Leading Change: The Impact of the Algonquin SA’s Board of Directors
Learn how Board Members drive positive change and impact.
Published: November 20, 2025
You can make a real difference. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive positive change and impact. That’s how former student leaders of the Algonquin Students’ Association (SA) describe their life-changing experiences.
For 55 years, the SA has been led by students — and driven by purpose. At the heart of that legacy is the Board of Directors, a group of full-time students who serve as the voice of their peers to the Algonquin College administration. From services to leading advocacy, Board Members help build a better experience for thousands of others.
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Their work has transformed the College landscape, from playing a key role in projects like the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre (the ARC) and the renovated campus Starbucks, to key advocacy wins such as mid-term breaks and continuous efforts to improve local transit services across all campuses.
But beyond the policies and projects, the Board’s story is about people. And how this leadership experience becomes a launchpad for lifelong impact.
Cat Coleman with the 2021-2022 Board of Directors.
Former SA President Michael Barrett calls his term (2004–2006) a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Today, he serves as a Member of Parliament in the riding of Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, continuing the same spirit of advocacy he strengthened during his time as a student leader. Dejanelle Simon (2018–2020) built on her experience as SA President to champion community health and inclusion, now working with Canadian Blood Services. For Luke Krolak (2017–2018), the Board was “an opportunity to be a person that can impact change,” a lesson he carried into founding his own accounting firm. And Cat Coleman (2021–2022), now in child protective services, says her motivation came from using her peers’ experiences “as a starting point to create positive change within the College community.”
Each of them shows how serving on the Board becomes more than a student position, but a foundation for leadership that continues to grow long after graduation.
For Matthew Jerabek (2016–2017), now Innovation and Entrepreneurship Manager at Algonquin College, that impact has echoed for nearly a decade. “My experience on the Board still creates value for me every single year,” he says. The mentorship, collaboration, and governance skills Jerabek gained not only shaped his professional path but also helped him enter an MBA program. “It’s proof that leadership experience can open doors you didn’t even know existed.”
Recent Pembroke Director Hailey Boucher (2023–2024), now working at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories in Chalk River, shares that same sense of transformation. Shy when she first applied to be a Board Member, she left the role with new confidence, friendships, and a lasting sense of purpose. “No one understands a student’s struggle more than another student,” she says. “If you’re even considering it, just do it. You can make a real difference.” Her time on the Board led her to continue serving her community, now as a local museum board member and volunteer in her hometown of Deep River.
Dejanelle Simon (second from left) served as SA President with the Board of Directors from 2018–2020.
Hailey Boucher (first from left) with the 2023-24 Board of Directors at the Ottawa Pride Parade.
Together, these stories tell one truth: leadership at the SA isn’t just about decisions in a boardroom. It’s about courage, connection, and change. As the SA celebrates 55 years of student leadership, a new generation has the chance to continue that legacy.
SA General Manager and CEO, Ben Dinh, says “the Board gives our students a powerful voice and that connection is key to what makes the SA so special.”
“We are run by the students for the students,” he adds. “We’re always looking for passionate students who want to step up, share their voices, and help shape the future of the College community. My advice: don’t wait—take that first step, because your voice truly matters.”
Nominations to be a 2026-2027 Board Member opened on Monday, November 17 and close on Thursday, January 22, 2026. If you’re ready to make change for others while being empowered yourself, this is your opportunity! Learn more.