Michelle Reddy

Position you are running for: President

What do you believe are the main concerns for students in SAF right now? How would you like to approach fixing them?

I believe the main concern for students in SAF right now is our community, more specifically student engagement with AFSA events. After almost a year of in-person learning at pre-pandemic levels, students are still having a difficult time integrating into in-person activities and events. During my off-year from AFSA, I was able to observe the way the organization integrates with the student body. The main problem I have noticed is the lack of outreach to non-AFSA members - this has been an issue since my very first year of joining AFSA as well. It is a predisposed thinking that if you are not a part of AFSA that there is no reason to attend AFSA events or workshops. My goal is to establish AFSA as a brand that is here to serve YOU. I want to remind students of SAF that this club is here to support you with a plethora of resources, events and opportunities that will help flourish in your university and academic career. I want students to know that without YOU, we are nothing.

Why are you running for this position? (experience, background & motivation)

AFSA has played a tremendous role in shaping my university experience. My first year as Project Manager in Admin & KM provided me with opportunities to build everlasting relationships with my cohort. In my second year, I had the pleasure of being VP of Admin & KM where I had a platform to better the structure of AFSA. This typically consisted of evaluating student satisfaction or looking for ways to improve student experience. In my third year, I was the Chair of the AFSA BOD, where I was able to aid the organization from a higher-level through budgeting and providing new strategies in order for the organization to maximize resources to support its student body. In short, these past three years in AFSA have truly been an honour, by allowing me to serve the student body and ensuring that each and every single voice is being heard in SAF. I am committed to give back to AFSA and ensure that your learning and personal experience within SAF is as amazing and worthwhile as it was for me.

Place your platform for your position here:

"Hi everyone! My name is Michelle Reddy. As your previous Chair of the AFSA Board of Directors and AFSA executive, it is a pleasure to announce my candidacy for AFSA President for the 2023/2024 academic year. If elected, I hope to accomplish the following:

1. Student Resources: In order to continue to enrich the academic and professional careers of students with SAF, I plan to increase AFSA events, workshops and educational resources by 15%, with heavy emphasis on more networking opportunities. With SAF’s initiative to provide its students with different program specializations, I will seek to arrange networking events with industry professionals, SAF alumni, and current SAF upper year students that have a background in each of the six unique specializations. In addition, I plan to provide students with more educational materials, especially for upper-year students pursuing new courses within the AFM, CFM, SFM, Math/CPA and Biotech/CPA discipline.

2. Student Belonging: My second goal is to bridge the gap between AFSA and the students within SAF. This change will be seen internally within our mission and values, to constantly affirm students that they belong and show that our executive team is dedicated to your success by enriching your learning experience and being a part of an ever-growing student community. By focusing on building connections and relationships, I hope for AFSA to become a place where students can facilitate open-conversations, view this organization as a safe-haven in times of need, and spotlight to showcase the inherent potential students within our faculty have.

After three wonderful years, I couldn’t be more thankful for my involvement in AFSA. During my presidency, I hope for all students within the School of Accounting and Finance to succeed and flourish from the abundance of opportunities this organization has to offer…the same way it did for me.

VOTE Michelle Reddy! "