GSA 2023-2024 Election Candidates

President 

 

Elie Abou Zeid

I am Elie Abou Zeid, and I am excited to announce that I will be running for the President position in the Graduate Student Association with Team United.

 

As a student in the Master of Applied Business Analytics in the Technology Innovation Management program, I will approach my roles and duties in a logical and analytical way to ensure that nothing gets overlooked. I am a critical thinker, decision-maker, problem solver and most importantly, I am very approachable.

 

If I get elected as President, I want to make sure to represent the graduate students of Carleton in the best way possible to make sure that most of their problems are heard. My plan is to create an easier and more accessible way for the GSA to communicate with the students, as well as make the GSA more popular amongst new and old graduate members to be able to utilize the association to their advantage.

 

My top priorities would include:

Creating a more inclusive environment for graduate students in Carleton by organizing conceptual events to make it easier to network amongst peers.

Making sure that the voices of the GSA members are better heard by setting up direct channels of communications with the different communities.

Making myself available through different social media outlets for graduate students to be able to approach me personally with potential problems or solutions they would want to discuss.

Figuring out new and more accessible ways for student funding and job opportunities.

 

Thanks to my previous leadership positions in both my undergrad and work, I truly believe I would be able to represent the graduate students accurately and voice concerns coherently as to make the graduate student life easier for everyone involved.

VP External

Roozer Samuvel Natterjee

My name is Roozer Samuvel Natterjee, and I am a passionate and driven individual who is running for the position of Vice President External for the Graduate Student Association at Carleton University. As a candidate, I am committed to advocating for the needs of my fellow graduate students, and I have a clear vision for how I can contribute to the success of our community.

 

Here are three key things that I want to do if elected, and what I can offer: 

-Establish meaningful connections with external stakeholders – As Vice President External, I am passionate about meeting with prominent external stakeholders to extend the concerns of graduate students and resolve them in the best way possible. Being a PMP certified project manager I have extensive experience in project management and consulting, which has enabled me to develop strong communication and relationship-building skills that I can leverage in this role.

-Foster a culture of inclusivity and diversity – I strongly believe that diversity and inclusivity are essential to creating a vibrant and supportive community. If elected, I will work to ensure that the voices of all graduate students are heard and valued, and that we create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive.

-Advocate for the needs of graduate students – Finally, I am committed to advocating for the needs of graduate students, particularly in areas such as funding, research opportunities, and mental health support. I understand the challenges that graduate students face, and I will work tirelessly to ensure that we have the resources and support we need to succeed.

 

Overall, I believe that I have the experience, skills, and passion needed to effectively serve as Vice President External for the Graduate Student Association. I am excited about the opportunity to make a positive impact at Carleton University, and I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure that our community thrives.

VP Finance

 

Reza Sohrabi 

My name is Reza Sohrabi. I am a second year doctoral student in Sociology, and I am running for Vice president Finance with Team United. I advocate for transparent activism, open dialogue, and community care. Since December 2021, I have been working as the VP-External in the GSA. In that capacity, I have worked with external organizations and communities to enhance the GSA efforts in supporting Carleton students’ campaigns and strategies. Throughout my role as a VP-External, During the Ontario Lobby Week in late March, I lobbied and discussed students’ demands with Ontario MMPs. I spoke on behalf of the international students about their difficulties in covering international tuition fees and finding jobs during the post-pandemic. Successively, I was an external board member of GSA in 2022 and I am working as an office administrator in the GSA with respect to administration and financial tasks. Working in different positions in the GSA gave me a comprehensive understanding of the organization and its challenges. I have worked closely with the finance department in the GSA in recent years and I have obtained a significant experience to work as vice president finance. I will focus on lobbying and advocating for grants, bursaries, and scholarships to be available for graduate students, especially international students.

VP Academic 

Nitant Wanjari

Meet Nitant Wanjari, Born in Vibrant state of Gujarat, India. He is currently pursuing his master’s in electrical and computer Engineering. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Gujarat Technological University and worked as the institution’s Vice President in India’s largest student union- ABVP. 

 

In addition to his leadership skills, Nitant is committed to academic excellence. He has a solid foundation in academics and will utilize his academic experience to support and enhance the academic experience of graduate students at Carleton University.

 

During the pandemic, Nitant established an online student-run business that helped many students. His commitment to student support is unwavering, and he will work to ensure that graduate students have access to the resources they need to succeed at Carleton University.

 

If elected as Vice President Academic, Nitant will prioritize the following key points:

Advocating for Graduate Student Rights: Nitant will be a strong advocate for graduate students and their rights. He will work to ensure that graduate students have access to the resources and support they need to succeed academically and professionally.

Enhancing the Academic Experience: Nitant will work to enhance the academic experience of graduate students by promoting academic excellence, providing academic support, and facilitating collaboration between faculty, students, and other stakeholders.

Fostering an Inclusive and Diverse Community: Nitant recognizes the importance of diversity and inclusivity in graduate education. He will work to foster an inclusive and diverse community at Carleton University by promoting diversity and equity initiatives and advocating for the needs of underrepresented groups.

 

With Nitant’s leadership experience, academic excellence, and commitment to student support, he is the ideal candidate for Vice President Academic. 

 

Vote for Nitant and Team United for a brighter future for graduate students at Carleton University.

Sahil Rajput

My name is Sahil Rajout and I am running for the position of VP Academics in the upcoming student association election. I am a Masters of Engineering student in Technology Innovation Management, and I have had the privilege of working in various fields of technology during my career.

With 2.5 years of professional experience, I have worked as a quality analyst for 1 year, and then as a developer after a well-deserved promotion. I have also founded a startup where I led the marketing and sales department, as well as contributed my technical skills. I was able to manage a team of 20 interns and create a successful marketing strategy for our business. I also worked as a financial and business analyst at IBM for 3 months. These experiences have given me a diverse skill set and have taught me the importance of teamwork, effective communication, and leadership.

As VP Academics, I am committed to ensuring that our graduate students at Carleton have the necessary support to succeed. I believe that we need to implement the International Doctoral Tuition Support (IDTS) for masters students to help alleviate the financial burden. I am also dedicated to helping students with their academics and deadlines, providing them with the necessary resources and guidance to achieve their academic goals.

In addition, I believe that it is important to have a hybrid style of education where we can have both in-person and online classes. This will allow students to have flexibility and access to resources from anywhere. Lastly, I want to bring more scholarship opportunities for masters students at Carleton, to ensure that they can focus on their education without financial stress.

As a graduate student myself, I understand the challenges that we face, and I am passionate about making a difference in our academic community. I would be honored to have your vote for VP Academics, and I look forward to working with you all to create a brighter future for our graduate students at Carleton University.

Thank you for your consideration, and let’s make a difference together!

VP Operations

Parissa Askarian 

My name is Parisa Askarian and I am thrilled to be running for VP-Operations with Team United. As a first-year Masters student in Technology Innovation Management at Carleton University, I bring a unique perspective to the table that allows me to approach problem-solving in creative and innovative ways, fueled by my passion for the arts.

 

During my first term at Carleton, I had the privilege of working at the CBDI (Cross Border Digital Inclusive) center for 10 weeks, where I gained valuable insights into the gaps in the university and how we can address them to better support graduate students. Through conversations with my fellow students, I made it a priority to understand their issues and find ways to amplify their voices.

 

With a background in industrial engineering and previous roles as a Sales Manager, Social Media Specialist, Digital Marketing Assistant, and Assistant to the CEO of a Talent Accelerator, I have acquired a diverse range of professional competencies and have built my social capital in relevant fields. As a result, I believe I am well-suited to take on the role of Project Coordinator and support administrative positions and operations.

 

I am passionate about thinking outside of the box and finding innovative solutions to complex problems that can make a positive impact at Carleton University. Thank you for considering my candidacy.

Shahrzad Kahrizi

My name is Shahrzad Kahrizi. I am honored to have been nominated for the position of Vice-President- Operations in GSA. I am an industrial engineer pursuing a Master of Engineering in Technology Innovation Management. 

I have over a decade of experience in project management and industrial engineering positions. I am proud to say that I have extensive work experience in the Chamber of Commerce in Iran, a place where many people aspire to work. I learned a lot about project management, project control and coordination, and scheduling during my career there. My work experience has prepared me to excel at decision-making and multiple-criteria problem-solving, which I accomplished by employing related techniques. 

I also worked as a planning and operations coordinator for Science and Technology Park and the Railway organization in my homeland. 

So, as a result of my relevant work experience in operations, I am clearly qualified for the position of Vice-President Operations in GSA. The role entails efficiently administering operations and ensuring the smooth operation of the council in accordance with the constitution and by-laws. My experience managing projects and coordinating teams will be useful in ensuring that the necessary resources are available and that proper records of the information reported to the GSA from external committees are kept. Furthermore, my role in staff hiring will contribute to the organization’s smooth operation. 

I also worked as a Research Assistant at the Centre for Cross-Border, Digital, and Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CBDI) In the TIM program. At the CBDI, I was conducting research to identify revenue-generating opportunities through innovative programs like the Iranian Women’s Entrepreneurship Community. 

I am an independent woman who has learned to work hard in order to succeed. I have a detail-oriented approach to work, which probably stems from my interest in literature and art-related hobbies such as photography, calligraphy, singing, and poetry. All of these factors, combined with my strong sense of responsibility and ability to learn concepts quickly and present findings, make me an ideal candidate for the GSA’s vp- Operations position.