The UMGPS office staff members are here to assist you with any and all needs you may have as a graduate student. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have about the UMGPS, our resources, or anything about graduate student life. If you have a question we can’t answer, we will do our best to point you in the right direction.
Note: To enhance work-life balance and productivity, our office will be trialing a flexible work-from-home model every Friday. Rest assured, our commitment to excellent service remains unchanged, and we will continue to be fully reachable during business hours to support your needs.
Office Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (In Office)
- Friday: Remote (Available via Email)
Ngoc Thao (Thalia) Vu, Executive Director (She/her)
execdirector@umgps.org | 204-474-9181
Hello Graduate Students,
Welcome to UMGPS!
In my role, I support the overall operations and continuity of UMGPS, working closely with our Executive Committee, Board of Directors, staff, university partners, and external organizations to ensure that our services, programs, and day-to-day operations continue to support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows effectively.
Before stepping into this role, I served as UMGPS’s Marketing, Communications, and Events Coordinator, where I worked closely with students through our communications, events, publications, and community initiatives. My academic background is in Gender and Development, and I was previously awarded a DAAD scholarship from the German government to pursue graduate studies in the field. Before joining UMGPS, I also gained experience leading student organizations, managing national projects, and working with the United Nations.
At UMGPS, we want students to feel that this is an organization they can approach, participate in, and help shape. Your feedback, ideas, and concerns are important to us, and I am always happy to help connect you with the right person or resource.
Please feel free to contact me if:
- You have questions about UMGPS operations, services, or how to access our resources
- You have feedback, concerns, or suggestions about UMGPS
- You are interested in organizational partnerships or collaboration with UMGPS
- You are unsure who at UMGPS to contact and need help finding the right person
- You have an organizational or administrative matter that requires follow-up
I look forward to working with you and continuing to build a supportive, transparent, and welcoming UMGPS community.
Looking forward to connecting with you!
Marketing, Communications & Events Coordinator
marketing@umgps.org
Will be announced soon.
Alora J. Hayward, Governance & Office Operations Coordinator (She/her)
Hello, I’m Alora, the Governance and Office Operations Coordinator for the University of Manitoba Graduate & Postdoctoral Society (UMGPS). I bring experience in administration, communications, and student support, and I’m dedicated to strengthening transparent governance, efficient operations, and meaningful connections with the graduate student community. As a primary point of contact, I help connect students with UMGPS services, resources, and opportunities.
In my role, I:
1. Support the Executive Director and UMGPS leadership in day-to-day operations and initiatives
2. Coordinate and prepare logistics, agendas, and records for Council and committee meetings
3. Maintain organized and accurate governance documentation to ensure transparency and accountability
4. Manage office communications, reception, scheduling, and shared spaces
5. Assist with events and programming that support graduate student engagement
6. Oversee administrative processes such as conference grant coordination and student support
I’m passionate about creating inclusive, accessible spaces where students feel supported and empowered throughout their academic journeys.
I completed my Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English Literature at the University of Winnipeg (2021) and hold a Master’s degree in English Literature from Queen’s University (2022). I’ve also worked as a Teaching Assistant in the English department at UWinnipeg, giving me firsthand insight into graduate student life and the inner workings of academia.
I look forward to connecting with you!