Meet the YouAlberta Team

Ishan (he/him) is a fourth-year finance student at the U of A. He originates from Bhopal, a beautiful city in India known as the city of lakes. He has studied at eight schools and has lived in ten cities. Ishan loves travelling, meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. He is big on sports and enjoys playing soccer, squash, basketball, swimming and running half-marathons. His creative side includes writing poems and playing guitar when missing home. Ishan enjoys public speaking and strives to become a visiting lecturer to teach at all of the world's best universities, including Oxford, U of A, London School of Business and the Kyoto University in Japan.

Jeremy (he/him) is in his final year of a MA in communications and technology (MACT) at the U of A. When he's not writing a paper or reading a book, you can find him on some of Edmonton's river valley trails, or trying to get sendy on his skis.

Marlena (she/her) is in her third year of english and history major in the Faculty of Arts. Originally from Vancouver, Marlena joined the U of A from B.C. last year; however, her family is originally from Germany. She plans to study in the After Degree Education program to become a teacher once she completes her BA. Outside of school, she is a busy bee dedicating her time to volunteering and work. Marlena escapes the buzz by taking time to read, listen to music, walk her three dogs, watch movies and discover Edmonton’s cafe scene. She prefers Rutherford South for its quiet atmosphere and historical architecture.

Owais (he/him) is a third-year mechanical engineering major in the Faculty of Engineering, born and raised in the Sultanate of Oman (close to Dubai). With a taste for adventure, his future plans include exploring South America and Antarctica, but for now, you can find Owais enjoying a good Tom Clancy book while sipping on his favourite Tim’s coffee. His favourite place on campus is on the eighth floor of DICE to soak in the panoramic views of downtown and the river valley, along with enjoying the lively atmosphere of hanging out with fellow engineering students.

Rebeca (she/her) is a fourth-year philosophy and political science honors student. Originally from Mexico, she retains her culture through cooking traditional Mexican dishes, trying new vegan recipes and making her food extra spicy. Rebeca relishes exploring Edmonton’s river valley hiking trails. Passionate about connecting with under-represented communities and telling their stories, she plans to pursue a career in journalism.