Executive Team
Jaz Raine
President
Pronouns
they/them/theirs
Program
Interdisciplinary Social Research, PhD
Experience
I have an abundance of experience supporting students, staff, and service users at Trent and at other institutions, having worked in education and administration at Wilfrid Laurier University, Trent University, and OCAD University. I am working hard to meet you where you are at, and working collaboratively to ensure you have the best possible experience.
My top priority as President of the TGSA for the 2026-2027 year will involve addressing many of the issues that have been identified by graduate students including, but not limited to, food insecurity, health care access, and student supervisor relationships. My goal is to ensure we are supporting graduate students as fully as possible in the years to come.
Song on Repeat
Desiree Dawson- A Day Will Come
Jordan Webb
VP Internal Affairs
Pronouns: she/her
Program: PhD Psychology
Bio:
I have been at Trent University since 2019, where I completed my BSc in Psychology with a specialization in Health and Well-Being. During this time, I completed both a research practicum and honours thesis focused on the neurobiology of learning and memory, and I continued this work throughout my MS. Over the years, I have grown tremendously as a researcher and reached several important milestones, including publishing my first first-author manuscript as the first author. I am now continuing my research in the same lab as my PI’s first PhD student!
Last year, I had the opportunity to join the TGSA Board of Directors as the MS Student Representative. In this role, I gained valuable experience advocating for graduate students, serving on various Trent committees, and contributing to initiatives aimed at improving the graduate student experience. I look forward to continuing my involvement with the TGSA as VP of Internal Affairs, where I hope to support accountable elections, uphold bylaws and policies, and help ensure executive processes are carried out consistently and effectively. This role would provide an exciting opportunity to further strengthen my connection to the Trent community while continuing to develop my leadership and organizational skills.
Favourite song: Sludge Factory – Alice in Chains
Heather Klyn-Hesselink
VP Senate
Pronouns
She; Her.
Program
Coming Soonf Coming Soon at Trent.
Experience
Coming Soon xxx xxx
Song on Repeat
Coming Soon
Board members
Uzma Danish
Equity Commissioner
Uzma Danish is an Interdisciplinary Social Research doctoral student at Trent University with a master’s in social work. Uzma is a sectional instructor at Trent, with publications in child welfare, immigration, employment, and aging. While promoting EDI within organizations, local communities, and the broader society, her professional and volunteer commitments embody her passion for working with those who are socially stigmatized, marginalized, and sidelined from meaningful community participation.
Uzma is energetic, active, and motivated with a keen passion for people. Uzma’s grassroots approach to addressing discrimination is by centring the experiences of people.
As a returning Equity Commissioner, Uzma plans to carry forward the work started last year with the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Committee, Housing Advisory Committee, and initiate interdisciplinary collaboration to organize events centred around diverse student needs. Uzma believes that while we all are impacted by ‘isms,’ collaboration is the key to achieving equity and peace in the chaotic world we live in. If you have ideas for collaboration or questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]
Vacant
International Student Commissioner
Jamie Burnett
Environmental Commissioner
Pronouns: She/her
Program: Environmental and Life Sciences (M.Sc.)
Experience: As a recent graduate from the Environmental Geoscience program at Trent, I am excited to apply my multidisciplinary knowledge to my role as Environmental Commissioner. Throughout my time as an undergraduate, I have had the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with peers, students, and faculty, which will guide me in initiatives to foster inclusive and well-rounded approaches to sustainability.
Song on repeat: Kiss it kiss it – Renee Rapp
Vacant
Durham Representative
Pronouns:
Program:
Bio
Favorite song:
Ngoc Huynh
Sciences Representatives (MA)
Pronouns:
Program:
Area of Research:
Bio:
Favorite Song:
Almat Kabyl
Sciences Representatives (PhD)
Pronouns: he/him
Program: PhD in Environmental and Life Sciences
Area of research: Risk assessment, risk management, machine learning
Bio:
Hi, I’m Almat Kabyl, a first-year PhD student in Environmental and Life Sciences and your PhD Science Representative. I have been awarded multiple merit-based scholarships, including the Enhanced State Scholarship (seven times), the Taiburyl Scholarship, the Zhi-Hong Future Scholarship, as well as a research grant from the Young Researchers Alliance. As PhD Science Representative, my focus is to strengthen graduate student representation and to advocate for research funding opportunities, transparent policies, and greater recognition of graduate student achievements.
Song: Señorita (Tekketekke) by Ninety One
Kristin Jones
PhD Arts Representative
Kristin Jones
She/her
I am currently working on my PhD in Canadian Studies with a focus on the Report on Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
I have an MA from Trent in Canadian & Indigenous Studies and an HBA from Guelph in Criminal Justice and Public Policy. When I’m not studying or working with the CUPE local and the TGSA to make grad student life better and more fair, I’ll be at the beach or hiking the many trails in the Peterborough region. This winter I’m hoping to take up cross-country skiing at Jackson Park because it looks like fun!
Song: I have been known to play Pink Pony Club (Chappell Roan) on a loop, but Unwritten (by Natasha Bedingfield) is probably always going to be my theme song.
Jonathan Nayler
MA Arts Representative
Pronouns: he/him
Experience: OC Cabinet (as the TCSA Commissioner and the Equity commissioner), O-week leader for four years for Ootonabee, worked for FPHL for three years, fought for the racialized and diverse voices of Ottonabee through these positions.
Program: Indigenous and Canadian Studies MA
Songs on Repeat: anything from Chappell Roan or Fleetwood Mac mainly pop (only the good music) and rock music from the 2000 and LGBTQ+ music from the 2010 plus Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo and Charli xcx – basically raised by my family to appreciate different tastes and genres in music
Staff
Connor Elverson
Student Support Coordinator
CUPE 3908 Representatives
Tyler Majer
Vice President Unit 2
Tyler is a Ph.D. candidate in the Cultural Studies program and the Vice President of Unit 2, CUPE 3908.
Kristin Jones
Lead Steward Unit 2
Pronouns
She/Her
Program
Canadian Studies, PhD
Experience
Kristin is currently working on her PhD in Canadian Studies, focussing on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples from 1996. She has completed a Masters Degree at Trent in Canadian & Indigenous Studies and an Honours BA at the University of Guelph in Criminal Justice and Public Policy. After living in Toronto, Waterloo, and Fort McMurray, she’s making Peterborough her home because of how close the beaches and hiking trails are no matter where you go.