Department of English Student Association (DESA)

The DESA executive is an elected student organization in the Department that represents every student who has declared a Major, Minor, or Honours concentration in an English program. As a social, cultural, political, and educational organization for students, DESA performs the functions of student government and representation at the departmental level.

The executive holds weekly office hours for peer advising; plans an array of social events; provides opportunities for extracurricular creative work; acts as a liaison with faculty and administration on behalf of students; and informs students of the goings-on within the department and in the Montreal community.

During the Add/Drop period, come by Arts 305 and meet with any of the DESA execs to work on audit sheets, ask questions about the degree, discuss classes, and figure out how to fulfill all your degree requirements. DESA offers informal advising to act as a supplement to faculty advice. The association does not provide official advising, but the executives are knowledgeable students who can provide guidance and share their own experiences. No appointments are necessary! See our Winter 2026 office schedule.

To contact the DESA executive, send an email to desa [at] ausmcgill.com. Also stay updated through our Instagram, Linktree, and calendar for all the happenings in the department.

If there’s anything DESA can help you with, from suggesting or advertising events to peer-to-peer advice, get in touch with the executive!