YUGSA 2024-2025 Executive Team
Daren Gens, President (on leave as of Jan 12th, 2026)
Email: president@yugsa.ca
Shantanu Mehra, Vice President of Internal (interim President as of Jan 12th, 2026)
Email: internal@yugsa.ca
Shantanu (he/him) is a PhD student in the Department of Anthropology. He is passionate about student representation and matters related to academic freedom on university campus. He also enjoys music and tea.
Fatima Qaraan, Vice President of Finance
Email: finance@yugsa.ca
Fatima Qaraan is a 4th year PhD candidate in Political Science at York University. Her research examines the intersections of gender-role ideology, sociopolitical factors, and parental consent policies to understand pathways leading to child marriage in Canada, challenging misconceptions about this issue in developed countries.
Since starting her program, Fatima has served in various roles supporting graduate students, including as a funding adjudicator for CUPE's Ways and Means Fund and the Childcare Committee. Currently, she serves as YUGSA's VP of Finance, where she works closely with the Finance and Health Plan Coordinator to manage the organization's budget and financial matters. In this role, she also administers bursaries and funding applications to support members experiencing financial precarity.
Fatima has contributed to structural improvements within YUGSA, participating in the Bylaw Review Committee Working Group. She is committed to amplifying graduate student voices, improving resource accessibility, and addressing financial challenges faced by students in one of Canada's most expensive cities. Her comprehensive financial oversight, in collaboration with the Finance and Health Plan Coordinator, ensures responsible stewardship of YUGSA's resources in service of its members.
Sarah Hasbini, Vice President of Equity
Email: equity@yugsa.ca
Sarah Hasbini is the Vice President of Equity at the York University Graduate Students' Association (YUGSA). In this role, Sarah is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across the university's graduate community. Her focus on advocating for underrepresented groups, ensuring fair representation, and fostering an environment where all students feel welcomed and valued. In her current role as VP of Equity, Sarah is committed to ensuring that every graduate student has access to a supportive team that helps facilitate effective communication with faculty and departments, enabling them to continue their studies successfully.
With a strong background in communication and civic engagement Sarah brings a wealth of experience in addressing issues of social justice, equity, and inclusion. Sarah has a bachelor’s in communication studies and political science, a master’s in political science and is pursuing her Ph.D. in political science at York, where she developed a deep understanding of the systemic challenges faced by marginalized groups in educational settings.
Aishwarya Bhattacharyya, Vice President of Campaigns
Email: campaigns@yugsa.ca
David Semaan, Vice President of Community
Email: community@yugsa.ca