
Alzheimer's Society Student Group UTSC
MEET OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM

Meryl Villacastin
President
My name is Meryl and I am a fourth-year student doing a double major in Co-op Health Science and Political Science. As the President, I want to reach as many students as I can to raise awareness about the disease and to inform them of ways to prevent it. With a personal connection to Alzheimer’s, as my grandmother suffered from this disease, I want to apply what I know in the real world, in order to help reduce Alzheimer's prevalence. By leading the club, I want to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. During my spare time, you can find me playing the piano, volunteering at a local senior home or spending time with friends and family.
Daniella Eid
Vice-President/Operations
My name is Daniella and I am a fourth-year Psychology and Health Policy student. I think that the Alzheimers Society is important because we are trying to spread as much awareness on Alzheimer's Disease and get more people involved within the Alzheimer's Disease community, as it is a prevalent health issue across the world. UTSC's Alzheimer's Society means a lot to me because certain family members and friends have gone through this disease. And, because many of those close to me have gone through this disease, I know that this society may be of importance to others going through the same thing as well. And, it is something that is important to me to be educated on and help others to learn about the disease as well. When I am not working with UTSC's Alzheimer's Society, I enjoy watching Netflix, cooking and spending time with friends and family in my spare time.


Arvela Lunasco
Director of Marketing
Hi, my name is Arvela, I am a second-year student studying a specialist in psychology. As someone with a very close relationship with my loving Grandmother along with a background studying memory loss, I know how disheartening this disease can be on not only its victims but the people close to them. That is why I believe it is through The Alzheimer's Society we can spread awareness within the UTSC community and help in its efforts through fundraising and volunteering. It is my job as the Director of Marketing to ensure that the club has a strong social media presence that provides its students with the resources it needs to be active with our club's events and to create promotional material to encourage people to get involved. During my spare time, I enjoy biking to the gym and weightlifting, watching and acting in theatre and growing and taking care of my succulents.
Jinny Tsang
Director of Human Resources
Hey! My name is Jinny and I am the HR Director! I am entering my third year, double majoring in Human Biology and Molecular Biology, Immunology and Disease.
I have originally joined this club back in 2018 during my first year at UTSC and have stayed here ever since. This club is important because it raises awareness on the detrimental effects of a disease that unfortunately cannot be prevented. As we get older, we might experience the onset of this disease or be affected by the many symptoms that Alzheimer’s is characteristic of such as dementia. It is important for us to acknowledge the signs and educate others on how you can help someone who is going through this stage in life.
In my spare time, I love to work out at the gym or listen to some music. With my busy schedule trying to balance a full course load, a part-time job as well as social time, it is important that I take a couple of hours a day for myself through these activities!


Shreni Patel
Director of Events
My name is Shreni and I'm in my fourth year studying a specialist in Neuroscience. From working at a Senior’s non-profit, I firsthand have seen the importance of educating the public about neurodegenerative conditions and taking preventative measures early in life. The diagnosis often took patients and loved ones by surprise and the lack of resources available on the subject matter left them afraid for their future. Many did not know what dementia was or how to recognize the symptoms in themselves and cultural stigmas were preventing clients from reaching out with their concerns. Clubs like The Alzheimer’s Society advocate for Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness among all age groups through actively offering library resources and running educational campaigns which provide an invaluable amount of support to the community. Furthermore, the club’s outreach brings community members together through volunteering opportunities at Seniors homes and partnering with the Stay in Touch initiative which allows UTSC students and people with dementia to engage with one another. At the non-profit, I saw the impact that the information and outreach had on clients’ lives as it helped them prepare and face an insurmountable challenge. While there is no cure to dementia currently, investing the time and resources into adequately addressing the impacts of dementia can make a difference today. In my spare time I engage in a book club, painting and tennis.
Angelique D'Souza
Director of Events
Hi, my name is Angelique! I am currently in my 4th year completing a Life Science degree while fulfilling a major in Human Biology and Psychology. I am honoured to be a part of the Alzheimer’s Society Executive Team for 2020-2021! The Alzheimer’s Society is a club at UTSC that aims to spread awareness to Alzheimer’s disease and initiate change in our community. The importance of this club is to enhance our knowledge and understanding of ways in which we can provide aid in ameliorating the lives of individuals and caretakers, suffering from the unremitting symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
In my spare time, I enjoy reading books, especially ones pertaining to meaningful life lessons. I love to learn and gain new knowledge in the books I read in my free time. When I am not reading, I like to engage in physical exercise since I believe it is essential for both your physical and mental health. Exercise can be fun and motivating and does not always need to be seen as a chore! Aside from these leisure activities, I believe it is essential to prioritize personal relationships with positive people in your lives, which is why I make sure to spend time with family and friends!


Zarah Shinwari
Director of Students
Hi, I’m Zarah, I’m a fourth-year student studying neuroscience and health studies! I joined the Alzheimer’s club because they make a significant impact on raising awareness of Alzheimer disease and educating students on campus about the disease itself. Through this club, I am able to apply what we learn in neuroscience and psychology courses to understand Alzheimer’s disease and the impact of the disease among Canadians. It’s a great club to be a member of because of your participation, whether it's through volunteering or through fundraising, it supports research into treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, there are no known cures for Alzheimer’s disease and the cause of the disease is unknown. Investing in research can help support everyone who is impacted by Alzheimer’s disease.
In my spare time, I love to play games, go on hikes, hang out with my friends, and take my little siblings out for bubble tea.
Vjura Senthilnathan
Director of Volunteers
Hello! I am Vjura. I am a fourth-year student doing a Co-op Specialist in Neuroscience and a double minor in Biology and Psychology. From volunteering at hospitals, I witnessed how the quality of life of people who had chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and their families was affected, which is where my passion for the field of neuroscience began. It is vital to learn more about early detection and diagnosis for Alzheimer's disease, as in doing so can prevent irreversible brain damage and deterioration of cognitive abilities. It is also essential that families affected by Alzheimer's have the resources to cope and help their loved ones. Clubs such as the Alzheimer's Society UTSC can help emphasize the importance of early detection and diagnosis as well as spread awareness of things that families and patients with Alzheimer's disease can do to prevent further damage. They can also shed light on current research for treatments. As the Director of Volunteers, I plan to get more student involvement with the Alzheimer's Disease community in addition to spreading awareness of the disease
During my spare time, I enjoy baking, watching movies. I especially enjoy playing the piano. Some of my favourite songs to play include Across the Stars (Star Wars) and Für Elise by Beethoven.

PAST EXECUTIVES






