Meet the Newly Appointed Student Representatives at Wittenborg for 2025

29.01.2025

Wittenborg’s 2025 Student Representatives, Led by Chairman Mohammadali Dana

Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences announced its 2025 student representatives, elected by students in November 2024, at the Christmas Drinks event in December. These individuals bring with them their diverse backgrounds and are committed to enhancing the student experience. Meet them below:

Shirin Sadeghi

Shirin Sadeghi, a Master of Business Management (MBM) student specialising in Data Analytics, is excited to represent her peers. With a background in Materials Engineering and Finance, she aims to foster collaboration and open communication within the Wittenborg community. Passionate about sustainability, Shirin is committed to helping international students integrate into Dutch society through her volunteer work with Buddy to Buddy.

“My goal is to promote sustainable practices and help others along the way, ensuring we all grow together,” says Shirin. “I’m deeply committed to bridging cultural gaps and supporting my peers.”

Students were asked which emoji they would use to communicate with their peers for the rest of their term, and Shirin chose the handshake emoji 🤝: “It symbolises collaboration, unity, and teamwork, which I truly believe in.”

Fatemeh Jamshidparvar

Studying an MBA (Master of Business Administration) with a focus on International Management, Fatemeh Jamshidparvar from Iran aims to address a key challenge for students — connecting with job providers. Her goal is to bridge the gap between students and professional opportunities while ensuring open communication within the community. She is also committed to gathering student feedback to bring about meaningful change.

“Get ready to see my face a lot!” Fatemeh adds, emphasising her enthusiasm to engage with the Wittenborg community. “I’m passionate about making connections and making sure students feel heard and supported.”

Fatemeh’s emoji of choice is the sunglasses emoji 😎: “It represents confidence and positivity, which I think are key traits for success in any challenge.”

Sarah Gaultney-Udjo

Originally from Nigeria, Sarah Gaultney-Udjo is pursuing an MBM (Master of Business Management) in Hospitality Management. With a background in education management, media, and at a chartered accounting firm, Sarah values diversity and inclusivity. She plans to engage with students through open communication, while promoting resilience and positivity. Her message: “Life’s challenges are temporary, and we must remain motivated.”

“Let’s lift each other up, Wittenborg!” Sarah says, encouraging everyone to stay strong. “We all have ups and downs, but together we can overcome anything. Keep your head up, and keep going.”

For her emoji, Sarah chose an emoji that 'bounces back' 🙂: “Life is about bouncing back. With high stress levels today, a key message in the academic community is never to give up. Resilience fosters strength and determination.”

Mohammadali Dana

Mohammadali Dana, from Iran, is studying Data Analytics for his second master’s degree and has been appointed as the chairman of the student representatives. Having lived in the Netherlands for nearly three years, he understands the challenges students face. His primary goal is to help others navigate these challenges while emphasising the importance of effort and willpower: “As a student representative, I would like to emphasise the importance of determination,” Mohammadali shares. “I believe 90% of success depends on our effort and willpower, and this is the key message I’d like to share with students.”

Mohammadali’s emoji is also the cool sunglasses emoji 😎 as it “reflects confidence, positivity, and a fun approach to challenges, which I believe are essential traits for success.”

Seyed Hejazei

Seyed Hejazei, an MBA student specialising in entrepreneurship, aims to foster collaboration and growth within the Wittenborg community. He plans to stay approachable and open to feedback, ensuring that all students feel heard. Seyed is committed to promoting positive change, both academically and personally, for his peers.

“Together, we have the power to make a difference,” says Seyed. “Our diverse backgrounds and ideas can create a truly collaborative environment.”

Seyed’s emoji choice is the star emoji 🌟: “It represents growth, excellence, and striving to be the best we can be.”

Arshia Baharloueiyancheshmeh

Arshia Baharloueiyancheshmeh, a Sports Business Management student from Iran, wants to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for students. His goal is to encourage open communication, promote well-being, and work closely with both students and staff to address concerns. Arshia believes that personal growth, friendships, and experiences shape our future.

“Let’s create an environment where everyone feels heard, valued, and motivated to succeed,” Arshia states. “University life is about growing together, both personally and academically.”

Arshia’s emoji of choice is the handshake emoji 🤝: “It represents connection and teamwork, which are essential for building a strong, collaborative student community.”

Elliot Eans

Elliot Eans, an Entrepreneurial Business Administration (EBA) student, is eager to create a positive and welcoming environment at Wittenborg. He strives to make the school a place students want to be — even at 8:30 in the morning. “If we can make students want to come to Wittenborg at 8:30 in the morning, I think we’ve kind of won,” he says.

Elliot values unfiltered, first-hand feedback from classmates and plans to bring key concerns, such as communication challenges, to student representative meetings.

For his emoji, Elliot chose the 😛 one. He explained that it can be used in both good and bad contexts, making it versatile.

Charindu Hewage

Charindu Hewage, a master's student at Wittenborg, is dedicated to ensuring that all students' voices are heard and effectively addressed. His top priorities include improving communication between students and the business school, advocating for better resources, and organising initiatives that promote student well-being, inclusivity and academic success. Charindu is also focused on addressing key concerns such as housing, mental health resources and enhancing campus life.

"My message to the Wittenborg community is simple: I am committed to listening, advocating, and working alongside all of you to make our business school a more enriching and supportive environment. Your input matters, and I encourage every student to reach out, share ideas, and get involved in shaping our community," says Charindu.

For his emoji, Charindu chose the 🤝 emoji, explaining: "It symbolises partnership, collaboration, and mutual values, which I believe are crucial in creating a thriving student community. My goal is to work together with all of you to make our collective experience the best it can be."