Coffee Chat with Ricardo Soto-Canales, KUCSC President 2024-25

Ricardo Soto-Canales is a fifth-year Politics and International Relations student and the 2024-25 KUCSC President.

Can you share a bit about what motivated you to run for King’s University College Students’ Council (KUCSC) President?

For me, Students' Council became a clear choice for involvement once I understood just how much KUCSC does to keep the vibrant community energy of King’s alive and well!

What has been your biggest challenge or learning experience as President?

The biggest challenge is not necessarily the work that comes with the role of President but rather the ability to manage time when working in both the capacity of President and as a still-studying student. To have your place of learning also be your place of work creates an interesting dynamic where you essentially need two “mental gears”: a school brain and a work brain. The opportunity to work with so many students and members of our King’s community is the best learning experience I’ve had. Whether it’s fellow student leaders, members of faculty, administration, or staff, the desire to do what’s best for King’s is always a strong point of intersectionality and a point of inspiration for me.

How do you balance your academic work with your KUCSC responsibilities?

It is certainly a juggling act, but it helps that I’m in my fifth year of study and have a reduced course load. Even with this, I would say the most important aspect of balancing these responsibilities would be to block out your time as much as possible. I frequently use Google Calendar and other task-tracking applications to keep me caught up with all I need to do each week, which is a huge help!

From your perspective, how can alumni better connect with current students and Students’ Council?

I believe the best way for alumni and current students to connect is for us to update those previously involved with KUCSC or club executives on the progress of these organizations. Seeing how their efforts have evolved can foster a deeper sense of connection. This also creates opportunities for collaboration, where alumni and students can support each other. Alumni can share their experiences, while students can assist with alumni initiatives through engagement or volunteering. Together, we can build on each other’s strengths and showcase the vibrant energy of the King’s community.

What are your hopes for the Students’ Council and your legacy as President?

I hope that KUCSC will be strongly connected with our surrounding community. King’s emphasizes community - and this means many things: connection with our students, our fellows at Western, Huron, and formerly Brescia, and our surrounding organizations and governing bodies within London. Strengthening connections with the City of London, the Chamber of Commerce, and local non-profits will broaden our reach and showcase our student body’s full potential.

As for my legacy, I wish to leave behind a solid foundation of partnerships and resources that future leaders can build on. Student influence is only limited by the ambition of those leading change. My goal is to ensure that future students have even more tools and opportunities than we do now— setting them up for greater success.