Alexandra Smith

Position you are running for: afef bod

How do you feel AFEF can benefit from you on the BoD?

I am confident AFEF could benefit from me as a member of their Board of Directors given my strong commitment to the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF)community. Recently, one of the initiatives I have taken on is joining the SAF Outreach & Ambassador Program (SOAP) as part of the Fellowship program within SAF. I love educating prospective students who are interested in business about the vast opportunities SAF has to offer and the wonderful community we are working towards building. What inspired me to run for AFEF Board of Directors is my desire to uphold the promises I make to students interested in joining SAF. I believe this sentiment is reflected in my past experiences and future goals. I am currently in the process of training to become a mentor for first year fellows and hopefully a PSLC during my upcoming fall term in 3A. I would bring the same level of initiative towards improving the experience of SAF students through the events and clubs our program offers.

What current or future initiatives would you prioritize AFEF funding for?

I would prioritize AFEF funding towards any in person events. From the past few months I have spent on campus, I’ve noticed a sense of separation between students. Especially those who missed their first year or study in person, there’s a sense of unfamiliarity that has carried through courses. Recently, I spoke to some SAF alumni and I noticed a recurring theme of graduates wishing they had socialized more while in university.. Through hosting more in person events, I believe it will help close this gap and strengthen the network between students. Furthermore, more in person events would be a great chance to connect upper year students and first year students in the SAF community. Through AFSA and Fellowship, I have been able to meet some amazing upper year students. I’ve modelled a lot of my goals as a student from my interactions with upper years and seeing what they’ve been able to achieve. I hope to be able to create that experience for incoming SAF students.

Place your platform for your position here:

Hi! I am Alex, and I am running to be part of the BoD for AFEF! My most recent contribution to the SAF community has been as a Project Manager for AFSA Education. My roles have consisted of creating various study packages and organizing events for first-year students to further review course content. Through being part of AFSA, I have honed my leadership and collaboration skills while working with an amazing team to offer relevant and helpful services to students. For the past semester, I have been mainly dedicated to connecting students with the amazing opportunities available within the University of Waterloo. Most recently I have been working on the promotion of AFM 415: Success Beyond the Classroom, by collecting quotes from speakers, writing LinkedIn posts, and creating media content. Another project I have dedicated myself to is becoming a SOAP ambassador for the SAF community to help answer questions and connect with prospective students. As a Board of Director, I would continue to provide students with the same support system by funding various events and clubs to strengthen the SAF community. If elected, I would dedicate my time to hearing the thoughts of students regarding the experiences they wish to create during their time at the University of Waterloo. My biggest focus would be towards supporting more events for students. From listening to my peers, there is a large emphasis on rebuilding the connectivity and enjoyment of the university experience as the effects of COVID-19 fade. There is no better way to connect students than by hosting events that bring the SAF community closer together. As an AFEF Board of Director, I would be dedicated to creating experiences that are valuable to students and enhance the SAF community. Vote for Smith!