BCITSA Executive Board
Introducing the BCITSA Executive Board, an integral part of shaping your student experience here at BCIT.
Events Calendar
Meet the Team
2025/2026 Executive Board
Elected by BCIT students each year, the Executives govern the Student Association as advocates of the student body. The President chairs the Council and leads the Executive team. The four Vice Presidents perform duties contributing to student development. The seven Chairs focus on issues specific to the School or Campus they represent.
Your Executives are here to represent and empower you; don’t hesitate to reach out to them with questions or concerns.
Cora Bell
President
Cora Bell is in her final year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at BCIT and currently works as an employed student nurse in postpartum. As the President of the BCIT Student Association, she brings a passion for advocacy and policy, having previously served as VP External and a health sciences councillor. She’s committed to making student voices heard, lobbying the provincial government for improved post-secondary funding, and working on strengthening BCITSA Bylaws and accountability for student leaders. Beyond her busy academic and leadership roles, Cora enjoys hiking, cycling, and traveling. She recently became the proud owner of a border terrier. You can reach her at president@bcitsa.ca for a chat.
Shervin Laghaie
VP External
Shervin Laghaie is the Vice President External at the BCIT Student Association and is currently studying Occupational Health and Safety. With over 11 years of experience in corporate leadership within the telecom industry, he brings a people-first mindset, strong communication, and strategic thinking to his role. He’s passionate about building safe, inclusive, and empowering environments and ensuring student voices are heard beyond BCIT, particularly on issues like affordability, housing, transportation, mental health, and career readiness. As VP External, Shervin focuses on strengthening relationships with government, industry, and other student associations. Outside of his studies and work, he’s a music lover who enjoys playing guitar, hiking, reading, and finding new ways to connect creativity with community. He’s always eager to connect with students to hear their ideas and questions.
Huy Tuan Tran
VP Equity & Sustainability
Huy Tran, an international student from Vietnam, is pursuing his Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering. As a former peer mentor, he understands the challenges new international students face, having personally navigated the stress of adapting to a new country, language, and the demanding BCIT academic environment. He’s driven by a lifelong passion for building and designing, from a mini-projector with his grandpa to a kayak lifting system. As the VP of Equity and Sustainability, Huy is dedicated to fostering a more sustainable and inclusive engineering field and campus community. He emphasizes that “no matter who you are, where you’re from, or how you identify, you belong” and strives to ensure all student voices are heard and valued at BCIT.
Ethan Van Dyk
Chair, School of Business + Media
Ethan Van Dyk proudly serves as the Chair for the School of Business + Media, representing over 13,000 students. He’s currently completing his Bachelor of Business Administration after earning a Diploma in Marketing Management. His background in sales, hospitality, and digital marketing informs his advocacy for students, focusing on service, strategy, and community to ensure their voices are heard and needs prioritized. Ethan is committed to making the Student Association enhance every student’s experience. Outside of his busy schedule, which often involves a lot of coffee, he enjoys working out, going to the beach, and hosting dinner parties. He encourages students to reach out via email or in person if they have questions, concerns, or simply want to chat.
Polina Omelyantseva
Chair, School of Computing and Academic Studies
Polina Omelyantseva, a CST student planning to enroll in the BScACS program, is the Chair of Computing. With prior experience as a Set Rep and Club Executive, she is deeply committed to improving student life within the School of Computing and across BCIT, with exciting plans for the year, including an anticipated Hackathon. She’s passionate about programming, especially low-level C. In her free time, Polina enjoys playing roguelite games and crocheting, often accompanied by her beloved black cat and an audiobook. She joined the Executive Board confident in her ability to bring about positive change and encourages students to contact her via email at chaircomputing@bcitsa.ca or on Discord (ytyz) with any comments or suggestions.
Ja Mu Ku
Chair, School of Health Sciences
Jamu Ku is the Chair of the School of Health Sciences and is currently in his third year of the nursing program. As a half-Korean, half-Filipino individual, he embraces both cultures and enjoys activities like bouldering, golfing, surfing, and snowboarding, as well as exploring new restaurants. He is a highly sociable person, dedicated to supporting students and enhancing their lives.
Jamu joined the Board to foster a more connected and supportive student community at BCIT, particularly for health science students who can find the program intense and isolating. His goals include collaborating on a Healthcare Expo for leadership opportunities, creating a peer mentoring program for various health science programs, and organizing social events to build community. He encourages students to reach out with any questions.
Nina Lu
Chair, School of Energy
Nina Lu, an Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology student, is the Chair of the School of Energy. Driven by a passion for innovation and community, she understands the challenges BCIT students face and is committed to ensuring no one is left behind. With a background in audio engineering and extensive experience organizing large-scale events, she excels at leading under pressure and delivering results. Nina’s top priority is fostering stronger connections across programs and creating opportunities for SoE students to network, collaborate, and innovate beyond their specific majors, aiming to establish a collaborative workspace. She is dedicated to listening, speaking up, and taking action on issues related to instruction, student wellness, and fairness, believing that “real change starts with action.” You can connect with her on LinkedIn.
Abdul Aziz Ansari
Chair, Schools of Transportation, Construction & the Environment
Abdul Aziz Ansari
Chair, Schools of Transportation, Construction & the Environment
Abdul Aziz Ansari is the Chair of Transportation Construction and the Environment (SoTCE) and a fourth-year student completing his Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Science. He joined the board this year to leverage his past board experience to effectively serve the student body. In his limited free time, Abdul enjoys playing sports, hiking, and studying history.
Marisa Price
Chair, Specialized Transport Campuses
Marisa Price is your 2025-2026 Chair of Specialized Transport Campuses, currently in her second year of Marine Engineering at BCIT’s Marine Campus. Before attending BCIT, she gained valuable experience in the marine industry, working in crew management, deckhand, and mechanical assistant roles, which she now applies to her executive board position. She previously served as the BMC Specialty Councilor, gaining insight into BCITSA’s crucial role in student life. Marisa is passionate about ensuring the needs of satellite campus students are well-represented. When she’s not immersed in her coursework, she prioritizes spending time outdoors, enjoying activities like hiking, skiing, or kayaking, and can often be found reading a book.
Student Leadership
Learn more about how you can support and get involved in student leadership with BCITSA.