July 10, 2025
Education News Canada

DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
High-performance leadership cohort selected for new Dalhousie-McCall MacBain leadership award

July 10, 2025

Twenty-five Dalhousie students have been selected for the Student Leadership Academy's prestigious High-Performance Leadership cohort for the upcoming academic year, an honour that carries up to $15,000 in scholarship funding. 

Recipients of the Dalhousie-McCall MacBain Leadership Academy scholarship were chosen for their leadership, academic excellence, and community impact.  The cohort includes 18 undergraduates, five professional degree candidates (in Medicine, Law, and Pharmacy), and two doctoral researchers. Their academic homes span nearly every Faculty at Dalhousie.

Learn more: Student Leadership Academy

"At Dal, we are committed to cultivating purpose-driven leadership across disciplines," says Dr. Rick Ezekiel, vice-provost student affairs at Dal. "These students represent some of the best and brightest across Dalhousie's academic landscape. Through their talents and ambitions, they are poised to shape the future of our organizations and society by leading solutions to pressing challenges facing our communities."

These students represent some of the best and brightest across Dalhousie's academic landscape.

This year's recipients reflect Dal's global reach, with students from across Canada and countries including India, Brazil, Botswana, Bangladesh, Guyana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Vanessa Lent, associate director of Student Leadership, says this year's High-Performance Leadership cohort reflects the extraordinary potential found across Dal's student body. 

"These 25 scholars bring a remarkable blend of academic excellence, leadership, and global perspective. As they begin this journey, they carry with them the spirit of Dalhousie: bold, collaborative, and committed to making a difference. We look forward to the impact they will have on our campus and beyond."

Learn more about the students below:

Steven Mbemba Mata

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Microbiology & Immunology

Hometown: Bedford, NS (Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo)

Leadership Roles: President of the Science Scholars & Leaders Society, Co-President of the Pre-Dental Society, Faculty of Science Representative at Dalhousie Student Union

Interests/Aspirations: Making healthcare more accessible and inclusive; plans to pursue dentistry and support underrepresented communities

Jeremiah Philips

Degree: Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Hometown: Surrey, BC

Leadership Roles: Founder of HealthTech and Innovation in Medicine group; Co-founder of Vision For Life and Clarify Student Resources

Interests/Aspirations: Medical research, AI in healthcare, supporting marginalized communities

Wateen Sadek

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience (minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation)

Hometown: Halifax, NS

Leadership Roles: Presidential Commissioner of the Dalhousie Student Union; Executive member of the Science Scholars and Leaders Society

Interests/Aspirations: EDIA, mentorship, science communication; plans to pursue medical school and global health

Brooklyn Hipson

Degree: Bachelor of Bioveterinary Science, Certificate in Emergency Health Management

Hometown: Lawrencetown, NS

Leadership: Founder & President, Dalhousie Breast Cancer Awareness Society; Volunteer Coordinator, Agricultural Campus Food Pantry; Health Ambassador, Student Representative Council

Interests: Children's and women's healthcare

Rabjot Kaur

Degree: Bachelor of Applied Computer Science

Hometown: Lucknow, India

Leadership: Student Ambassador, Faculty of Computer Science; Team Lead, Residence Life

Interests: Tech entrepreneurship, animal welfare, launching a startup and nonprofit

Eve Dewing

Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Social Anthropology

Hometown: Calgary, AB

Leadership: Executive, Sociology & Social Anthropology Society; Executive, Outdoors Society

Interests: Medical anthropology, women's reproductive health, graduate studies

Maren Mealey

Degree: Double Major in Environment, Sustainability & Society and International Development Studies

Hometown: Moncton, NB

Leadership: President, Dalhousie Student Union; Executive, DalKings Swing Dance Society; Gear Library volunteer, DalOutdoors

Interests: Community care, sustainability, social justice

Amelie McLean

Degree: Bachelor of Management, Public Sector Management

Hometown: Duncan, BC

Leadership: Executive, Dalhousie Management Society; 2025 Faculty of Management IMPACT Award recipient

Interests: Equitable healthcare, graduate studies

Tatiana El-Rabahi

Degree: Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Hometown: Halifax, NS

Leadership: Co-founder & Leader, Dalhousie Building Smiles Society

Interests: Pediatric care, cancer immunology, compassionate healthcare

Shruti Chaturvedi

Degree: Bachelor of Computer Science

Hometown: Lucknow, India

Leadership: VP External, Computer Science Society; Former leader, Women in Technology Society

Interests: Tech equity, women in leadership, social impact

Jessica Durham

Degree: Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Engineering

Hometown: Bobcaygeon, ON

Leadership: Operations Co-Lead, Dal Solar Car Team; VP Finance, Women in Engineering; Co-Chair, Go Eng Girl 2025

Interests: Sustainable energy, nuclear power, engineering leadership

Kylie Cole

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology

Hometown: Halifax, NS

Leadership: Co-founder, Mentorship & Academic Program (MAP); Research Assistant, CaMP Lab

Interests: Educational equity, child development, medicine or physiotherapy

Mohammed Patel

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biology

Hometown: Gaborone, Botswana

Leadership: President, Dalhousie Muslim Students Association; Events Coordinator, Bladder Cancer Awareness Society

Interests: Healthcare, youth outreach, faith-based advocacy

Peter Shin

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences

Hometown: Moncton, NB

Leadership: Chair, EDIA Committee, Medical Sciences Society; Co-founder, Burnout Recovery Collective

Interests: Pediatrics, mental wellness, inclusive leadership

Andi Fabien

Degree: Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing

Hometown: Woodbridge, ON

Leadership: Co-founder, Black Business Student Association; President, Commerce Society

Interests: Business leadership, equity, automotive industry

Ashoke Mohanraj

Degree: Juris Doctor (JD), Marine & Environmental Law

Hometown: Toronto, ON

Leadership: Author of children's books; Board Member, Planet in Focus

Interests: Environmental storytelling, sustainability, youth education

Leticia Magpali

Degree: PhD Candidate in Evolutionary Biology

Hometown: Patos de Minas, Brazil

Leadership: Led Latin America's largest biology student conference; founder of a science communication page

Interests: Science outreach, teaching, interdisciplinary research

Gaby Pasternack

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology

Hometown: Toronto, ON

Leadership: Board of Governors Rep, Dalhousie Student Union; Chair, Dalhousie Association of Marine Biology Students

Interests: Scuba diving, marine conservation, animal behaviour

Eve Wedderburn

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences

Hometown: Halifax, NS

Leadership: Black Student Rep, Dalhousie Student Union; President, Dalhousie Black Science Society

Interests: Racial health disparities, family medicine, community building

Ethan Leckie

Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Hometown: Toronto, ON

Leadership: VP Academic & External, Dalhousie Student Union; Co-founder, Wild Elegance

Interests: Travel, social impact, university-community relations

Patricia Porto de Barros Ayaz

Degree: PhD Candidate in Political Science, International Relations/Comparative Politics

Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Leadership: President, Graduate Political Science Society; Budget Advisory Committee Representative

Interests: Student mentorship, political science research, university engagement

Kenisse Trotman

Degree: Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Hometown: Georgetown, Guyana

Leadership: President, Dalhousie Medical Students' Society; VP Events, Black Medical Students' Association

Interests: Medical education equity, preventive medicine, addictions care

Isaac Bahler

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Earth & Physics

Hometown: Red Deer, AB

Leadership: CEO, Equlantic Aquatic Monitoring Inc.; Winner, Mission Innovation SMART-CDR

Interests: Climate change, environmental tech, interdisciplinary science

Cyril Jurdak O'Brien

Degree: Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Hometown: Bedford, NS

Leadership: Vice-Chair, Halifax Youth Advisory Committee; Director of Officiating, Nova Scotia Female Minor Hockey

Interests: Youth advocacy, medical student governance, sports officiating

Marium Nawal Oishee

Degree: Juris Doctor (JD)

Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Leadership: Chair, International Student Resource Centre; Copy Editor, Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies

Interests: Human rights, sexualized violence prevention, student advocacy

For more information

Dalhousie University
1459 Oxford Street
Halifax Nova Scotia
Canada B3H 4R2
www.dal.ca/


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