Laila Albalkhi is a second-year student at the University of Windsor studying Computer Science, completing a specialization in software engineering. Laila is leading the Google Developer Student Club at her university, a chapter with over 550 undergraduate and graduate members. She has joined over 50 students with several local non-profit organizations and charities to solve their problems using computer science and technology solutions. She is a Student Senator for the University of Windsor’s Student Alliance and is the undergraduate representative for the School of Computer Science. In her local community, Laila is an active volunteer and youth advocate as a senior member of the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Team. Laila works as a teaching assistant and research assistant at the University of Windsor; her current research project investigates patterns in palliative care patients. Laila continuously strives to bridge the gap between education and industry for students in computer science, connecting students to opportunities they can thrive in, and environments dedicated to their success.

Ben Boudreau is a highly motivated 4^th-year student at St. Francis Xavier University who has developed an extensive network of student and community connections through his involvement in the Human Kinetics/Sport Management Program and the Schwartz School of Business. Actively involved in student engagement and recreation in his community, he has an outstanding academic record and strong ties to the Antigonish Multisport Program, the local Antigonish Farmers’ Market, and is the founder and creator of “St.FX Boxes”, a keepsake to hold and protect the coveted StFX X-Ring. Through his business, Ben created the “Pay it Forward” bursary that paid for the X-Ring for a fellow 2022 graduate who did not have the financial resources. In addition, Ben serves as the StFX OLTC Student Champion, is on the Board of Directors of the Antigonish Celtics Soccer Club, is an executive member of StFX O-Crew, is the 4th year student representative for the HKIN Society, is a volunteer at Fit4Life, and is a recreational hockey coach. Ben values making connections, takes time to listen to others and looks forward to extending his book of knowledge and entrepreneurial mindset.

Shandon is a curious yet courageous leader who constantly seeks opportunities to leave Nipissing University a more equitable place for racialized students. Shandon, a team captain for the men’s basketball team, has expanded his leadership across campus and the North Bay community to make a profound and generational impact. In response to the civil unrest of 2020, sparked by the murder of George Floyd, Shandon became determined to address the long-standing issue of anti-Black racism within academic institutions. Shandon is a co-founder of the Nipissing University Black Association for Student Expression (NUBASE). NUBASE has emerged as one of the most influential organizations on campus, working towards eradicating racism while advancing initiatives towards equity, diversity, and inclusion through various projects, events, and educational programs, including the #NUnity campaign and Time to Educate video series. To date, Shandon is working on innovative strategies to diversify the student population and attract BIPOC students who may not have considered attending Nipissing University. As a leader on campus, Shandon was recognized as a 2021 recipient of Nipissing’s prestigious David Marshall Campus Leadership Award. Currently, Shandon is continuing his pursuit of becoming a physician and is excited to extend his activism into medical education and healthcare.

Sarah Freeburn is a fourth-year student in the Diversity and Social Justice Studies program at the University of Prince Edward Island. Sarah initiated the UPEI Students for Social Justice club, bringing together students with differing views and knowledge of social justice issues and organizing multiple successful events despite many pandemic-related challenges. Her role as the EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) Campus Life Lead, a new position with Student Affairs has brought a broader understanding of EDI to both the program and events organized for students. The recipient of several awards such as the UPEI Student Union Campus Leadership Award, the Avery Award, and The Straight Arrow: Truth and Reconciliation Ally Award, she was recently recruited to be one of 26 Emerging Leaders across Canada as a part of the Harmony Movement’s Social Changemaker Leadership Program. A proponent of accessibility and inclusion, her work with the Lucy Maud Montgomery Institute as an Editorial, Digital and Outreach Student Assistant tackled an EDI gap by incorporating Alt text into published articles and engaging audio components for blind and low-vision users. Her vision for inclusive and accessible postsecondary education is complemented and strengthened by her activities as a student leader, researcher, and community advocate.

Oorja Gonepavaram is a fourth-year International Student at Mount Allison University from India, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Commerce and minoring in Economics and Japanese Studies. She believes in utilizing the academic platform to create space for marginalized groups that she is a part of. Oorja has aimed to utilize her teaching positions to ameliorate the educational experience of international students. She worked as a tutor for the EAB program which helped students with low proficiency in English gain a North American education. She helped improve the campus’ diversity efforts, including being an executive member of MOSAIC (MtA’s global society) and participating in the International Orientation, International Mentorship and MASSIE programs. Oorja’s way to innovate the academic sphere was by writing and illustrating “As You Are”: A children’s book advocating for the acceptance of one’s sexual orientation in Buddhist spirituality and faith; for which she is the first-ever undergraduate student invited to speak at the UCR-QTSR. She is the co-founder of Mustamya, a mental health network looking to destigmatize mental health. Oorja’s dream is to work on practical ways to apply commerce’s efficiency to the improvement of social justice initiatives so that the ideal can become reality.

Anne Hung is in her final year of undergraduate study at the University of Victoria, pursuing an English Honours degree with a minor in Professional Communication. Anne lives and works on the traditional territory of the lǝḱ^wǝŋǝn peoples and was raised on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, specifically on Kwikwetlem First Nation land. She is passionate about storytelling and grateful for the opportunity to connect with authors through the Canadian literary journal The Malahat Review, for which she is the editorial assistant, and English undergraduate journal The Albatross, for which she is the managing editor. Her research focuses on nineteenth-century print culture and technology, and she is particularly interested in the ethics of digital remediation and how form influences interpretation. She is currently developing an open-access digital exhibit based on recorded interviews from the University of Victoria’s Special Collections and hopes to highlight both the value of oral histories and the importance of accessible content.

Sufia Langevin is in her third year studying Secondary Education and Social Studies at Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Quebec on the traditional territory of the Abenaki. Recognizing the unique position that students occupy in a university, she has dedicated her time to student advocacy, serving as the Vice President of Academic Affairs of the Students’ Representative Council this past year as well the co-chair of the Joint Senate and Board Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for the past two years. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is a passion of hers, and she also served as Equity Representative of the Students’ Representative Council for 20-21, and co-chaired their Student EDI Committee as well. She developed, implemented and analyzed the Student EDI Survey, the first attempt at Bishop’s to collect data related to students’ self-identification with equity-seeking groups and their experiences. She was also the recipient of the Joan Stadelman Fellowship for Student Success, a position she held from 2019-2021, supporting students at the onset of the pandemic and the abrupt shift to online learning. In her free time, she serves as President of the Bishop’s Debate Society, coaching and competing with other schools.

Mohamed is a third-year student in the Health Sciences program at Dalhousie University, where he studies diagnostic medical sonography. Originally from Libya, he moved to Canada at the age of 14 with his parents for a better education. He is currently involved in multiple research projects that revolve around the biogenetics of anti-freeze proteins, bioethics, machine learning, and diagnostic imaging. He founded RadScholars to help thousands of students overcome entry barriers into research. RadScholars raised more than $15,000 to facilitate and coordinate student-led scholarly contributions, partnering with Harvard Medical School, the International Myeloma Foundation, and the Canadian Medical Association. Mohamed is also the COO of Erevna 501(c)(3), coordinating the donation of 350k+ articles of PPE through Supply Crate. He recently presented statistics-based research to government leaders from the United Nations, European Union, and African Union. Mohamed is the recipient of the IWK Future Health Research and Innovation Scholarship and the Provincial Youth Volunteer Award. In his free time, he loves making card games, playing board games, meeting new people, supporting non-profit organizations, tutoring, 3D printing, and origami.

My name is Olivia Stevenson (she/her), and I am a third-year undergraduate honors student and a settler in Mi’kma’ki, or Nova Scotia. Enrolled in a Bachelor of Kinesiology at Acadia University (Wolfville, Nova Scotia), and student within the CSEP-CEP practicum, I intend to pursue a Clinical Exercise Physiologist certification and continue my education in graduate studies with an interest in Translational Medicine. I have a love for research and serving others, and currently am combining these passions as a research assistant for Jackhabbit Inc. and my honors thesis work. As a certified 200-hour yoga instructor, I have lived the impact that mindfulness can have on mental and physical wellbeing. Through the development of yoga and mindfulness classes that I host on campus, I have also had the opportunity to share this with fellow peers, faculty, and community members. By immersing myself in all aspects of Acadia campus life, I have had been able to connect with numerous students as the Vice-President of the Acadia Kinesiology Society, an executive member of on-campus committees, a Residence Assistant, a Teaching Assistant, and a lead coach for Acadia Performance Training and an intern with the Strength and Conditioning program.

Topaza Yu (She/Her/Elle) is a fourth-year Kinesiology student at the University of Saskatchewan, which is located on the Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.

She is actively involved in the areas of youth empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Her dedication to SRHR is demonstrated by being on both Action Canada’s Sexual Health and Right’s governance and National Youth Advisory Board. Her work with Action Canada includes policy work, community-based research around barriers to care for youth, and creating optimal sexual health promotion campaigns. Topaza is a strong believer in the principle of “Nothing for Us, Without Us”, which ensures that the people around her inform her advocacy work so that it reflects their experiences and needs. In addition to “Nothing for Us Without Us,” she aims to apply an Anti-racism and Anti-Oppression (ARAO) lens to her work. ARAO means unlearning colonial structures deeply ingrained in our society and being mindful of the conscious and unconscious ways we enable them. Following her Kinesiology honours degree, Topaza hopes to continue her work SRHR work through advocacy, counselling, and entrepreneurship.