SOGS Presidential Vote (February 4th and 5th)
SOGS 2019 Presidential Election Candidates:
WESAM ABDELHAMID MOHAMED
Wesam AbdElhamid Mohamed, 2nd Year M.E.Sc, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Are you tired of feeling unheard and neglected as a graduate student? My choice to run for SOGS president is part of my commitment to helping graduate students voice their concerns. I will do whatever it takes to ensure that graduate students’ experience at Western is remarkable and unforgettable in the best possible way.
It has been my pleasure and an honour to serve as Vice President Advocacy for SOGS since October 2018. I also have the pleasure of being elected to serve as the International Students Commissioner on the National Executive of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), representing more than 500,000 students in the largest student movement in Canada. These positions have been an opportunity to learn about graduate student concerns, and I intend to address these needs and issues in next year.
My priorities for the next year include:
- Initiating an Emergency Bursary Program for Graduate Students
- Ensuring Western University is an inclusive space for graduate students with diverse perspectives and backgrounds
- Collaborating with SGPS (the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies) to propose a policy document governing the student-supervisor relationship
- Empowering women in graduate studies through creating and providing additional bursaries and awards to support their endeavours
- Collaborating with Indigenous Services to take tangible steps towards Reconciliation
- Working with CFS to lobby for graduate student rights provincially and federally
- Expanding the SOGS FoodBank program to meet the increasing needs for food security among graduate students
Through my experience working for graduate students in my elected positions and my personal experience as a graduate student in Engineering, I have become increasingly aware that no one will advocate for us but us. By uniting graduate students at Western, and across Canada, I know that it is possible to bring about change for ourselves! You have the power to start this change by electing me as SOGS President for 2019.
Get in touch with Wesam:
Wesam AbdElhamid Mohamed, 2nd Year M.E.Sc, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Are you tired of feeling unheard and neglected as a graduate student? My choice to run for SOGS president is part of my commitment to helping graduate students voice their concerns. I will do whatever it takes to ensure that graduate students’ experience at Western is remarkable and unforgettable in the best possible way.
It has been my pleasure and an honour to serve as Vice President Advocacy for SOGS since October 2018. I also have the pleasure of being elected to serve as the International Students Commissioner on the National Executive of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), representing more than 500,000 students in the largest student movement in Canada. These positions have been an opportunity to learn about graduate student concerns, and I intend to address these needs and issues in next year.
My priorities for the next year include:
- Initiating an Emergency Bursary Program for Graduate Students
- Ensuring Western University is an inclusive space for graduate students with diverse perspectives and backgrounds
- Collaborating with SGPS (the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies) to propose a policy document governing the student-supervisor relationship
- Empowering women in graduate studies through creating and providing additional bursaries and awards to support their endeavours
- Collaborating with Indigenous Services to take tangible steps towards Reconciliation
- Working with CFS to lobby for graduate student rights provincially and federally
- Expanding the SOGS FoodBank program to meet the increasing needs for food security among graduate students
Through my experience working for graduate students in my elected positions and my personal experience as a graduate student in Engineering, I have become increasingly aware that no one will advocate for us but us. By uniting graduate students at Western, and across Canada, I know that it is possible to bring about change for ourselves! You have the power to start this change by electing me as SOGS President for 2019.
@VoteForWesamToBeThePresidentOfSOGS
wesam.abdelhamid.mohamed@gmail.com
JINA KUM
Jina Kum, 4th Year PhD, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
As SOGS Vice-President Academic for the past two years, I have been committed to advance academic advocacy for Western graduate students. My role has empowered me to engage in numerous discussions with the Western Administration regarding graduate education and academic policies, and to advise many students experiencing academic and administrative difficulties. Such involvements provided me with vast exposure to policy issues that have profound impacts on the graduate student body, as well as awareness of predicaments that graduate students experience at an individual level.
If elected as SOGS President, I am committed to formulating a strategic plan and enhancing the graduate student experience at Western. Taking this opportunity, I aim to broaden my portfolio to prioritize graduate students’ interests in four pillars: 1) Graduate Student Experience; 2) Health and Wellness; 3) Academic Advocacy; and 4) Campus and Civic Engagement. Within each area, I will continue to consult with members of SOGS, campus stakeholders, and Western administration to strengthen our partnerships. I am committed to making a positive change on campus and ensuring the best possible experience for graduate students at Western.
Get in touch with Jina:
Jina Kum, 4th Year PhD, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
As SOGS Vice-President Academic for the past two years, I have been committed to advance academic advocacy for Western graduate students. My role has empowered me to engage in numerous discussions with the Western Administration regarding graduate education and academic policies, and to advise many students experiencing academic and administrative difficulties. Such involvements provided me with vast exposure to policy issues that have profound impacts on the graduate student body, as well as awareness of predicaments that graduate students experience at an individual level.
If elected as SOGS President, I am committed to formulating a strategic plan and enhancing the graduate student experience at Western. Taking this opportunity, I aim to broaden my portfolio to prioritize graduate students’ interests in four pillars: 1) Graduate Student Experience; 2) Health and Wellness; 3) Academic Advocacy; and 4) Campus and Civic Engagement. Within each area, I will continue to consult with members of SOGS, campus stakeholders, and Western administration to strengthen our partnerships. I am committed to making a positive change on campus and ensuring the best possible experience for graduate students at Western.
2019 Presidential Election: Call-Out for Nominations
Madison Bettle, SOGS Chief Returning Officer (CRO) & April Morris, SOGS Deputy Chief Returning Office (DCRO)
(Some) Duties of the President
A complete description of the President’s duties and elections rules can be found in the SOGS Constitution and Bylaws. A selection appears below.
The President:
- shall be responsible for the overall operation of the affairs of the Society.
- shall oversee the bookkeeping and administrative functions of the Society.
- shall be responsible for ensuring the Vice-Presidents execute their duties.
- shall be a non-voting member, ex-officio, of all standing committees of the Society.
- shall be responsible for calling a meeting of the Executive prior to any General or Council meeting.
- shall chair Executive meetings and prepare an agenda.
- shall be responsible for the minutes of Executive meetings.
- shall, with the Vice-President Finance, and only with Council’s approval, enter into loan agreements on behalf of the Society.
- shall, with the Vice-President Finance, be responsible for the administration of the Society’s emergency loan system, travel grants fund, and child care fund.
- shall, with the Vice-President Finance, and with Council’s approval, be responsible for the administration of the Society’s long-term investments.
- shall ensure the names of the winners of Society’s non-confidential sponsored programs are published.
- shall co-ordinate the contract renewal process for the Society’s office staff.
- shall maintain organizational charts that reflect the mandate, operations, and needs of the Society, and shall update them annually.
- shall, as appropriate, call a meeting of all Executive Officers, Commissioners and Committee Chairs to discuss issues with the Society, which shall be reported to Council.
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shall represent the Society as necessary (or designate an appropriate representative) at meetings of campus organizations (including, by not limited to, the University Student’s Council, The MBA Association, the PSAC 610, the UWO Faculty Association and the UWO Staff Association), at meetings with University Administrators in any external context, including media and government relations.