I have been a student since 2014, starting my educational career in NL as a psychology student, followed by a nursing student. Since completing my undergraduate degrees, I have worked casually as a neurosurgery registered nurse, which allowed me to continue my passion within the student movement. I served as Chairperson for CFSNL before being elected as Chair for CFS. Once I had started my term as National Chair, I was accepted into Lakehead as a graduate student, studying my Masters in Social Justice.

I am deeply committed to enhancing student life, and wholeheartedly believe that education is a right. While students study, they should also be able to enjoy themselves, and receive ample opportunity to engage with their university community, which the student union has a huge part in helping to facilitate.

I completed my undergraduate degrees at Memorial University in Newfoundland. While completing my BSc’s in Psychology and Nursing, I became heavily involved in the student movement, serving various elected positions, at the campus, provincial, and national levels. Currently, I am completing my term as Chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students, while completing my MA in Social Justice at Lakehead Orillia. I have had the honour to severe on LUSU, being appointed by the current board following vacancies in the Orillia Director positions.

Through my decade of involvement in the student movement, it has helped me to become familiar with governance, union operations, and policy development. Further, it has strengthened my appreciation for solidarity work and community engagement; I strive to prioritize opportunities for students to be heard and lead their movement in the direction that they need to see it progress. I am confident in my skills to continue to push the agenda of accessible education for all, and would utilize this in the role of Orillia Director, should I be elected.

I would love to help foster an awareness in every student about their student union. It would be ideal to have everyone aware that they are a part of a National student movement, and their local student union, LUSU, is a resource to them. I want people to be aware so they can engage in the capacity that they have and are most interested in.
If elected, I would like to host monthly “town halls”, open sessions for students to come together to share their ideas or concerns. This could be organized to occur with the free food tables that is offered through the food resource collective. I would be happy to stay near the table to speak with students, handing out their fruits.
Further, I am committed to remaining vocal, availing of opportunities to echo the voices of students to administration and government officials who have the capability to make change towards the accessibility of education– advocating for increased funding through grants for all.

A third goal I have is to enhance the connections between graduate and undergraduate students, and those who are studying virtually. I would reach out to professors to request time at the start of a term to do a quick class talk to share more information about the student union, and share a form for students to complete, should they choose to, regarding a “mentorship” program. I would like to facilitate mini groups of students in Orillia comprised of grad and undergrad pairings, and connecting virtual students together, to act as a mentee and mentor, either to provide peer support regarding programs, or services on Orillia. As a student who is studying primarily online, it has been really hard to connect with others; having such a program would be very beneficial to me, and I am sure others would appreciate an opportunity to connect with someone new.

I am available to be contacted over email at mfeltha1@lakeheadu.ca 🙂