Elizabeth Whyte was born in Ottawa and grew up in the neighbourhood of Hintonburg. She lived in Ottawa until she began her undergraduate degree in Kingston, at Queen’s University. At Queen’s Elizabeth studied modern African history, focusing particularly on the historical roots of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. After spending four years reading about Sub-Saharan Africa, Elizabeth decided it was time to experience the region first hand. She spent several months volunteering on a public education campaign focused on sexual health in northern Tanzania. On her return to Canada, she continued volunteering in HIV/AIDS public education with the AIDS Committee of Ottawa. Recently, Elizabeth has been enrolled in the Master’s of Social Work program at Carleton University. At Carleton University Elizabeth has been engaged in community organizing, primarily through the graduate student union. Elizabeth was first elected as the Vice-President Academic of the Graduate Students’ Association in 2010 and was recently elected for a one year term as President of the student union.