Hello everyone! My name is Ashyana, and I am excited to join OUSA as a Summer Research Intern for the next four months.
I have spent the past four years at Western University pursuing an undergraduate degree in Political Science. Throughout my undergraduate experience, I have been heavily involved in my campus community. Most notably, I 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. While very different endeavours, at the intersection of gender, and ethno-cultural identities, these opportunities made it abundantly clear that there is no singular university experience.
I am hyper-aware of the monolithic identity prescribed to post-secondary students that erases the significant and different challenges students face, inside and outside of university institutions. Central to the work I engage in, is my passion for policy and research that is intersectional and informed by lived experiences. As such, I was drawn to OUSA as it is evident through their advocacy initiatives, community engagement and the integral role students play in shaping policy priorities; that intersectionality and lived experiences are foundational to the work that OUSA does to make post-secondary education accessible and accountable.
When I am not working, you can find me in the kitchen cooking something fun (shameless plug checkout @eatpraycope on Instagram) or as a self-proclaimed television aficionado, watching TV (right now I’m binge-watching grown-ish)! This summer, I look forward to graduating from Western University, growing at OUSA, and trying as many new recipes as I can. In the fall, I will be heading across the pond to pursue graduate studies at the London School of Economics, studying social and public policy in the global context.
Recognizing the importance of student voices and the invaluable role your experiences play in shaping the future of post-secondary advocacy, please do not hesitate to get in touch! You can reach me at [email protected] or find me on Twitter @AshyanaJasmine.