ASPA Leadership (2023-24)

Paul Jacob has been selected to be President for 2023-24. He has been with the University of Saskatchewan since 2009 and currently works as a Finance Officer. Paul also recently completed his Ph.D. from the University of Saskatchewan in Health Administration and Management. His research focused on organizational behavior and human resources management. Paul believes that transparency between the Executive and the membership promotes strong labour relations.

Philip Hitchings continues on as Vice-President for the year 2023-24, following his first term in the role in 2022-23. Philip continues to work in Registrarial Services as Senior Coordinator of Scheduling and is proud to be part of the TLSE team. He has worked on campus since 2018 and has been an ASPA member throughout those five years. Philip believes that strong, unified representation is important and hopes to contribute to that representation as your Vice-President.

Dr. Adi (Aditya) Manek has also been selected to serve as Vice-President for the 2023-24 term. Adi is an experienced researcher, people leader, and operations manager. He is currently the Lab Manager for the Neuroscience, Molecular design, and Microbiology, Immunology, and Virology research clusters in Health Sciences Building. Adi has also volunteered with the Canadian Red Cross for over three years and currently volunteers with the Saskatoon Dog Rescue.

Since 2021, Erica Li-Humen has filled the important role of ASPA Treasurer. In December 2020, Erica joined the Global Institute for Water Security as a Financial Analyst. She has spent most of her adult life in Saskatoon and is absolutely smitten with our friendly people and communities. She believes that Saskatoon is a great place to obtain an education, have a flourishing career, and raise a family; Generally, Saskatoon is a great city to live and call home.

Alain Fafard has been on the Executive since 2022 and currently works as a Clinical Veterinarian with the USask Animal Care and Research Support (ACRS) team. Alain remains passionate about nature and animals and enjoys spending time outdoors.  When not at work, he loves spending time with his spouse and four-year-old son, as well as creating, building, and fixing things in his workshop.

Angela Ryde has newly joined the ASPA Executive. She has been at USask since Fall 2009 with most of her work being with Undergraduate Recruitment, specifically in the Prospective Student Services Office. Her current role in the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is as a Program Advisor where she has been since late 2019. Angela is currently the Chair of the ASPA Education Committee.

Brianna Groot has been with our Executive since April 2021 when she was elected by the membership. She has eight years of research and management experience in ASPA and is passionate about social justice initiatives that support the community. She is currently the Chair of the ASPA Research Committee, and volunteers for the ASPA Communications and Public Relations Committee.

Julie Maier has been on the Executive since 2022. She is an Instructional Designer with the Distance Education Unit, which she joined in June of 2017. In her current role she works with faculty and instructors in the design, development, and support of online and technology-enabled teaching and learning. Outside of the university, she has spent time volunteering with CFCR 90.5 FM (Saskatoon’s community radio station), where she was an On-Air Host and Host Trainer from 2012-2018.

Paige Larsen has had the privilege of working at USask since 2017; first as a student employee, then with ASPA in full-time positions since January 2021. Paige enjoys working in a diverse environment that requires flexibility and the ability to adapt and is currently working in Registrarial Services as a Space Planning Analyst. Paige is the Chair of the ASPA Communications & Public Relations Committee.

Simona Meier has been working as a Clinical Research Professional at the University of Saskatchewan for over 15 years. In her position, she helps university faculty set up, maintain and complete clinical research studies, provide clinical research expertise to research sites, research ethics boards and policy-makers, and acts as a liaison among investigators, study staff, sponsors and other research, regulatory, and health agencies, in all administrative aspects of study management.