President

Hello Students!

My name is Ryan Morstad and I am thrilled to be your 2019-2020 SAIT Students’ Association President. This is my fourth year attending SAIT and I have been involved with Saitsa in many capacities in that time. From Club Founder and President (Surf Club and Food Appreciation Club), to Administrator of the Student Free Tax Program, and Chairman and Director with the Saitsa Board of Directors, I’ve been involved in almost everything Saitsa has to offer! My time with Saitsa has been an amazing experience and I am excited to be your President. I love to chat so if you ever see me in the halls, be sure to say hi!

My job here at Saitsa is to make sure you have the best experience you possibly can at SAIT. One of the ways I try to do this is by meeting with government officials and fellow student leaders all over Canada to discuss student issues. This helps put your concerns at the forefront, and in turn pushes for a call to action. If you have issues you need support with, I’d love to meet with you and see how Saitsa can help.

The highlights of my years so far have been attending amazing club events, including the Surf Club’s surfing adventures in West Edmonton Mall’s wave pool, and the Vancouver Island surf trip. I also love the club expos and learning about all the amazing clubs on campus including the Makerspace Club (P.S. thanks for teaching me about 3D printers!)

In my spare time you can often find me trying new activities. In the last year alone I played in a ball hockey league, dodgeball league, multisport league, softball league, and took salsa dancing lessons! I love trying new things, even though sometimes it might not end so well… who knew you could break a finger with a foam dodgeball?!

I am passionate and see the value in gaining experiences inside and outside the classroom. In 2012, I began my journey in post-secondary education in a study abroad program on one of the world’s oldest fully-rigged sailing vessels, a three-masted Norwegian Tallship built in 1927. As a crew member aboard the S.S. Sorlandet, I sailed the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas as well as the Pacific Ocean. As a student, this immersive learning environment permitted me the opportunity to explore and appreciate both marine biology and diversity within cultures across the globe. Following this experience, I attended the University of British Columbia, studying microbiology and immunology and later transferred to the SAIT School of Business to pursue a career in financial services.

I have loved my time at SAIT and I continuously seek involvement with anything, as I always have! At SAIT I have sat on Academic council, played three seasons of intramural dodgeball, finished second place in Saitsa’s Amazing Race, and participated in archery tag. I have also been involved with many Saitsa committees including the clubs funding and finance committees. If
you are wondering what cool things you can get involved with through Saitsa, check out Saitsa.com or the Saitsa app – you’ll find an event listing that includes arts and crafts, concerts, movie screenings, pet-a-puppy, and more!

I am excited to be your President. I plan on focusing my efforts on making sure the student voice is heard on campus, as well as by our municipal, provincial, and federal governments.
I will help students create a sense of community and belonging during their time as a student, and encourage students to enjoy their time here as much as I have.

I hope that I’ve been able to communicate with you through my bio that no experience is ever wasted. With that in mind, I encourage you to make the most of your time here and experience everything you can.

Saitsa is a great place to get started – attend an event, join a club, volunteer with us. Whatever you decide to do with Saitsa, I look forward to meeting you there!

Cheers to the coming year! Best,

Ryan Morstad
President saitsa.president@edu.sait.ca