The 2026–27 U of M Graduate and Postdoctoral Society (UMGPS) election is scheduled to take place from March 16 to 17. A total of nine candidates are seeking positions on the next executive team, with three of the five roles being uncontested.
There are two slates for the elections, Candidates United for Student Voice and Thrive.
None of the current UMGPS executives are seeking another term in the same role, meaning the upcoming election will bring a fresh leadership team for the next tenure.
President and senator candidates
Emma Heath
Emma Heath, a graduate student in kinesiology specializing in biomechanics and part of the Candidates United for Student Voice slate, is seeking the position of president and senator.
Heath said her decision to run is driven by a desire to refocus the organization on the needs of graduate students and improve transparency in how it operates.
“Graduate students deserve an organization focused on them, who will spend their money responsibly and return as much student support to the community as possible,” she said.
Heath currently serves as co-chair of the Graduate Students of Kinesiology and Recreation Management Association and was involved in a grassroots student initiative to restore departmental association grants, which she said was approved at the 2026 annual general meeting.
If elected, Heath said her priorities would include improving transparency in decision-making, increasing accountability among executives and expanding student supports.
“I will increase transparency by ensuring all meetings are open to graduate students and by publishing meeting recordings and decision-making reports alongside meeting minutes,” she said.
“[I envision my term as] successful, transparent and supportive,” Heath said.
Uche Nwankwo
Uche Nwankwo, a graduate student in biosystems engineering specializing in engineering education, is vying for the position of president and senator.
Nwankwo said he is committed to “transparent, inclusive and member-centred leadership.” He noted that his leadership approach would focus on proactive advocacy, expanding resources for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and strengthening collaboration across UMGPS leadership units.
“I strongly believe that UMGPS executives must work collaboratively with all graduate and postdoctoral fellows leadership units to enhance the overall well-being and professional success of every member,” he said.
During his master’s program, Nwankwo served two terms as a senator and participated in several Senate committees, where he initiated projects aimed at improving student well-being and representation.
He added that his priorities include exploring new revenue initiatives, strengthening collaboration across leadership units and expanding support services for graduate students.
“[I envision my term as] productive, collaborative [and] inclusive,” he said.
Vice-president events & clubs
Abiodun Adejumo
Abiodun Adejumo, a master’s student in food and human nutritional sciences, is seeking the position of vice-president events & clubs on the Thrive slate, unopposed.
Adejumo said his motivation to run stems from a desire to strengthen connections within the graduate student community. He noted that “graduate school can sometimes feel isolating, especially when students are focused on their research and spend most of their time within their departments.”
“I believe graduate students thrive when they feel connected, supported and part of a community,” he said.
Adejumo said his focus would be on creating opportunities for students to connect across programs through events, clubs and collaborative initiatives.
“If elected, I hope to strengthen support for graduate student clubs by improving their visibility and helping them access the resources they need to organize activities and reach more students,” he said.
He added “inclusive academic, social and networking events” could help graduate students build professional connections and feel more engaged in campus life.
“[I envision my term as] inclusive, engaging [and] collaborative,” he said.
Vice-president equity & inclusion
Kyra Swenson
Kyra Swenson, an MBA student, is vying for the position of vice-president equity & inclusion under the Candidates United for Student Voice slate, unopposed.
Swenson said “community is a core value” that motivates her involvement in the graduate student community. Growing up in her Hawaiian grandmother’s home, she said she “witnessed the power of a strong support system” and the importance of creating spaces where people feel welcome and valued.
“I want to contribute to the U of M graduate community, building experiences that support all graduate students while they navigate the complexities of balancing work, life and school,” she said.
Swenson said both her professional and personal experiences shaped her commitment to equity and inclusion. As an educator, she said she “worked to ensure every student felt welcomed in [her] classroom” and supported through individualized approaches to learning.
She added that her own experiences with undiagnosed ADHD, along with raising neurodivergent children, strengthened her commitment to advocacy and removing barriers to success.
“[I envision my term as] thoughtful, responsive and accountable,” she said.
Vice-president academic & senator
The race for vice-president academic affairs & senator has emerged as the most competitive contest in this year’s election. The position initially drew no applicants, leaving the seat vacant at the close of the nomination period.
However, six graduate students later stepped forward to enter the race. Following the withdrawal of two candidates, four contenders remain.
The candidates will now compete for the role, which represents the academic interests of graduate and postdoctoral students at the U of M and at the Senate level.
Laleema Senanayake
Laleema Senanayake, a PhD candidate in the department of peace and conflict studies, is vying for the position of vice-president academic affairs & senator with the Candidates United for Student Voice slate.
Senanayake said her focus is on bridging the “gap between available resources and student engagement” among graduate students. She noted that, while the university offers several academic and wellness support services, many students are either unaware of them or unsure how to access them.
“Graduate students today are balancing research, coursework, employment, family responsibilities and personal commitments,” she said. “Achieving work-life balance while striving for academic excellence is not easy.”
Senanayake added that her professional experience in institutional development and organizational leadership prepared her for the role. In previous senior management positions, she said she worked with large teams and initiated training programs supporting marginalized groups through “language training, financial literacy and vocational development.”
“I will strive for transparency, accountability and student support,” she said.
Muhammad S. Aldhshan
Muhammad S. Aldhshan, a PhD student in physiology and pathophysiology at the Max Rady college of medicine, is seeking the position of vice-president academic & senator.
“I am running for VP Academic to strongly advocate for graduate students’ academic and research interests,” Aldhshan said.
He noted that his experience in student governance and professional roles has prepared him to support academic initiatives and policy improvements for graduate students.
Aldhshan previously served as vice-president marketing & events for the Health Sciences Graduate Students’ Association and has also worked as an awards committee member and events committee member for the former U of M Graduate Students’ Association.
He added that his professional experience as a clinical performance specialist and system performance lead “[has equipped him] with the analytical and policy-driven skills necessary to evaluate academic programs and drive systemic improvements for the student body.”
Aldhshan described his envisioned term with the words “advocacy, innovation and collaboration.”
Manish Dhakal
Manish Dhakal, an MSc student in mechanical engineering, is seeking the position of vice-president academic affairs & senator.
Dhakal said he decided to run after noticing three gaps affecting graduate students’ academic experience, including challenges accessing funding, workshops that do not always meet student needs and limited awareness of academic rights.
“Funding and grants are hard to find,” he said, as he noted that many students, particularly international and first-year students, do not access available support because information is scattered or unclear.
Dhakal added that graduate students across more than 90 disciplines have varying academic needs, and he hopes to see programming that better reflects that diversity.
“Many students do not know their academic rights,” he added. “When disputes or challenges arise, students often feel alone because they do not know who to turn to.”
Dhakal said his priorities would include improving access to funding information, organizing relevant academic programming and ensuring students know where to seek support.
Dhakal described his envisioned term with the words “listen, act [and] deliver.”
Janie Dupuis
Janie Dupuis, a first-year MSc student in biochemistry and medical genetics, is running for vice-president academic & senator.
Dupuis said she is motivated by a commitment to ensure graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are heard and properly represented across the university.
“I am a person that is very passionate and will give a lot of energy to what I believe is right,” she said. “I am not afraid to connect with leaders across the [U of M] community and beyond to make sure students, and their well-being, are properly represented.”
Dupuis said her campaign priorities include increasing awareness of the organization and its resources, bridging support across all U of M campuses and creating opportunities for students to present their research and access awards.
She also hopes to develop resources and events that help students with project planning, presentations and time management.
Dupuis described her envisioned term with the words collaboration, transparency and inclusion, and noted that members should be included in decision-making and trust how resources are allocated.
Vice-president external & senator
Lamia Mahzabin
Lamia Mahzabin, a master’s student in natural resources management, is running for vice-president external & senator with the Thrive slate, uncontested.
Mahzabin said she is motivated by a desire to advocate for students beyond the campus and build stronger connections with external organizations. She previously served as UMGPSA vice-president academic & senator in 2025–26, gaining experience in “student advocacy and leadership.”
“This year, I would like to be more actively involved and work on student issues beyond the campus,” she said.
If elected, Mahzabin said her priorities would include advocating for “fairer immigration policies and affordable tuition for incoming international graduate students,” as well as “[strengthening] partnerships with external organizations.”
“[I envision my term as] productive, engaging and resolution-focused,” she said.
