meets with MLAs and MPs to advocate on behalf of students. The "VPX" works closely with post-secondary lobby groups, including the Council of Alberta University Students and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations.

Abdul Abbasi (he/him) is your Vice President External for the 2024/2025 term. Born in Pakistan, he is entering his fourth year of a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Law, Crime, and Justice at Augustana Campus. Abdul has been involved in student governance since his first year, starting as an off-campus councillor in his faculty association and later representing the Augustana Campus at the Students' Union (SU) and General Faculties Council (GFC).

As Vice President External, Abdul is committed to representing students to municipal, provincial, and federal governments to secure the best possible outcomes. This year, his focus includes advocating for affordable education, securing more grants for students, and improving overall student support.

Abdul is dedicated to expanding his advocacy efforts and improving student consultation. Your voice matters! If you have any concerns or would like to discuss external advocacy topics, please feel free to reach out via email, book a meeting on his calendar, or visit him at 2-900. We’re here to listen and work for you, and we always want to hear your thoughts and concerns.

Outside of governance, Abdul enjoys watching sports and spending time with friends.

The Vice-President Operations & Finance (also known as the "VP Ops Fi") oversees the UASU's $11 million annual budget, and is responsible for policy and strategy at the UASU's many businesses, including Dewey's, Room at the Top, the Daily Grind, SUBprint and more. This position also helps oversee the operation of the Students' Union Building, including tenancy agreements, and sits on a variety of committees and boards related to the dispersal of Dedicated Fee Units.

Levi Flaman (he/him) is your UASU Vice President Operations & Finance. A fourth year Bachelor of Commerce student, Levi is majoring in East Asian Business Studies with a minor in Business Economics & Law. Throughout his degree, he has been involved in various capacities around campus, including working at InfoLink; volunteering with Orientation & Week of Welcome, Safewalk and International Student Services; and being elected to Students’ Council, General Faculties Council and the Board of Governors.

Levi’s platform largely centers around affordability. During his term, he hopes to band together with other student associations to increase our purchasing power, to reduce costs for goods and services the organization spends money on. He will also focus on bolstering the UASU’s non-student revenue streams to reduce reliance on student revenue such as membership fees and prices in our businesses (Daily Grind, Dewey’s, Room at the Top, and Balmoral Lounge). He is also working to secure more student discount opportunities for our members on and off campus.

Outside of academic and extracurricular activities, Levi spends his free time playing video games or watching East Asian films and television shows. If you have any recommendations, send them his way!

The wide-ranging portfolio of the Vice-President Student Life includes non-academic advocacy on issues that impact students, which can include everything from mental health to residence. The VP Student Life is also the executive responsible for much of the programming and events put on by the Students' Union, as well as services like the Peer Support Centre.

Renson Alva (he/they) is your UASU Vice President Student Life for the 2024/25 academic year. He is entering his fifth year of a Biological Sciences degree, with a minor in Sociology. Renson grew up in the tiny island Kingdom of Bahrain before moving to Edmonton in 2020 to pursue his degree. He has been involved on campus throughout his degree in various volunteer roles, living and working as a student-staff in residence for three years. 

As the UASU renews its strategic plan, Renson hopes to continue the advocacy efforts of past executives to ensure you get the most out of your university experience. They will be working with their counterparts in the university administration to further student wellness, equity, diversity, inclusivity and accessibility on-campus. He will also be working on improvements at our residences and engage our communities in Augustana and Campus Saint Jean.

Renson is always looking to expand their advocacy efforts and student consultation. If you are ever in need of support, have concerns to raise or would simply like to chat about anything student life, please reach out to Renson by email, book a meeting on their calendar or swing by SUB 2-900 :)

Fun Fact: Renson’s name is derived from a fusion of his dad’s name (Nelson) and mom’s name (Renita).