CONSTITUTION and governing documents

The Executive Team is bound by the Constitution of the SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry. The Executive is held accountable for the overarching functions of SOCA while the volunteers keep us effectively running.

PRESIDENT - Balqees jama

Name: Balqees Jama (she/her/hers)
Position on the Exec: President
Programme of Study: International Studies 
Country of Birth/Background: Hamilton, Ontario | Somalia
Hobbies: Playing ukulele, scrolling Instagram, and connecting with family & friends
Favourite Phrase(s): “I don't think we have any alternative other than remaining optimistic. Optimism is an absolute necessity, even if it's only optimism of the will, as Gramsci said, and pessimism of the intellect.” ― Angela Y. Davis
Philosophy: Focus your efforts on where it makes the biggest impact. Say 'no' to more things because boundaries are an act of self-love.
Favourite Food(s): Beer geel and hooyo's biriis
Preferred Social Media Contacts: Instagram  @balqeesjama_  | Twitter @BalqeesJama | Facebook 

VICE PRESIDENT - Sophonie Priebe 

Name: Sophonie Marcelin Priebe (she/her/hers)
Position on the Exec: External Relations Officer
Programme of Study: Criminology, Gender Studies, Psychology 
Country of Birth or Descent: Dominican Republic / Haiti
Hobbies: Cooking, working out, reading, being outdoors, and being with family and friends
Favourite Food(s): Love all foods
Favourite Phrase(s): Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise.
Philosophy: Faith, Courage, Solidarity, Education, Opportunities, Love 
Preferred Social Media Contacts: Facebook - Sophonie Priebe| Instagram @sophpriebe





*Sophonie was Acting External Relations Officer until elected as VP in SOCA's Fall by-election

FORMER vice president -  ​Ndini Isaac Maulana (uNTIL sEPTEMBER 2021)

Name: Ndini Isaac Maulana
Position on the Exec: Vice-President
Programme of Study: Psychology
Country of Birth or Descent: Zimbabwean
Hobbies: Soccer
Favourite Food(s): Sadza nemboora
Favourite Phrase(s): Hectic
Philosophy: Eat healthy, breathe
Preferred Social Media Contacts: Twitter - @isaacmaulana4

(NOW VACANT) secretary  - MOHAMED LOFTY CONDE  (Until march 2022)

Name: Mohamed Lofty Conde
Position on the Exec: Secretary
Programme of Study: Politics
Country of Birth or Descent: Guinee
Hobbies: Cooking
Favourite Food(s): Good food
Favourite Phrase(s):You live and you learn ​
Philosophy: Your views and ideology are a reflection of your reality not a fact.

TREASURER - ​Samia Ishimwe

Name: Samia Ishimwe
Position on the Exec: Treasurer
Programme of Study: Biomedical Physiology
Country of Birth or Descent: Rwanda
Hobbies: reading, cooking, binge watching shows, and working out
Favourite Food(s): too many to choose from i love all food
Favourite Phrase(s): Hakuna Matata
Philosophy: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together
Preferred Social Media Contacts: ​​Instagram ​- @samia.ish

external relations officer - Oghenekaro Lauretta Umukoro (She/Her)

Name: Oghenekaro Lauretta Umukoro (She/Her)
Position on the Exec: External Relations Offcer
Programme of Study: Major in Sociology, Minor In Contemporary Arts
Country of Birth or Descent: Nigeria
Hobbies: Dancing, Shopping, Taking picture, Editing videos, Designing etc
Favourite Food(s): All cuisines
Favourite Phrase(s): Chop life make life no chop you
Philosophy: Change is the only constant thing in life.
Preferred Social Media Contacts: Instagram @_ladyelle​

Former External Relations officer - Nafoni Modi (Until July 2021)

Name: Nafoni Modi
Position on the Exec: External Relations Offcer
Programme of Study: Health Science 
Country of Birth or Descent: South Sudan
Hobbies: baking and reading
Favourite Food(s): churros
Favourite Phrase(s): hold things with an open hand
Philosophy: Things are only as deep as you make them to be
Preferred Social Media Contacts: IG - @nafoni​

Internal Relations officer - Linda Kanyamuna

Name: Linda Kanyamuna (she/her/hers)​
Position on the Exec: Internal Relations Officer (SFSS Council Rep)
Programme of Study: Communication
Country of Birth or Descent: Filipina/Zambian (Born in Canada)
Hobbies: I love creating content (Videos, podcasting, blogging, writing). I also really enjoy listening to music, particularly hip hop , r&b and soul genres, I love practicing yoga and meditation.
Favourite Food(s): Ttoekbokki (korean ricecake)
Favourite Phrase(s): "You know it's real when you are who you think you are"
​Philosophy: Ethics, Solidarity, Education, Friendship
Preferred Social Media Contacts: IG - @blasianspiderman

EVENTS COORDINATOR - Yasmin Mohamed

Name: Yasmin Mohamed (she/her)​
Position on the Exec: Events Coordinator
Programme of Study: Psychology
Country of Birth or Descent: Canada
Hobbies: Journaling
Favourite Food(s): pasta
Favourite Phrase(s): There's always tomorrow...
​Philosophy: “The mind is furnished with ideas by experience alone” – John Locke 
Preferred Social Media Contacts: Instagram ​ -​ @yassiez_


​First year rep (EXEC AT LARGE) - Mugasha Rutega 

Name: Mugasha Rutega (He/Him)​
Position on the Exec: 
​Programme of Study: Communications
Country of birth or descent: Ugandan and Tanzanian
Hobbies: Creating comedic videos/sketches and songwriting
Favourite food(s): Hawaiian BBQ Chicken burger, Chicken shawarma, Rolex
Favourite phrase(s): "Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have enough worries of its own." Matthew 6:34
Philosophy: If you don't like where you are, change it.
​Preferred Social Media Contacts: Instagram ​ @mugroots88

FIC REP (Exec At Large) - Farah Marianne Messan (Until Aprl 2020)

Name: Farah Marianne Messan
Position on the Exec: Fraser International College (FIC) Representative
​Programme of Study: Faclty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS)
Country of birth or descent: Canada
Hobbies: Writing, nails (nail tech), tennis, art
Favourite food(s): Seafood pasta
Favourite phrase(s): one lost, ten found
Philosophy: There's always a light at the end of a tunnel
Preferred Social Media Contacts: Instagram @farathm​

​GRAD REP (EXEC AT LARGE) - Tiara Cash

Name: Tiara Cash
Position on the Exec: Graduate Representative
​Programme of Study: Social Psychology
Country of birth or descent: United States of America
Hobbies: Trying new food & making flower-based oils
Favourite food(s): -
Favourite phrase(s): -
Philosophy: -
Preferred Social Media Contacts: Instagram ​ @princess_mentality | @crownedvittallc

 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OFFICER ​ - Janaye majer

Name: Janaye Majer
Position on the Exec: Acting Information Technology Officer till Fall By-Election
​Programme of Study: Psychology
Country of birth or descent: Jamaican / European (Born in Canada)
Hobbies: I love anything sports related and I love creating social media content!
Favourite Food(s): Jamaican patties, poutine and burritos
Favourite Phrase(s): “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
​Philosophy: Ethics, loyalty, kindness, empathy
​Preferred Social Media Contacts: Instagram ​ @janayemajer

EXEC AT LARGE - KHALID ALI 

Picture
    Name: Khalid Ali 
    Position on the Exec: Exec At Large
    Programme of Study: Kinesiology
    Country of Birth or Descent: Somalia
    Hobbies: Sports, anime
    Favourite Food(s): Apple Pie
    Favourite Phrase(s): Hakuna Matata (it means no worries)
    ​Philosophy: If something you do can convenience someone else
​more that it can inconvenience you, it should be done.
    Preferred Social Media Contacts: Instagram ​- _khalidali_

EXEC AT LARGE  - Eden teke Ghirmay

​Name: Eden Teke Ghirmay
Position on the Exec: Exec At Large (Appointed)
​Programme of Study: Health Science
Country of birth or descent: Eritrea
Hobbies: 
Favourite Food(s): 
Favourite Phrase(s): 
​Philosophy:
​Preferred Social Media Contacts: 

Staff support - ​Aicha Araba Etrew

​Name: Aicha Araba Etrew
Role: Black Student Support Centre (BSSC) Coordinator
Educational Background: BA political Science with Sociology, MA International Affairs, MA Communication
Country of Birth/ Background: Ghana 
Hobbies: Soccer, Gaming
Favourite Phrase(s): “I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.”; “The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart.”– Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
Philosophy: There is no such thing as failure instead an  experience for growth and excellence.
Favourite Food(s): None
Preferred Social Media Contacts: Twitter - @ara_by | Instagram – ara_by | Facebook – Araba Etrew-Boahene