Management Team

FACULTY ADVISOR & INTERNS

Dr. Gavin Brockett

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Brockett is an associate professor at Laurier who teaches in the departments of History and Religion & Culture. He assists the Management Team in carrying out their roles and contributes to the educational side of ISOW by teaching ISOW courses.


Almas McConnell

Program Assistant &

Director of Communications

Almas is a program assistant with ISOW and currently in her Masters of Education in Student Affairs program. She joined ISOW because her interests and passion align with the important work that ISOW does! 
One of her responsibilities as a Program Assistant is leading the communications team.

Alexia Phillips

Program Assistant &

Director of Events and Education

Alexia is a program assistant at ISOW and currently in the Masters of International Public Policy at the Balsillie International School of Affairs. Her passion for working with people drew her to ISOW, where the sense of community resonates with her. 

In her role as a Program Assistant one of her responsibilities is to lead the Events and Education team.

PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS

Kyaw Zin Phyoe (KZP)

President

Kyaw Zin Phyoe goes by his abbreviations; KZP. He is an ISOW scholar from Burma, majoring in Political Science at Laurier, and in his fourth year this fall. He believes working as the President of ISOW for the academic year of 2024-25 as an honor.

Sharmaine Lichty

Vice President

Sharmaine is in her third year of a double major in English and History. She loves working with ISOW because it allows her to practically apply the research and writing skills she has learned in class while providing professional opportunities. 

Jaron Bowman

Vice President &

Director of Scholar Support

Jaron absolutely loved his time on the team. Through meaningful experiences, he has made great friends and grown in his understanding of conflict around the world.


 DIRECTORS

Caroline Szawlowski

Director of Development &

Director at Large

Caroline have been involved with ISOW for the last 3 years. She has worked on many projects including the newsletters, hiring, the scholar selection process, and attended the Ottawa advocacy trip. Her goal for this year is to continue promoting ISOW and offering support to the incoming scholars.

Erica Reppo

Director of Finance

Erica is an international student, and dedicated to helping others find their place in Canada and at Laurier, offering them a chance to pursue education and rebuild their lives. It is rewarding for her to be part of a supportive community where all grow and make a positive impact together.

Mathura Thayalan

Associate Director

Mathura joined ISOW in 2022, inspired by its mission to foster active student engagement through the study of international conflicts and to provide scholarships to students affected by these challenges. Being a part of ISOW has also given her the opportunity to connect and collaborate with an amazing group of like-minded people. 

Anika Sarma

Director of Finance

Anika loves working with diverse individuals and NGO partners. She is excited to strengthen these relationships and raise awareness about ISOW to support more at-risk student scholars worldwide.


Nway San

Secretariat

As an ISOW scholar, she is eager to join the ISOW management team to make meaningful contributions. She is committed to sharing her insights and perspectives during decision-making processes to help drive positive outcomes. 



ASSISTANT DIRECTORS

Jill Tomlin

Assistant Secretary

ISOW initiative is what peaked her interest to get involved. She is looking forward to working with passionate and hard working individuals while creating positive change through my position. 

Samantha Crossman

Assistant Director of Scholar Support

She is interested in learning about our immigration policy in Canada and how governments interact with one another. She hopes to provide assistance in as many ways as possible as Education is something that should be easily accessible to everyone. 


Viktoria Franjic

Assistant Director of Development

She is looking forward to increasing her cross-cultural knowledge and understanding of the effects of international conflicts and being able to share this with and educate others on the issues so many people face worldwide. 


Anastasia Townshend

Assistant Director of Events and Education

She is deeply committed to working with the Laurier community to support students who have faced the conflict. She truly does believe in the power of education, and hopes to gain a deeper understanding of how important it is to ensure that everyone has access to it.



Ravneet Kaur

Assistant Director of Communications

Ravneet is a final year Computer Science and Physics student passionate about humanitarian work. She is inspired by ISOW’s mission to bring hope to students in war-torn areas and help them see life positively. 

Sayeedul Arafat

Assistant

Director of Scholar Support

Arafat is a political science student. He aims to pursue a career in public services, and believes that ISOW is the perfect place for him to learn and grow. 



Donya Barvari

Assistant Director of Events and Education

She is deeply committed to the mission of ISOW, as it aligns with her passion for fostering cross-cultural understanding and supporting students from diverse backgrounds.

Sara Khaireddin

Assistant Director of Events and Education

She joined ISOW because of her combined love and passion for education and helping others. She believes education is a fundamental right that belongs to everyone, and ISOW gives her a platform to try and help those struggling with access to education.

Rajat Gumman

Assistant

Director of Communications

Rajat is a fourth-year political science student, and his passion lies in supporting and advocating for refugees. He is eager to contribute to making a meaningful impact. He believes in the power of solidarity and hope to help those in need by leveraging his skills and dedication to create positive change. He is looking forward to working together to make a difference!


Fatima Beynah

Assistant Director of Scholar Support

Fatima is a second-year international education student at Laurier. She joined ISOW because it’s a student-led organization that supports scholars from conflict areas around the world.  As a member, she aims to create a safe space for our scholars to explore, learn, and connect with others. 

Zhe Sun

Assistant Director of Events and Education

Zhe is a 4th-year music education student at Laurier, and he is thrilled to share that he has taken on the role as the Assistant Director of Events for ISOW.


GOVERNANCE


ISOW is led by a team of elected Laurier students and operates as a Wilfrid Laurier University Students' Union club. The Team meets regularly throughout the school year and at a Summer Leadership Retreat to plan for the year ahead. The Team also participates in professional training days in September and January. While ISOW student leaders learn hands-on skills by managing the student levy, Laurier administrators oversee the scholarship and ensure that ISOW's finances adhere to the University's procedures.


ISOW has in place a set of Administration Protocols that govern its relationship with Wilfrid Laurier University and the Students' Union, and establish the limits within which it operates. ISOW's Faculty Advisor, Dr. Gavin Brockett,  guides the Management Team and ensures conformity with University procedures. The Faculty Advisor role extends to implementing the educational dimension of ISOW's mission. In addition, an ISOW Advisory Committee made up of senior University administrators was recently established to hold ISOW student leaders accountable to Laurier.


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