IGSA Executive

Meet the 2024-25 Executive Team

Dedicated to supporting the academic and non-academic needs of Indigenous graduate students at the U of A.

VICE-PRESIDENT, INTERNAL/EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

Alexis Blanchette-Arnold (she/they)

Master’s Student, Agriculture, Food, and Nutritional Science

Alexis is Haida, born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta on Treaty 6 territory. Her familial connection is Haida from Skidegate on paternal side and French Canadian and British settler on maternal side. She is in the first year of their master’s program looking at pesticide resistance in a couple beetle pest species in Canola and Peas accross the Canadian Prairies. Their aim in joining IGSA is supporting their peers especially providing perspective as an Indigenous student in STEM as she feels they need more representation

DIRECTORS AT LARGE

Dawn Wambold (she/her)
PhD Student, Anthropology

Born and raised between the Bow and Clearwater Rivers, and within sight of the Rocky Mountains, Dawn continues to live in the same lands that her Métis and Cree family were connected to. As a scholar at the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology, she aims to tell the stories of her ancestors’ connections to Southern Alberta using archaeology. She is married to Robert and together they have a daughter named Cassidy who is an undergraduate student in the anthropology department.

Megan Tipler (she/her/iskwew), BEd, MEd
PhD Student, Secondary Education

Megan is a Métis educator in amiskwaciy who is working towards her PhD. She previously worked as a secondary English & PE teacher, but she currently works for the Office of the Vice Provost, Indigenous Programming & Research, as an Indigenous Strategies Manager. Her favourite job, however, is being the older sister to four younger siblings and aunty to five (soon to be six) nieces and nephews. When she’s not working or studying she enjoys spending time with her family, creating digital artwork, sewing, and collecting sneakers.

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Amber Smith (she/her), BA, BEd, MEd
PhD Student, Secondary Education

Amber is a Métis woman from Amiskwaciwâskahikan where she was born and raised. She is a PhD student in Indigenous Peoples Education. Her research area is on Métis education specifically with an aim to improve educational systems for Métis learners and educators with a focus on how these spaces can be reimagined in a way that affirms and builds the identity of Métis people. Amber's nehiyawewin name is Singing Yellowbird. She is also the current SAGE Pod Coordinator for Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (sagepod@ualberta.ca).

INTERIM CO-PRESIDENTS

Hannah Louis (she/they)
PhD Student, Physical Oceanography

Hannah is Plains Cree from Montana First Nation in Maskwacîs, Alberta. They are a PhD candidate of Science in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, focusing on physical oceanography and high-resolution numerical modelling, Indigenous Knowledge and how climate change is impacting Hudson Bay and James Bay. In her free time, she enjoys training in the boxing gym, being surrounded by nature, and making/drinking espresso.

Meagan Miller (she/her)
Master's Student, Human Geography

Meagan is Dene (Tłı̨chǫ) on her maternal side and Polish settler on her paternal side. As the daughter of a child welfare survivor, Meagan is on a journey of reconnecting with her relations and culture. A highlight of this journey has been regularly visiting Denendeh to spend time with family and learn on the Land. Her research focuses on the accessibility of community housing (social and affordable housing) in Edmonton for people with physical and/or sensory disabilities. In her free time, Meagan loves to bead, bike, and listen to podcasts.

Indigenous Graduate Students' Association

Meet the 2024-25 Executive Team

VICE-PRESIDENT, INTERNAL/EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

Alexis Blanchette-Arnold (she/they)

Master’s Student, Agriculture, Food, and Nutritional Science

VICE-PRESIDENT, FINANCE

Open position

VICE-PRESIDENT, ADMINISTRATION

Open position

DIRECTORS AT LARGE

Dawn Wambold (she/her)
PhD Student, Anthropology

Megan Tipler (she/her/iskwew), BEd, MEd
PhD Student, Secondary Education

Amber Smith (she/her), BA, BEd, MEd
PhD Student, Secondary Education

INTERIM CO-PRESIDENTS

Hannah Louis (she/they)
PhD Student, Physical Oceanography

Meagan Miller (she/her)
Master's Student, Human Geography

VICE-PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS

Open position

Get In Touch

Indigenous Graduate Students' Association

Meet the 2024-25 Executive Team

INTERIM CO-PRESIDENTS

Hannah Louis (she/they) PhD Student, Physical Oceanography

Meagan Miller (she/her) Master's Student, Human Geography

Get In Touch

Hannah Louis (she/they)
PhD Student, Physical Oceanography

Meagan Miller (she/her)
Master's Student, Human Geography