Holden Heppler
Political Science (concentration in Canadian Politics), minor in Economics, Third-year standing (Undergraduate)
I believe that I would be an excellent candidate to be considered as a Student Governor because:
As a Residence Fellow, I have had the opportunity to meet hundreds of students in the undergraduate community and hear their concerns. As a member of the Board of Directors at Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur and Heritage Museum, I gained crucial experience that prepares me for the responsibility and expectations of being on the Board of Governors here at Carleton. And being a member of the Carleton community I am aware of the issues students are facing in post-secondary institutions. I am extremely grateful for these three unique experiences that have greatly shaped me, and with these experiences, I believe I am able to voice the concerns of the undergraduate community at Carleton well.
I have the following skills and experiences which would be beneficial in my role as Student Governor:
I believe I have the skillset and experience to encourage this on the Board of Governors. I have belonged to many boards prior to my time here at Carleton. During my time at Devil’s Coulee, a museum I worked at for 8 years, I was able to usher in a new framework for protecting LGBTQ+ employees by creating a policy that stopped discrimination in the workplace. Additionally, I fought for transgender rights in educational settings throughout high school and introduced a nondiscriminatory policy that allowed transgender students to use the bathroom they wish to use without harassment, a policy that remains in place today.
I am equally passionate about student life and mental health. I have worked as a Residence Fellow for two years and have helped students ease into university while also working as primary contact for mental health support. With this in mind, I do not believe there is enough being done in regards to mental health resources on campus but would like to use the Board of Governors position to bring the issues of student mental health to the forefront of the university’s attention and make an impact on student health that lasts well after I leave.
In recent years, students have also been calling for climate justice, both on a worldwide scale and through their own universities and other institutions. If elected, I intend to voice their concerns. In 2018, before attending Carleton, I fundraised enough money to fully fund a project aiming at saving rural communities from collapsing by providing the community with a fully functional greenhouse. I have also been avidly involved in the environmental movement and have showcased this through my participation in Climate Action Carleton and other local initiatives. I am dedicated to creating a greener space for not only my peers and myself but also for the generations that are yet to come.
If elected to the Board, what would you like to gain from the experience and/or what skills would you like to further develop?
If elected I would like to gain the experience of working with a diverse set of board members with a variety of backgrounds and interests to represent. I hope to further learn the inner workings of the Carleton governance system as well as gain key insights into innovative ways to create positive change. I hope to learn how to best represent the students of the undergraduate community. I hope to gain the skills required for the routine aspects of the job as well as better understand the scope of the board’s influence.