Leadership Team
Bio
Bonjour mes amis! My name is Ossama Nasrallah and I am your SMUSA President & CEO. I am an international student from Lebanon in my fourth year of a marketing degree with the Sobey School of Business. I look forward to building stronger relationships with the university administration, provincial and federal government, other students’ associations and, most importantly, with each of you. Representing you and advocating for your wants and needs is my number one priority. Together we will make a more progressive university experience in terms of mental health, accessibility and communication. My door is always open, please come visit!
Job Description
- Responsible for advancing the best interests of the Association and its membership alongside objectives determined by the Board from time-to-time
- Held accountable for the overall success and wellbeing of the Association by the Board
- Acts as the official representative and primary spokesperson for the students
- Primary delegate of the federal lobbying group and member of the provincial lobbying group
- Member of the Academic Senate and Board of Governors
- Responsible and accountable for student representatives
- Serves as the primary representative on the University’s budget advisory committee
Office Hours
Monday: 11am – 4pm
Tuesday: 11am – 2:30pm & 3.45pm – 5pm
Wednesday: 11am – 4pm
Thursday: 11am – 2:30pm & 3.45pm – 5pm
Friday: 11am – 4pm
Bio
Hello SMUdents! My name is Dénis Amirault and I am excited to be your Vice President Advancement for the 2018/2019 academic year. I am entering into the 3rd year of my marketing degree, having already completed a biology degree at Acadia University. I look forward to advancing your interests throughout the year, and advocating on your behalf to make your university experience as affordable, accessible, student driven, and of the highest quality possible.
Job Description
- Represents and advances external interests of students
- Serves on provincial and federal advocacy groups (Students Nova Scotia and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations)
- Serves on the University’s Board of Governors
- Aids in the development, organization and execution of special projects and campaigns
Bio
Hello fellow Huskies, my name is Mary Navas and I will be your 2017-2018 Vice President Student Affairs! I am currently a business student in the Sobey School of Business studying Entrepreneurship and Marketing. I am aware student life on campus is important for us SMUdents and that is why I am excited to enhance student activities around Saint Mary’s University for all incoming and current students. If you have any ideas in mind do not hesitate to contact me, and if you see me around campus I will love to hear from each one of you. Remember this is your campus and we also want it to be your home.
Job Description
- Responsible for SMUSA student societies
- Acts as the Welcome Week Coordinator for Fall and Winter Welcome Weeks
- Schedules and plans student events throughout the year
- Designs and prepares the “Orientation Pack” for new students
- Oversees Welcome Week Pack Leaders
- Maintains a volunteer-database
- Staffs information tables or booths for SMUSA initiatives
- Records, maintains and validates volunteer hours for students’ Co-Curricular Records (CCR)
Bio
Hello everyone! My name is Mahmudur Rahman Shovon and I am your Vice President Academic for the year. I am in the final year of my degree, majoring in Finance with a minor in Political Science. This year I aim to create the best academic experience for different student groups on campus and work with the university to improve the Academic Regulations and make them more equitable. Feel free to reach out to me if you need or want to be a tutor, require funding for your experiential learning endeavours and for any other needs. I’m always happy to talk!
Job Description
- Member of the Academic Senate and various committees
- Manages the tutor database and book exchange group
- Oversees the Experiential Learning Fund
- Carries out research and develops recommendations/solutions for academic issues
- Serves on the University’s Budget Advisory Committee
- Chair of the SMUSA Academic Committee
- Helps students with Discipline Appeals, Grade Appeals and other academic issues
- Spearheads academic events and initiatives from SMUSA
Full-Time Operations Staff
Job Description
The General Manager is the senior full-time employee of the Association. As such they act as the policy and financial advisor, administrator of daily operations and planner of long range objectives. They provide aid to the Association treasurer in preparing the annual budget and oversee adherence to operational timelines. The General Manager reports directly to the President & CEO.
Job Description
Oversees the operations of the Students’ Association including the Gorsebrook, Liquor Services, the Information Desk, Husky Patrol and the UPASS distribution. Manages a staff of close to 70 students; including student managers, coming from all over the world ranging from being in their first year to grad students. Working with SMUSA is a great way to gain work experience, earn extra money and meet new friends. Hiring is generally done in March for the following year but opportunities do come up so keep an eye out for openings as they do arise at any time.
Job Description
The Accounting & Payroll Manager is responsible for everything from bi-weekly payroll for 80-100 employees, accounts payable and receivable, and budgeting, to preparing T4’s, confirmation of earnings/employment letters, preparing cash deposits, and preparing the annual audit.
Job Description
The primary purpose of the Health Plan Coordinator position is to coordinate the daily activity of the Student Health Plan Office and to support the Student Health Plan Committee.
The focus is on providing information and guidance to students while promoting the plan, providing benefits information and processing claims.
Job Description
The primary purpose of this position is to administratively assist the General Manager and Executive team.
A focus on ensuring that all above mentioned positions are supported. The Administrative Assistant will take the initiative to identify when any SMUSA office is in requirement of assistance.
Board of Directors
Description of Responsibilities
The Board of Directors is the highest governing body of the Association as defined by the SMUSA Constitution, a governing document which can only be changed by a referendum.
The Board consists of up to nine students who are elected from the membership to serve for a term of two years. It is tasked with setting the Association’s direction every year and holding the President accountable to fulfill the Board’s vision. The Board is structured under a Policy Governance Model whereas Board members author and amend policy consisting of:
- Executive Limitations – policies that optimize empowerment for management by setting limits
- Governance Process – policies that determine the Board’s scope
- Board-Management Delegation – linking governance to the President
- Ends Policies – the real bottom-line defining what the organization is for and not what it does
The President acts as the Chief Executive Officer and interprets active policies in the day-to-day management of the Association. The Board focuses solely on the future and not the past or present. The Board’s mandate is to establish policy to ensure your Students’ Association is continually working to improve the quality of life and educational experience for each student at Saint Mary’s University.
Mitchell Archibald
Chair
Bio
Board Chair
Year on Board: Second
Area of Study: Global Business Management, French
Committees:
University Board of Governors
University Academic Senate
HR & Governance Committee (non-voting)
Finance Committee (non-voting)
Email: [email protected]
Salman Islam Sadib
Vice Chair
Bio
Vice-Chair, HR & Governance Committee Chair
Year on Board: First
Area of Study: Biology, Business Studies
Committees:
HR & Governance Committee
Email: [email protected]
Crystal Witter
Board Member
Bio
Board Member
Year on Board: First
Area of Study: Psychology
Committees:
Elections Committee
HR & Governance Committee
Email: [email protected]
Oyindamola Oshobu
Board Member
Bio
Elections Committee Chair, Senate Representative
Year on Board: Third
Area of Study: Finance
Committees:
University Academic Senate
Elections Committee
Finance Committee
Email: [email protected]
Henry Peng
Board Member
Bio
Board Member
Year on Board: First
Area of Study: Global Business Management
Committees:
Elections Committee
Finance Committee
Email: [email protected]
Omar Hany
Board Member
Bio
Board Member
Year on Board: Second
Area of Study: Marketing, Psychology, Human Resources
Email: [email protected]
Azhar Rahman
Board Member
Bio
Finance Committee Chair
Year on Board: First
Area of Study: Finance
Committees:
Finance Committee
Email: [email protected]
Sophia Okoroafor
Board Member
Bio
Board of Governors Representative
Year on Board: First
Area of Study: Entrepreneurship, Human Resources
Committees:
University Board of Governors
HR & Governance Committee
Society Committee
Email: [email protected]
Franklyn Southwell
Board Member
Bio
Society Committee Chair
Year on Board: First
Area of Study: Economics, Political Science
Committees:
University Academic Senate
HR & Governance
Society Committee
Email: [email protected]
Student Managers
Senior Gorsebrook Manager
Sean Reardon
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:00am – 4:00pm
T: 902-496-8710
E: [email protected]
Gorsebrook Lounge
Travis Evans
Oversees a staff of 10-15 student employees. They are responsible for the minute to minute operations of the lounge as well as sit on the entertainment committee, helping to plan weekly events. They are expected to keep strict inventory control as well as being responsible for large sums of money at any given moment. They are responsible for shift scheduling, submission of bi-weekly payroll and minor HR issues.
Information Desk
Liz Whalen
Oversees and trains a staff of 7. The information desk is an area in which people get their first impression of the organization. The desk presents a high level of customer service with a range of services offered. They also work with the Husky Patrol program as the dispatch manager. They are responsible for shift scheduling, submission of bi-weekly payroll and minor HR issues.
Door Staff
Gavin Grant
Oversees a staff of 18-20 who are responsible for ensuring that all policies set down by the Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority as well as Saint Mary’s University are adhered to at the Gorsebrook Lounge as well as at all liquor events on campus. They also work with the Husky Patrol program ensuring safety within the vans. They are responsible for shift scheduling, submission of bi-weekly payroll and minor HR issues.
Functions/Liquor Services
Zikomo Jardine & Ki-Jana Bowers
Oversee and train a staff of 6 who are responsible for all liquor service catering events outside of the Gorsebrook Lounge. These events can range from a beer tent on the field during a football game to a dinner hosted by the president welcoming a head of state on campus. They are responsible for shift scheduling, submission of bi-weekly payroll and minor HR issues.
Husky Patrol
Kyran Williams
Oversees and trains a staff of 6 who are responsible for the maintenance, scheduling and upkeep of the two Husky Patrol vans. The program is a safe drive program and the student manager, in consultation with the Operations Manager, decides if the weather and road conditions merit that it is too dangerous to run that night. They are responsible for shift scheduling, submission of bi-weekly payroll and minor HR issues.