Board of Directors
SFPIRG is governed by a volunteer board of directors. They are elected annually and they help to govern the direction, vision and growth of the organization. They take part in strategic planning, attend regular meetings, participate in SFPIRG's Committees (including HR, Finance, Anti-Oppression, etc), and are generally active in the organization's work. To contact the board directly, please email board@sfpirg.ca. This year's board of directors began their term in May 2013 and they will retire at the end of April 2014.
DRUM ROLL PLEASE FOR OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2013-14....
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Loryn R. Blower (SFU Student)
Loryn transferred here after two years as an Environmental Studies student at Douglas College. She is pursuing a major in Environmental Geography at SFU and is keen on the human side of Geography. These studies have formally prepared Loryn for examining the complex nature of social and environmental justice. This passion has translated into board representation in the First Nations Student Association at SFU, as well as working with Indigenous Recruitment and now board participation at SFPIRG. Loryn is passionate about all aspects of environmental justice, but her strongest interests lie within racial justice, feminism/queer theory, and indigenous justice. She often poses questions to her peers such as; “why is there such a strong divide between interest in caring for the environment and caring for marginalized people?” Loryn feels that social and environmental justice cannot be separated to be solved and in order to have environmental justice we must analyze and adapt the pervasive social norms we utilize on all scales. She believes in effectively challenging social stereotypes with active education and participation in order to make the world a place for people and not profit.
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Jahanzeb Hussain (SFU Student)
Jahanzeb Hussain is majoring in Political Science, which he hates, and minoring in French, which he likes. After living in his native city of Karachi, Pakistan for 19 years, he left that country 6 years ago and gave a shot to cities like Montreal, Paris, and Vancouver. Vancouver is his favorite city so far and he feels pretty settled here. He is involved in the city’s community through several groups such as SFPIRG, Westcoast Sheen, Afghans United for Justice, and others. He’s also a radio host on Vancouver Co-op radio. He writes and blogs as well. You can always enjoy reading his sophisticated rants on Facebook, too. He’s good at pretending that he reads a lot, even though he hasn’t read a book for the past 12 months. He would like to see his fellow students become aware of their surroundings and feel a sense of responsibility toward the community and the world. In the future, he hopes to become a professor and researcher. He also likes to travel, learn new languages, read poetry, and watch football. Arsenal is his favorite team, and his first and only love. He hates Manchester United with a passion. Over the years he has also established that he has an amazing taste in Qawwali, which is a South Asian musical genre.
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Sophia Salem (SFU Student)
Social justice, to me, is greatly contingent on complete sovereignty of the self and replacing tolerance with active acceptance as the new social norms. I have past experience working in collaboration with SFPIRG to host an anti-oppression workshop, and have volunteered and participated in a number of social and environmental justice groups, conferences and initiatives for several years outside of SFPIRG. From my involvement with this organization and others, I have gained skills and an increased awareness of a number of social justice issues. I hope that on the board of directors I will have the chance to share my ideas on how to increase the public's familiarity and understanding of the concept of anti-oppression, body sovereignty and acceptance. This opportunity to work with like-minded individuals and effect change on campus as well as in the community strikes me as a very valuable opportunity, one that I know I will be actively contributing to.
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Alyssa Serpa (SFU Student)
Alyssa Serpa is entering her fifth and final year of studies, pursuing a major in geography and extended minor in music. Although sometimes referred to as “he”, Alyssa enjoys the pronoun “she” because she likes the idea of challenging what “she” can mean. Alyssa was drawn to her studies in Geography by deep concern for, and interest in, our relationships with the environment and each other as people. After participating in The Change Lab and Semester in Dialogue this past year she has gained insight into the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to societal change, as well as the necessity of supportive communities. She constantly strives to balance critical perspectives with compassion for the complex everyday realities we all face, while choosing to make allies, not enemies, whenever possible. Outside of school Alyssa spends her time sweating it out in restaurant kitchens and on the street practicing parkour, as well as indulging her often neglected musical side whenever possible. At the moment, Alyssa is very passionate about pursuing personal sustainability and promoting the practice of self-care.
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Kevin Estrada (SFU Student)
Kevin Estrada is a 20 year-old boy living in the inclement town of Vancouver, British Columbia; it is uncertain and premature to say whether or not he will be taking his proverbial journey of life soon. But no matter the future metaphorical cul-de-sac he is bound to get himself into, he knows that he still will – and eventually – be on the right track because he was born this way (Kevin always takes Lady GaGa’s messages to heart). Kevin is also very affectionate, but only when it comes to sarcasm, satire, and irony. It should be noted that this young man’s affections has garnered himself a tight-knit group of like minded individuals who communicate strictly through insults and bodily harm; he likes to call these individuals, his friends, to which without them, he’d be sane.
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HarSimran Kalra (SFU Student)
I have the drive, desire and passion to do something in regards to social and environmental justice and engaging students therein. As a board member, I realize the potential the SFPIRG has, in terms of bringing the SFU community together on issues relating to social & environmental justice and bringing about positive social change. I have always been interested in student engagement and involving youth in ideas, dialogues, and encouraging them to take action within the greater society. This interest has manifested itself, intentionally or not-so-intentionally, in various aspects of my life- i.e.- in my involvement with peer programs as a Career peer advisor, SFU Orientation leader & inclusivity trainer for Orientation leaders, a peer researcher and access/ accommodations aide- advocating, providing educational materials and accommodations for my student clients for SFU Centre for students with Disabilities. I also sit on the board of a non-for-profit society, that works towards taking action and spreading awareness & to connect folks with mental health and addictions issues with culturally specific resources while striving to fight stigma related to the above within the community.
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Elisyha Ali (SFU Alumnus & Community Member)
I recently graduated from SFU with a degree in Economics and a Certificate in Sustainable Community Development. I am positive, passionate and an energetic person who strives to motivate others and myself. I constantly try to improve myself by continuously
learning, gaining skills and listening to people’s experiences and perspectives. Where would I want to be in 5 years? I hope to continue into Law School where I can gain more knowledge and insight on how I can amend current environmental policies and institutions to help less developed communities grow in a sustainable way. I would like to use my understanding of different cultures, my knowledge in Economics and Law as well as my experience from working with the board of SFPIRG to guide me through this process. I believe that my enthusiasm, intuition and ability to engage with others make me a great person to help take SFPIRG's work forward. |
