Executives

Lisa Glock (she/her) is entering her fifth year of a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Political Science and Women’s & Gender Studies, with certificates in Leadership, International Learning, and Sustainability. Lisa strives to build connections and foster community through all avenues of her work. She wants to promote equity of access on campus and advocate for climate action. She wants to make university an easier, safer, and more enjoyable time for all students. As someone who has always been interested in social justice and activism, Lisa wants to foster advocacy on campus and ensure students can always make their voices heard.

Sustainability is also a large priority for her in this role working towards a greener campus. Lisa grew up in small-town Alberta after her parents immigrated from Germany in 2005. Her dual citizenship of Germany and Canada inspired her to partake in international learning which furthered her passion for sustainability. Lisa has been involved on campus throughout her time at the U of A, by participating in various student groups, working as a TA, volunteering as a U of A Ambassador, and sitting on the Registrar’s Office Student Advisory Committee.

Outside of her time at the UofA Lisa is an avid reader, runs a book club in her free time, and enjoys hiking with her dog. Feel free to reach out to Lisa at president@uasu.ca.

Layla Alhussainy (she/her) is your 2024-25 Vice President Academic. Layla recently completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Religious Studies and is now currently an Open Studies student. Layla was previously the Vice President Internal for her faculty association, the Organization for Arts Students and Interdisciplinary Studies (OASIS), where she sat on the Council of Faculty Associations (CoFA) and also represented her Arts faculty as a General Faculties Council (GFC) member.

Layla is devoted to enhancing accessibility for every student across all three campuses, ensuring they can reach their full potential and thrive academically. She is committed to pushing for an increased culture of inclusivity and dismantling barriers to learning. Layla is working on promoting the integration of mandatory Indigenous course content, advocating for the expansion of online learning options, and starting dialogue around the establishment of clear guidelines for the use of AI in education as a tool. Additionally, she will push for improvements to the exam deferral process and will uphold affordability by expanding the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiative. Moreover, Layla prioritizes transparency and open communication between student representatives and the student community, as she values the importance of fostering an environment conducive to student awareness and academic success for all.

Outside of governance, Layla loves spending time with her family and friends, reading, and eating fried chicken. If you have any questions, or would just like to say hi, please feel free to email vp.academic@uasu.ca.

Abdul Abbasi (he/him) is your Vice President External for the 2024/2025 term. Abdul was born in Pakistan and is entering his fourth year of a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Law, Crime and Justice at the Augustana Campus. He has been involved in student governance since his first year, starting as an off-campus councillor in his faculty association and representing the Augustana Campus at SU and GFC the following year.

In his role, Abdul will work to represent students to municipal, provincial, and federal governments to ensure that students receive the best deals possible. He will advocate for more affordable degrees, increased job opportunities, and more funding for sexual and gender-based violence support and much more.

Outside of governance, Abdul enjoys watching sports and spending time with friends. If you have any questions or concerns or would like to discuss politics or UASU activities, feel free to email vp.external@uasu.ca!

Levi Flaman (he/him) is your returning Vice-President Operations & Finance for 2024-25. Currently an Open Studies student, Levi recently completed his Bachelor of Commerce in East Asian Business Studies with a minor in Business Economics & Law along with obtaining embedded certificates in Real Estate, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, International Learning and Global Citizenship. Throughout his degree, he has been involved in various capacities around campus; including working at InfoLink, volunteering with New Student Orientation, Week of Welcome, Safewalk, and International Student Services. In addition, he served on the University of Alberta Board of Governors, General Faculties Council, and Senate in addition to several years on the UASU Students’ Council.

In addition to continuing the work he began last year surrounding affordability initiatives, this year Levi will be heavily involved in negotiations with various parties regarding the renewal of the Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass) and Single-Source Cold Beverage Agreement. He will also be prioritizing the reduction of operational inefficiencies within the UASU, aiming to reduce operational expenses and improve the client experience within our businesses and services. Finally, he wants to review the SUB Master Plan to ensure that the Students’ Union Building is meeting the needs of the campus community while maintaining its commitment to social, environmental and economic sustainability now and in the years to come.

In his free time, Levi enjoys playing PC games or watching international films and television. If you have any recommendations, send them his way at vp.operations@uasu.ca.

Renson Alva (he/they) is your UASU Vice President Student Life for the 2024/25 academic year. He is entering his fifth year of a Biological Sciences degree, with a minor in Sociology. Renson grew up on the tiny island Kingdom of Bahrain before moving to Edmonton in 2020 to pursue his degree. He has been involved on campus throughout his degree in various volunteer roles, living and working as a student-staff in residence for three years.

As the UASU renews its strategic plan, Renson hopes to continue the advocacy efforts of past executives to ensure you get the most out of your university experience. They will be working with their counterparts in the university administration to further student wellness, equity, diversity, inclusivity and accessibility on-campus. He will also be working on improvements at our residences and engage our communities in Augustana and Campus Saint Jean.

Renson is always looking to expand their advocacy efforts and student consultation. If you are ever in need of support, have concerns to raise or would simply like to chat about anything student life, please reach out to Renson by email; vp.studentlife@uasu.ca, book a meeting on their calendar or swing by SUB 2-900 :)

Fun Fact: Renson’s name is derived from a fusion of his dad’s name (Nelson) and mom’s name (Renita).