MA Cohort: Fall 2025

Anneline Debruckere is an exchange student from the Erasmus Mundus Masters program in Global Studies (EMGS), based at the University of Leipzig, in Germany. The IDS MA program at Dalhousie is part of the EMGS consortium of universities, which enables students to spend a semester at any of the other universities. Anneleen’s research focuses on global inequality, food insecurity, and ethical consumption. Outside of university, Anneleen plays the fiddle, and practices boxing and climbing.

Rachel Derrah is a graphic facilitator, a musician and community organizer. She is co-founder of Seed & Spark Bookstore Co-op, who distribute anti-capitalist, anti-colonial books and zines across Mi’kma’ki. This collective hosts events to foster grassroots dialogue and learning. Rachel’s day job is with an amazing team at Fernwood Publishing.  She is passionate about collaborating across disciplines and communities. Rachel’s Master’s research examines the factors that shaped the end of indentured labour in the British colonies, with a focus on the activism of indentured labourers.

Olivia Pavan is from British Columbia. She holds an Honours degree in International Development Studies and Spanish from Dalhousie. Her master's research is focused on labour inequalities in small-scale fisheries in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Olivia is passionate about understanding how global economic forces shape local livelihoods. Her research and advocacy are deeply rooted in human rights solidarity work across Central America.

Caroline Scott is a Master’s student at Dalhousie University and a graduate from the University of King’s College and Dalhousie with a degree in International Development Studies and Social Anthropology. Caroline’s Master's research explores how climate change and overfishing are affecting women in small-scale fishing communities in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Outside of her classes, Caroline co-founded the Dalhousie Mutual Aid Society and is a Staff Writer for the Dalhousie Gazette focused on housing insecurity and seafarer welfare in the Port of Halifax. Caroline has played for the Dalhousie Ultimate Frisbee Team for the past five years, captaining for two seasons and was a member of the Water Polo team for two years.

Shahla Shamiun Tahia is a Master’s student from Bangladesh. Growing up there while observing the “freedoms” of the First World through cousins living abroad and the media, she noticed the inequalities experienced by women and queer people.  Shahla came to Dalhousie for her undergraduate degree in IDS to investigate these issues. Shahla’s Master’s research examines the legalization of queer marriage in Thailand. When she is not studying, Shahla enjoys singing and karaoke with friends, reading and hanging out with her cat.