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Edwina Yong & Tristan Seneviratne
Co-Presidents


president@ubcdesign.ca

Tristan and Edwina oversee everything DESUS related. They support the executive team, coordinate projects, and ensure the BDes community runs smoothly, creatively and collaboratively.

Bernice Chong
VP Academic


academic@ubcdesign.ca

Bernice is here to support your academic journey. She organizes workshops, portfolio reviews, and town halls to help students succeed in studio and beyond. Have feedback about a course? She’s the one to reach out to.






Stella Broom
VP Health & Wellness


hewe@ubcdesign.ca

Stella focuses on fostering wellness and balance within the BDes community. She organizes Waffle Wednesdays and other cozy gatherings that give students a chance to relax, connect, and recharge outside of studio hours.


Suhani Syal
VP Communications


communications@ubcdesign.ca

Suhani is the creative mind behind the @DESUS.UBC and @SALA.BDES Instagram accounts, where she curates content that connects, informs, and celebrates student work. She also designed this website!


JJ Peñaranda
VP External


external@ubcdesign.ca

JJ manages DESUS’s external connections, from building partnerships, securing sponsorships, and creating professional opportunities for students. He also hosts the Beyond BDes Podcast, featuring chats with alumni and creatives in the field.


Hilda Aliu
VP Student Life


studentlife@ubcdesign.ca

Hilda plans events that bring the BDes community together. In addition to events like the BDes Ball, she runs AfterStu, the social series that helps students unwind, meet others, and celebrate design life outside of coursework.


Leo Lee
VP Internal


internal@ubcdesign.ca

Leo keeps everything behind the scenes running smoothly. From organizing meetings to coordinating logistics, he ensures DESUS stays connected, efficient, and ready to deliver events for the BDes community.


Johannes Soderstrom
VP Finance


finance@ubcdesign.ca

Hannes oversees all financial matters for DESUS. He manages budgets, reimbursements, and funding for student initiatives, making sure every dollar supports creativity and community.


Chloe Chang
VP Spirit


spirit@ubcdesign.ca

Chloe fuels the creative energy of the BDes community. She designs stickers, merch, and graphics that showcase program pride and give everyone something fun to sport around campus.


Shadda Al-Rammahy
AMS Representative


amsrep@ubcdesign.ca

Shadda represents the BDes community within the Alma-Mater Society (AMS). She advocates for design students, keeping communication open between DESUS and the wider UBC student body.


Sarah Ni
Fourth Year Representative


academic@ubcdesign.ca

Sarah connects fourth-year students with DESUS, sharing updates, collecting feedback, and helping make the final year of the program an engaging and memorable experience.


Claire Nelson
Third Year Representative


academic@ubcdesign.ca

Claire represents the third-year cohort, ensuring student voices are heard and helping organize initiatives that support her peers in their studio work and community involvement.


Stephen Antonios
Second Year Representative


academic@ubcdesign.ca

Stephen acts as the link between second-year students and DESUS, helping organize events, gather feedback, and make the transition into upper-year studios smooth and welcoming.


TBD
First Year Representative


academic@ubcdesign.ca

We are looking to fill this role! If you’re a first-year BDes student eager to get involved, this is your chance to help shape the program’s community from the start. Reach out to DESUS to learn more.


About the Design Undergraduate
Society

The Design Undergraduate Society represents students in UBC’s Bachelor of Design (BDES) program within the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA). As one of the student-led societies in SALA, DESUS works to strengthen the design community through academic support, social events, workshops, and collaborations with student groups across UBC. The society serves as a bridge between students and faculty.



History of the
Bachelor of
Design

The Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism (BDES) program was introduced at UBC in 2019, evolving from the former Environmental Design (ENDS) program. While the ENDS program laid a strong interdisciplinary foundation in architecture and landscape, BDES restructured the curriculum to reflect contemporary design challenges, integrating sustainability, urbanism, and digital representation. Today, the BDES program continues to prepare students for graduate studies in design and related professions, emphasizing the role of design in shaping resilient environments.



The Design Undergraduate Society is governed by our Constitution. This document defines the purpose of DESUS and governs us across our operations.

© 2025 Design Undergraduate Society.