Members of the 2025-26 University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) executive took the oath of office at the April 24 UMSU board of directors meeting — the final regularly scheduled meeting of the year.
Christopher Yendt, interim board chairperson, administered the oaths individually at the front of the UMSU Council Chambers.
The five executive members each took oath to “diligently, faithfully and to the best of [their] ability, fulfill the duties, responsibilities and expectations” of their respective positions.
The executives vowed to act “in the best interest of the students that belong to the union” and committed to “not violate the trust” bestowed on them.
The newly sworn-in executive members will officially start their terms in office on Thursday, May 1.
The four incoming UMSU vice-presidents took the oath of office at the April 24 UMSU board meeting. Top row, left to right: Heaven Kaur (leftmost) and Hannah Le. Bottom row, left to right: Jared Ramos Murphy and Carolyn Wang. Photos by Milan Lukes
The 2025-26 executive will consist of Prabhnoor Singh as president, Heaven Kaur as vice-president university affairs, Jared Ramos Murphy as vice-president external affairs, Hannah Le as vice-president student life and Carolyn Wang as vice-president finance and operations.
Both Singh and Wang have served as UMSU executives during the 2024-25 year.
The UMSU president and vice-presidents must take the oath of office, per the UMSU Governance and Operations Manual.
“Failure to do so shall preclude the president and/or vice-presidents from carrying out their duties as prescribed by the [University of Manitoba Students’ Union Act] and the bylaws of the union.”
Though UMSU’s governing documents do not require executives to swear an oath of office on any item, certain executives chose to follow the custom — such as Ramos Murphy opting to swear on a law school admission test book.
Thank you for ‘stepping up to the challenge,’ says Sharma
UMSU president Divya Sharma (left) watches the vice-president inaugurations alongside incoming president Prabhnoor Singh. Photo by Milan Lukes
In her final board report as UMSU president, Divya Sharma thanked all board of directors for their service and for “stepping up to the challenge.”
“Obviously, this is a very big commitment and over the last couple of weeks and months, we’ve had meetings upon meetings — sometimes emergency meetings, sometimes meeting virtually,” she said.
“I know we’ve had several agreements, disagreements, heated moments, all these different things, but I think that’s made each and every [one] of us a better board member, a better human being and a better student leader.”
Sharma individually acknowledged the work of committee chairs, interim board chairperson Christopher Yendt, UMSU policy and strategy advisor Sophie George and UMSU general manager Thomas Blumer.
She also gave special thanks to the 2024-25 executive members, stating “I wouldn’t be the type of president I am without every single one of them.”
