Meet Your Team
The UOSU executive team, led by the President and six Commissioners, manages the day-to-day operations of the UOSU. The executives are elected in the spring and work full-time throughout the year.
Executives
The President is the chief spokesperson for uOttawa undergrads and the overall leader of the UOSU. They ensure student voices are heard loud and clear by the University administration. Responsible for the management and supervision of the Union’s affairs and operations, they are also expected to lead collaboratively and provide support to the other members of the Executive.
- Chief Executive Officer of the UOSU
- Strategic direction of the organization
- Fulfillment of UOSU’s mandate
- Project and crisis management
- Institutional knowledge and transition
With the Operations Commissioner:
- Supervising the Executive Director
- Managing the Union’s human resources
- Signing officer (contracts and payments) and oversight of financial administration
Relevant Staff
- Executive Director
- HR Manager
- Director of Finances
- Deputy Commissioner (Governance, Data Management, and Administration)
Relevant Committees
- Finance Committee
- Internal management committees
- Chair of the Executive Committee
- De facto Chair of the Board of Directors
- Ensure compliance with the Constitution and policies
- Coordinate General Assemblies
- Support and accountability to the Board of Directors
- Liaison with legal counsel
Relevant Staff
- Executive Director
- Deputy Commissioner (Governance, Data Management, and Administration)
- Deputy Commissioner (President)
Relevant Committees
- Governance Committee (Chair)
- Nominating Committee for the Chair of the Board of Directors
- Official representative and media liaison
- Overseeing all communications to the student body
- Relations with external organizations funded by the UOSU
Relevant Staff
- Director of Communications & Administration
Relevant Committees
- Ad-Hoc Communications and Engagement Committee (Chair)
- Maintain relations between the UOSU and Recognized Student Governments (RSGs)
- Supporting Commissioners
With the Advocacy Commissioner:
- Lobbying and campaigning government
- Maintain relations between the UOSU and the uOttawa administration
- Campaigns and advocacy to the uOttawa administration
Relevant Staff
- Deputy Commissioner (President)
Relevant Committees
- President’s Round Table (Co-Chair)
- Ombudsperson’s Advisory Committee
- Library Advisory Committee
The Operations Commissioner keeps the UOSU running smoothly and transparently. They work with the President, Executive Director, and senior management to direct and oversee the internal operations of the Union, including finances and human resources.
With the President:
- Supervising the Executive Director
- Hiring, firing and discipline of staff
- Labour relations
- Periodical salary review
Relevant Staff
- Executive Director
- HR Manager
- Director of Finances
- Deputy Commissioner (Governance, Data Management, and Administration)
Relevant Committees
- Internal management committees
- Chief Financial Officer of the UOSU
- Budget management & revision
- Audit management & revision
- Compliance with financial policies
- Transfer of levies to Recognized Student Governments and external organizations
- Financial accessibility and literacy
- Regular financial oversight & risk management, including for UOSU businesses
- Health and dental insurance administration
- Signing officer (payments)
Relevant Staff
- Director of Finances
- Director of Businesses
- Comptroller
Relevant Committees
- Finance Committee (Chair)
- Funds and Scholarships Committee
- Money Round Table (Chair)
- Clubs and Services Committee
- Student Life Committee
- Board of Directors of CHUO (Radio)
- Internal management committees
- Administrative tasks
- Systems management
- Signing officer (contracts)
Relevant Staff
- Deputy Commissioner (Governance, Data Management, and Administration)
Relevant Committees
- Governance Committee
AMINE EL IDRISSI
Interim Commissioner of Francophone Affairs
he/him
francophone@seuo-uosu.com
613-783-1380 ext. 450
Office Hours: mon/wed 1-2:30 pm
I am an international student from Morocco entering my third year in Political Science and Economics at the University of Ottawa. I am excited to embark on this new journey as Interim Francophone Affairs Commissioner. I have already had experience promoting La Francophonie as Bilingualism Director for Capital Model United Nations (CAPMUN), and as Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Political Science Games (JDSP). I am looking forward to working with members of the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, and the student community to ensure that our Francophone students’ interests are represented at uOttawa.
Fun fact: I bungee jumped off a bridge in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The Francophone Affairs Commissioner defends the interests of Francophone students at the world’s largest bilingual (English-French) university. They oversee programming for Francophone students, ensures that the services and programs of the Union are bilingual, and protects Francophone rights.
- Events and activities for Francophone students
- Community-building for Francophones and Francophiles
- Administer the Francophone Affairs Fund
Relevant Staff
- Bilingualism Centre
Relevant Committees
- Francophone Affairs Committee (Chair)
- Francophone Affairs Round Table (Chair)
- Student Life Committee
- Clubs and Services Committee
- Active offer and bilingual access of services, activities, and documents
- Compliance with bilingualism mandate and relevant policies
- Bilingualism-related student complaints
Relevant Staff
- Bilingualism Centre
- Translators
Relevant Committees
- Francophone Affairs Committee (Chair)
- Internal management committees
- Relations with the Office of the Vice-President, International and Francophonie
- Spokesperson for Francophone students and media liaison
- Relations with Francophone student groups and organizations
- Student representation on University Committees
- University-level policy review, lobbying, campaigns for Francophone students
- Bilingualism-related student complaints
Relevant Staff
- Bilingualism Centre
Relevant Committees
- Francophone Affairs Committee (Chair)
- Francophone Affairs Round Table (Chair)
- Council on French Services and Programs
The Clubs and Services Commissioner supports and manages the UOSU’s 300+ student clubs and 15 services. In the clubs portfolio, they oversee club recognition, support, and funding. In the services portfolio, they ensure the programs offered by services are sustainable, inclusive, bilingual, and accessible.
- Recognition, suspension and removal of club status
- Support to recognized clubs
- Club awards and conferences
- Club funding & storage allocation
- Ensure compliance with Clubs Code Relevant Staff
- Campus Vibez uOttawa (UOSU staff & volunteers)
Relevant Committees
- Clubs and Services Committee (Chair)
- Sustainability, inclusivity, bilingualism, and accessibility of services
- Support delivery of events and programs
- Strategic vision and planning
- Growth and volunteer retention/recruitment
Relevant Staff
- Director of Services
- 15 UOSU Service Coordinators
Relevant Committees
- Clubs and Services Committee (Chair)
- Funds and Scholarships Committee
- Internal staff meetings
MAISY ELSPETH
Advocacy Commissioner
she/her
advocacy@seuo-uosu.com
613-783-1380 ext. 470
Office Hours: tue/thu 10:30-12 pm
Hello! My name is Maisy Elspeth (she/elle) and I am the UOSU’s Advocacy Commissioner for the ‘23-24 mandate. I am a third-year student in biomedical science with a minor in philosophy and I am so excited about working with the awesome executive team we have this year. I am passionate about improving the university experience by pursuing student advocacy initiatives. My focus for this year is union visibility as we have 15 incredible services, and we do a lot of work that much of the student body is not aware of.
As the Advocacy Commissioner, I manage all matters of a political nature with external groups and organizations and play a supportive role in academic and university advocacy. I also support the equity commissioner with more political side of equity issues and pursue research and external policy development.
My involvement with the University of Ottawa Student’s Union grew out of my strong belief that students deserve to have a voice in decisions that affect us, and organizing is the best way to ensure this. Over the course of history, it has been students at the forefront of political change. We have a voice in how our academic institution reacts to social problems as well as how it serves us. I am looking forward to seeing all that we do this year, and please don’t hesitate to reach out!
The Advocacy Commissioner is your advocate to people in power. They raise issues faced by students to municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government, through campaigns, lobbying, and more. They also assist the President in engaging directly with the uOttawa administration.
- Federal government relations
- Relations with the Undergraduates of Canadian Research
- Intensive Universities (UCRU)
- Provincial government relations
- Relations with the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA)
- Relations with City Council and Sandy Hill community
- Policy-writing, lobbying & campaign organization
Relevant Staff
- Deputy Commissioner (External Affairs)
- Campaigns Coordinator
Relevant Committees
- Advocacy Committee (Chair)
- Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA)
- Undergraduates of Canadian Research-Intensive Universities (UCRU)
- Sandy Hill Town & Gown
- Relations with student representatives on the Board of Governors & Student Senate Caucus
- Student representation on University Committees
- Relations with professors’ and uOttawa employee unions
- Campaigns and coalition-building with advocacy-centric student clubs
- Administer the Campaigns Fund
- Defend academic and student rights
With the President:
- Relations with the University of Ottawa
- University-level research, advocacy projects, and campaigns
Relevant Staff
- Deputy Commissioner (University Affairs & Equity)
- Student Rights’ Centre
Relevant Committees
- Advocacy Committee (Chair)
- Equity Committee
- University Affairs Round Table (Chair)
- Interunion Coalition of the University of Ottawa (ICUO)
- Council on Undergraduate Studies
- Nominating Committee for the Council of Undergraduate Studies
- Nominating Committee for the Senate Appeals Committee
JOYCE WILLIAMS
Equity Commissioner
she/her
equity@seuo-uosu.com
613-783-1380 ext. 440
Office Hours: tue/fri 12-2 pm
I am a third-year international student studying International Management at Telfer. I’m new to the role of equity commissioner and to the union as an organization, but I initially gained interest in the role after learning about the little representation that international and racialized students get in student government. I had a lot of ideas during my campaign that I look forward to working on and have already met some brilliant people in the organization who share similar goals, so I have hope for the work that both the executives and the equity team will do this year. I am aware of the shoes I must fill as the new equity commissioner and the history of my role, but I’m keen on listening to student experiences and working with them to help make campus more equitable for minority groups.
As for my role in the executive committee, I oversee the representation of student minorities on campus and work with services such as the WRC (Women’s Resource Center), PRIDE center, multi-Faith center, RISE center, center for students with disabilities, and I-house to ensure that students are provided with the resources they need while on campus. I hope to leave my position in a better place than I found it and to encourage more students to apply for executive positions regardless of prior experience.
The Equity Commissioner stands up for marginalized students. They build equity on campus, both within the UOSU and at the University at large. Through campaigns and lobbying, they are an additional voice at the table for equity-seeking communities, and fight discrimination at the University of Ottawa.
- Campaigns and representation
- Relations with the uOttawa Human Rights’ Office
- Support for survivors of Gender-Based and Sexual Violence
- Relations with student groups from a marginalized and equity-seeking community
- Support for students from a marginalized and equity-seeking community
- Administer the Equity Fund
Relevant Staff
- Deputy Commissioner (University Affairs & Equity)
- Women’s Resource Centre
- RISE Centre
- Pride Centre
- Multi-Faith Centre
- Centre for Students with Disabilities
- International House
- Food Bank
Relevant Committees
- Equity Committee (Chair)
- Advocacy Committee
- Equity Round Table (Chair)
- Standing Committee on the Prevention of Sexual Violence
- uOttawa Working Groups on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence
- Ensure inclusive and non-discriminatory working environment
- Equity complaints and accountability
- Internal equity audits
- Ensure compliance with equity mandate and relevant policies
Relevant Staff
- HR Director
- Deputy Commissioner (University Affairs & Equity)
Relevant Committees
- Equity Committee (Chair)
- Internal management committees
RAYNE DAPRATO
Interim Commissioner for Student Life
she/her
studentlife@seuo-uosu.com
613-783-1380 ext. 480
Office Hours: tue 3:30-5 / fri 10:30-12 pm
Hey! To share a little bit about me; I am a third-year student studying political science with a minor in law. I am the interim Student Life Commissioner! I have experience in student government and community organizing, I am looking forward to what I will be able to learn from this role and what I will be able to give back to students.
I believe student life is the backbone of fostering engaged and passionate people. This is crucial for individuals as they leave the university environment. This means creating welcoming, safe, and joy-filled spaces and events. I have been helping to create community among people in the places I have worked and volunteered in for years. I understand the stakes of my role and I am beyond excited to help create the environments where we, as students, can grow into the best versions of ourselves.
As Student Life Commissioner, I oversee some of our most public events of the year, namely 101 Week. Having the opportunity to work with registered student governments (RSGs) and clubs to facilitate the welcoming of our first-year students, and the welcoming back of all of our older students, is a role that is vital to the engagement and long-term dedication of our student population. I adore getting to know people and am thrilled to experience, and foster student life and community with a new perspective!
The Student Life Commissioner works to make your experience at uOttawa a memorable one. They organize social and philanthropic events on campus, such as 101 Week and Relay for Life. They also manage relations with Recognized Student Governments and oversee the administration of funds and scholarships.
- 101 Week oversight, planning, and execution
- Inclusive event planning
- Support for student group and UOSU service-led events (i.e. Black History Month)
Relevant Staff
- 101 Week Crew
- Temporary Student Staff
- Director of Communications & Administration
Relevant Committees
- Student Life Committee (Chair) – Social Round Table (Chair) – Student Life Committee – School Spirit Council
- Shine Day planning and execution
- Relay for Life planning and execution
- Funds and scholarships design, promotion, and administration
Relevant Staff
- Temporary Student Staff
Relevant Committees
- Student Life Committee (Chair)
- Funds and Scholarships Committee (Chair)
- Philanthropy Round Table (Chair)
- Relations with Recognized Student Governments
- Wellness and mental health initiatives
Relevant Staff
- Peer Help Centre
Relevant Committees
- President’s Round Table (Co-Chair)
- CHUO Board of Directors
Management
MERISSA COWELL
Labor Relations and Human Resources Advisor
she/her
hr@seuo-uosu.com
613-783-1380 ext. 410
NADIA BOUTKHIL
Director of Equity and Community Services
she/her
dir-equity@seuo-uosu.com
613-783-1380 ext. 390
