Executive Team
Secretary-General
Christian Abundio Recla Galera
Christian is the President and Secretary-General of the Macewan United Nations Club for its 32nd year and is in his 4th year of his Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. Outside the UN Club, Christian is also passionate about pursuing a career in law, having served as Vice President of the Macewan University Law Club. Christian is also a current member of the Students’ Council in SAMU, where he previously chaired the Audit Committee, and is now a voting member for the Governance Committee.
Christian has represented the MacEwan delegation numerous times, including five times at the NMUN Level. He also chaired simulations/conferences in the past, such as PHIMUN, one of the most prestigious MUN conferences in the Philippines. This July, he looks forward to chairing JUEMUN in Kobe, Japan. This year, he looks forward to building on the MacEwan UN Club’s legacy of impact in the MUN community by strengthening partnerships with institutions in Japan, Germany, Ukraine, and South Korea.
Christian loves watching sports, anime, and K-dramas in his free time. He also once aspired to be a race car driver in F1 and Formula Drift. A self-proclaimed Karaoke prodigy.
Director-General
Reise Romanchuk
Reise Romanchuk is a 4th year Political Science Major and Economics minor, and is our current Director General! He has been a member of the UN Club since 2023 and has attended 2 previous NMUN conferences. In his studies, Reise has focused on studying comparative politics, and political philosophy, with a focus on issues surrounding inequality and injustice. Reise has as well conducted sociological research with students from Ukraine, travelling across the world to Wrocław, Poland to finish their research together. During his time in Poland, Reise became a Guinness World Record holder for being one of 8212 people to play “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix at the same time! Reise moved to Edmonton from Calgary in 2022, and is insistent that he has the best taste in music on the Executive team.
Vice President Finance
Alyssa Tonnes
Alyssa (Al) is someone who's either doing everything at once, or not much at all. You can find Alyssa this term working once more at MacEwan and NorQuest as a library assistant, with the goal of one day becoming an archivist after completing a Master's in Library and Information Science. As one of your VPs for the second year in a row now, Alyssa is coming up into three years with the club overall, having attended a few NMUN conferences in this time. Let it also be known that Alyssa has high hopes to keep up with a certain summer reading streak/several book clubs going into fall term, as well as continuing some weekly runs, and, time permitting, maybe even picking up swords recreationally again. You should furthermore note that Alyssa loves to yap, so come say hi if you happen to cross paths on campus!
Vice President Operations
Seth Brennan
Seth is a Bachelor of Commerce student with a major in Legal Studies of Business. This year he is in his final year of study. Previously, Seth has spent 3 years with the Model United Nations Club and this is his first in the executive team. Seth is interested in law and is planning on attending law school next year. Outside of the club, Seth likes to ski and snowboard, and works and volunteers as an instructor in the winters.
Vice President Relations
Yulia Likhacheva
Yulia is a Digital Experience Design student at MacEwan University. It is her second year as a United Nations Club member and her first year serving as a club executive. She has represented the club as part of delegations to Model UN conferences in Canada and the United States (New York). Beyond campus, Yulia works with Parks Canada as a term employee on the Visitor Services team and has volunteered with REACH Edmonton for six years, contributing to community events and initiatives that bring people together. Passionate about traveling and exploring different cultures, Yulia values opportunities that connect her with diverse perspectives. She believes in the power of collaboration, dialogue, and shared experiences to foster understanding and positive change.
Vice President Fundraising
Erin Bersamina
Erin is a 4th-year Bachelor of Commerce student at MacEwan University with a major in Accounting and a minor in Finance. She has been a member of the club since her first year of studies, and has been a part of the club’s delegations for Model UN conferences in Canada, the U.S.A., and Germany. She has been working as a cook for 6 years and volunteers at the MUAC tax clinic. Erin loves crocheting, indoor gardening, and playing Minecraft, but her favourite thing to do this summer was to go out for karaoke with friends. A fun fact about Erin is that she aspires to learn multiple languages and is on the path to mastering four. She also hopes to travel someday to her dream destination, the Swiss Alps.
Vice President Events
Anna Katreena Alipio
Anna is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student at MacEwan University, majoring in English with double minor concentrations in Creative Writing and Business. Her academic focus on English Literature scintillates a particular interest in twentieth-century modernist and postmodernist literature. Anna has participated in international development initiatives, contributing to educational infrastructure and clean water projects in South America, as well as student-led collaborations that support community food, water and education programs across Africa.
Professionally, she has served as a Sales Associate in the luxury market, specializing in international client relations and account management, and engaging with multifarious clients from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Northern Egypt. She has received institutional and professional recognition for her leadership, international correspondences, and commitment to global collaboration, reflecting her dedication to advancing diplomacy and cross-cultural understanding through both academic and professional excellence.
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Jeffrey Rice
Faculty Advisor
Prof. Vivian Giang
Faculty Advisor Emeritus
Dr. Chaldeans Mensah
Dr. Chaldeans Mensah is a faculty member in the Department of Political Science at MacEwan University. He received his doctorate in Political Science from the University of Alberta in 1990. A faculty member with MacEwan University since 1991, he served as the faculty representative on the University’s board of governors from 1998-2001 and from 2007-2013. He is also a graduate of the Academy for Leadership Training and Development (Chair Academy, 2001) and Academy for Advanced Leadership (Chair Academy, 2010).
In 1996, Chaldeans was awarded the Canadian Immigration Award in recognition of his teaching excellence and promoter lifelong learning. In the same year he was recognized at MacEwan University with a distinguished instructor award. In 2005, Chaldeans received the MacEwan Medallion, the highest recognition awarded to a MacEwan University employee. In the following year, he was conferred one of the Alberta Centennial Medals in the category of education in recognition of his outstanding service to the people and province of Alberta.
In 2007, Chaldeans received the Award of Distinction for Internationalizing Teaching and Learning Practice from the Alberta Department of Advanced Education and Technology to recognize his efforts in assisting Albertans to acquire the international and intercultural knowledge, skills, and abilities to function effectively in a global context.
He previously served as the President of the National Model United Nations Organization (NMUN), which organizes the world’s largest simulation of the United Nations in New York and Internationally. He also previously served as a member of the NMUN Board and NMUN Treasurer. Chaldeans is a keen observer of politics at all levels, and is periodically called upon by the provincial and national media to offer commentary on political developments.