Dalhousie’s Student Leadership Academy is excited to introduce the newest High-Performance Leadership cohort. This group of students will bring big ideas, deep community involvement, and an impressive range of leadership experience to the year ahead.
The High-Performance Leadership program is made possible through the generous support of the McCall MacBain Foundation, whose $3.5-million investment in the Student Leadership Academy has expanded scholarships, mentorship, and learning opportunities for student leaders across Dalhousie.
Following a comprehensive and competitive application process, selected students in the High-Performance Leadership tier of the Student Leadership Academy receive the Dalhousie-McCall MacBain Leadership Academy scholarship. A total of $17,500 is available, which goes towards tuition support and funding for the students' capstone projects.
Learn More: Student Leadership Academy
This year's cohort includes undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who come from communities across Canada, as well as from international countries such as England, Bulgaria, Germany, and Saudi Arabia. Represented faculties include Medicine, Arts and Social Sciences, Engineering, Health, Agriculture, Management, Computer Science, and Science.
“Leading solutions to the pressing challenges facing our world and communities requires thinking and acting across traditional silos,” says Rick Ezekiel, vice-provost, Student Affairs. “This is the magic we see happen among our High-Performance cohort. Students connect across disciplinary boundaries, geographic backgrounds, and sociodemographic characteristics.
“We are proud of the breadth of leadership and academic experiences our new cohort brings with them, and we are delighted to shape opportunities to propel the impact of their leadership through their participation in the Student Leadership Academy.” says Dr. Ezekiel.
The incoming High-Performance cohort brings with them a wide range of leadership experience, including student society participation, serving on boards, mentoring peers, supporting Indigenous and Black student communities, advancing sustainability, contributing to research, coaching athletics, and building programs that strengthen communities on campus and beyond.
Vanessa Lent, associate director of the Student Leadership Academy, notes how the program is designed to help students build on their leadership strengths.
“What stands out most about this cohort is the care and purpose they already bring to their leadership, along with their deep commitment to creating meaningful change in their communities,” says Dr. Lent.
“The High-Performance Leadership program is not just about recognizing those contributions, but about helping students build on the strengths they already have. Our goal is to support them in stepping fully into their potential, so they can lead with clarity and courage and drive transformative change in the communities and causes that matter most to them. We're excited for the year ahead and look forward to supporting this cohort as they continue to grow, build confidence, and expand the impact of their work.”
Meet the students
Aaron Prosper
Program: Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Leadership Roles & Interests: Former president of the Dalhousie Students’ Union and health-care professional with experience in health policy, research, and Indigenous health. Passionate about advancing Indigenous wellness, community leadership, and celebrating Mi’kmaw culture through health care and the arts.
Abby Farrell-Powell
Program: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Law, Justice, and Society
Leadership Roles & Interests: Aspiring lawyer with interests in public policy, justice, and advocacy. Passionate about leadership, community engagement, and creating positive social change.
Abby McGillis
Program: Bachelor of Chemical Engineering
Leadership Roles & Interests: Co-chair of Go Eng Girl and founding executive member of Women in STEM Move. Interested in water resource engineering, community engagement, and encouraging women in STEM.
Alexe Indigo
Program: PhD Candidate in Agricultural Sciences
Leadership Roles & Interests: Graduate student leader focused on food security, EDIA initiatives, and community building. Passionate about student advocacy, agriculture, and creating inclusive campus environments.
Alisha Bari
Program: Bachelor of Management
Leadership Roles & Interests: Committed to community engagement, youth programming, and student advocacy. Interested in creating accessible and inclusive spaces where others can develop leadership and belonging.
Anjali Seshadri
Program: Bachelor of Applied Computer Science
Leadership Roles & Interests: President of the Dalhousie Student Union and 2SLGBTQ+ Council representative. Passionate about collaborative leadership, student advocacy, and empowering students to create positive change in their communities.
Bonnie Cremo
Program: Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Leadership Roles & Interests: Former teacher with 12 years of experience and current Doctor of Medicine student. Passionate about compassionate, community-centred healthcare, Indigenous health, lifelong learning, and serving others through leadership.
Cole Noble
Program: Bachelor of Management in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Leadership Roles & Interests: VP marketing of the Dalhousie Management Society and student entrepreneur. Interested in innovation, leadership, marketing, and creating opportunities for student engagement.
Danella Calina
Program: Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience
Leadership Roles & Interests: Founder of Dal’s STEM-Arts Fusion Society, TEDx speaker, and performer. Passionate about creativity, mental health advocacy, and building communities where innovation and authenticity thrive.
Evan Treffler
Program: Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences
Leadership Roles & Interests: Dalhousie Wellness Champion and president of Jack.org Dalhousie. Dedicated to advancing student mental health, advocacy, and campus well-being.
Joshua Paris
Program: Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences
Leadership Roles & Interests: Co-president of the Black Business Student Association, student-athlete, and community mentor. Passionate about health equity, education, leadership development, and empowering Black youth.
Kelly Lau
Program: Bachelor of Science in Biology and English
Leadership Roles & Interests: Founder and president of The Humanity Behind the Sciences Society and advocate for inclusive science communication. Passionate about bridging science, storytelling, and community connection.
Maria Nhema
Program: Bachelor of Management
Leadership Roles & Interests: Student leader with experience in government and public policy. Passionate about ethical governance, youth engagement, and creating equitable public policy solutions.
Nicoletta Dini
Program: Doctor of Medicine
Leadership Roles & Interests: Founder of SunSense School Presentations and advocate for skin cancer prevention and planetary health. Interested in dermatology, public health education, and building scalable community impact initiatives.
Radostina Zhekova
Program: Doctor of Medicine
Leadership Roles & Interests: Medical student with interests in mentorship, financial literacy, and community engagement. Passionate about education, healthcare, and developing sustainable initiatives that create lasting impact.
Reyna Persaud
Program: Bachelor of Science in Biology and International Development Studies
Leadership Roles & Interests: Student leader involved in health education, sustainability, and student engagement initiatives. Passionate about public health, policy, community leadership, and creating opportunities for student growth.
Samantha Kieyele
Program: Bachelor of Science in Microbiology & Immunology
Leadership Roles & Interests: STEM outreach leader, science communicator, and advocate for Black youth in science. Interested in health equity, research accessibility, mentorship, and healthcare.
Sherry Eskander
Program: Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Leadership Roles & Interests: Co-founder of the Artful Wellness Program and re-founder of the Teddy Bear Clinic. Passionate about humanistic and compassionate healthcare, improving access to care, and supporting marginalized communities.
Sierra Sparks
Program: Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Leadership Roles & Interests: Vice-president of medical education for the Dalhousie Medical Students’ Society and Research in Medicine representative for the Dal Med Class of 2029. Drawing on her background in engineering and health research, she is passionate about advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in medicine, medical education, and STEM.
Sofia Morissette
Program: Bachelor of Science in Microbiology & Immunology
Leadership Roles & Interests: President of the Science Society, vice-president of the Science Scholars & Leaders Society, and Faculty of Science representative. Passionate about inclusive leadership, science outreach, and increasing diversity in STEM.
Tami Akindele
Program: Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
Leadership Roles & Interests: Kinesiology student interested in physical activity education, health, and wellness. Enjoys staying active through exercise, music, and community involvement.
Timi Okuboyejo
Program: Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences
Leadership Roles & Interests: President of the Dalhousie Science Scholars & Leaders Society and active mentor in STEM outreach. Passionate about equitable access to science education, community leadership, and environmental health research.
Tyler Schmidt-Schaun
Program: Master of Science in Agriculture
Leadership Roles & Interests: President of the Aquaculture Student Society and DalOUTT. Passionate about accessibility, mental health advocacy, EDIA initiatives, and supporting marginalized student communities.
Will Myrer
Program: Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering
Leadership Roles & Interests: Captain of Dalhousie’s varsity swim team and co-founder/CTO of Equlantic Aquatic Monitoring. Passionate about entrepreneurship, sustainability, athletics, and water monitoring solutions.
Zain Ul Abideen
Program: Bachelor of Applied Computer Science
Leadership Roles & Interests: Community assistant team leader in Dalhousie Residence Life and organizer of student leadership and fundraising initiatives. Passionate about equity, technology, healthcare, and supporting student success.