Foothills Graduate Association
About the FGA
Foothills Graduate Association (FGA) represents a large and diverse body of graduate students based at or affiliated with the Foothills Campus. The FGA functions as a consortium of 15 Departmental Graduate Associations (DGAs) and 6 Research Institute Trainee Associations (RITAs), coming together monthly to share updates, voice concerns, and coordinate campus-wide initiatives relevant to the Foothills graduate student community.
DGA/RITAs select and send a representative to the monthly FGA Council Meetings, to ensure concerns are addressed at departmental or program-level meetings, or with institute directors and administrative leads. Graduate students are also encouraged to attend, or to reach out to their respective DGAs or RITAs. Lastly, FGA representatives regularly highlight positive developments and achievements from their programs, and often coordinate recognition, events, and awards.
Executive Team
President
Ariel MacKenzie
She is a PhD student in the Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases (MDMI) program, co-supervised by Drs. Mark Gillrie and Christina Thornton. Her research uses a lung-on-a-chip platform to model the lung microbiome and investigate interactions between microbes and immune cells in healthy and diseased states. She previously completed both her BSc in Biological Sciences (2021) and MSc in MDMI (2023) at the University of Calgary. Outside the lab, she enjoys baking and spending time with her two dogs, an old pug and a corgi puppy. As FGA President, she hopes to support initiatives that enhance graduate student wellbeing and foster a positive culture at Foothills, while strengthening communication and collaboration between DGAs and RITAs across faculties and disciplines.
VP General
James La
He is completing his Master’s in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases), where his research focuses on fungal virulence mechanisms and pathogenesis. He completed his BSc in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Mount Royal University in 2024. Outside the lab, James is usually found on long nature walks, listening to music, playing chess, volunteering at his church, and—of course—enjoying the scenic daily Calgary Transit commute to Foothills. As Vice-President (General) of the FGA, he is hoping to build stronger collaboration across the different DGAs and RITAs by organizing joint social events and shared meetings, and to create more channels for graduate students to share their experiences.
VP Finance
Mackenzie Hancock
He is a PhD student in the Clinical Neurosciences program within the Cumming School of Medicine under the supervision of Dr. Chantel Debert. His research focuses on concussion recovery, mental health, and novel therapeutic approaches, with a particular interest in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for persisting symptoms after concussion. Originally from Kingston, Ontario, Mack completed a BSc in Neuroscience at Dalhousie University. Outside of academia, he enjoys hockey, running, skiing, golf, and exploring the Rocky Mountains. He is also passionate about science communication and mentoring athletes pursuing post-secondary hockey opportunities. As an FGA representative, Mack hopes to strengthen communication between graduate students and faculty, foster a supportive and connected graduate community, and help create meaningful professional, academic, and social opportunities for students throughout the year.
VP Communications
Myriam Beaulieu
Originally from Québec, Myriam is a PhD student in the Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases (MDMI) program in Dr. Nathan Peters lab. Her research focuses on host-parasite interactions and skin immunity, investigating how the immune system responds to vector-borne parasitic infections. She previously completed her BSc and her MSc in Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University. Outside the lab, she enjoys skiing and cycling in the Canadian Rockies or spending cozy evenings at home sewing and painting with her cat, Olive. As VP Communications, she hopes to foster a more connected graduate student community by promoting opportunities and events across the Foothills campus, amplifying the FGA's presence both on campus and beyond, and making every student feel seen and connected.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Co-Chair
Anna Hawkins
Anna is a MSc Student in immunology studying the effects of AI-2 mediated quorum sensing on immune dysfunction in critical illness. Their academic interests include host-microbe interactions, microbiology, and immunology. They obtained their BMSc in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences from Western University, where they focused on neurology and microbiology. Outside of academia, Anna can often be found in the mountains hiking, running, skiing, biking, climbing, or enjoying any excuse to be outdoors. Despite not drinking caffeine, they are an avid café enthusiast and have created a personal map of more than 80 coffee shops across Calgary. As EDI Co-Chair, Anna hopes to foster a more inclusive, accessible, and connected Foothills community through advocacy, education, and community-building initiatives. This year, they are particularly interested in advancing accessibility initiatives, celebrating the diversity of our graduate student community through events such as a multicultural food passport, and supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion while creating opportunities for students to connect, learn, and have fun.
Co-Chair
Malcolm Walling
In 2024, Malcolm graduated with a BSc in Biology from Mount Allison University and is now a MDIM MSc student in the Jenne and van Marle labs. His research focuses on the development and assessment of viral vector vaccine platforms. He's from Halifax, and he loves hiking but is also terrified of heights. He's excited to collaborate across the foothills and main campuses, and he's hoping to contribute to a community of compassion and kindness!
Mental Health and Wellness
Co-Chair
Asha Octoman
Asha is a graduate student in the Arrieta Lab as part of the Microbiology & Infectious Diseases program. Her project looks into the role of Malassezia in lipid remodelling of breast milk and infant formula, and nutrient absorption in infants. In her free time, she loves trying new recipes, going on runs, and spending time in nature hiking or skiing. As one of the co-chairs for the mental health and wellness committee, Asha is excited to apply her passion for mental health advocacy to make resources and support more accessible, and create initiatives to help Foothills graduate students build their mental-health resilience.
Co-Chair
Katarina MacConnell
Katarina is a MSc student in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and a member of the Arrieta Lab. Her research focuses on how early-life fungal colonization of the gut influences immune development. She completed her BSc in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology at the U of C. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading, crocheting, painting, and going on walks with her dog, Oliver. As Co-Chair of the FGA Mental Health & Wellness Committee, she hopes to improve access to wellness resources on the Foothills campus while building a stronger sense of community through workshops and initiatives that promote skill-building, healthy coping strategies, and student well-being.
Connect with us!
We are always looking for associate members, and would love to work with you! Please send your CV and cover letter today!
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