2025/26 Executive Candidates
UMGPS 2026-2027 Executive Nominations
See below for a list of executive profiles. The candidates names are listed below in alphabetical order by first name and are sorted by the position they have applied for. The election takes place solely online and you will receive a link in your University of Manitoba email account that will connect you to your ballot.
President & Senator:
Emma Heath (Kinesiology and Recreation, M.Sc.)
Uche Nwankwo (Biosystems Engineering, Ph.D.)
Vice-President Academic & Senator:
Janie Dupuis (Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, M.Sc.)
Laleema Senanayake (Peace & Conflict Studies, Ph.D.)
Manish Dhakal (Mechanical Engineering, M.Sc.)
Muhammad Aldhshan (Physiology & Pathology, Ph.D.)
Vice-President External & Senator:
Lamia Mahzabin (Natural Resources Institute, M.N.R.M)
Vice-President Equity & Inclusion:
Kyra Swenson (Management Interdisciplinary, M.B.A.)
Vice-President Events & Clubs:
Abiodun Adejumo (Food Science, M.Sc.)
President & Senator
Emma Heath (Kinesiology and Recreation, M.Sc.)
Hello, my name is Emma Heath, and I am running for President & Senator of UMGPS. I am an MSc student in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, where I currently serve as the co-chair of GSKARMA, our faculty’s graduate student association. Over the past six months, I have been at the forefront of a member-led campaign to reinstate departmental grants and increase accountability among the UMGPS Executive. If I am elected President & Senator, I will use every resource at my disposal to continue this initiative, as well as remain dedicated to the ongoing development and implementation of programs that directly support graduate students, such as the conference grant program, holiday hamper program, and department and club funding initiatives. Regardless of who you vote for this election, I hope every graduate student gets out there and votes!
Uche Nwankwo (Biosystems Engineering, Ph.D.)
During my Master’s degree program, I served two terms as a Senator, served in different Senate committees, and initiated several projects. I maintained good relationships with students, office staff, my colleagues, and the UofM administration.
I made efforts to ensure that our campaign promises were implemented. I initiated a survey to document food insecurity among members and the high food costs on our campus. Although the survey results were not published (as feedback to members and the university community), members reported high levels of food insecurity and documented some coping strategies to address the problem. I am result-oriented, diplomatic, collaborative, and highly resourceful.
In response to that problem, I initiated the Campus Gardening project to reduce food insecurity, improve mental health, and foster community integration. Within 2 years, I have given away free seedlings to over 700 students, community members, and university staff. I also liaised with Donor Relations to raise funds for the campus forestry initiative (CFI).
I am very proactive; when I see challenges, I see solutions, and I collaborate/network strategically to solve the problem. I collaborated with St. Paul’s College to secure a space for campus gardening. Last year, I collaborated with several stakeholders, including the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, and mobilized over 150 students to grow over 50,000 seedlings, which were handed out to more than 450 people.
Vice-President Academic & Senator
Janie Dupuis (Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, M.Sc.)
I am in the first year of a MSc in Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, which is based out of the Bannatyne campus. Currently, I serve as the Events Representative for our departmental student association (BMG-GSA), where I have had the opportunity to oversee the planning, marketing and execution of a wide range of academic and non-academic events. Through this position, I have actively worked to enrich our departmental environment by facilitating opportunities for peer networking, professional development and community building. Previously, I had the privilege of serving as the President of the UM Pep Band Club in the 2024/25 academic year, which required strong leadership capabilities and strategic communication essential in providing guidance to our members, leading rehearsals and coordinating performances.
In recent years, there has not been a significant RFHS (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences) representation in the UMGPS. Combined with the physical distance between the two campuses, this has resulted in a disconnect between the Fort-Garry and Bannatyne campuses. By running for this position, I aim to create awareness, provide representation from the Bannatyne campus and bridge the gap between various UM campuses.
With regards to my vision for this role, I plan to provide resources and workshops to support students in project planning, presentation preparation and time management that would benefit graduate students in navigating their academic career, which I have experience in doing through my role as Events Representative in the BMG-GSA. Finally, I hope to provide additional opportunities for students to present their research and increase the number of available awards. If I get elected as your VP Academic and Senator, I would make sure to create a successful academic environment for all the graduate students at the University of Manitoba.
Laleema Senanayake (Peace & Conflict Studies, Ph.D.)
My name is Laleema, and I am seeking an opportunity to serve you as the Vice President Academic Affairs and Senator of the UMGPS.
Through this position I wish to raise awareness about the resources and opportunities available to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows so they can succeed academically while balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. I am committed to working with UMGPS leadership to expand access to resources that support graduate research, including opportunities for conference participation and publication, so that students’ important work becomes more visible within academic and professional communities. I also plan to work closely with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows employed at the University of Manitoba to better understand their needs and represent their concerns to the university administration.
I come to you with over two decades of experience in volunteering with institutional development, global level fund raising and building supportive academic and professional networks; while raising a young family and navigating the challenges of migrating to a new home.
Manish Dhakal (Mechanical Engineering, M.Sc.)
As a second-year MSc student in Mechanical Engineering and a newly elected MEGSA Senator, I am just beginning my journey in student governance – but that fresh perspective is exactly what I bring to this role.
Having recently gone through the process of settling into graduate life at the University of Manitoba, I understand the confusion, the gaps in information, and the challenges that many graduate students face every day, from finding funding opportunities to understanding their academic rights.
I am running for Vice-President, Academic Affairs & Senator because I genuinely care about making graduate student life better. As VPAA, I will focus on making UMGPS grants more accessible and easier to understand, organizing workshops and events that are actually useful for graduate students, and making sure students know their rights when academic challenges arise. I am a quick learner, I am not afraid to ask questions, and I am committed to putting in the work to represent the over 3,700 graduate students at this university with honesty and dedication during the 2026–2027 term.
Muhammad Aldhshan (Physiology & Pathology, Ph.D.)
Being a graduate student is a balancing act that often feels like a full-time job, because it is. Between my PhD research in Physiology and my professional work in health system performance, I’ve felt the same pressures you do; the weight of funding uncertainty, the complexity of university policies, and the looming question of “what comes next.”
I am not just running for Vice-President Academic to attend meetings; I am running because I have already been in the trenches doing the work for you. Whether it was coordinating over 60 seminars to help students network or advocate for community as an HSGSA Executive; my focus has always been on making our graduate experience more than just “surviving.”
In the Senate, I won’t just be a name on a list. I will use my background in quality improvement and policy management to challenge outdated systems and ensure that the UMGPS grants, and academic supports are transparent, fair, and easy to access. I want to ensure that the university treats us as the professional researchers and essential contributors we are. I’m asking you to vote to turn our shared concerns into actual policy changes that give us more time to focus on what matters: our research, and our futures. I will always be available to support you!
Vice-President External & Senator
Lamia Mahzabin (Natural Resources Institute, M.N.R.M)
I believe graduate students deserve strong and strategic advocacy. As VPEA, my goal would be to create meaningful relationships with external stakeholders to address students’ concerns. Last year, I served as VPAA and gained experience on advocacy and leadership. This year, I would like to continue serving the students and representing their voices beyond the campus – at the government levels.
Vice-President Equity & Inclusion
Kyra Swenson (Management Interdisciplinary, M.B.A.)
Professionally, I have spent nearly twenty years as an educator. Much of that time has been spent working with marginalized communities who face barriers to equitable service delivery due to their race, immigration status, physical or learning disability, economic background, sexual orientation, or a combination of these factors. In designing educational experiences, I have always strived to ensure every student has an opportunity to reach their full potential in a safe and welcoming space. I am also a cofounder of a grassroots advocacy organization, and am familiar with championing change within established power structures. Personally, I have a formal ADHD diagnosis, indigenous Hawaiian ancestry, and identify as bisexual. My lived experience, including raising my own neurodivergent children and regularly advocating for their educational accommodations, has driven me to champion communities that are open to all. I hope to be a resource not only for equity deserving graduate students, but
for faculty, departments, and social groups that wish to center equity and inclusion in their policies and practices.
Vice-President Events & Clubs
Abiodun Adejumo (Food Science, M.Sc.)
Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows deserve a campus experience that is engaging, inclusive, and connected. Beyond research, teaching, and academic responsibilities, a strong UMGPS community is built through shared experiences, collaboration, and effective representation.
My campaign is driven by a commitment to increase engagement across the graduate and postdoctoral community, strengthen support and visibility for clubs, and promote collaboration across faculties and disciplines. Well-planned events and empowered clubs play a central role in creating a vibrant, welcoming, and supportive environment for both graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Inclusive programming will be a priority by working closely with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and clubs to identify their interests, needs, and schedules. Regular, accessible, and events will encourage participation while ensuring that activities are relevant, meaningful, and impactful for the entire community.
Strong leadership also means ensuring clubs have the tools they need to succeed. Clear communication, accessible information on funding opportunities, and consistent promotion through UMGPS platforms will help clubs grow, increase visibility, and strengthen their impact on campus.
Building community requires collaboration. Supporting cross-faculty networking, interdisciplinary engagement, and joint club initiatives will help break down silos and create lasting connections among graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Through intentional planning, accountability, and collaboration, a stronger and more connected UMGPS community can be achieved.