IGSA Executive

Meet the 2023-24 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

Keith D King (he/they), BScN, MPH, RN, CPSO

PhD Student, Faculty of Nursing

Born in northern Alberta in Treaty 8 territory, Keith grew up on the farm before joining his maternal family tradition of becoming a Registered Nurse. A proud two-spirit Métis nurse, Keith is doing PhD research looking at HPV related cancer prevention in his community as well as working on other projects and boards. He enjoys the outdoors, gardening, sports, beading and sewing, drag and other theatre, and eating anything and everything.

VICE-PRESIDENT, FINANCE

Hannah Louis (she/they)

Master's Student, Physical Oceanography

Hannah is Plains Cree from Montana First Nation in Maskwacîs, Alberta. They are in their second year of a Master 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.

VICE-PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS

Megan Tipler (she/her/iskwew), BEd, MEd

PhD Student, Secondary Education

Megan is a Métis educator in amiskwaciy who recently completed her Master's in Secondary Education, and is now 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.

VICE-PRESIDENT, ADMINISTRATION

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

Meagan is Dene (Tłı̨chǫ)/Métis on her maternal side and Polish settler on her paternal side. Her mother grew up in foster care and was later adopted into a settler family. As such, she and Meagan are slowly reconnecting with their relatives and culture. Meagan a second year MA student in Human Geography, studying the accessibility of community housing in Edmonton. In her free time, she loves biking and listening to podcasts.

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.

Rachel Graham (she/her)
Master’s Student, Land Reclamation and Remediation

Rachel, a member of the Woodlands Cree from Treaty 8 in Fort Chipewyan, AB, is currently pursuing her master’s in Land Reclamation and Remediation in the ALES facility. Beyond her thesis work, she finds joy in sharing traditional skills with her daughter, including beading, baking, sewing, cooking, and communicating in her ancestral language. Despite the distance from her home, Rachel emphasizes the significance of preserving her culture and fostering community connections.

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.

CO-PRESIDENTS

Benjamin Kucher (he/him)
Master's Student, Anthropology

Benjamin is Métis, born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. His family connections are to the Lac. St. Anne area and the Michel First Nation. He is in the first year of the master's program in the Department of Anthropology and his research is centred around Métis cultural disappearance in the archaeological record. Benjamin serves on a number of boards and committees (including IGSA!) to advocate for the unique needs, strengths, and challenges of Indigenous students. Feel free to reach out with any concerns you may have or come by the office to say hi!

Jillian Ames (she/they)
Master's Student, Human Geography

Jillian is Métis from Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta. She is in the first year of the master's program in Human Geography in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, studying Indigenous-led community housing with Community Housing Canada. Jillian joined the IGSA to feel a sense of community on campus and to advocate for the unique strengths and challenges of Indigenous students. Feel free to reach out and say hi!

Indigenous Graduate Students' Association

Meet the 2023-24 Executive Team

VICE-PRESIDENT, INTERNAL/EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

Keith D King (he/they), BScN, MPH, RN, CPSO

VICE-PRESIDENT, FINANCE

Hannah Louis (she/they)

Master's Student, Physical Oceanography

VICE-PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS

Megan Tipler (she/her/iskwew), BEd, MEd

PhD Student, Secondary Education

VICE-PRESIDENT, ADMINISTRATION

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

DIRECTORS AT LARGE

Dawn Wambold (she/her)
PhD Student, Anthropology

Rachel Graham (she/her)
Master’s Student, Land Reclamation and Remediation

Alexis Blanchette-Arnold (she/they)
Master’s Student, Agriculture, Food, and Nutritional Science

CO-PRESIDENTS

Benjamin Kucher (he/him)
Master's Student, Anthropology

Jillian Ames (she/they)
Master's Student, Human Geography

Get In Touch

Indigenous Graduate Students' Association

Meet the 2023-24 Executive Team

CO-PRESIDENTS

Benjamin Kucher (he/him) Master's Student, Anthropology

Jillian Ames (she/they) Master's Student, Human Geography

Get In Touch

Benjamin Kucher (he/him)
Master's Student, Anthropology

Jillian Ames (she/they)
Master's Student, Human Geography