Eddy Avila - Executive Director
Eddy holds a Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree from Western University, specializing in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences. While volunteering at Western, Eddy became interested in student issues and was eventually elected as the President of the University Students’ Council. Eddy took the skills he learned at the USC to Queen’s Park, where he became the Legislative Assistant and Issues Manager for the Minister of Community and Social Services. On his off time, Eddy loves to climb indoors and outdoors, exercise, eat lots, drink coffee, and play PokémonGo.
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Britney De Costa – Research & Policy Analyst
Britney holds a law degree, Master of Social Work, and Master of Laws from the University of Windsor specializing in the role of lawyers in systemic advocacy work, as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph where she studied Sociology. While in law school, she met a group of passionate students who motivated her to become involved in a number of advocacy initiatives, particularly addressing issues regarding sexual violence and poverty. This advocacy taught her the importance of elevating the voices of persons most affected by issues in order to achieve meaningful change. In her down time, Britney enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Cali and Brooklyn, collaging, and practicing yoga.
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Chisanga Mwamba – Communications & Operations Coordinator
Chisanga holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies from the University of Toronto and a Public Relations Graduate Certificate from Humber College. Chisanga’s advocacy work goes back 13 years, when she began to advocate for increased resources services in her community of Westminster Park in London, Ontario. At the University of Toronto, Chisanga advocated for Black students and students in the African diaspora to address anti-black racism on campus and provide leisure and educational programming. Chisanga enjoys wellness, beauty, and travel. She spends most of her free time catching up on reality TV or checking out a new restaurant.
Malika Dhanani - Research & Policy Analyst
Malika holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and a Baccalaureate of Applied Science in Child, Youth, and Family from the University of Guelph. Malika is passionate about policy analysis and has engaged in policy work on youth homelessness and housing in Canada, national home care, and childcare in Ontario. In her spare time, Malika enjoys listening to music and singing her way through life. She is an avid reader and a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers trope. She has recently been working on her photography skills and loves spending time outdoors. (Fun fact: Malika has been going camping every summer since the age of two!)
Emily DuBois Brooks - Special Projects Intern
Emily is an Indigenous student attending Wilfrid Laurier University. She is as an upcoming fourth-year student majoring in Sociology. Emily has been working alongside OUSA as an author on the Indigenous Students Policy Paper, which primarily aims to decolonize university campuses and academia and provide accessibility and cultural representation for Indigenous students in order to create safe and inclusive academic practice, culture, and institutional space.
Ashyana Jasmine Kachra - Research & Policy Intern
Ashyana recently graduated from Western University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. During her time at Western, Ashyana was heavily involved in the campus community. She served as the President of Western’s Indo-Canadian Student’s Association – the largest South Asian club at the university, and a Research & Policy Commissioner for Western’s Gender Equality Network, among many other initiatives. Ashyana is a self-proclaimed television aficionado currently binge-watching grown-ish. She enjoys being in the kitchen and trying as many recipes as she can.