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
