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Top‑tier leadership: New Dalhousie‑McCall MacBain scholarship cohort announced

Posted by Staff on July 7, 2025 in News, Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Students
Schulich Law students Ashoke Mohanraj (left) and Marium Nawal Oishee.
Schulich Law students Ashoke Mohanraj (left) and Marium Nawal Oishee.


This story originally appeared in Dal News.

Twenty-five Dalhousie students, including two from the Schulich School of Law, 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. 

Congratulations to Juris Doctor candidates Ashoke Mohanraj (3L) and Marium Nawal Oishee (2L), who were chosen to participate for their respective commitments to 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."

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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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: St. John's, NL
  • Leadership: Chair, International Student Resource Centre; Editor-in-Chief, The Muse (Memorial University student newspaper); Copy Editor, Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies
  • Interests: Human rights, sexualized violence prevention, student advocacy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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