Once you're done learning about our Candidates, go to voting.utoronto.ca to VOTE between April 11th and April 18th.
EXECUTIVE POSITIONS
President
Jessica Fisher
Hi everyone! If you don’t know me, my name is Jessica (she/her) and I’m running for the position of President on MUSSA for the upcoming academic year. In working as the first year representative for MUSSA over this past year, I had the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in how meetings and events are organised, in addition to a good sense of the concerns and interests of the cohort. Looking ahead to September, I’d like to organise more in-person events (contingent upon covid) such as field trips to museums and an end of year gala, and create greater opportunities for professional development, both for incoming first years in finding internships, as well as graduating second or third years looking to find full-time jobs. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for what you would like to see next year, please do not hesitate to reach out! :)
Avi Margolis
I’m a passionate member of the MMSt community hoping to help our program thrive for the next year. I have attended multiple MUSSA events this past year as well as moderated the MMSt discord. This has given me a lot of insight into what my fellow students are looking for. I’m running for president in hope of representing the voices of all MMSt and CDP students.
Vice President
Marcel Robitaille
I'm excited to apply for the Vice President position with MUSSA for this upcoming year. Over the previous academic year - I've served on MUSSA council as the Treasurer, a role which I enjoyed. By placing your vote with me, I will make sure your interests are heard within the executive council. I look forward to continuing to represent my peers and assisting in creating a welcoming and engaging program for the 2022-2023 year.
Meg Sutton
Hi y'all! Congratulations on making it through another year of your Masters. If our paths haven't crossed yet in classes or the 2 elevators in Bissell, allow me to introduce myself: My name is Meg, and I am very excited for the opportunity to run for Vice President. For these past two terms, I have served on MUSSA as Secretary where I was responsible for taking real-time notes, prepping meeting agendas, and reminding members of upcoming council meetings. I would like to continue this work, and I believe becoming VP would allow me to expand upon my past MUSSA experience while also growing its future in partnership with the elected President and council. I really do care for this program and the people within it, so I am ready to take on whatever may come as we (finally, knock on wood) transition back to in-person school. My strengths come from organizing and working on a team, so I believe this is an excellent opportunity to support my colleagues in their work next year. Thank you :)
Social Chair
Renee Engelke
Hey everyone, my name is Renee Engelke (she/her), and I am running for the position of Social Chair for the 2022-2023 school year. I was the Social Assistant for MUSSA during this past school year, as well as a Residence Don at Woodsworth. I have experience planning both virtual and in-person events that are fun and engaging. If elected, I would try to make as many in-person events happen as possible to give people a chance to connect with their classmates. A fun fact about me is that I recently adopted a dog – a 1 year old Black Mouth Cur Mix named Tera!
Estefany Encalada
With an event planning background I seek to create plans that will combine socializing and our mutual interest in museums. As social chair I will take into consideration student requests for the types of events they enjoy and wish to engage in with classmates.
Social Media Manager
Romina Campanella
If elected, I aim to transform MUSSA’s social media platforms into a digital hub for students and alumni to connect with each other and engage with relevant school and career related information. I will also continue the work of promoting MUSSA’s various activities in fun and informative ways. As social media manager, I will utilize feedback from my peers to learn how MUSSA’s content can be transformed to better suit their needs and interests. I am excited for the opportunity to serve my peers in the 2022-2023 year!
Sadie Evans
As a social media manager with years of digital marketing experience, this seems like where I can be most helpful.
Second-Year Representative
Ana Villegas
What second-years want is someone who listens, understands, and represents your interests. I have the knowledge, experience, and connections to fulfill these duties and promises to you. Last term, I was the Communications Officer who managed communications and between MUSSA and Musings. On top of this, I was an iJournal Associate Editor and Creative Director for the student-run Svas magazine. Thus I can manage multiple responsibilities and address large sections of the student body. In addition to English, I am fluent in Spanish and have basic knowledge of French so students who are comfortable communicating in these languages can reach out to me. I adore student communication and collaboration. I wrote great articles for Musings, and as part of the LGBTQ+ and Latinx communities, my professional mandate is to implement inter-institutional cooperation. I know how the field lacks sincere diversity & inclusion strategies, and I would love to help students navigate through these issues.
Austin Grant
I am very interested in representing the interests of my fellow second year students through the second year council. I feel I am highly in tune with the concerns and desires of the students of the program, having worked with and gotten to know them over the past year. Having completed many group projects throughout the year, I am eager to work alongside other MUSSA members to represent our peers' best interests. If elected as second year representative, I can bring a keen sensitivity and sympathy for my peers to the council. I will be a valuable and helpful member of MUSSA for the academic year.
COMMITTEE POSITIONS
Musings Copy Editor
Kara Annett
Hi! My name is Kara and I think I'd be a great fit for this position because I have spent the last year contributing to the Musings blog (shameless plug for Collections Corner, please check it out). I also did creative writing throughout my undergrad, giving me experience with writing and editing for a wide audience. I would love to continue working with Musings in this position and my experience, along with my distinctive voice, makes me an excellent candidate for the role.
Avi Margolis
I am pleased to apply for the Musings Copy Editor Position. Having spent my first year in the program writing Musings articles, I learnt how important the paper is in helping museum studies students connect as well as gain experience in museum and gallery writing. As an avid reader and writer since my childhood, I have am a skilled writer and editor of both grammar and style. I hope to improve Musings by helping our writers to truly flourish and hone their craft. As co-editor I would support the administrative editor and ensure that we have a clearly planned writing expectations and schedules.
Ana Villegas
As someone who loves student contributions and collaborations, I would love to manage a virtual space where students can easily publish their experiences and great ideas. There is a prevailing culture within the museum discipline that disregards ideas from students that are not in, or planning to go into a doctoral program. I feel that this is quite a missed opportunity. Recently, museums are grappling with a reckoning, and they need new ideas from emerging museum professionals. I have ample experience in editing material from, and writing feedback to students. I was an Associate Editor for the iJournal and wrote articles for Musings as well. Because I was MUSSA’s Communications Officer last term, I feel very capable of co-running the student blog as I have learned from Musings’ wonderful Co-Editors. Because of my previous academic experience as a History undergrad and my professional experience working in Thunder Bay Museum, I know what appeals to both academic and general audiences.
Musings Administrative Editor
Sadie Evans
Before commencing this program I worked as the managing editor of a biweekly newsletter, I'd be happy to assist with the production and distribution of Musings.
Neshan Tung
Hi everyone. I am running for the Musings Co-Editor-in-Chief Administrative editor position. I am currently a member of the Hart House Art Acquisition committee, and I come from an English and Philosophy background. I have also had various stints in museums and galleries, during which I wrote and edited exhibition didactics, created brochures and other resources. I think that my personal interest in art, literature and museology, along with my academic background and professional experiences reflect my suitability for this position. This past year, I have also been lucky enough to contribute to Musings by writing for the column “She’s My Muse,” which centers women in the museum field. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to delve into the lives of my favourite female artists and museum muses. I would love the chance to exercise some of that same creativity by overseeing the administrative co-editor role. Your consideration is greatly appreciated.
Second Year Tech Fund Representative
Johanna Hill
During our last academic year, I have been working on behalf of MUSSA to bring the technology that you need to Bissell's Inforum as your first-year Tech Fund representative. Now entering second year, using the connections I have made with core members of the Tech Fund and supportive faculty, I would like to once again represent you through MUSSA by advocating and looking for new ways to technologically support your needs as you navigate multimedia assignments, personal technological mishaps or just wanting to see if the new Apple Pencil will work on your iPhone (it won't... not yet anyway). Consulting with the Tech Fund and being a part of MUSSA last year was a real joy, and I hope to do it again in 2022-3! Thank you kindly, cheers.
Marcel Robitaille
This previous year, I served as the Treasurer and worked within MUSSA to create a healthy financial year. By applying to be the Second-Year Tech Fund Representative - I'm bringing my previous experience within MUSSA and professional experience managing and purchasing audio/visual technologies. I look forward to continuing to represent my peers and assisting in creating a welcoming and engaging program for the 2022-2023 year.
Alumni Association Representative
No Nominations.
Recruitment and Admissions Committee Rep.
No Nominations.
Programs Committee Representative
Austin Grant
I have great care for my fellow students’ academic and mental well-being, and the Programs Committee Representative position will allow me to work towards improving these. I hope to represent our students' best interests by observing and helping to improve the course curricula meetings for the courses of our program. I am hardworking and driven, approachable and friendly. I can bring a great sense of humor and humility to the MUSSA council and look fervently towards working alongside my fellow students on such a committee.
I am currently in my first year of the MMST program, and am enjoying it immensely. I had taken two years off after my undergrad yet struggled to get back into the swing of school once it started again. I hope to be able to help incoming students in similar circumstances, guiding them through the transitions, expectations, and pressures of graduate school.
A Masters program is hard, but I hope to make it easier.
I am currently in my first year of the MMST program, and am enjoying it immensely. I had taken two years off after my undergrad yet struggled to get back into the swing of school once it started again. I hope to be able to help incoming students in similar circumstances, guiding them through the transitions, expectations, and pressures of graduate school.
A Masters program is hard, but I hope to make it easier.
Committee on Standing Representative
No Nominations.
