Name: Christie MacLeod
Nickname: Chris, Cmac
Age: 21
Program: BSc. Biology & Psychology
Year of Study: Fourth
Hometown: Aurora, Ontario
Tell us a little about yourself!
Well… when I am not buried underneath piles of textbooks, my favorite things to do are yoga, volleyball, and of course hanging out with my family and friends. I am obsessed with reading and you can lose me for a full day or more once I find a book I can get into. I love to travel and hope to see a lot more of the world after leaving Laurier, but my favourite place in the world will always be my cottage. I owe most of my academic success to caffeine and am convinced that I am made up of at least 65% coffee!
What is your favourite thing about Laurier?
Definitely the incredible atmosphere and community feel that is all over campus! Laurier often gets a lot of flack for how small it is, but I think that is part of what makes our campus so great. It is so nice to see so many familiar faces as you walk around campus, and even those people you do not know will always make you feel comfortable and welcome. The students at Laurier are so supportive, honest, and accepting and it really makes our campus a home away from home.
What made you choose Laurier, and more specifically, science at Laurier?
I was drawn to Laurier for the small class sizes and close-knit community. Laurier science is great because you can really get to know your professors and have many of the same people in your classes. I was also really drawn to the combo degree I am in as doing both biology and psychology at other universities is often very difficult and complicated, but it is integrated really well at Laurier.
What is FOSSA?
FOSSA stands for the Faculty of Science Students’ Association – we are a student run committee that represents the interests of the over 3,600 science students here at Laurier. Some of the services we provide are scholarships for Research Assistants, Laboratory and Reagent Funding, as well as funding for conferences and thesis poster printing. FOSSA is also behind some of the events on campus such as Laurier formal, career night, lab coat decorating, and Science Olympics.
You have just won FOSSA president; how does it feel?
I am absolutely thrilled to have been elected as president by my fellow science students! I was amazed by how supportive and welcoming my peers were during the campaign and election period and hope to represent them in the best way I can. I am incredibly thankful for all the people who supported me and encouraged me along the way.
What made you want to campaign for FOSSA President?
Next year will mark my third year as an executive member of FOSSA, and thus I have had the privilege of watching our team advance and grow into a wonderful group of leaders. I have been able to be a part of helping students accomplish their goals and I hoped to be able to continue supporting students and implement the ideas that I really think will take our faculty to the next level. Laurier Science has become my home over the last few years, and I am heavily invested in making it great for all current and incoming students so that they can love their time at Laurier as much as I have.
What are some of your responsibilities now that you are president?
As president, my responsibilities will include hiring a group of qualified leaders for the executive team to carry out all of FOSSAs initiatives and events. We will have to formulate a budget and initiatives that will maximize the benefits for Laurier Science students and meet as many of our faculty’s various needs as possible. We will plan community events, give scholarships and funding, and connect students to the resources and networks they need to be successful.
What are some of your goals as president?
Many of the new initiatives I plan to implement for the upcoming year are to help sciences students build a well-rounded lifestyle that includes study, career-planning, and stress-relief. It is easy to get caught up in the stress of school and lose sight of the long-term goals many people set for themselves, including building lasting relationships, good physical, mental, and emotional heath, and a career they feel passionate about. I hope that some of the events the FOSSA team will implement can help people find this balance easier and help their friends and peers to do the same.
If you could make one big change/improvement in the faculty of science, what would it be?
One thing I would like to see change in our faculty is the lack of some physical resources, which negatively impacts the potential for our students to reach their goals. As a student, I would like to see some improvements in our study spaces, such as more access to electrical outlets, tables, and quiet study space. As president, I hope to address some of these issues and increase the effectiveness of study spaces in the Science building.