Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Student Council Members

Jhade Acuna

4^th year Bachelor of Arts, Honours in International Studies, Certificate in Chinese Language and Culture Studies, University of Regina
Regina, SK

Jhade has always loved learning and knew she wanted to pursue post-secondary education from a young age. Throughout her studies, Jhade has enjoyed connecting with and learning from students and professors from diverse backgrounds.

Jhade was inspired to join the council to help other students. Through being a student and working as a teaching assistant, she has learned about some of the challenges faced by students from diverse backgrounds, and she plans to draw on that knowledge as she participates on the council.

Fun fact: Jhade’s favourite childhood memory is visiting her grandmother and eating ice cream and cake together.

Nahla Ajarar

1^st year Préposé aux soins de santé / Continuing Care Assistant, Collège Mathieu 
Gravelbourg, SK

Nahla loves biology and is passionate about caring for people, which led her to attend post-secondary and continue her studies. Her goal is to gain valuable skills that will help her on her journey to medical school. Nahla has appreciated engaging with people from different walks of life and gaining a fresh perspective during her studies.

Through the council, Nahla hopes to be a voice for post-secondary students and advocate for their needs. She is eager to learn from her peers on the council and work alongside them to drive meaningful change.

Fun fact: Nahla was a shepherd who cared for more than 150 sheep during the summer of 2019.

Elisabeth Bauman

6^th year Bachelor of Arts, Honours, Major in English, Minor in Classical, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK

In Elisabeth’s first year of university, a professor told her that her classes would allow her to learn about the most powerful, interesting and beautiful thoughts and stories ever recorded. This perspective stuck with her and inspired her to strive for excellence. Elisabeth loves attending classes at the University of Saskatchewan and having access to endless library resources and a large campus. After six years, she still gets lost exploring!

Elisabeth loves being a part of student governance and learning about the needs and triumphs of her fellow students. She is excited about the opportunity to continue advocating for students through the council and hopes to learn more about governance at a provincial level.

Fun fact: Elisabeth loves playing piano and accompanying singers and other musicians.

Bryce Buffalocalf-Gurney

Bryce was drawn to pursue post-secondary by the potential to grow. Bryce comes from a small community so the opportunity to chase something he knew nothing about was very compelling. His favourite part of his experience has been getting to learn more about himself and what he can do to help others become the best versions of themselves.

This is Bryce’s second year on the student council. This year he hopes to gain more insight on higher education and how to implement change for students.

Fun fact: Bryce deals cards at Casino Regina on the weekends.

Mrunal Desai

1^st year Project Management, Saskatchewan Polytechnic 
Prince Albert, SK

A deep interest in quality engineering inspired Mrunal to pursue post-secondary. Through his education, Mrunal is seeking to enhance his critical thinking and problem-solving skills to open doors for his career. He loves participating in sports such as curling and has enjoyed making new friends and networking with other students during his studies.

Mrunal is excited to join the council to help advocate for student needs and make meaningful change on issues that affect his fellow peers. Mrunal hopes the council will help him gain confidence and practical experience that will help him throughout his career.

Fun fact: Mrunal is a marathon runner.

Brett Down

Brett decided to attend university to learn more about how the world works. He is particularly interested in learning about the economy, how governments work and philosophical ideas that guide our world. The highlight of Brett’s post-secondary experience has been having the opportunity to study, research and write about the academic areas that interest him.

Brett was motivated to join the student council because he believes that post-secondary education is exceptionally important. He looks forward to participating in constructive conversations on how to improve post-secondary education in Saskatchewan.

Arash Gitifar

Arash’s passion for research and desire to contribute to advancements in technology and society inspired him to continue his education. Throughout his education, Arash has had opportunities to collaborate with professors and fellow students on a variety of research projects that have deepened his understanding of engineering and research methodologies.

Arash’s academic journey has helped him gain an understanding of the importance of student representation in shaping educational policies. He looks forward to bringing his insights to the table and advocating for student interests.

Fun fact: When Arash is not immersed in academia, you can find him leveling up on online games.

Kelsey Haczkewicz

Kelsey has always aspired to work in the field of mental health, and attending post-secondary education was the right path for her to achieve her goal. Throughout her studies, Kelsey has enjoyed meeting and working with people from diverse backgrounds.

Through the council, Kelsey hopes to learn more about the post-secondary sector and use that knowledge to help advocate for the needs of post-secondary students.

Fun fact: Kelsey was a member of the University of Regina track and field team for five years; now she runs marathons.

Ruby Halkett

Ruby is passionate about caring for and respecting others which drove her to pursue higher education. She has found it rewarding to expand her knowledge and meet new people throughout her program and has felt support from her teachers and peers in doing so.

Ruby loves her post-secondary institution and is excited about the opportunity to represent students at her institution through the council. Ruby hopes to continue learning new things as she connects with other student council members.

Fun fact: Ruby is an outgoing person who likes to laugh and make others laugh.

Altaf Iqbal Mansuri

Altaf was motivated to pursue higher education by his strong interest in business and leadership. Altaf’s post-secondary journey has given him valuable insights into international business, financial services and management.

Altaf is excited to be part of the council to represent student interests at the provincial level and contribute to discussions on education policies. He hopes to gain leadership experience by sharing ideas on important issues and being a voice for students.

Fun fact: Altaf enjoys playing basketball and bowling to help him relax and have fun with his friends.

Maliha Jabeen Khan

4^th year Bachelor in Biology, Certificate in Medical and Health Humanities, Campion College 
Regina, SK

One of the most rewarding aspects of Maliha’s post-secondary education has been her personal and professional growth. She views her university experience as more than just earning good grades; it is also a crucial journey in developing one's character. She has gained invaluable professional skills while forming meaningful connections with a diverse range of people through active involvement on and off campus. Maliha aims to seize every opportunity to develop the skills she needs to become a health care professional in her future career.

By joining the student council, Maliha hopes to expand her knowledge and build valuable connections that will help her develop a broader perspective on student issues in Saskatchewan. She looks forward to the opportunity to be a voice for all students.

Fun fact: Maliha gave a TED Talk at TEDxRegina 2024, titled “Beyond the Fabric.” It focused on the impact of media misrepresentation of Muslim women and how it has negatively shaped our perceptions about women who wear the hijab.

Christine Kwon

Christine’s pursuit of post-secondary education was fueled by a love of learning, a desire to challenge herself and the opportunity to open doors for her future career. Her favourite part of her educational journey so far has been forming meaningful friendships with people from all over the world and getting the opportunity to study abroad in Paris.

Christine’s active involvement in on-campus clubs inspired her to join the council to further advocate for student issues and positively impact her peers. She is eager to collaborate with the ministry and other student leaders and looks forward to learning more about government’s role in shaping post-secondary education.

Fun fact: Christine was born in Hollywood.

Ashley Lafontaine 

3^rd year Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program, Gabriel Dumont Institute 
Saskatoon, SK

After working for a few years after high school, Ashley decided to pursue post-secondary education to achieve her career goals. Ashley started her post-secondary journey by getting a certificate and working in the field for a few years. Her desire to fulfill her passion and work in education fueled her to continue her studies with the ultimate goal of someday leading her own classroom.

Ashley wanted to join the council to contribute her unique insights and experiences to the conversation. She is confident that participating on the council will be a great opportunity to get involved with the community and build important experience.

Fun fact: Ashley loves to travel and is working towards speaking five languages including English, French, Cree, Michif and Japanese.

Emmy Maghilom

As a mature student, Emmy’s favourite part of her post-secondary journey has been networking and being a part of the Music Students’ Association. Emmy was inspired to do her undergrad while working as an educational assistant with students with visual impairments. One of her students had an interest in learning music and Emmy had the chance to learn music braille and transcribe  for band and choir.

Emmy is eager to learn and excited to listen to what other members of the council have to bring to the table. She sees this experience as an opportunity to explore the needs of other post-secondary students.

Kouyam Mariama

Koyam has a passion for working with children and a desire to make a positive impact on their early development. This passion has motivated Koyam to pursue her education. Throughout her studies, Kouyam has enjoyed learning about child development and applying this knowledge in practical settings.

Koyam believes in the power of student voices in shaping policies and creating a supportive learning environment for all. Through the council, she hopes to gain valuable leadership skills and a deeper understanding of student needs. Kouyam is also excited to build meaningful connections with other students and professionals on the council.

Fun fact: Kouyam is constantly learning new things about early childhood from her son who helps her explore creative ideas and discover new games.

Danae Messmer

Danae has always had an affinity for learning and a love for sharing knowledge with others. Danae decided to attend post-secondary to help pursue her passion in a professional context. She has enjoyed meeting new people who share her interests and passions through her program.

When the opportunity to join the student council arose, Danae was immediately interested. She sees the council as an opportunity to grow and share her insights on post-secondary education. Danae is thrilled to gain new experience and connect with others who are equally invested in their education.

Fun fact: Danae is a proud pet parent to many species of furry and scaly friends including her dog Wilson, cat Miss Frizzle, bunny Harvey, snake Sophie and aquarium of fish that all have punny names.

Bashar Moolla

4^th year Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Luther College
Regina, SK

For Bashar, pursuing post-secondary education was always the goal and the Philosophy, Politics and Economics program felt like the best fit to prepare him for his career. Through his program, he aims to build a strong foundation of knowledge that will help him tackle complex issues. Bashar has been a part of some amazing opportunities through engaging with different student groups which has been the cornerstone of his post-secondary experience.

Bashar hopes to gain a deeper understanding of how government works through participating on the council and sees this as a unique opportunity to bring his diverse perspectives to the table. He looks forward to connecting with like-minded peers from across Saskatchewan and contributing to meaningful discussions.

Fun fact: Bashar is a twin.

Justice Noon

2^nd year Environmental Science, University of Saskatchewan 
Saskatoon, SK

Bio to come.

Janhavi Aditya Pandya

2^nd year Technology Management, Saskatchewan Polytechnic 
Moose Jaw, SK

The encouragement, guidance and support from Janhavi’s family motivated her to pursue post-secondary education and enhance her knowledge and skills. Janhavi has enjoyed studying in an education system that encourages creativity and focuses more on practical learning making her experience a meaningful, gratifying and satisfying adventure.

Janhavi was interested in joining the council to contribute to the student community. She is fascinated by the council’s multicultural environment, which resembles the diversity she cherishes in her educational experience. Janhavi hopes to gain skills in teamwork and leadership to aid her personal and professional growth.

Fun fact: Janhavi used to be a yoga teacher for senior citizens and brought a lot of joy and laughter to their sessions.

Zoher Rafid-Hamed

Zoher has a passion for health policy, health promotion and patient safety. As a researcher and public health advocate, Zoher had the opportunity to work on several public health and medical research projects – locally, nationally, and internationally –  focusing on quality and sustainable health care. His desire to bridge gaps between public health and medicine has been a driving force for his academic and professional journey.

Zoher believes students should have an active role in shaping their academic environment and looks forward to being a part of this through the council.

Fun fact: Zoher was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and immigrated to Canada when he was eight. His family settled in Unity, Saskatchewan when he was ten.

Raine Rusaw

Raine’s family has always been a big inspiration for her pursuit of knowledge. Attending post-secondary was a standard for her growing up and from a young age she has been excited about starting that journey. Raine’s favourite part of her education so far has been participating in large classes where there are lots of opportunities to engage with her professors and peers. The challenges that Raine has faced during her education have pushed her to grow out of her shell and shaped her into the person she is today.

Raine was inspired to join the council through a fellow peer and former council member, Abbi. She hopes to gain a better understanding of the inner workings of the post-secondary sector and is excited to connect with people from other institutions to see how their experiences are similar.

Fun fact: Raine danced competitively growing up and has never lost her ability to do the splits.

Queen Tayab

4^th year Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Saskatchewan 
Saskatoon, SK

Queen has a passion for learning about medicine and the human body, which led her to pursue a career in health care. The ability to interact closely with patients drew her to study nursing and she has loved her program since day one. Queen’s favourite parts of her post-secondary experience has been the hands-on learning and connecting with new people to hear their stories.

Queen’s passion for helping others goes beyond health care and into student advocacy. Her past experience as Co-President of the Saskatchewan Nursing Student Association – Saskatoon showed her the importance of making sure student voices are heard, and joining the council was another opportunity to represent her fellow peers. Queen is excited to help shape post-secondary education in Saskatchewan and learn from others on the council.

Fun fact: Two summers ago, Queen travelled through Peru and Bolivia and got to see Machu Picchu.

Lucas Turner

1^st year Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), University of Saskatchewan 
Saskatoon, SK

Lucas was inspired to attend post-secondary by his role models: his older cousins. Lucas is following in their footsteps and is aiming to be seen as a pillar of leadership like they are. His cousins not only inspired him but helped him realize his potential in pursuing higher education.

Through the council, Lucas hopes to challenge and further develop his skills in communication and responsibility. He hopes to make valuable connections with his peers on the council and others in positions of leadership. Lucas believes that honest communication and connection can move mountains and hopes to make as many connections as possible on the council.

Trynda Wilderman

2^nd year Psychiatric Nursing, Saskatchewan Polytechnic 
Moose Jaw, SK

Trynda was inspired to pursue post-secondary by her close relatives. Trynda has a desire to help her community, especially during a time when there is an increased need for mental health support. She has enjoyed gaining hands-on experience through her program and building relationships with others in her field.

Trynda wants to continue developing her leadership skills and collaborate with a variety of students through the council. She hopes to play a role in shaping the future for other students and gain a greater understanding of government’s role in post-secondary education.

Fun fact: Trynda enjoys playing board games in her free time.