Candidates Bios – VP Academic & University Affairs

Candidate Bios - VP Academic & University Affairs

2025 VPAUA By-Election Dates and Deadlines

  • Campaigning: January 15, 2025 (12:01 AM) to January 31, 2025 (5:00 PM)
  • Debate: January 20, 2025 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at the Michael Kingsmill Forum (Nest 4th floor)
  • Voting: January 24, 2025 (9:00AM) to January 31, 2025 (5:00 PM): https://ams.simplyvoting.com/
    • Due to an issue with Workday, the voting period has been updated to allow for a full week of voting
  • Unofficial Results: January 31, 2025 at 6:30 PM in the Nest 2311, on the second floor of the Nest.

Candidate Bios – VP Academic & University Affairs

Get to know the students running to be YOUR next VPAUA for the rest of this term (until April 30th, 2025).

Renee Hui

Looking for someone to advocate for YOUR rights & voice OUR needs? Ever needed support at UBC whether it is related to academics, your career, or personal life but don’t know where to find resources (plus ubc staffs seems too scary to talk to)? I gotchu! Academic and career resources (free textbooks, course materials…)? Student affordability (housing, supplies, tuition…)? Student voice and experience? I got it all covered.

RENEE(@unilife.mov on insta), an enthusiastic, outgoing, and responsible leader, committed to make our dream university life become reality.

My goal is to gather resources to support us in navigating this challenging path. I will ensure to make this journey more enjoyable for US. I promise to be available and open to listen to all your valuable opinions, concerns, and needs. Focusing on student-centered support, I will fight for our rights and make prioritize all students’ needs. Why me? Being self-motivated, I maintained strong academic performance that allows me to allocate time to improve students’ experiences at UBC. With my passion, I will make UBC your place to thrive.

Upgrade and enhance your university right now FOR FREE by voting RENEE as your VP-AUA.


Zarifa Nawar

My name is Zarifa and I am running to be your AMS VP Academic and University Affairs. As your current Interim VP Academic and University Affairs and previous AVP University Affairs, I know how to get the job done. I have also served as AUS VP Academic and Executive Assistant, Equity and Inclusion.

As your next VP AUA, I promise to deliver on:

  • Ensuring that UBC increases Worklearn funding to create at least 2000 new jobs
  • Advocating for the increase of value per recipient of international student awards
  • Advocating for the permanent extension of the add/drop deadline
  • Working with Senators to ensure that the creation of an Exam Database is formally approved by Senate
  • Working with Senators to review Policy V-102 (Examination Hardships and Clashes) to be more flexible
  • Work with Faculties to ensure that lecture capture-technology is available and actively used in all teaching spaces
  • Increasing opportunities for undergraduate research across all Faculties by launching the Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Fund by Summer

More: votezarifa.com


Joe Vu

Passionate about student success, I’m committed to enhancing both academic and living experiences for all UBC students. As VPAUA, I work to secure student affordability by limiting increases in tuition, providing more housing, research, conference, and textbook broke grants for students, and more funding for AMS Food Bank. I also improve survey engagement and student advocacy coordination and advocate for the expansion of Open Educational Resources (OERs) to reduce the financial burden of course materials while promoting innovative teaching practices. Lastly, I would like to represent student voices in shaping UBC’s future through initiatives like Campus Vision 2050 for more student housing, more student long-term renting, and new lines of transportation, and collaborate with faculty and student leaders to further address your needs.

With a background in urban studies focusing on youth development and sustainability, I understand the value of diverse perspectives and strive to create a participatory and inclusive engagement process where every student’s voice is heard and taken into consideration.

My goal is to empower you to thrive at UBC!