Neela Hassan (she/her) is a second-year Ph.D. student in the department of Sociology and Legal studies. Her research is centered on the intersection of gender-based violence and precarious immigration status in Canada. She has an MA in communications and development studies from Ohio University and previously worked with media outlets and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Kabul, Afghanistan. 

In her role as the administration Vice President, Neela supports the GSA-UW programming and events, directly managing the engagement and wellness- events initiatives. She believes in the strength of an inclusive and supportive community and aims to contribute to bolstering graduate student’s community and their well-being at the University of Waterloo. Her goal is to work towards building an environment where every graduate student is heard, assisted, and made aware of the available opportunities and resources around them. 

During her free time, Neela enjoys reading poetry and fiction books, watching female-led Television shows, and cooking.