Hilda Aliu
President
president@ubcdesign.ca
Hilda oversees everything DESUS related. She supports the executive team, coordinates projects, and ensures the BDes community runs smoothly, creatively and collaboratively.
Stephen Antonios
VP Academic
academic@ubcdesign.ca
Stephen is here to support your academic journey. He organizes workshops, portfolio reviews, and town halls to help students succeed in studio and beyond. Have feedback about a course? He’s the one to reach out to.
Emil Postrach
VP Health & Wellness
hewe@ubcdesign.ca
Emil focuses on fostering wellness and balance within the BDes community. He organizes Waffle Wednesdays and other cozy gatherings that give students a chance to relax, connect, and recharge outside of studio hours.
Suhani Syal
VP Communications
communications@ubcdesign.ca
Suhani is the creative mind behind the @DESUS.UBC and @SALA.BDES Instagram accounts, where she curates content that connects, informs, and celebrates student work. She also designed this website!
Sophie Wang
VP External
external@ubcdesign.ca
Sophie manages DESUS’s external connections, from building partnerships, securing sponsorships, and creating professional opportunities for students.
Zoe Aguilar
VP Student Life
studentlife@ubcdesign.ca
Zoe plans events that bring the BDes community together. In addition to events like the BDes Ball, she runs AfterStu, the social series that helps students unwind, meet others, and celebrate design life outside of coursework.
Alina Jansen
VP Internal
internal@ubcdesign.ca
Alina keeps everything behind the scenes running smoothly. From organizing meetings to coordinating logistics, she ensures DESUS stays connected, efficient, and ready to deliver events for the BDes community.
Angela Dai
VP Finance
finance@ubcdesign.ca
Angela oversees all financial matters for DESUS. Shee manages budgets, reimbursements, and funding for student initiatives, making sure every dollar supports creativity and community.
Jael Okoti
VP Spirit
spirit@ubcdesign.ca
Jael fuels the creative energy of the BDes community. She designs stickers, merch, and graphics that showcase program pride and give everyone something fun to sport around campus.
Shanika Nusaiba
AMS Representative
amsrep@ubcdesign.ca
Shanika represents the BDes community within the Alma-Mater Society (AMS). She advocates for design students, keeping communication open between DESUS and the wider UBC student body.
JJ Peñaranda
Fourth Year Representative
academic@ubcdesign.ca
JJ connects fourth-year students with DESUS, sharing updates, collecting feedback, and helping make the final year of the program an engaging and memorable experience.
Felix Lo
Third Year Representative
academic@ubcdesign.ca
Felix represents the third-year cohort, ensuring student voices are heard and helping organize initiatives that support his peers in their studio work and community involvement.
Leelu Li
Second Year Representative
academic@ubcdesign.ca
Leelu acts as the link between second-year students and DESUS, helping organize events, gather feedback, and make the transition into upper-year studios smooth and welcoming.
TBA
First Year Representative
academic@ubcdesign.ca
____ connects first-year students with DESUS, sharing updates, gathering feedback, and helping make their first year in the program smoother, more engaging, and truly memorable.