Tanya Mryglod

They/She • president.sa@auarts.ca

Hi everyone! My name is Tanya and I’m the elected President this year! I’m a 3rd year

Jewellery + Metals major. I consider myself a well-rounded student and I’m constantly on campus doing homework, extra research, volunteering, or assisting friends with their projects! I’m always running around but you can probably find me at my desk in the Students Association office.

I grew up in rural central Alberta before I made the move to Calgary in 2021 where I started to pursue my post-secondary education in the Arts. I was always kind of interested in the Arts but never really saw myself pursuing it. I’ve been doing fiber craft from a very young age and even taught beginner knitting classes for a bit before I moved. I started as a gallery attendant and slowly moved into more advanced roles within a local gallery. This was a huge step for me. It gave me a practical look into life as an artist, gallery applications, deadline management, but also gave me an appreciation for all the ‘behind the scenes’ tasks.

If I’m not on campus (a rarity!) I’m probably cooking a new dish, taking care of my sourdough, tending my micro garden, or learning a new instrument. I love cooking and baking from scratch, weaving (or knitting) fabric to sew, making my own patterns for everything, and, if I find time, sitting down to play cozy video games. Don’t hesitate to stop by and say ‘Hi’!

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The President is the recognizable leader and representative of the Alberta University of the Arts Students’ Association (AUArts SA). The President acts as the liaison between the student body and the Executive Committee and works closely with the Executive Director to ensure the Association is working towards accomplishing the goals and objectives as set out in the strategic plan.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Governance

• Administration Management

• Finance

• Human Resources

• studentlife.sa@auarts.ca

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The Vice-President of Student Life develops the culture of the AUArts community by advocating for quality student experience and encourages student engagement with campus programming initiatives.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Internal Relationships

• Student Experience

• Event Planning

Abbey Leach

She/Her • academic.sa@auarts.ca

Hey friends! My name is Abbey Leach (she/her) and I am third year Character Design major and animation minor. When I’m not at AUArts, you can find me playing D&D or exploring new stories in a wide range of media. In my (limited) spare time I am also working with Lean Into Love, a new local production company, as an executive producer. We work to support and produce creative projects that centre neurodiverse, 2SLGBTQIA+, and other diverse stories from local emerging artists. We are dedicated to producing art that has a meaningful connection to love at all times.

I have always been a passionate advocate for student interests, specifically regarding institutional transparency, accessibility, and celebrating diverse identities in our community. My role as interim VP Academic gives me the privilege of acting as a voice for my fellow students and as a champion for student rights at the university and in the surrounding community. I have previously worked with non-profit organizations to collect feedback from community members to generate better educational tools, improve pre-existing programs, and develop new strategies to address community needs.

I am always happy to chat with students about concerns, ideas, or just to make a new friend! If you see me in the office or walking around campus, feel free to stop by and say hi!

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The Vice-President of Academic Affairs serves as the official advocate for student concerns in all areas of institutional academic affairs.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Advocacy

• Student Voice

• Institutional Development

• Governance

• Campus Engagement

Murray Wittmeier

They/He/It • external.sa@auarts.ca

Hi! My name is Murray! I am entering my fourth year here at AUArts, and I am majoring in ceramics. I am genderfluid, and my pronouns are they/he. I am always making miniature pots and jars, but I love to make functional work as well. I spend most of my time in my home studio on the first floor.

I am disabled and use mobility aids, so I hope to use my experience to work on and improve the accessibility of the school. My goal is to create a space free of barriers for people with all types of disabilities, and ensure that everyone feels safe, heard, and equal. I am excited to offer my perspective and use my voice, as well as amplify student's opinions and concerns.

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The Vice-President of External Relations serves as a representative of the Executive Committee and promotes the mandate and objectives of the organization to the external community.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Networking

• Advocacy

• Strategic Partnerships

• Fundraising