Nursing Graduate Students' Association (NGSA)
NGSA creates an open and collaborative environment for graduate students to engage in professional and personal growth.
The Nursing Graduate Students' Association (NGSA) is a student-led volunteer association which aims to connect and empower graduate nursing students through services, leadership, and professional development.
Our role is to foster a supportive community of nursing graduate students through:
- providing opportunities for professional development
- promoting social interaction and collaboration among graduate students, faculty, and community members
- representing the interests of nursing graduate students to the Graduate Students' Association (GSA)
Graduate Peer Mentorship Program
Experience peer-to-peer mentorship with fellow students in a nursing graduate program. Support and guide each other, increase productivity, and achieve mutually agreed-upon goals.
If you're interested in being a mentor/mentee or want to register an existing peer group, please fill out a form online or contact our Graduate Peer Mentorship Coordinator at ngsa@ucalgary.ca.
NGSA Executive
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.
Kokab Younis
Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Hi everyone! My name is Kokab. I am currently in my final year of Master of Nursing Thesis-based program at the University of Calgary. My research interests are around chronic disease self-management, identifying diabetes risk factors in patients with kidney failure using mixed method approach. I continue to provide direct clinical care and work as a Registered Nurse in Nephrology and Transplant. I am also an active member of the quality improvement team in Alberta Kidney Care Program. I enjoy gardening, listening to music, cooking, and hiking.
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!
Alex Cuncannon
Social Media and Communications Director
Hi everyone! I'm Alex. I am a first-year student in the Master of Nursing thesis-based program. My research interests include parent-child relationships, psychoneuroimmunology, and perinatal mental health. I also continue to practice as an RN in mental health.
Jessica Carl
Secretary
Hi! My name is Jessica Carl and I am your NGSA secretary. I am in the Laddered pathway to Master of Nursing Program, currently enrolled in my first certificate “Leadership for Health System Transformation”. I am a distance education student, living, studying and working in Toronto, Ontario. I enjoy working towards a goal, bringing my integrity and passion to every challenge. My pleasure to serve you on the NGSA executive.
Lucy Anowai
Finance Executive
Michelle Malagón
Graduate Peer Mentorship Coordinator
Hi everyone! My name is Michelle Malagón and I am the NGSA’s Graduate Peer Mentorship Coordinator. A little bit about myself, I am originally from Miami, FL and am currently based in Edmonton, AB. I completed my BScN at the University of Alberta in 2021. I have worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery since graduating, predominantly in a high-risk inner-city hospital. I am currently in my second year of the MN thesis-based program at the University of Calgary with my research focusing on nursing strategies to address language barriers in obstetrical care. On the days I am not working or studying, I enjoy snowboarding, hot yoga, and spending time with family!