Nursing Graduate Students' Association (NGSA)

Annj Ridsdale-Weddell

Chair

Hello and thank you for visiting the NGSA webpage! I am thrilled to be a student in UCalgary Nursing’s new DN program, the first of its kind in Canada. My DN thesis is based on the study of healthy work environments, healthy teams and healthcare improvement and my work integrated project is building a provincial health workforce monitoring and reporting program. In my 'day job', I am the Director of Health Workforce Data Analytics & Reporting for the Government of Alberta. I also continue to work casual clinical shifts in palliative hospice/continuing care where I maintain a deep understanding of the current health workforce. In support of our nursing graduate students, I am honoured to chair the Nursing Graduate Student's Association at UCalgary. Our executive team is enthusiastic and compassionate, each one committed to making a difference by advocating, listening and responding to the needs of our nursing graduate students. It is incredibly inspiring to work alongside future leaders in health care.

Sondra Wesner

Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Hi, I’m Sondra Wesner, a PhD student in Nursing at the University of Calgary and the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Director for the Nursing Graduate Student Association. My research focuses on the experiences of gender diverse individuals accessing emergency care, using a narrative inquiry methodology. I bring nearly a decade of experience as a registered nurse in emergency and oncology settings, and I also teach in both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs as a sessional instructor. I’m passionate about advancing health equity, fostering inclusive care practices, and supporting students to think critically about their roles in healthcare systems. Outside of my academic work, I enjoy running and recently completed my first marathon. I also love spending time with my two dogs and two cats. I’m excited to serve in this role and look forward to helping build a more inclusive and supportive environment for all nursing graduate students.

Athena Liu

Events Coordinator

Hi everyone! I'm Athena, a thesis-based masters student, and I currently work on a medical/ psychiatry unit. I like hiking, camping, playing instruments, and trying new food and restaurants.  As Events Coordinator, I will organize academic and social networking events with external parties. See you there! 

Rachel Kidd

Social Media and Communications Director

Hello! My name is Rachel Kidd, and I am a thesis-based master’s student at the University of Calgary. I am excited to serve as the Social Media and Communications Director for the Nursing Graduate Students’ Association (NGSA). I bring over seven years of experience as a nurse in burns, plastics, and head and neck surgery, with additional clinical experience in oncology, public health, and home care. My research interests focus on the burn population, particularly the complex intersection between burn injury and substance use disorder. Outside of my academic and professional life, I love spending time outdoors, hanging out with my dog, and exploring new restaurants. I’m looking forward to supporting and connecting with the nursing graduate community in this role!

Alex Cuncannon

Secretary

Alex is a first-year PhD student in the Faculty of Nursing.

Mahnoor "Noor" Zainab

Graduate Peer Mentorship Coordinator

Finance Executive

Vacant

We are currently looking to recruit for this position. If you are interested, please email us at ngsa@ucalgary.ca.