Our Board of Director
Afroza Parvin (Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ph.D)
Hello Bison!
I am a third-year PhD student in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. My research focuses on investigating the mechanisms of a rare neurological disorder linked to autism, seizures, and epilepsy. Beyond my research, I am actively involved in student leadership and volunteer activities.
I am currently working as the Councilor for my department, working with department administration and the HSGSA to support student needs and improve graduate student experience. I also assisted in organizing events such as the Brain Bee Competition and the Manitoba Neuroscience Network Conference and participated in mentorship initiatives. These experiences have strengthened my leadership skills and prepared me to serve as an UMGPS Board of Director.
As a graduate student, I understand the challenges students face and I am committed to representing their interests, promoting open communication, student engagement, and working collaboratively with students and board members to create opportunities that enhance graduate student experience.
Angela Okware (Finance, M.Fin)
My name is Angela Okware, and I am currently pursuing a Master of Finance at the Asper School of Business. I am passionate about finance, data analysis, generating meaningful insights, and improving processes to drive better outcomes.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University and an MBA from Edinburgh Business School.
Having lived in Winnipeg for the past year, I have enjoyed becoming part of the University of Manitoba community and am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the graduate student experience.
With extensive international experience in finance, I have managed budget cycles exceeding USD 20 million for multinational organizations, overseeing financial planning, budgeting, performance monitoring, and reporting. I have also led policy localization initiatives, ensuring global financial policies are effectively adapted to local business environments.
I am committed to responsible financial stewardship, transparency, and supporting initiatives that create value for our graduate student community. I look forward to working collaboratively with the UMGPS team and engaging with students to ensure our resources are managed effectively and in ways that best support your academic and professional journey.
Ganesh Tailor (Applied Health Sciences, Ph.D)
Ganesh Tailor is a PhD student in Applied Health Sciences who specializes in human movement sciences. His academic background includes a Master of Science studying perception and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, which underpins research projects focused on perceptual-motor control, sport and exercise, and clinical rehabilitation pathways.
Ganesh has worked for several years as a course and lab instructor in biomechanics, kinesiology, and other human sciences, bringing extensive experience in academic governance, curriculum design, and student mentorship. As a representative on the Board of Directors, he is committed to advocating for graduate student resources, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting the academic and professional development of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows across the university community.
Jennifer C. Amadi (Jenny) (Peace and Conflict Studies, M.A)
Jennifer C. Amadi (Jenny) is a graduate student at the University of Manitoba in the Joint Master’s Program (JMP) in Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS).
Before beginning her PACS program, she earned a doctorate in Gender and Development Studies in Nigeria. Her thesis examined the social effects of sexual violence on women of reproductive age in nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers State. Jenny specializes in qualitative research, designing and implementing programmatic activities, training and facilitation, and developing and drafting research outputs for policy advocacy, convening, and other knowledge and learning products.
Thematically, Jenny’s work addresses gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, family planning, menstrual dignity, women’s nutrition, water justice, peacebuilding, localizing feminist approaches in violence against women and girls, and philanthropic funding. Currently, she works as a student researcher at the Centre for Human Rights Research at the University of Manitoba on the Just WATERS project, where she conducts archival research and coordinates the Open Education Resource and learning resources for the Speakers’ Bureau for grade 11 and 12 high school students.
Joel Robinson (Environment & Geography, M.Sc)
My name is Joel Robinson, and I am an M.Sc. student in Environment & Geography at the Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS), within the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources.
Prior to starting my studies at the University of Manitoba, I spent 9 years at Wilfrid Laurier University helping faculty integrate technology into their teaching and supporting the campus community with the learning management system. Before that, I spent nearly 6 years in software development, implementing solutions at colleges and universities across North America, including the world’s largest career services, co-op, and work-integrated learning programs. As an undergraduate student, I served as Vice President of Public Affairs for the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union, where I led communications and marketing for the organization while managing a substantial budget, several staff, and over 100 volunteers.
I am joining the UMGPS Board of Directors because I am passionate about student issues. I want to help ensure the Society remains responsive to the needs of graduate and postdoctoral students. I care deeply about organizational transparency and believe students are best served when governance decisions are clear, accountable, and open to scrutiny. I hope to contribute to setting a strategic direction that balances immediate student needs with sustainable long-term goals.
Outside of my research, I am passionate about sports, nature, people, travel, and learning. In my limited spare time, I can be found at the gym, playing guitar, going for a hike, or spending time with friends.
Maheshika Jayasinghe (Biosystems Engineering, Ph.D)
I am Maheshika Jayasinghe, a PhD student in the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba. My research focuses on modifying pulse grain microstructure and developing predictive models to understand structure–function relationships induced by infrared and microwave technologies.
Beyond research, I have been actively involved in leadership roles, student advocacy, and community engagement. I currently serve as the Secretary of the Biosystems Engineering Graduate Student Association (BioEgrads). At the University of Manitoba, I have contributed to student advocacy through the Poverty Awareness and Community Action (PACA) program and served as a Sustainability Ambassador. My volunteer experiences with WISE Kid-Netic Energy, Let’s Talk Science, and Science Rendezvous have further strengthened my commitment to community engagement and science outreach.
As a graduate student, I understand the diverse academic, professional, and personal challenges faced by graduate students. I am committed to bringing a collaborative and student-focused perspective to the UMGPS Board of Directors, advocating for graduate student needs, strengthening communication and engagement, and working with students and university partners to create meaningful opportunities that enhance graduate student experience.
Stephanie Sagoe (Law, LL.M)
I’m Stephanie Sagoe, an LLM candidate at Robson Hall Faculty of Law, specializing in Employment law, public policy, and youth and family law. I moved to Winnipeg in 2026 after more than a decade building a career in Ghana — in sales management, business development, and healthcare administration — including growing a distributor network of over 40,000 women from the ground up.
I hold an MBA from Accra Business School and a BA from the University of Ghana, and this LLM is actually my second master’s degree, and the first on my mother’s side of the family. That matters to me — I want my children, nieces, and nephews to see that further education is always within reach, no matter where you’re starting from.
Outside my studies, I’ve spent years training women across Ghana to start and run their own businesses, and I coordinate a youth program at my church that walks graduating students through the transition to their next chapter. I currently serve on the UMGPS Board of Directors, and I’m looking forward to contributing even more to our graduate community here at the University of Manitoba.
Tashfia Fatema (Computer Science, M.Sc)
Hello everyone,
I am Tashfia. I am a second-year M.Sc. student in the Department of Computer Science. My current work examines how young children express cultural identity through computational making, and how that expression shapes their interest in STEM. I just spent the summer designing and running my first pilot workshop camp. I have also worked on other multidisciplinary domains like algorithmic repression on social media and telepresence human-robot interaction.
Before coming to Winnipeg, I completed my undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Engineering at the Military Institute of Science and Technology in Bangladesh. I then spent three years working in the industry before starting my Master’s. Outside of my work, I like volunteering for causes, travelling, and taking dance classes every once in a while.
I believe graduate students deserve a real say in the decisions that shape their time here, which is primarily why I am joining the board. As a graduate student myself, I have had my experiences, and I understand how difficult things can get sometimes due to unclear information, lack of support and funding, or long procedures. I hope to contribute towards creating a space where graduate students feel they belong, where they will have stronger support, and where their postgraduate journey will be much smoother.
Thirukumaran Ramesh (Biosystems Engineering, Ph.D)
Thirukumaran Ramesh is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba and a researcher in the Smart Food Engineering Laboratory. His research focuses on smart agri-food engineering, food processing, non-destructive sensing, post-harvest quality, and advanced processing technologies, with a particular emphasis on improving the quality, storage stability, and value of Canadian-grown pulses and oilseeds. His research has been conducted with the continued mentorship and support of his supervisor, Dr. Chyngyz Erkinbaev.
Thirukumaran has been an active member of the University of Manitoba graduate student community for the past two years, serving in several leadership and representative roles within UMGPS. His contributions have included serving as a Graduate Student Counsellor and as a representative on several committees, including the Gala Committee. He currently serves as a Representative on the Governance and Strategy Committee of UMGPS. He has also been actively involved in his home department through the Biosystems Engineering Graduate Students Association (BioEGrads), where he has served as Treasurer and Graduate Student Representative. In addition, he has contributed to the broader University and community through roles such as a Bison Regional Science Fair Judge and an Alumni Influence Award Committee Representative.
Through these experiences, Thirukumaran has developed a strong commitment to graduate student advocacy, leadership, collaboration, and community engagement. As a member of the Board of Directors of UMGPS, he is committed to representing graduate student perspectives and contributing to initiatives that strengthen the graduate student experience at the University of Manitoba.