The MPPGA Student Association serves as the student body's voice in the program.
The Student Association (MSA) serves as crucial bridge between students and the SPPGA program team, represents student opinions and advocates for an improved academic and overall experience. This role fosters collaboration, enhances the learning environment, and ensures that students' needs are effectively addressed.
The MSA also connects students, alumni, and professionals by supporting student learning and professional development through co-hosting events throughout the year.
First Principles
Fostering Inclusivity and Diversity: We strive to create an environment that celebrates and honours the diversity of our student body.
Cultivating a Learning Community: We are dedicated to building a vibrant community that promotes continuous learning and knowledge-sharing.
Ensuring a Safe Environment: We are committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming space for all students.
Facilitating Professional Growth: We aim to provide opportunities that support the professional development of our members.
Upholding Transparent Communication: We prioritize clear, consistent, and accountable communication within the association.
Although the MSA team changes annually, the first principles stay the same to ensure that fair, respectful, inclusive communication and advocacy are upheld year after year.
2024-25 MPPGA Student Association Executives
Nishi Kant Dixit
Co-President
Nishi Kant Dixit is a first-year MPPGA student. A development practitioner with more than two decades of experience in the fields of community development and rural livelihoods in India, Nishi has focused on access to markets and sustainable livelihoods for rural communities across the country. Before coming to SPPGA, he was supporting the implementation of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), the Government of India’s flagship program for poverty alleviation. Previously, he has worked with leading social development organizations such as Pradan and Reliance Foundation. With MPPGA at UBC, Nishi plans to build on his current work to establish sustainable business institutions across the commodity value chain, owned and governed by rural women at a large scale across rural India.
Nishi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, India. He is also an Acumen India Fellow.
Netheena Mathews (she/her)
Co-President
Netheena is an equity-centered public policy analyst with a decade’s experience in policy research and advocacy, social impact consulting, and journalism. At present, she is a Master of Public Policy & Global Affairs student and a graduate research assistant at UBC's Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions (CSDI), where she focuses on the impact of generative AI on democracies and public health.
In the past, Netheena has been engaged in projects related to the circular economy transition in British Columbia, technology-enabled surveillance of Covid-19 in India, climate anxiety, and disinformation campaigns and tech governance. She has also worked as the managing editor of the peer-reviewed Journal of Development Policy and Practice. Netheena graduated with a degree from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, and is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism.
Rodrigo Rojas
Executive VP
Rodrigo Rojas is a first-year student in the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and a Specialization degree in History of Economic Thought from the same university. Rodrigo has over six years of experience in federal public service, working for the Senate of Mexico, and the federal Ministry of Education, in addition to some teaching assistant and research assistant experience.
Rodrigo is passionate about social policy, economic analysis and educational policy. His goals are to develop inclusive public policies aimed at reducing social inequalities at a local and national level.
Madalen Sides
VP Internal Affairs
Madalen (Maddie) Sides is a second-year student in the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs program at UBC Vancouver. She has a background in campus climate justice organizing, working on initiatives focused on fossil fuel bank divestment and education. Maddie is passionate about environmental policy as well as democracy, voting rights, and labour movements. She is currently a Graduate Research Assistant with the UBC Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions where she is researching strategies for how local governments can mitigate climate change misinformation.
Maddie holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of British Columbia Vancouver. In her free time, she enjoys knitting clothing, going to live music shows, and listening to podcasts about all things political.
Nishtha Gupta
VP External Affairs
Nishtha Gupta is a second-year student in the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs program at UBC, specializing in Global Governance and Security. With a background in journalism at one of India’s top news organizations, she brings a deep understanding of media and communication to her work. Nishtha has since leveraged her expertise in research and analysis at global think tanks, addressing critical issues at the intersection of disinformation, emerging technologies, and democratic governance.
Currently, Nishtha is a Research Assistant at the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions, where she researches the impact of social media and artificial intelligence on political communication. Her work contributes to developing strategies for mitigating misinformation and enhancing democratic engagement.
Nishtha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Delhi. In her free time, Nishtha enjoys cooking, exploring, and listening to music.
Yumna Jilani
VP Finance
Yumna Jilani is a second-year Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs student at UBC, specializing in the Resources, Energy, and Sustainability stream. With professional and academic experience in environmental policy and sustainable development, Yumna is passionate about shaping policies that foster both environmental sustainability and social equity. Most recently, Yumna served as a Sustainability Scholar with the City of Richmond, where she focused on reducing embodied carbon emissions.
Yumna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environment and Development from McGill University, with a double minor in Management and French. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing with her dog, and baking.
Sherry Madah
VP Social Affairs
Sherry is in her final year of the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs program. She specializes in Resource Governance, Sustainability, and Global Economics. Coming from a political science background, her studies allowed her to explore the realm of International Relations, Environmental Politics, and International Political Economy. Professionally, her experience consists of a mix of local government work, higher education, equity, diversity & inclusion policies, as well as, government relations and general port operations.
Currently, she is a graduate teaching assistant, and a graduate research assistant at the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions and in collaboration with the Media Ecosystem Observatory at McGill university researching misinformation during elections. For her capstone client research project she is exploring the advancement of women's economic empowerment within the coffee sector in Kenya.
When not in school and not working, she enjoys volunteering her time with the school on the working policy group, trying new recipes, exploring restaurants, and trying new workout studios.
Steewa Maria Philip
VP Communications and Marketing
Steewa Maria Philip is a first-year student in the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs program at UBC Vancouver. She has a background in digital outreach and community engagement, having worked on initiatives focused on mental health education, menstrual health education and resource accessibility in rural communities. Her interests lie in developing effective strategies to communicate environmental policies and inspire climate action among diverse audiences.
Steewa holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics, Political Science, and Sociology from CHRIST University in Bangalore, India. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, and occasionally dabbles in singing.
Eliana Hill-Zeesman
VP Professional Development
Eliana is a first-year Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs student. She graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honours Bachelor in legal studies and a double minor in psychology and sociology. She has spent the last year as a member of a board that set up a non-profit foundation in her hometown in Mexico, helping children with autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome in rural communities.
Eliana is passionate about foreign policy and international development policy, believing in the power of collaborative governance to address global challenges. She is particularly interested in how foreign aid can effectively promote sustainable development, empower marginalized communities, and foster cross-cultural dialogue. Through her studies and professional work, Eliana aims to contribute to policies that not only enhance the quality of life for vulnerable populations but also strengthen international partnerships that support human rights and equity on a global scale.