Moha Chaturvedi, Nakoda Hunter, and Talynn English have each received the 2023 Outstanding Leader in the UBC Community Award for their dedication to building community and shaping positive, healthy campus cultures at UBC.
Moha Chaturvedi, Psychology
Moha audited equity policies for several departments and programs, advocated for systems that allow co-op students to give feedback on whether they feel respected in the workplace, helped to make psychological research more inclusive, and aided the draft of an anti-racism Canvas course for faculty and staff.
What student leadership opportunity had the most impact on you during your time at UBC?
The opportunity to work with so many amazing leaders at the Equity Students Advisory Council (ESAC) was immensely inspiring for me. Not only did I get to contribute to tangible equity, diversity, and inclusion solutions, but ESAC also provided me with a safe space to be myself and seek community. My ESAC team served as a reminder that no matter what challenges I experienced, I would always have people who would have my back.
What advice would you give to incoming UBC Arts students?
Take risks! I have sent a million cold emails, applied for jobs I felt completely underqualified for, and knocked on the office doors of professors I wanted to know better. More often than not, it did not work out. Over time, I got more confident and experienced, and eventually landed the connections and opportunities that helped pave the way for where I am today.
What did you learn about yourself at UBC?
I found my voice. When I first started, I could barely advocate for myself. However, with the support of many peers and mentors and some difficult experiences, I learned that you have to know how to stick up for yourself, even if it seems intimidating. You have to believe in yourself before others can believe in you.
What message do you have for your graduating peers?
I hope you do good in the world. Doing good is the greatest legacy to leave behind.
Nakoda Hunter, First Nations and Indigenous Studies
As a member of the Indigenous Committee, Nakoda has been a part of the push for greater self-determination within student governance and for an Indigenous student constituency, and has mentored young Indigenous student politicians. He has also facilitated events such as the Indigenous Arts & Culture Fair, beading workshops, and a rattle-making workshop.
What student leadership opportunity had the most impact on you during your time at UBC?
My time as Co-Chair of the Indigenous Committee will be one I will never forget. It was here that I finally experienced the weight of applying yourself within Indigenous politics and, in return, the comradery that can only come from working among others willing to do the same.
What advice would you give to incoming UBC Arts students?
Find the community where you can be your most authentic self and develop the tenacity to show up for yourself and those you care about. Do not ever be afraid to ask for support during difficult times.
What did you learn about yourself at UBC?
The first thing I’ve learned about myself from my time at UBC is that I’ve been missing out on my culture my whole life and that it has been an adventure in itself to begin reconnecting with it. Moreover, I’ve learned that I really enjoy pushing myself to be in spaces where I can make tangible, positive impacts on those I care about. I’ve also learned that I may end up being a student for the rest of my life.
What message do you have for your graduating peers?
Congratulations on achieving this massive milestone! I hope you enjoy the fruits of your labour and continue developing your passions toward a brighter future for all. Keep pushing the envelope, dare to live every day with fervor, and bring that same spirit that brought you to today into everything else ahead of you.
Talynn English, Political Science and Gender, Race, Sexuality,
and Justice
As President of the Orchard Commons Residence Association, Talynn provided guidance and tools on accessible event planning within and beyond residence programming.
She also brought an anti-ableism and anti-oppressive view to her work with the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office.
What student leadership opportunity had the most impact on you during your time at UBC?
My involvement with the Orchard Commons Residence Association, and broader Residence Hall Association, has been significantly formative in establishing long-standing friendships and community trust. This opportunity allowed me to build confidence in my interpersonal relationships while generating meaningful discussions about issues relevant to me and my peers. Being the first significant leadership experience as a UBC student, the Orchard Commons Residence Association connected me with numerous on-campus partnerships that later led me to other leadership opportunities.
What advice would you give to incoming UBC Arts students?
Community leadership does not ‘look’ or ‘feel’ a certain way—it is building relationships with people you care about on topics that matter to you.
What did you learn about yourself at UBC?
There is no absolute or ‘right’ answer to anything. There is value in making mistakes, taking breaks, and changing your mind.
What message do you have for your graduating peers?
Find joy in the simple pleasures of life; draw an ugly picture with crayon, drink a cold glass of water, try a new recipe and fail at it. These brief moments of uninterrupted joy hold more than any job title or material item could give you.
