Meet Your VP of Student Experience: Majdalen Azouz

For many students, university is more than lectures, assignments, and exams. It’s about finding your people, building community, and creating moments that stay with you long after graduation. For Majdalen Azouz, WUSA’s new Vice President, Student Experience (VPSE), that belief is at the core of everything she does. Freshly graduated from Waterloo’s Public Health Sciences program, Majdalen is stepping into her role with a clear goal: to make campus feel more connected, accessible, and alive for every student. “I’ve seen Waterloo from so many different angles,” she shares. “As someone attending events, planning them, volunteering, and supporting other students, I wanted to take everything I learned and advocate for students in a bigger way.” 

A Journey Rooted in Community 

Majdalen’s path to leadership started early. In her first year, she joined her residence council at CMH, helping plan events and create welcoming spaces for students. What began as a way to get involved quickly became something more meaningful. “That was my first look at how much work goes into creating a good student experience,” she says. “It also showed me how much of a difference one space or one interaction can make.” From there, her involvement grew across campus, from orientation teams and cultural associations to volunteering and athletics. Each experience shaped her understanding of what students need to feel like they belong. “I think a big part of my journey was figuring out where I fit in,” she explains. “Attending events, meeting people, and trying new things helped me understand how important community is, especially when you are new.” 

Redefining the Student Experience 

So what does “student experience” actually mean? For Majdalen, it goes far beyond academics. “It is everything that shapes how a student feels during their time at Waterloo,” she says. “It is about whether students feel welcomed, supported, safe, and connected.” That includes the big moments, like Orientation or Welcome Week, but also the smaller everyday experiences that often matter just as much. “Sometimes it is a club you joined, a residence floor you loved, or even a random event where you met your closest friends,” she adds. “Student experience is about making campus feel less isolating and more alive.” Her perspective is deeply personal. As someone who is half Syrian and half Palestinian, Majdalen understands the importance of cultural community and inclusive spaces. “Not everyone experiences campus the same way,” she explains. “Some students find their place through clubs, others through athletics, cultural associations, or simply having a good space to exist. I want to make sure those spaces are there for everyone.” 

Facing Today’s Challenges 

While Majdalen describes her own time at Waterloo as largely positive, she is also clear about the challenges students face today. “Affordability is one of the biggest issues right now,” she says. “Students are dealing with high costs across the board, including tuition, rent, groceries, and transportation. Even participating in student life can feel expensive.” Food access, in particular, stands out as a growing concern. “It is hard to focus on school or enjoy your time here if you are worried about whether you can afford food,” she notes. Beyond finances, she also points to loneliness and burnout as major challenges in an intense academic environment like Waterloo. “It is easy to feel like you are just moving from deadline to deadline,” she says. “That is why community, wellness, and accessible spaces matter so much.” 

Priorities for the Year Ahead 

As VPSE, Majdalen’s priorities reflect both her experiences and what she has heard from students. At the top of her list is strengthening community and student engagement. “I want students to have more reasons to come together,” she says. “Through events, clubs, societies, or simply spaces where people can spend time, student life should feel visible and active.” She is also focused on supporting the people who make that experience possible. “Student leaders and groups do so much for campus life,” she explains. “When they are supported properly, students feel the difference.” Affordability and wellness are also key priorities, from improving food access to making sure students understand and can use their health and dental benefits. “I want support to feel clear, approachable, and actually useful,” she says. 

A Full Circle Moment 

When asked about her favourite Waterloo memory, Majdalen does not hesitate. “Welcome Week Carnival in my fourth year,” she says. “It felt full circle.” After years of involvement across campus, that moment stood out not just because of the event itself, but because of what it represented. “I was there with all my friends, surrounded by a community I had spent years building,” she reflects. “Campus just felt alive.” It is that feeling of connection, energy, and belonging that Majdalen hopes to create for every student. Because at the end of the day, her vision for Waterloo is simple: “I do not want students to feel like they are just getting through university,” she says. “I want them to have moments where they truly feel like they belong here.” 

Milena Fernandes 

Copywriter