Team

The President serves as the primary spokesperson and leader of the UTGSU, setting the tone and direction for the organization. They oversee the UTGSU’s vision and ensure that the executive team and staff have the resources needed to bring that vision to life. The President works to enhance the overall graduate experience, fostering a supportive academic environment and representing student interests across the university to the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice-Provost Students.

Mohammadamir (Amir) Moghaddam, a third-year PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, brings a wealth of leadership experience to his role as President of the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union. His journey from Iran to Canada has equipped him with a global perspective on academic and social challenges.

A Vanier Scholar and Connaught International Doctoral Scholar, Amir’s innovative research in cancer vaccine design using DNA origami nanotechnology exemplifies his commitment to pushing boundaries. As a Connaught Public Impact Fellow, he actively bridges the gap between advanced research and public understanding, a skill he applies to making complex union issues accessible to all students.

Amir’s leadership acumen was evident early on, from organizing charity concerts in his teens to founding a transformative NGO in Iran that has brought over 6,000 children back to school from forced labor and established crucial food banks. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found one of Iran’s first university-wide food delivery startups, demonstrating his ability to identify needs and create impactful solutions.

As former VP Academics at UTGSU, Amir spearheaded the reopening of the union building and launched vital food security initiatives, showcasing his ability to effect tangible change. His experience organizing TEDx events in Iran and serving on a Diabetes Canada EDI committee further underscores his commitment to amplifying diverse voices and fostering inclusive communities.

This rich tapestry of experiences in community building, innovative problem-solving, and inclusive leadership uniquely positions Amir to represent and empower the diverse graduate student body at the University of Toronto, driving positive change and fostering a more supportive academic environment.

The Vice-President Academics serves as the lead advocate for graduate students, addressing academic and funding challenges. They enhance student support, improve academic processes, and increase funding resources across all divisions. This VP provides guidance on institutional procedures and represents student interests to relevant university bodies, ensuring that graduate student voices are heard and supported throughout the academic journey.

Nicholas (Nick) Silver is a fourth-year PhD student in the Department of Biochemistry. Throughout his time at the University of Toronto, he has served on the UTGSU in several capacities as a Course Union Representative, Committee Member, and Board of Director. Alongside his involvement with the UTGSU, he has previously served as the Chair of Biochemistry Graduate Students Union, Chair of the Research Day Organizing Committee for the Department of Biochemistry, a member of the Biochemistry Wellness, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Office of Inclusion and Diversity for the Temerty Faculty of Medicine among other positions. Alongside these roles, Nick has been a TA for several undergraduate Biochemistry courses. 

Nick is committed to push the recent successes regarding graduate student funding achieved through the Base Funding Committee, where he acts as the Head of Outreach. This year the Base Funding Committee is committed to ensuring the University is held accountable for the promises they made and that funding is fair and consistent within departments and faculties. Alongside his involvement with the Base Funding Committee, Nick is working on advocating for students regarding transit-related issues through a collective effort with other student unions, student organizations and community partners. 

A firm believer in that the role of the UTGSU is to serve the needs of its members, Nick is committed to increasing the ability of members to provide feedback to the UTGSU through Town Halls, Assembly meetings, and outreach events. Nick is always happy to meet with students to discuss any issues they may be experiencing and determine how the UTGSU can best help our students.

The Vice-President Graduate Life serves as the lead organizer of UTGSU events & programming, volunteer engagement and mental health programming and advocacy. This VP is responsible for the organization of the fall and winter Orientation events, as well as the regular programming hosted in the UTGSU Building throughout the year. Beyond internal programming, the VP Graduate Life collaborates closely with organizations such as GradLife, Hart House, the Multi-Faith Centre, and the Centre for International Experience (CIE), helping to ensure graduate students have access to inclusive, meaningful, and accessible resources. Through these partnerships, the VP Graduate Life works to bridge the gap between institutional support and the lived experiences of graduate students.

Eliz Shimshek is a second-year PhD student in Cognitive Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology. Over the years, she has held roles across various departments at the University of Toronto, including college and faculty registrar offices, Student Life, UTGSU, and the Innovation Hub. In these roles, she has engaged with hundreds of students across all three campuses, gaining deep insight into the diverse challenges they face.

Eliz has supported and organized over 100 events, including Grad Fest, Art as Therapy, and Trivia Nights. Whether by creating spaces for connection or ensuring that student perspectives inform key initiatives, she is dedicated to fostering a graduate experience where students feel heard, supported, and empowered. As a UTSC community member, Eliz is also committed to addressing campus-specific needs and promoting equitable access to resources, programming, and engagement opportunities across all U of T campuses.

The Vice-President External serves as the UTGSU’s key liaison with external organizations and groups, and advocates for student interests in various forums. By connecting the union and its members to other student and community groups and maintaining strong relationships with external partners, the VP External aims to strengthen advocacy initiatives to enhance the graduate student experience. The VP External bridges the gap between graduate students and resources outside the union, with the broader goals of providing information on external resources available to members and improving member access to these resources. They also function as the Executive representative for the UTGSU (Local 19) under the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario.

Seema Allahdini (she/her) is a third-year PhD Student in Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Along with an MA in Social Justice and Community Engagement and an MSc in Human Rights, Seema brings over a decade of nonprofit expertise in the areas of program management, service provision, partnership development and advocacy to the union. Her community centered and anti-oppressive practice ensures that graduate student interests remain front and center.         

The Vice-President Finance serves as the UTGSU’s Chief Financial Officer, overseeing the union’s financial management and operations. They work closely with various committees and the executive team to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparent decision-making. The VP Finance manages the budget, supervises financial services for students, and plays a crucial role in strategic planning. By balancing financial oversight with service delivery, they help maintain the UTGSU’s financial health while supporting initiatives that benefit graduate students.

The Vice-President Internal manages the internal operations and governance structure of the UTGSU. They organize and prepare Board of Directors meetings, chair the Governance Committee, maintain essential organizational records, and ensure that Bylaws and Policies are up-to-date and properly implemented. Additionally, they take on special projects to enhance internal processes and member engagement.

Dominic Shillingford (he/him) is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Department of Mathematics. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2022 with a degree in Engineering Physics, and has previously worked at Intel. Outside of academics and work, Dominic enjoys rock climbing, karaoke, billiards and staying up-to-date on the latest trends in technology. 

As the Vice-President Internal, Dominic is excited to help build up the internal capacity of the organization to better serve the entire graduate student community. This includes building internal processes to stay in contact with university administration to keep them accountable to the students, to better fund and support graduate student-run groups, and to do due-diligence on initiatives that ultimately spend the money of the student. Outside of his direct portfolio, Dominic is proud to lead a housing campaign to better educate graduate students on their housing rights, help address major pain-points in the process of finding and keeping housing, advocate for change within the university and the greater community to tackle housing affordability, and ultimately turn housing from a source of stress for graduate students to a source of comfort.