Johnson Scholarship Foundation members with Dalhousie staff, faculty, and students during their September visit. (Nick Pearce photos)
Posted: November 12, 2026
By: Christena Copeland for Giving Power
For students from rural Atlantic Canada, the decision to attend university often comes with challenges that extend well beyond the classroom. Along with the financial costs, there can be the prospect of leaving familiar communities, building new connections, and finding a sense of belonging in an unfamiliar place.
A new $1.04-million investment from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation (JSF) is helping Dalhousie University students navigate those challenges, marking the latest chapter in a philanthropic partnership that has opened doors for students for nearly two decades. Since 2008, the Foundation has invested nearly $4 million in expanding access to education, supporting students who have historically faced barriers and helping them pursue their ambitions.
The newly established Barbara Stanley & Malcolm Macleod Scholarship continues that tradition of support, providing renewable financial assistance and programming designed to help students from rural Atlantic Canada manage university life, build connections, and succeed throughout their studies.
The scholarship honours Barbara Stanley and Malcolm Macleod, whose shared commitment to education and community has deep roots in Atlantic Canada. Both have long believed in the power of education to create opportunities for young people. For Macleod, who grew up in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, that commitment is especially personal. Through decades of leadership with the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, he has helped advance educational access for students who might otherwise face significant barriers.
(L-R) Cheyenne Anthony, Barbara Stanley, Malcolm MacLeod, Kim Brooks, Josephine Young.
A partnership with lasting impact
The Johnson Scholarship Foundation's generosity has reached students across Dalhousie, supporting studies in fields such as health and engineering and helping expand access to university for Indigenous students, African Nova Scotian and Black students, students with disabilities, and those with demonstrated financial need.
Applications to Dalhousie from rural Atlantic Canada have increased 58 per cent in just two years. As more students from these communities consider Dalhousie, the Barbara Stanley & Malcolm Macleod Scholarship will help provide the financial support and connections that can make a meaningful difference in their university experience.
Of the $1.04-million commitment, $1 million establishes a permanent endowed scholarship fund, with renewable awards expected to provide approximately $10,000 per student. An additional $40,000 over four years supports programming through initiatives such as Residence Life and Together@Dal, helping recipients strengthen academic skills, build friendships, and develop a sense of belonging.
The investment was celebrated on September 12 at Dalhousie's Oulton-Stanish Centre, where members of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation's board joined university leaders, students, and program representatives. Among those recognized were the scholarship's inaugural recipients, Cheyenne Anthony of Enfield and Josephine Young of North Sydney, both in Nova Scotia. Anthony is studying Health Promotion, while Young is pursuing Medical Sciences.
When opportunity comes full circle
For Charlotte Muise, who shared her story during the September celebration, the impact of the Foundation's partnership with Dalhousie is deeply personal. Originally from Newfoundland, Muise benefited from a scholarship made possible through matching support from JSF while studying engineering at Dalhousie. Her university experience opened opportunities to explore how engineering could contribute to the issues and communities she cared about.
During a third-year co-op placement in environmental engineering, Muise began exploring the role Indigenous communities play in decisions affecting their lands and water. As an Indigenous woman, the experience helped her connect her academic interests with her culture. A subsequent placement with the Ulnooweg Education Centre, where she developed a miniature water-filtration system and brought it into the community, helped shape her direction. With mentorship through Dalhousie's Engineering Pathways programming, she went on to pursue graduate studies focused on Indigenous water sovereignty.
Today, Muise is program coordinator for Dalhousie's Engineering Pathways Program, helping other students discover opportunities of their own. Her journey illustrates how an investment in one student's education can extend into the lives of others.
“I am looking forward to building close connections with students, staff, and community members throughout my time in this role,” says Muise. “I want to foster success for any Indigenous person interested in engineering, regardless of where you are from or what your educational background is.”
Charlotte Muise.
The power of giving, multiplied
Dalhousie has committed to matching the Foundation's $1-million endowed gift within four years, with the goal of creating a $2-million scholarship fund. As a permanent endowment, the fund will support students year after year, extending the impact of the Foundation's generosity for generations.
“What is remarkable about our partnership with the Johnson Scholarship Foundation is how its impact continues to grow,” says Kim Brooks, president and vice-chancellor of Dalhousie University. “Students who have benefited from this generosity are now making contributions of their own, while a new generation is beginning its journey. We are deeply grateful to the Foundation for believing in what our students can accomplish and for helping make those possibilities a reality.”
The Johnson Scholarship Foundation's investment is part of Bringing Worlds Together, Dalhousie's campaign for transformational change.