On May 1, the AMS saw a new cohort of commissioners stepping into their respective roles, each driven to have a lasting impact on the student body.
Six commissioners have taken on leadership roles across different portfolios such as clubs, campus affairs, sustainability, and social issues. Drawing from their experiences, each commissioner aims to boost transparency, foster inclusion, and increase student engagement on campus.
The Journal sat down with the six commissioners, overseen by Alyssa Persia, vice-president (university affairs), to understand their backgrounds and discuss their goals for the school year.
Ali Hussein, Commissioner of Campus Affairs
In an interview with The Journal, “simply being an immigrant,” is what Commissioner of Campus Affairs, Ali Hussein, ArtSci ’26, says set him apart from the other candidates. At age 18, Hussein recalls moving to Canada in 2022, without any network. This experience, he says, helped him better recognize his privilege and shaped his desire to serve others.
As Campus Affairs Commissioner, Hussein will oversee different aspects of student life on campus, including event sanctioning, managing bursaries, and ing campus clubs and faculty societies.
One major goal for Hussein is to ensure transparency and accessibility in the event approval process. He hopes to improve clarity around what the event sanctioning process involves, helping students, clubs, faculty societies, and committees better understand the steps required to host events on campus.
Brooke Schmidt, Commissioner of Environmental Sustainability
With a background in evolutionary biology and research on activities that impact ecosystems, Brooke Schmidt, ArtSci ’26, is looking to bridge her academic interests with her role as AMS Commissioner of Environmental Sustainability.
“I want to make sure sustainability efforts on campus are realistic and measurable, so that student groups can actually make a meaningful impact,” Schmidt said in an interview with The Journal.
Rather than drastically altering the role, Schmidt’s focus is on strengthening what’s already in place. She pointed to the newly implemented AMS Sustainability Policy, which was developed under the previous commissioner, Anne Fu, ArtSci ’26, and it’s said to serve as a guiding framework to help student groups make environmentally responsible decisions and align their initiatives with broader campus sustainability efforts.
Edlira Ballaj, Commissioner of External Affairs
Reflecting on her early years at Queen’s is a time when Edilera Ballaj, ArtSci ’26, felt out of place. However, she explained that these experiences ultimately shaped her readiness for her role as the External Affairs Commissioner.
She highlighted her involvement on campus, including serving as the indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and antiracism (I-EDIAA) director at Queen’s Feminist Leadership in Politics and her work as a pharmacy assistant. Through these roles, Ballaj says she gained valuable insight into the barriers many students encounter, deepening her commitment to advocacy and inclusive representation. This translated to her focus on improving access to academic and housing resources, including providing with appeals and academic accommodations.
While she acknowledges that many of these services already exist, her goal is to ensure they go beyond temporary fixes.
Edward Sy, Commissioner of Social Issues (Internal)
A long-standing commitment to student advocacy has shaped the journey of Edward Sy, HealthSci ’27, who is now taking on the role of AMS Commissioner of Social Issues (Internal).
Their leadership experience spans multiple roles, including Events Programmer for the Yellow House, I-EDIAA Coordinator with the Health Sciences Society, and as a Residence Don.
In each of these positions, Edward explained he has worked to students from marginalized backgrounds, most notably by helping organize inclusive initiatives like the 2024 Equity Gala: an event to celebrate equity-deserving students through fashion, talent, and inclusive, community-driven events. They credit these experiences with deepening their dedication to equity and inclusion on campus.
In an interview with The Journal, Sy said their vision for success starts with humility, involving, “a lot of learning and unlearning.”
Mujeedat Lekuti, Commissioner of Social Issues (External)
Mujeedat Lekuti, HealthSci ’26, recalls feeling uncertain when offered the role of Social Issues Commissioner (External). Torn between the demands of the position and the idea of a more relaxed final year, a conversation with her father—who asked if she’d take the role even if it were unpaid—helped clarify her priorities.
With experience as the 2024–25 AMS Black Initiatives Coordinator and Head COAT of Health Sciences Orientation, Lekuti claimed these experiences gave her a strong foundation in collaboration and people-orientated leadership.
In her role, she aims to foster greater visibility and transparency within the AMS, strengthen relationships with students on campus, and promote collaboration across diverse groups. She envisions events that won’t only be memorable, but also become staples of campus life for years to come.
Xian Tronsgard, Commissioner of Clubs Commissions
Xian Tronsgard, ArtSci ’26, now serving as Clubs Commissioner for the AMS, reflected on her previous involvement with the AMS and the leadership and communication skills that have shaped her growth.
A key focus of her term has been reviewing the AMS Clubs Policy and revamping the online club directory. By adding detailed descriptions and improving accessibility, Tronsgard aims to make the platform more useful and -friendly for students.
For Tronsgard, success means more than checking off goals; it’s about creating lasting changes that student leaders and strengthen the campus community.
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Vice President (University Affairs)
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