Board of Directors

Chair

Matt Doyle – As Chair, Matt is responsible for upholding the internal mission and policies of Students Nova Scotia, organizing and chairing meetings, and is the primary spokesperson for the organization. Matt is in his fifth year of studies at St. Francis Xavier University, pursuing an honour degree in Philosophy with a subsidiary in Psychology. He currently serves as the Vice President of External Affairs for the StFX Students’ Union.

Over the coming year, Matt hopes to direct the organization in a way that reflects the needs of students across the province. He plans to work in a constructive capacity with the Province and Universities in order to produce outcomes that actively improve students’ quality of life by continuing to recommend policies that reflect Students Nova Scotia’s values. He looks forward to advocating on policies including creation of university off-campus housing offices, funding of open-educational resources and providing needs-based grants. Removing systemic barriers to education helps to increase the equity of society at large while also contributing to its growth. Matt hopes to build relationships with government and stakeholders to foster long-term improvements in post-secondary education in Nova Scotia.

Contact email: chair@studentsns.ca

Vice-Chair

Sadie McAlear — As Vice-Chair, Sadie works alongside the Chair and Executive Director in supporting the day to day work of the organization and is responsible for the financial accountability of StudentsNS.

Sadie is in her fifth year of studies at Acadia University, pursuing an honours degree in Community Development. She is serving her second term as President of the Acadia Students' Union after her previous two years as the Community Relations Representative on the Union's Council. 

Sadie's goals are to continue the vision of Students Nova Scotia in advocating for affordable, accessible, and quality education, all while delivered through a unified student voice. She is looking forward to continuing building relationships with government and amplifying the voices of students across Nova Scotia to address long term sustainable paths forward, reducing barriers for current and future students studying within the province. 

Contact email: vicechair@studentsns.ca

Meet our Board Members

Acadia Students’ Union

Benjamin Morris

Position: Vice President Academic & External

Sam Taylor

Position: Vice President Events & Promotions

Cape Breton University Students’ Union

Sahilpreet Singh Chatha

Position: President

Otoibhi Gideon

Position: Executive Vice President

Saint Mary’s University Student Association

Shiray Tan

Position: President

Anubhav Gupta

Position: Vice President Advocacy

St. FX Students’ Union (The U)

Sophia Fabiano

Position: President

Julianne Drake

Position: Vice President Finance & Operations

Meet our Observers

Dalhousie Students Union

Mariam Knakriah

Position: President

Former Board Members

2022-23

• Sadie McAlear, ASU President

• Brendan Roberts, STFXSU President

• Marcel Desmond, STFXSU Secondary Delegate

• Ben Fairhurst, STFXSU VP External (Vice-Chair)

• Damanpreet Singh, CBUSU President

• Peter Oyedijo, CBUSU Executive Vice President

• Kyle Cook, SMUSA VP Advocacy (Chair)

• Emily Meyers, SMUSA VP Academic

2021-22

• Matthew Stanbrook, ASU President (Vice-Chair)

• Tanvi Dabas, ASU VP Events and Promotions

• Megan Cyr, ASU VP Academic and External

• Jack Irvin, STFXSU President

• Naomi Stobart, STFXSU Chair of Council

• Ben Fairhurst, STFXSU VP External (Chair)

• Brandi Jean Lind, NSCC Marconi President

• Subash Raj Natarajan, NSCC Marconi VP Communications

• Adrian White, SMUSA VP External

• Kyle Cook, SMUSA VP Advocacy (Vice-Chair)

2020-21

• Brendan MacNeil, ASU President

• Lydia Houck, ASU Vice-President Academic and External (Vice Chair)

• Robbie Holmes, ASU Vice-President Student Life

• Sarah Elliott, STFXSU President

• Bryn DeChastelain, SMUSA President

• Samantha Graham, SMUSA Vice-President External (Chair)

• Salma Maisha, SMUSA Societies Coordinator

• Daniel Abbott, NSCC Kingstec President

• Afifa Qurath, NSCC Kingstec Vice-President Services

2019-20

• Kyle Vandertoorn, ASU President

• Mackenzie Jarvin, ASU Vice-President Academic and External (Vice Chair)

• Robbie Holmes, ASU Vice-President Student Life

• Cecil VanBuskirk, STFXSU President

• Sarah Elliott, STFXSU Vice-President External Affairs

• Mary Navas, SMUSA President (Chair)

• Bryn DeChastelain, SMUSA Vice-President Academic and External

• Kevin Mullen, SMUSA Vice-President Equity

2018-19

• George Philp, ASU President

• Makenzie Branch, ASU Vice-President Academic & External

• Rebecca Mesay, STFXSU President

• Clancy McDaniel STFXSU Vice-President External (Chair)

• Will Fraser, STFXSU Secondary Delegate

• Ossama Nasrallah, SMUSA President (Vice Chair)

• Denis Amirault, SMUSA Vice-President Advancement

2017-18

• Grace Hamilton-Burge, ASU President

• Samantha Nixon, ASU Vice-President Academic & External

• Annie Sirois, STFXSU President

• Zakariyah Chatur STFXSU Vice-President External

• Tiffany Maclennan, STFXSU Vice-President Academic

• Ossama Nasrallah, SMUSA President

• Lawson Morassutti, SMUSA Vice-President Equity & Wellness

• Lesley McGill, NSCC Kingstec

• Shantell Fletcher, NSCC AVC

2016-17

• Sam Sproule, ASU President

• Brianna Jarvin, ASU Vice-President Academic & External

• Taylor Chase, STFXSU President

• Annie Sirois, STFXSU Vice-President External

• Kazi Rahman, SMUSA President

• Collette Robert, SMUSA Vice-President Equity & Wellness

• Ben Gaunce, SMUSA Vice-President University Affairs

• Johnathan Lawley, NSCCSA AVC

2015-16

• Roy Karam, Student Union President, CBUSU

• Brandon MacDonald Vice President, CBUSU

• Fallis Thompson (Chair), ASU

• Brandon Ellis (Vice President, University Affairs), CBU

• Peter Mackinnon Nicolson (Vice President, College Affairs), Middleton SA

• Scott Byrne (Treasurer), SMU

• Candace McNeill, ASTSU

• Daniel MacDonald, ASTSU

• Liam Murphy (May 2015 – October 2015), ASU

• Suzanne Gray (October 2015 – May 2016), ASU

• Rebecca Macisaac, CBUSU

• Samantha Libbus, CBUSU

• Cory Feres, Kingstec SA

• Tyler Yorke, Middleton SA

• Emily Gale, StFXSU

• Troy Mrazek, StFXSU

• Rachel MacDonald, SMUSA

• Megan Neil (May 2015 – October 2015), SMUSA

• Collette Robert (November 2015 – May 2015), SMUSA

2014-15

• Brandon Hamilton (President Jan 2015- August 2015), StFXSU

• James Patriquin (President August 2014-Dec 2014), SMUSA

• Callie Lathem (Vice President, University Affairs Jan 2015-August 2015), ASU

• Alicia Siliker (Vice President, University Affairs August 2014- Dec 2014), StFX

• Scott Bryne (Vice President, College Affairs), Kingstec SA

• Ramz Aziz (Vice President, Administration), DSU

• Katie Flynn, ASTSU

• Alicia Cox, ASTSU

• Liam Murphy, ASU

• Sarah Hines, CBUSU

• Brandon Ellis, CBUSU

• Jacqueline Skiptunis, DSU

• Alexander Elderkin, Kingstec SA

• Ben Gunn-Doerge, StFXSU

• Amali Armony, SMUSA

• Hamid Dhaduk, SMUSA

2013-14

• Matthew Rios (Vice Chair), ASU

• Darcy Shea, ASU

• Anne Hoganson, ASTSU

• Jonathan LeBlanc, ASTSU

• Matthew Latimer (Treasurer), CBUSU

• Brennan Boudreau, CBUSU

• Jessica Compagnon, DASA

• Sagar Jha, DSU

• Aaron Beale, DSU

• Jeremy Mott, Kingstec NSCCSA

• Alexander Elderkin, Kingstec NSCCSA

• Benjamin Gunn-Doerge, StFXSU

• Amy Brierley (Chair), StFXSU

• Gorba Bhandari, SMUSA

• Jared Perry, SMUSA

• Paul Rukidi, SMUSA

• Michael MacDonell, SMUSA

2012-2013

• Matthew Rios, ASU

• Kyle Power (Chair), ASU

• Robert Bossler, ASTSU

• Jesse Smith, ASTSU

• Michelle Lahey (Vice Chair), CBUSU

• Alana Lawrence, CBUSU

• Jamie Arron, DSU

• Aaron Beale, DSU

• Nick Head-Petersen, StFXSU

• Patrick Carruthers (Treasurer), StFXSU

• Jared Perry, SMUSA

• Michael MacDonell, SMUSA

2011-2012

• Ben Jessome, ASU

• Kyle Power (Chair), ASU

• Kent Greer, ASTSU

• Billy Crowley, CBUSU

• Chris Saulnier, DSU

• Sara Bouchard (Vice Chair), DSU

• Olwyn Foley, StFXSU

• Mariah MacKeigan, StFXSU

• Alwyn Gomez (Treasurer), SMUSA

• Sarah MacDonald, SMUSA

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