FESA Elections 2025

It’s that exciting time of year—FESA Elections Season is officially open! This is your chance to meet the passionate and dedicated candidates running for roles on the Faculty of Education Students’ Association for the upcoming term.
Our nominees are eager to represent and advocate for YOU—our vibrant community of education students. Whether it’s organizing events, supporting student initiatives, or making your voice heard at the faculty level, these student leaders are ready to step up.
 Check out the candidate profiles, learn about their platforms, and get ready to vote for the future of FESA. Your vote helps shape our student experience--make it count!

Voting will open on April 1st, 2025 through York University's YUVote platform. You must have a valid Passport York to vote

Meet Your Candidates!

Vice-President (Internal)

Andrew Hammond

My name is Andrew Hammond, and I am entering my final year in the Concurrent Education program at York University. I plan on teaching in the intermediate/senior division with my teachable subjects in geography and social science. In addition, I have completed my undergraduate honours degree in Educational Studies in 2024. After analyzing each council position, I feel I am best suited in becoming VP Internal, as I developed great leadership skills through my valuable learning experiences through my position as a Director of Professional Development for 2024-2025.
Some of you may know that I hosted solely the Professional Development Conference this year, and I was able to include a wide-range of topics, conversations, and lessons that support all future teacher candidates in their pedagogical practices.
When reflecting on my educational journey, I was situated in many different work and community contexts that involved making meaningful relationships, being a mentor, and supporting those around me in my local surroundings. At a young age, I have always been involved in many extracurricular activities in which I took initiative by planning social events, giving back to the community, and listening to diverse perspectives.
I value experiential learning and how it provided me ways in which to network, foster care, and be willing to learn beyond our school environment. Developing a deep relationship
with others is of utmost importance when being a role model for others to lead by example. Listening and reflecting on stories is crucial for self-reflection, growth, and aspiration which I
continue to apply in my position with FESA, and as a future transformative educator.
As a candidate for VP Internal, I feel that I will be a great representative for our student body and to acknowledge each and every member of our Faculty, while making decisions and supporting one another through collective efforts. The importance of this position is crucial, and I will take every responsibility with care and appreciation. I will strive to ensure all faculty, staff, and students throughout our school year will feel belonged, valued,
and supported.
Your vote will make a big change to our FESA council, and for the future of our Faculty of Education. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration, and I hope to be a part of the active change that will drive this council to great success and long-term impact.

Matthew Noce

​My name is Matthew Noce and I am looking to return to the Faculty of Education Student's Association (FESA) at York university next year. I am currently about to finish my Bachelor of Arts with Honours degree, majoring in Criminology and minoring in English. I will be continuing my studies starting year one of the Bachelor of Education program in Fall 2025 where I will be specializing in Intermediate-Senior education having two teachables in Law (potentially social science general) and English.
With my most recent position being VP Internal, I would ideally like to return to the same role, getting reelected. As a second choice option, I would like to be one of the directors of employment. I know I would make an excellent candidate for VP Internal since I currently am in the role, and have proven to the council, myself and most importantly the student body, that I can act as a liaison between the student body and the rest of the council. I have been able to manage a large team by organizing office hours and facilitating tracking methods to ensure that all hours are being completed. This has allowed for the student body to effectively visit the office, instilling a positive relationship with council, to find out more information about various upcoming events and be able to purchase merchandise. This year for the first time ever, I worked towards and accomplished successful ratification with Winter's College. Thanks to my efforts, Faculty of education students can be further supported and benefit from more services that are joined by Winter's College. This is especially helpful for people with a winter's college affiliation like AMPD and educational studies students. Next year, I will continue to hold the same duties and my large project that I want to tackle is to be able to streamline the office hours process. I am looking to work collaboratively with the mentorship director to build a peer mentorship opportunity that can allow students to meet with upper year students in the office, who can answer any questions about the program and assist with inquiries from an upper year student view. I believe that with my years of experience already on council, working in the roles of: Pre-education representative, Vice President Finance, and Vice President Internal, that I will be an excellent fit for the role, and can continue to service the future of education students at York University. I can not wait to be next year's Vice President Internal. 

Vice-President (External)

Jedd Kenedy

I am excited to be running for Vice President External of the Faculty of Education Students’ Association (FESA). With my background in leadership, mentorship, and teamwork, I am confident that I can strengthen connections between Keele Campus, the Catholic Education Centre, Technological Education, Glendon College, TMU Education, and Waaban Indigenous Education while ensuring that all students feel heard, supported, and included. 
I completed my Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Philosophy and Political Science in Spring 2024, and I am currently a Year 1 Teacher Candidate in the Intermediate/Senior Division. Throughout my academic career, I have always been passionate about student engagement and leadership, which is why I dedicated my time to roles that allowed me to support and work with my peers. 
One of my most rewarding experiences was working with McLaughlin College’s Peer Mentors Network. As a Coordinator for two years, I confidently communicated when facilitating multiple trainings and leading discussion sessions among a central team of 8 Peer Leaders, as well as overseeing a network of over 60 Peer Mentor volunteers. Additionally, I demonstrated initiative and creative thinking by helping curate interview questions and interviewing over 65 applicants for the Peer Mentor volunteer position. Over the course of two years, I also presented on Orientation Day, demonstrating strong public speaking skills. 
As Vice President External, I will be responsible for acting as a liaison between Keele Campus and the various off-campus sites, ensuring that students across all locations feel included and represented. A key part of this role is the solicitation of volunteers from different specialized programs, and I am eager to foster an engaged community of students who contribute to FESA initiatives. Additionally, I will be responsible for addressing student concerns at the various sites, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met in a timely and effective manner.
I will also take on the important responsibility of coordinating the Consecutive Orientation, ensuring that incoming students receive a warm welcome and the resources they need to succeed. Furthermore, in collaboration with the FESA President and YFS Councillors, I will advocate for improvements to the YFS Health Plan, ensuring off-campus students have adequate and accessible opt-out procedures. 
A priority of mine as Vice President External is to improve the way information is disseminated to students. I plan to transition from Facebook groups to Instagram broadcast channels, making event updates, employment opportunities, and important announcements more accessible to students. This shift will allow for quicker communication and ensure that students receive information in a way that aligns with their daily social media habits. 
Outside of my academic and leadership experiences, I enjoy staying active through working out, playing basketball, and soccer. I also love the outdoors and spend my free time camping and traveling whenever I get the chance.
​I am excited about this opportunity and am eager to use my experience, passion, and skills to enhance student engagement and representation. I look forward to fostering a stronger, more connected Faculty of Education community where every student feels valued and supported.

Rebecca Breault

​I am an excellent candidate for the positions of Vice President External and Employment Director within the Faculty of Education Students’ Association (FESA) due to my leadership experience, commitment to enhancing student engagement, and my drive to expand resources for education students. Throughout my time with FESA, I have been dedicated to building a stronger community and offering students more opportunities for professional and academic growth.
As the current Vice President External, I have successfully bridged the gap between the Keele campus and the Sites. I have fostered strong relationships with students and faculty members at both locations, ensuring effective communication and addressing concerns in a timely and inclusive manner. My bilingualism has also been an asset, allowing me to connect with a broader range of students and ensure that vital information is accessible to everyone.
I have a proven track record of recruiting and managing volunteers, a responsibility central to the role of Vice President External. I’ve had the opportunity to engage students from various programs, motivating them to become involved and represent their peers. By continuing to mobilize volunteers from diverse specialized programs, I will ensure that FESA remains inclusive and effectively represents all education students across sites.
Having been part of FESA for two consecutive work terms and have been part of various on campus initiatives including work/study job positions, I feel that I have experience and expertise to reflect the diverse range of people who belong to this university space. 
In addition to these responsibilities, I have taken the initiative to promote and organize events that connect education students with resources and opportunities. These events, such as networking sessions, workshops, and faculty-led discussions, have helped students connect with alumni, professionals, and future employers. I am excited to continue this work, especially in collaboration with the Faculty of Education to offer even more resources and opportunities for students. My goal for next year is to strengthen the partnership between FESA and the Faculty of Education to provide future educators with more opportunities for hands-on experiences, internships, and career-building resources.

Directors of Social Events

Anaya Gill

Hey everyone my name is Anaya Gill! I am currently a first year undergraduate bachelor of arts educational studies student in the concurrent education program. I’m so excited to be running for social director! I’m known for my outgoing extroverted personality, my love for the arts, fashion and dance. This past year I was on FESA and I was the bachelor of arts educational studies representative. Through the past year on FESA I helped with the PDC conference, Employment Fair and I volunteered during the FESA formal! I’ve loved contributing to all these events, and I plan to do so again for the upcoming years I have at York University! I’ve seen first hand the importance and joy that these events bring into our student community, and I am more than willing to take up the challenge! I have a lot of trust in myself that I’ll be able to rise up to the occasion and I see planning events and being your social director or something that is worth a lot of my time because it’ll allow me to improve myself as a participant in our student government. Alongside my university experience, I have a lot of experience helping out setting up events for my friends and for high school events as well. In the past I have helped with pride month activities and multicultural week events. In terms of expanding on the more specific aspects of this role I am someone who is pretty good at making decisions and I am a great person like I said earlier, so those two things combined can allow for a great amount of success if you like me to be your social director. I’m also a very available and open-minded person so if you ever need someone to talk to about these events or you wanna know more I’m always very open to hearing criticisms or hearing advice from you! I would also like to mention that I have really big plans that are brewing in my mind about how we can make the FESA Formal and the other social events so much more known to the student body. I would also like to raise the number of sales and come up with strategies to lower the prices of the formal if possible, so that we can continue to fund our student government to have more events like this how to make it overall more accessible, because I understand that sometimes we can’t all afford to pay because of student expenses. I know that my commitment towards helping others is displayed through my actions more than just this message so I would like to advise you to check the FESA instagram page for some of the promotional videos I’ve participated in last year! I wanted to thank you for taking the time to read about me and I hope you vote for Nelly Torres alongside I, who is also running for the same position!

Nelly Torres

Hi! My name is Nelly Torres, and I am going into my second year of my English (honours) bachelor's degree. I am running for Director of Social Events with the intention of creating an engaging, exciting, and inclusive community within the Faculty of Education through events! I believe that university is beyond concrete grades, that it is a balance of academics and interactions. While remaining dedicated to academic studies is crucial to succeeding, it is equally important to foster friendships, networking, and enjoyable memories. 

As somebody who thrives on social interaction, I have always loved bringing people together. I grew up with an extremely large extended family and was constantly surrounded by other people, developing an extroverted personality to keep up with everyone. I was often lumped with managing and planning family activities, and as a result, I developed the adaptive ability to ensure that the events I planned enabled everyone, with their individual diverse preferences and comfort zones, to enjoy fairly. To do so, I had to understand the community as a broader concept, taking in their social, cultural, and individual components and merging them with social gatherings, which helped me decide on venues, catering, and activities. These experiences translated into my passion for event planning and my ability to enthusiastically create welcoming, lively spaces where people can comfortably connect.

With years of experience in social management, I also want to professionally ensure that FESA’s social aspects are taken care of. My background as a sales associate has strengthened my ability to communicate and collaborate effectively, manage inventory and budgeting, and engage with a variety of personalities. I believe that all of these are crucial skills when it comes to organizing social events. Concerning high school, my experience in holding English tutoring sessions during high school for ESL students has given me insight into the importance of taking into account the preferences concerning time slots and duration periods when organizing gatherings, as well as effective methods to interact and communicate with students at different levels of learning. Furthermore, I was involved in various clubs where I coordinated successful functions and gained valuable experience in project planning.

After serving as a FESA cohort representative this past year, I have seen what it takes to hold successful events by supporting the directors, and I am confident that I can continue in their stead. I have dedicated my time and effort to FESA’s events and am determined to plan a diverse range of events that cater to YorkU’s diverse set of personalities and interests, from casual gatherings to academic networking opportunities. My goal as part of FESA is to ensure that all students within the Faculty of Education understand that we are a supporting pillar in the journey to becoming teachers. As an experienced student, I understand contemporary concerns and current preferences, and will attempt to bring our creative ideas to life in order to make the next academic year with FESA an unforgettable one.

Chloe Tsang

As an active member of the York University community, I'm thrilled to apply for the role of social chair for the Faculty of Education Students' Association. My passion for education, leadership experience, and commitment to building community make me an exceptional candidate for social chair of FESA.

In 2020, started my own non-profit tutoring organization, JM Language Tutors, to provide individualized support to struggling students. This hands-on experience has honed my leadership skills in creating customized curricula, managing a team of tutors, and coordinating with local schools. I've witnessed firsthand the remarkable progress that can be achieved when students are given the personalized attention and encouragement they need to succeed. This experience has ignited a profound passion within me to create welcoming communities where students can connect, support one another, and explore their shared interests in education.
In addition to my work in the community, I have also gained valuable experience in event planning and community building through my involvement in the Delta Phi Nu sorority over the past year. As an active member, I have had the opportunity to assist the social chair in organizing weekly social events and activities. Through this experience, I have developed a keen eye for detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with a diverse group of individuals to bring engaging social experiences to life. I am confident that the skills and insights I have gained from my time in Delta Phi Nu will be invaluable in my role as social chair for the Faculty of Education Students' Association.
Beyond my passion for education, a key reason I'm eager to join the Faculty of Education Students' Association is to connect with a community of like-minded individuals who share my enthusiasm for teaching and learning. As a highly social person, I thrive in collaborative environments where I can engage with my peers, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships. I'm confident that serving as social chair would allow me to leverage my outgoing personality and organizational skills to plan events that bring our faculty together, fostering a strong sense of community and camaraderie among students who are just as passionate about education as I am.
​As your social chair, I will bring a level of passion, creativity, and dedication that is unmatched. I am committed to organizing events and activities that cater to the diverse interests and backgrounds of our faculty, fostering a strong sense of community and belonging for all. Whether it's planning interactive game nights, coordinating educational workshops, or hosting themed social gatherings, I will work tirelessly to create opportunities for students to connect, learn, and have fun together. With my proven track record of leadership, my extensive event planning experience, and my deep-rooted passion for education, I am confident that I have the unique qualifications to be an exceptional social chair. I humbly ask for your vote to allow me to serve in this role and make a lasting impact on our student experience.