WELCOME 2025-2026 FULBRIGHT CANADA COHORT

Sarah recently received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and History with two first-class distinctions from McGill University. While at McGill, she authored numerous articles on political phenomena in the Asia-Pacific region. Her passion for international security and politics led her to begin her career as a Member’s Assistant for an Ontario provincial representative, followed by an internship in the Canadian Parliament, within the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. She then joined the Political and Economic Section of the U.S. Consulate in Montreal, where she focused on intelligence cooperation, the end-use monitoring of defence items, and supply chain securitization. Currently, she is an intern in the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Terrorism Prevention Branch in Vienna, where she concentrates on issues related to preventing violent extremism in regions experiencing high rates of radicalization. Sarah is fluent in English and French and speaks intermediate-level Spanish.

Dane comes from Red River Métis and Settler families. Born and raised in Winnipeg in the Métis homeland and Treaty 1 territory, Dane now studies at UBC in the unceded territory of the Musqueam Nation. His article, Kitchen Table Politics, won the 2023 NAISA Most Thought Provoking Article award. His research in the US focuses on D’Arcy McNickle - a man with connections everywhere, including at Shakespeare & Company in Paris. Dane once spent a month working and sleeping in the stacks at the contemporary iteration of this famed bookstore, long before he had ever heard of McNickle.

Flora Anyiko Achieng is a sophomore undergraduate at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, majoring in anthropology with a focus in biology. As a 2025 Killam Fellowship nominee, she explores the intersections of healthcare, environmental sustainability, and cultural identity. Raised in Alabama with deep Kenyan roots, Flora integrates her academic and lived experiences to pursue sustainable medical solutions for skin conditions like eczema. She has presented on eco-conscious fashion design and sustainable healthcare practices, and is the founder of a culturally inspired brand promoting green innovation in beauty and wellness. Flora is also a member of various campus leadership and service programs, reflecting her commitment to global community impact through education, science, and cultural competency.

Amin Azad is a Ph.D. candidate in Engineering Education at the University of Toronto, where his research bridges systems thinking, entrepreneurship, and human-centered design. With a background in Human Factors Engineering, he explores how early-stage entrepreneurial teams identify opportunities within complex sociotechnical environments. Amin has received multiple academic and research awards for his contributions to innovation in engineering education. He has held research roles at institutions such as the University of Toronto and Stanford University, and co-founded TalentLink—a platform that empowers creative professionals through inclusive market access. His work integrates design, systems thinking, and social impact, aiming to make education and innovation more accessible. Outside of academia, Amin is passionate about poetry and cross-cultural dialogue, and often draws on these interests to inform his teaching and research practice.

Aqsa Bari is an undergraduate student at Mount Allison University pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce with a minor in International Politics. A recipient of the prestigious $56,000 Marjorie Young Bell Scholarship, she has maintained Dean’s List standing while also working as a campus ambassador and peer tutor. Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, Aqsa is involved in advocacy and cultural programming for marginalized youth in both the Pakistani-Canadian and Muslim community. For her efforts, she was also awarded the Horatio Alger Scholarship and won first place in the Rising Youth Literary Contest. Outside of academics, Aqsa loves to skateboard and read comic books!

Ami Bejko is a third-year law student at the Université de Montréal. Fluent in English, French, and Albanian, and intermediate in Spanish, Ami brings a unique cross-cultural perspective to her academic and professional pursuits. She has honed her leadership and organizational skills as Vice President of Events for the Perspectives Committee at the Université de Montréal, organizing conferences and building community engagement. Her diverse experiences include travelling Europe, acting, managing family Airbnb properties, coordinating art exhibitions, and volunteering for the Albanian Association of Montreal. Ami is also a former national karate champion in Albania. Passionate about social justice, Ami aims to pursue a career in international law and human rights, drawing on her multicultural background and experiences.

Sarah is a policy analyst with a strong background in tech policy, public governance, and international relations. She is currently pursuing a M.A. in Public Management at Johns Hopkins University. Before this, she worked on the OECD AI team and spent seven years as a policy analyst with the Government of Canada, contributing to initiatives on online harms and open government. Sarah began her public service career through the Advanced Policy Analysts Program, which exposes each year a cohort of 12 young professionals to the policy development process in the federal government. She also held positions at the National Assembly of Quebec and interned at the Quebec Government Offices in Washington D.C. and in London. She holds an M.A. in International Relations and a B.A. in Public and International Relations from Laval University. When she is not studying, you can find her reading, boxing, hiking, or exploring a museum.

Kari Brossard Stoos is a microbiologist and public health professional whose work bridges infectious disease research, environmental microbiology, and global health. Dr. Brossard Stoos’s research includes studies on antibiotic resistance genes their prevalence and transmission, antibiotic stewardship, zoonotic diseases, and the health of wild mantled howler monkeys in Costa Rica, emphasizing One Health and ecological approaches to disease transmission. In addition to her microbiology work, Kari is certified as an asthma management educator by the American Lung Association; Kari mentors Ithaca College students delivering community and school-based health programs. She also serves on the Global Health Operations Committee of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health, addressing the complexities of implementing health initiatives. Beyond science, Kari is committed to empowering women and girls through community-driven health and conservation efforts. Her work integrates laboratory research, field studies, education, and advocacy to advance health equity across human, animal, and environmental systems.

Jake Caselli, of Franklin Township, New Jersey, graduated summa cum laude from Villanova University in May 2025. He earned a Bachelor of Science in the Honors Program with majors in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Humanities and minors in Business and Psychology. Jake was a member of Villanova’s Special Olympics committee, a volunteer at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and a research assistant in the Language Use and Variation Lab under Grant Berry, PhD. Jake is the recipient of a Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellowship, has attended several conferences, and most recently completed an Honors senior thesis using electroencephalography (EEG) to examine the relationship between sound change detection at the neurophysiological level and speech adaptation. In his free time, Jake enjoys hiking, watching sports, and spending as much time as possible with his friends and family.

Abigail Cave is an incoming Master of Science student at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She holds an MEng in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto (UoftT) and a BSc in Biology from Dalhousie University. Most recently, she was a Medventions Fellow at Sunnybrook Research Institute, where she collaborated with clinical teams to identify and prototype solutions to unmet medical needs. As an Amgen Scholar, she conducted psoriatic arthritis research in the Chandran Lab and presented her findings at the 2024 American College of Rheumatology Conference. As a former Fulbright Canada Killam Fellow, Abigail studied at Arizona State University and published three first-author articles with the NSF-funded Embryo Project Encyclopedia. At UofT, she served as the biomedical engineering graduate representative and was a member of the Pom team. Abigail also volunteers as a mentor with Food Allergy Canada and is a former member of the Canadian National Dance Team.

Gurjas Chalana is a software and security enthusiast finishing their final year at Carleton University. A Dean’s List student and recently Security+ certified, Gurjas is passionate about cybersecurity and hopes to work in satellite communications. They're especially interested in building secure, resilient systems for space and defense. Outside of school and tech, Gurjas loves to travel, most recently backpacking across Vietnam and is always planning their next adventure.

Wafeeqa Chowdhury is an undergraduate student at Queen’s University studying Computing, with a focus on Software Sesign. She has been involved in student groups such as Queen’s Startup Consulting and QWeb, where she helps build digital tools and support campus innovation. Wafeeqa is currently completing a developer internship at RBC, where she is gaining hands-on experience in the financial sector through technology-focused projects. She has participated in hackathons and collaborative initiatives that explore how technology can be used to improve everyday life. Outside of her studies, Wafeeqa enjoys all things music, from collecting records to playing piano, and is always looking for creative ways to blend her artistic and technical interests. She is passionate about building things that make a positive impact.

Riley Conan is a third year student at Clemson University, pursuing a major in biomedical engineering with a minor in electrical engineering. She is passionate about advancing human health through engineering innovations in neurotechnology. Riley is currently interning at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, where she contributes to the repair and maintenance of medical equipment to support patient safety. At Clemson, she is involved in the Creative Inquiry program where she has conducted research on reducing surgical error in heart procedures using a simulator she helped design and 3D print. She has also contributed to projects focused on prosthetics and biosensing technologies. Beyond academics, Riley enjoys lifting weights, loves to sew, and volunteers with the ClemsonLIFE program to support students with intellectual disabilities. She values collaborative environments and hands-on experiences that support growth as a researcher.

Edouard Côté is an undergraduate student in Urban Planning at the Université de Montréal, with a strong interest in sustainable and inclusive city-building. His academic work focuses on the intersection of municipal finance, transportation planning, and environmental resilience. Edouard is particularly drawn to comparative planning approaches and has shown interest in studying urban issues in different cultural and climatic contexts, including through programs like the Killam Fellowship. Bilingual in French and English, Édouard thrives in collaborative, multicultural environments and values the role of planners as facilitators of positive social and environmental change in the world. Passionate, curious, and community-minded, he is committed to shaping urban environments that reflect sustainability, accessibility, and fiscal responsibility.

Focusing on the artwork of Archibald J. Motley Jr., Vida Cross, a Cave Canerm fellow, authored the book of poems, Bronzeville at Night: 1949. She received her B.A. in English-writing and History from Knox College, her M.A. in English from Iowa State University, her MFA in filmmaking from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and an MFA in Writing from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has been both a part-time and full-time (Full-time LTE) instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). At MATC, she is the Chairperson of the Creative Writing Committee, where she has actively developed creative writing curriculum in the English Department, and as the former chairperson of the Faculty Mentoring Committee, she has actively developed faculty mentoring curriculum.

Mohammad Delasay is an Associate Professor of Operations Management at Stony Brook University's College of Business. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Alberta and held a Visiting Assistant Professor position at Carnegie Mellon University. His research is centered on enhancing the performance of service and healthcare systems through applied stochastic models and data analytics. He teaches Operations Management and Supply Chain Analytics.

EmmaLeigh Dieguez is a Barrett Honors student at Arizona State University, pursuing studies in counseling and applied psychological science. She is a certified Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) with hands-on experience working in an ABA clinic, supporting children with developmental and behavioral challenges in the state of Iowa. EmmaLeigh has a strong interest in criminal justice reform and traveled to Norway to study their progressive prison system, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration. She actively seeks out global experiences to broaden her perspective and confront personal and cultural biases, believing that open-mindedness is key to meaningful change. EmmaLeigh is passionate about social justice, mental health, and the power of empathy in building more inclusive communities. She brings a unique global and psychological perspective to her work, combining academic excellence with real-world experience in behavior analysis and mental health support.

Dr. Dunford is an internationally renowned scientist and a fellow of the American Oil Chemists’ Society. She has degrees in chemical engineering, chemistry and food process engineering. She is the author of over 350 publications including patent, books, book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles, featured articles in magazines, and extension publications. On her current position at Oklahoma State University (OSU), Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, Dr. Dunford has teaching, research and extension responsibilities. She is also on staff at the OSU Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center as the oil/oilseed specialist. Dr. Dunford’s research program at OSU focuses on the water-food-energy nexus. The main objective of the program is enhancement of nutritional and economic value of plant-based materials through innovative processing while conserving water and reducing impact of processing on environment. Dr. Dunford works closely with industrial clients and provides technical support and consulting services.

Drew Fagan is a professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto. Drew is also a senior advisor at McMillan Vantage, a government affairs advisory firm. Drew previously spent 12 years in leadership positions with the Canadian government and the Province of Ontario -- primarily as a deputy minister. He joined the public service from The Globe and Mail, where he held numerous senior positions over the years at the newspaper. Drew now serves as a board member of numerous public policy-related organizations.

Xavier Fernando is a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), Canada. He has (co)authored over 200 research articles, three books, and a few patents with over 4400 citations. He is the Director of the TMU Intelligent Computing and Communication Lab. His area of research is wireless/optical communications and machine learning. His work has won 30 awards and prizes so far including number of IEEE and Professional Engineers Ontario Award. TMU nominated him for the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants award in which was a finalist. He was an Associate Editor for the IEEE IOT Journal. He was an IEEE COMSOC Distinguished Lecturer. He has chaired the IEEE Toronto Section (2012-13) and IEEE Canada Central Area (2016-17) serving the IEEE Region-7 Board. He was an ABET program evaluator. He completed his PhD at the University of Calgary, Canada in 2001 and master’s at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok in 1994.

Blake Getchell is a member of the First Nations Mi’kmaq. Growing up in Maine, she was the daughter of a chief and likes to speak about tribal politics. Blake is a second year student at The University of Maine where she is majoring in anthropology and minoring in Native American studies. At UMaine, she is co-president of the Indigenous Solidarity and Action Group. This group is a dedicated organization of students who advocate for Indigenous collaboration and presence on campus. She is an artist and enjoys painting, illustrating, and reading. Blake is passionate about language revitalization, specifically for Indigenous language communities. Studying in Canada, she hopes to strengthen her skills in speaking Mi’kmaq at The University of Prince Edward Island.

Thailynn Glover is a biomedical researcher from Maryland whose lifelong passion for creativity and medicine has shaped her academic and professional journey. She holds a Master’s in Biomedical Sciences and a second Master’s in Cybersecurity Technology, reflecting her deep interest in both health and technology. Thailynn recently completed a two-year post-baccalaureate fellowship at the NIH, where she conducted research on hematologic malignancies and AI-driven diagnostics. As a recipient of the Fulbright Research Award, she is committed to advancing interdisciplinary approaches in biomedical innovation and public health. Her long-term goal is to attend medical school, become a physician, and one day author her own saga of books. Thailynn is passionate about storytelling, scientific discovery, and improving health outcomes in underserved communities.

Maya H. Green hails from Everett, Washington. She is a graduating senior at Stanford University and studied marine biology and science communication during her undergraduate degree, completing an Honors Thesis in biology. Maya is passionate about music and sung, played viola, and participated in musical theater throughout high school and college. She also loves spending time outdoors, whether that be the forest or the intertidal.

Kaper is a senior at the University of Washington majoring in Biology with a concentration in Conservation, Evolution, and Ecology. She has spent two quarters at Friday Harbor Labs, a marine field station in the San Juan Islands, where her interest in the relationship between scientific and cultural knowledge first deepened. She is currently a research assistant in the Carrington Lab, where she studies how planktonic communities respond to changing oceanographic conditions in the Salish Sea. Outside of academics, Kaper enjoys hiking and birding in the Pacific Northwest.

Dr. Uma Gupta is a keynote speaker and a second-timeFulbright scholar, she is the author of several textbooks in information technology and has authored more than one hundred research papers at the intersection of technology and business. She is the Director and Associate Professor in Business Analytics at the University of South Carolina Upstate. Her consulting and research interests are Generative AI, AI Ethics, and AI workforce development. Dr. Gupta has won many awards including the Top Ten Influential Women in Technology in Houston and the Women of Distinction Award by the Girl Scouts of Western New York. She holds a PhD in industrial engineering, an MBA from the University of Central Florida, and a graduate degree in mathematics. She is also the CEO of Babbage-AI consulting, an AI training firm. Her life’s motto: Your happiness is the greatest measure of your success.

Sawsan Haider is an MSc student at Harvard Medical School, where she studies bioethics with a focus on AI regulation in healthcare. As a Research Fellow at Contrary and an XPlore Fellow at Deep Knowledge Group, she researches private market trends and longevity governance. Sawsan earned her Bachelor of Health Sciences from Queen’s University and was one of five Canadian students to receive the 2020 NSERC STEAM Horizon Award. She previously worked as a Research Assistant at the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, contributing to Canada’s largest interstitial lung disease database. Sawsan completed two summers of research at the University of Cambridge, where she explored the ethics of brain-computer interfaces and AI governance. Outside of her academic pursuits, she enjoys competitive debate and has represented the Queen’s Debating Union at national tournaments.

Dr. Maxwell Hartt is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning and the Director of the Population and Place Research Lab at Queen’s University, Canada. He is a two-time Fulbright Scholar (Tufts University, 2015-2016; Vanderbilt University, 2025-2026) and has held Visiting Professorships at L’École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris, France) and University College Dublin (Ireland). He is a Registered Professional Planner, Founder and Director of the Global Aging Playfully Society, and Management Board Member of the Shrinking Cities International Research Network. Dr. Hartt is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Planning Education and Research, and an Editorial Board Member of the Annals of the American Association of Geographers, International Planning Studies, and the Journal of Global Ageing. He has published over 50 journal articles and three books. His most recent book is Aging Playfully: Reimagining the Possibilities of Age-Friendly Community Planning (UBC Press).

Dr. Sébastien Hélie is a Professor of Psychological Sciences at Purdue University who serves as Director of the Center for Research on Brain, Behavior, and NeuroRehabilitation (CEREBBRAL). Dr. Hélie uses computational cognitive neuroscience and neuroeconomics approaches to study automaticity, problem solving, and decision-making. Dr. Hélie received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in psychology from the Université de Montréal in 2001 and 2003 (respectively) and his Ph.D. in computer science from the Université du Québec À Montréal in 2007 for work on categorization, causality, skill acquisition, and computational modeling. After obtaining his degrees, Dr. Hélie was a Postdoctoral Scholar in cognitive science at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an Assistant Researcher in Psychological & Brain Sciences at the University of California Santa Barbara. He is a Fellow of the Psychonomic Society and a Senior Member of the International Neural Networks Society (INNS). He was awarded the 2012 INNS Young Investigator Award and served on the Board of Director of INNS in 2024.

Ella is an incoming junior at Arizona State University double majoring in Biomedical Sciences and Psychology. In spring 2025, she participated in lab research on termite protists and presented at the School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Research symposium at ASU, earning an evolutionary biology honorable mention with her group. She is currently a member of ASU's International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition team, helping to develop a synthetic biology project on blood type conversion. She also enjoys volunteering at the hospital over school breaks, having logged over 100 service hours. In her free time, Ella likes crocheting, learning new languages, and reading fiction.

Kayla Hunkin is an undergraduate student in her third year at the University of Ottawa, pursuing an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Her mother is Chinese and her father is French Canadian, and Kayla identifies deeply with her Asian heritage, which has shaped her values and worldview. A passionate animal lover, she shares her life with two beloved dogs. In recognition of her academic excellence, Kayla was awarded the prestigious Killam Fellowship and will be studying at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in the winter term of 2026. A devoted traveler, she has explored Japan, Colombia, Panama, China, the Caribbean, and much of North America. Her greatest passions lie in academics and understanding the world around her, continually seeking new perspectives through both study and experience. After completing her undergraduate degree, Kayla plans to attend law school to become a lawyer and advocate for others through knowledge, empathy, and justice.

Katelyn Huynh is a first-generation student originating from Oklahoma who moved to New York alone. She is currently a mentee in the America Needs You Fellowship and in the past year she has earned a Presidential Scholar’s award, participated in the Esports and Game Design Collective Organization, and was the first college intern for a non-profit called One Goal where she created a capstone for her independent project. For some fun facts: Katelyn loves to rollerskate, has learned to play three instruments, and cannot handle spicy food.

Nathanael is a health equity researcher, policy advisor, and grassroots leader currently studying at the University of Alberta. Nathanael has been a vocal advocate for SDGs 3 and 5 across multiple levels, serving as an elected representative for around 10,000 Faculty of Science students on the University of Alberta’s General Faculties Council; the British Columbia Ministry of Health’s Youth Advisory Council; as well as the youth advisory council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health. Through his research work with the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health and the University of British Columbia, Nathanael has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed health equity papers in Frontiers in Medicine and Colorectal Disease. Nathanael has also served on peer-review committees for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research as well as Regional Health Authorities. In his free time, Nathanael enjoys rock climbing and chamber music ensemble

Henry James is an interdisciplinary Honors student at Bridgewater State University, double-majoring in Management Information Systems and Philosophy, with a minor in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics and a certificate in Data Analytics. He was born in Boston, MA to Liberian immigrants and refugees of the Liberian Civil War. Henry is a CITI-trained undergraduate researcher who is deeply curious about the intersections between communities, data, and schools of thought. His work has been featured in various university research symposia and conferences, including the 2024 BSU UNSDG Summer Scholars Research Conference and the 2025 BSU Black History Month Student Academic Showcase. As a 2025 Killam Fellow, Henry will study at Acadia University and hopes to conduct research on cross-border collaboration between U.S. and Canadian firms. He intends to pursue a global career in business analysis and strategy. Outside the classroom, he enjoys digital photography, music, and spending time with his twin sister Henriet.

Grace is an international studies major studying at UC Irvine. She has studied French for 6 years and received the State Seal of Biliteracy in 2023. She also received an International Baccalaureate Degree while receiving her high school diploma. She has been a deans list member for 2 years. In her free time she participates in Model UN and ballet. She hopes to expand her learning through international experience over the next 9 months, coming back to receive her bachelors degree and start a master program in fall of 2026.

Dr. Dara Kelly-Roy, Kw’ekw’exós has Stó:lō, Métis and Talhtan ancestry. She is a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Economic Wellbeing and Freedom, and Associate Professor at the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. In 2020, Kelly-Roy was awarded an Early in Career Award by the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of (CUFA) BC recognizing her work exploring and applying Indigenous knowledge systems to broaden understanding of economic issues impacting the wellbeing of local, national and international communities. Dr Kelly-Roy is on the Advisory Committee for the Association for Economic Research for Indigenous Peoples (AERIP) and the Editorial Board of the Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development (JAED). In her newest project exploring Indigenous economic wellbeing and freedom, Kelly-Roy undertakes research to explore beyond GDP, a broader ethic of Indigenous economic wellbeing and economic freedom as an expression of wholeness, sovereignty and self-determination.

Born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Kate Kelly is a third-year Human Biosciences Honours student at Memorial University. As a volunteer with St. John Ambulance, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, and the Gathering Place community health centre, she loves spending time getting to know the people in her community. Kate is passionate about travel and is spending her fall semester in northern Norway and summer travelling Southeast Asia. She is a lifeguard and a lab assistant in Memorial University’s Sleep, Health, and Wellness Lab. In her spare time, Kate enjoys trail running on the beautiful East Coast Trail, knitting, reading, and hot yoga. Kate is an advocate for healthcare equity and hopes to pursue a career in the healthcare system. She aims to find solutions to the healthcare crisis her province is facing and promote holistic health for all.

Noah Khan is a PhD candidate in Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto. He is concurrently a Recognised Student at the Oxford Internet Institute in Social Data Science and a Visiting Assistant in Research at Yale University in American Studies. His research focuses on the affective dynamics of artificial intelligence development and deployment; he examines the ways in which emotions such as love, fear, grief, etc., affect how technology gets made and regulated across multiple countries such as Canada, the US, the UK, and India. Noah's research is generously funded by a Fulbright Canada Student Award and Canada Graduate Research Scholarship, inter alia. Among other venues, Noah currently holds fellowships at Massey College and Victoria College. Outside of the academy, Noah was previously the highest ranked player out of millions in North America in a game called League of Legends.

John Kominoski is a Professor in the Institute of Environment and Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University. He is the Lead Principal Investigator of the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research program, which is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). His research focuses on biogeochemistry and ecosystem ecology, especially on organic matter processing and the dynamic role of disturbances on spatiotemporal patterns of carbon and nutrients in coastal ecosystems. John's research spans streams, wetlands, and coastal marshes and mangroves. He has conducted research for nearly 15 years in the Florida Everglades. John collaborates broadly and incorporates both ecological theory and application in his research. He is co-leading an NSF-funded Research Coordination Network called \"Hurricane Ecosystem Response Synthesis\" that compares storm characteristics and ecosystem responses across subtropical and tropical ecosystems. John has published more than 120 peer-reviewed articles, been awarded grants that have totaled over $20 million, and advised 10 Ph.D. and M.S. students. He served as Vice President for the Society for Freshwater Science. In 2024, he was honored as a Sustaining Fellow by the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography for his advances to aquatic ecology. He received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award in 2025 to conduct research in Canada.

Carolyn Kras is a WGA TV writer/screenwriter/playwright who has developed projects for 20th TV Studio, Escape Artists, Welle, Tiara Blu Films, and more. She was a staff writer on the web series CORNUCOPIA. Her awards include the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation First Place Screenwriting Award, Hamptons International Film Festival Screenwriters Lab Selection, ISA's List of Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch, Visionary Playwright Award, New York Television Festival Official Selection, Plume & Pellicule Screenwriting Award, Middlebury Script Lab Selection, Hearst Creative Artist Fellowship, Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar, and a Fulbright to the United Kingdom. She has been a writer-in-residence at Ucross Foundation, Hawthornden Castle, Ragdale Foundation, and Anderson Center at Tower View. Carolyn is an alum of the NBC Page Program and Women in Film Mentorship Program. She has a B.A. in Drama from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Taro Lakra is a Finance major and Economics minor at the University of Calgary with a strong interest in interdisciplinary problem solving and understanding how people, systems, and industries interact to shape real-world outcomes. This past summer, he worked as a Business Analyst Intern at McKinsey & Company, and the summer prior, he supported early-stage business development at KisoJi Biotechnology, a Montreal-based company developing antibody-based therapeutics. Extracurricularly, Taro is passionate about driving impact in areas he cares about, particularly healthcare policy. He co-developed StattList, a waitlist optimization concept that won a campus-wide innovation competition, and later represented Canada at the University of Oxford’s Map the System competition, where his team placed third internationally for their analysis of the structural drivers behind long surgical wait times. As a Killam Fellow, Taro is excited to engage with new ideas, meet peers from across the continent, and watch Arch Manning lead the Longhorns to a CFP championship.

An incoming graduate student at the University of Toronto, Ang will pursue a MA in political science on a Fulbright grant. Hailing from the East Bay, Ang's research interests include deliberative democracy, social welfare policy, and the politics of protest. His article on child benefit cash transfers in Canada and Ireland is forthcoming in the Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference Journal. At Pitzer College, Ang worked at the Writing Center for four years where he provided consulted students on both written assignments and applications across disciplines. Last summer, Ang assisted with the development of two reports at Eurofound, a think tank based in Dublin, Ireland. He believes that advanced democracies have much to learn from each other, and is excited to explore new policy synergies between Canada and the U.S next year.

Jocelyn Létourneau, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, is Emeritus Professor of Quebec and Canadian History, Université Laval, Quebec City, where he held a Canada Research Chair for 14 years. During his career, he has been twice a Fulbright Fellow, first at Berkeley/Stanford and then at Yale, where he was also Visiting Bicentennial Professor in Canadian Studies, Department of History. He received fellowships from the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, N.J., the Collegium de Lyon, the Centrum fur interdisziplinäre Forschung (University of Bielefeld, Germany) and the Trudeau Foundation; he has also been a visiting scholar at UCL-Institute of Education. Author of numerous publications, Prof. Létourneau was awarded in 2018 the Acfas andré-Laurendeau Prize for his excellence in research and influence in humanities.

Landon's research interests are at the intersection of belief, language, and choice. They will be attending Carnegie Mellon University to pursue their PhD in Logic, Computation and Methodology with the Philosophy Department. Landon is currently a Master's student at Carleton University in the Cognitive Science department's Logic and Language (LoLa) lab; they completed their undergraduate degree across the canal at the University of Ottawa in Economics, minoring in Mathematics. They enjoy running along Ottawa's many beautiful paths (especially said canal) and attending shows at the National Arts Centre in their spare time. They attended SHAD at Queen's University in 2016. They have experience working in the public sector and in academic settings. Most of all, Landon is a proud Canadian. They hope they can continue to find ways to make their planned research relevant to public policy and the betterment of Canadian's lives.

Leah is an honors student in her second year of sustainable design engineering at the University of Prince Edward Island. She has a passion for environmental sustainability and educational outreach, with a strong interest in finding creative and innovative solutions. Leah is actively involved in student life as the Sponsorship Director of the UPEI Engineering Society and a varsity field hockey player. She is also the Vice President of the new UPEI Solar Car Club and stays involved in several on and off-campus organizations. Through education and leadership, she is driven to make a lasting impact on her community through sustainability, creativity, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Michael Marion is a current undergraduate student at American University in Washington D.C. Finishing up his first year in the Global Scholars accelerated-bachelor's program at the School of International Service, he is dedicated to expanding his knowledge in the fields of international economics and energy policy. This has been through his ongoing research on natural gas and hydroelectric development, with a focus on a comparative analysis of Canadian and American experiences in both these areas. Now, as a prospective Killam Fellow at the University of Ottawa for Fall 2025, he will be furthering his research on North American energy in the heart of Canadian politics. This past summer, he studied abroad in Brussels and Madrid, where he conducted research on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine's impact on EU green transition.

Dayana Matasheva is an interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker whose practice traces the psychological effects of the internet through moving image, installation, and AI. She holds a BFA in Film Production from Concordia University's Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema and a BA in Philology from South Ural State University. She is an incoming MFA candidate in Visual Arts at Columbia University. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including in Berlin, Milan, Hamburg, and Montreal. She is a recipient of grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec. Matasheva's research engages internet subcultures, posthumanism, and neo-romanticism, often manifesting in collaborative, screen-based environments. She is one half of the artist duo with Edson Niebla. She has been in residence at Virreina, Ada X, Celine Bureau, Dazibao, and Eastern Bloc, and has delivered talks across Canada and Europe.

Mary Helen McSweeney-Feld, Ph.D., LNHA, FGSA is an Associate Professor and Director of the MS in Health Science Program, College of Health Professions, at Towson University in Towson, Maryland. She is the lead editor for the award winning textbook, Dimensions of Long-Term Care Management: An Introduction, now in a 3rd edition and published by Health Administration Press. She has numerous publications and grants in the health care and long-term care administration field specializing in health care finance and long-term care administration issues. She has a Ph.D. in Health Economics from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University, an MAS in Population Health Management from Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelors in Political Science from Wellesley College. She is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and is a licensed nursing home administrator.

Ben Merbaum is a mathematics graduate from McGill University, and he will be pursuing a PhD in computer science at Yale University. His research interests lie in post-quantum cryptography, where new algorithms and mathematical constructions called lattices are used to build secure messaging algorithms and rigorously guarantee internet privacy. At McGill, Ben has previously pursued research in analytic number theory, presenting his thesis on the computation of Hecke eigenforms at the SUMM conference at the University of Montreal and in the McGill Delta Epsilon research journal. Ben has also engaged in many teaching and mentoring opportunities to share his passion for math and computer science with others. He has also taken part in leadership experience, including acting as the Head Delegate of McGill’s Model United Nations travelling delegation team and the Honours Representative of the McGill Society of Undergraduate Mathematics Students

Cameron Morse is a rising junior at Arizona State University majoring in Earth & Space Exploration with a certificate in Planetary Science. For the past six months he has piloted and presented educational public astronomy shows using a 3D simulator in the Marston Exploration Theater, sharing his passion for space exploration with everyone he meets. In April he attended an event hosted by Northrop Grumman to celebrate the arrival of the HALO module in Arizona as a part of NASA’s Gateway Mission. As a Barrett Honors student, he will participate in honors research during the Fall 2025 semester whilst attending McMaster University to analyze data returned by spacecraft-based x-ray fluorescence instruments used to determine the surface compositions of planetary bodies such as Mercury and the Moon.

Matthew Neufeld is a professor of history at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, where he teaches courses on British and European history, 1500 to 1800. His research concerns warfare and welfare in early modern Europe. His publications include a monograph, Early modern naval healthcare in England, 1650 – 1750, and a co-edited with Sabine Jesner volume, Military healthcare and the early modern state, 1660 – 1830. Neufeld's current research project focusses on the treatment of prisoners of war in England from 1660 to 1750. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society since 2018, Neufeld aims to foster historical thinking about the connection between the past and the present through teaching and publications. He also thinks that doing history is remarkably fun.

Hello, my name is Alexandra Maria. I am pursuing a Bachelor of Global and International Studies with a focus on Law and Social Justice. I am a member of the Golden Student program, and after completing my internship in New York City, I am thrilled to be part of the Killam Fellowship Program

Joseph is a Computer Engineering major at Florida Polytechnic University, concentrating in Machine Intelligence. He previously interned at Tall Timbers Research Station, where he contributed to conservation efforts focused on the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. He is currently interning at EveryPeer, a tech startup developing seamless, high-speed connections between servers and devices without relying on traditional carriers. Outside of academics, Joseph enjoys playing and watching basketball (Go Magic!) and exploring music across genres. He looks forward to using the Fulbright experience to broaden his global perspective and contribute to ethically-driven innovation in technology.

Emily is a rising Junior studying Communication, Strategy and Design with a minor in Writing at Ithaca College. She is currently part of the E-Board for the Bureau of Concerts at Ithaca College. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY she enjoys thrifting, listening to music in prospect park and painting landscapes

Tamar Ohan is a Law and Society major with a Marketing minor at York University in Toronto, Ontario. As a 2025 Killam Fellow, she will be attending the University of Washington in Seattle to further explore her academic interests in law, society, and business from a cross-border perspective. She has maintained a strong academic record, earning placement on the Dean’s List for academic excellence. Raised in a trilingual Armenian private school, Tamar’s identity as an Armenian-Canadian continues to shape her passion for culture, community, and justice. She is curious about the ways law influences everyday life and hopes to explore career paths that combine her interests in legal studies, business, and marketing. Outside the classroom, she enjoys cooking, travelling, and swimming. Tamar is deeply grateful for the support of her family, professors, and the Killam Fellowship Program, and she looks forward to contributing to a vibrant, international academic community.

Dr. Ya-Jun Pan is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Dalhousie University. Her research interests are mainly in robust nonlinear control, cyber physical systems, intelligent mechatronics, and robotics with 200+ authored papers published. She has been recognized as a Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering (FCAE’2023), Engineering Institute of Canada (FEIC’2021), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (FASME’2017), Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineering (FCSME’2023) and awarded the CSME Mechatronics Medal Award (2025), the Fulbright Canada Research Chair (2025-2026), the Faculty of Engineering Research Excellence Award (2008) at Dalhousie University, and the Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship (2016). She serves as the IEEE IES Vice President for Membership Activities and the Senior Editor of IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics. She has served as the Associate Editor for seven IEEE Transactions and four international journals, conference organizing committees, VP Atlantic for CSME, and Chair for IEEE IES Distinguished Lecturer Program and Women in IES

Dr. Thomas Parham is a professor of communication and media studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer and left active duty to complete graduate studies in performing arts and communication studies. Dr. Parham served as supervisor of publishing for Paramount Pictures in the mid-90s and also worked on more than 100 episodes of broadcast television during that decade. He wrote for the CBS drama JAG and the Family Channel sitcom Big Brother Jake and served as a writers' assistant for Touched by an Angel. Dr. Parham's teaching experience includes Biola University and Azusa Pacific University. He was honored as a 2015 Television Academy Faculty Fellow and received APU's 2013 Undergraduate Faculty Scholarly Achievement Award and Act One's 2007 Faculty Award. McFarland published his book \"Hailing Frequencies Open\": Communication in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 2019.

Hannah is a third-year student at the University of Maine. They are pursuing a B.A. in Anthropology and a minor in Religious Studies. They were the Secretary of UMaine's Anthropology Club in the 2024-2025 school year, as well as the Fall 2025 semester. In 2022, Hannah received the Union League Good Citizenship award after being nominated by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania. Additionally, they have received the Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards through Girl Scouts.

Carmen Peng is a third-year Biology student at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada. Carmen’s interests lie in the intersections of health, social justice, and scientific research. As secretary of an environmental youth council, Carmen is a strong advocate for the role of innovative technology in creating a more sustainable planet. Aside from her academic and community involvement, Carmen has pursued a high level of musicianship. She completed her ARCT Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and works in various musical capacities at local churches. She is currently the Pianist and Choir Accompanist for the Orchard Valley United Church in New Minas and volunteers her time as the pianist for various programs and choirs in her community.

Autumn Perley is a third year microbiology student at the University of Maine and a Maine Top Scholar. This prestigious award covers her tuition costs and provides yearly research funding. In addition, Autumn has successfully written two grant proposals to fund her research focused on elucidating the bacterial-fungal pathogen interactions among Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and the host. She has created posters and presented this work and SEA-PHAGES research at several symposiums. Her work discovering a novel Mycobacterium bacteriophage was submitted for publication as a Microbiology Research Announcement. Outside of school, Autumn is an avid reader, aquarium enthusiast, and frisbee player. She is passionate about filling the gap in early exposure to scientific inquiry. Her passion for aquatic life and teaching led her to design, source, and teach a hands-on aquarium building unit at her local high school that will repeat for years to come.

Phillip Pham is a Vietnamese Canadian and American undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin. He is studying international relations and global studies as well as history. Since 2023, he has been involved in student organizations such as AIESEC, Model United Nations, UT Senate of College Councils, etc. He has been also been a recipient of the Texas Excellence Scholarship, Co-op Course Material Scholarship, and Martha J. Wong Ed. D. Honourable Mention Scholarship. He is striving to study in Canada to expand his cross-cultural and linguistic skills and experiences.

Carly Philbrook is a rising senior at the University of Maine where she majors in secondary mathematics education and minors in Spanish. She is passionate about innovative approaches to mathematics education. She received a summer grant from UMaine to research the types of thinking encouraged by math textbooks and is completing her Honors thesis on the use of novels in middle school math instruction. Carly plans to pursue a career as a middle or high school math teacher. She hopes to stay in her home state of Maine, where she can put to use the French she will learn during her semester at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. Outside of academics, Carly enjoys baking, gardening, and reading.

Graduating magna cum laude from the University of Tampa, Jillian Phillips earned her Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems. On campus, she served as Vice President of Research for the American Marketing Association, was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi honor society, and worked as a writing tutor at the Saunders Writing Center. She currently works as a Grid Automation Product Management Intern at GE Vernova, where she supports the development of innovative energy solutions and explores the intersection of technology and social impact. Her work focuses on leveraging analytics to drive decision-making in both academic and professional settings. Outside of her career and academic pursuits, she enjoys traveling, photography, and scuba diving. Jillian is honored to be a Fulbright recipient and looks forward to pursuing her Master’s in Data Science at the University of Calgary, where she will specialize in financial and energy data modeling to further develop her technical and research expertise.

Kyrin Pollock has worked globally with environmental and conservation NGOs, advising on strategies related to biodiversity, climate, oceans, and sustainability technology. Outside of her consulting work, Kyrin supports marine conservation research focused on reducing underwater noise pollution using emerging technologies to protect ocean life and coastal communities. Kyrin is committed to applying systems thinking to environmental challenges and building collaborative solutions that support both ecosystems and people. During her Fulbright at the University of Victoria, she will be working with Wildlife Conservation Society Canada's Arctic Noise Team and the Olokhaktomiut Hunters and Trappers Committee to investigate traditional knowledge of the Arctic marine soundscape.

Zara Rahman is a political science and English student with a strong background in research, communications, and public policy. She has held governmental roles at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Public Safety Canada, the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Toronto Police, where she contributed to briefing materials, litigation support, and strategic initiatives. As a Killam Fulbright Scholar, she will be attending Wellesley College in 2026, furthering her academic focus on governance and intersectionality. Zara is particularly interested in the intersection of culture, media, and politics, and she brings a sharp, satirical lens to her work as a comedy writer. With a passion for storytelling and nonprofit work, her writing often explores themes of identity, and the absurdity of everyday life. She hopes to bridge policy and creativity in future roles that combine analytical insight, whether through governmental writing, public engagement, or writing for television and digital platforms.

Dr. Karen E. Rambo-Hernandez is an associate professor at Texas A&M University in the College of Education and Human Development. Her research focuses on access for all students— particularly high achieving and those frequently missed in the gifted identification process— to high quality education and the assessment of educational interventions to improve STEM education. Along with her research teams, she has received over $5 million in grant funding from organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education Javits Grants. Dr. Rambo-Hernandez was the District Teacher of the Year in Coppell, Texas in 2006, and received the National Association of Gifted Children’s Early Scholar Award in 2019. In her free time, she is often found spending time with her family and supporting her local community theatre.

Morgan is a Clinical Technician at the Illinois Department of Public Health. She holds a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Chicago. Her research centers on Toxoplasma gondii and its neurological implications across all stages of human life. Her international research experience includes an infectious disease fellowship partnering with the Universidad del Quindio in Colombia and INDICASAT in Panama. At INDICASAT, she investigated the impact of concomitant infections on older adult cognition. In Quindio, she conducted forensic neuropathological research examining T. gondii presence in post-mortem brain samples. She served as a University of Chicago teaching assistant and contributed to community health initiatives through nutritional disparity field work in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, demonstrating her commitment to addressing health inequities big and small. Beyond parasitology and bacteriology, Morgan spends her free time honing her ceramics skills, wheel throwing and handbuilding at her local arts studio.

Ritu Randhawa is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Victoria, pursuing a combined major in Psychology and Computer Science. She has received multiple research awards at the university and federal government level including the NSERC USRA. Her research spans cognitive science, HCI, and image compression benchmarking. She has presented at university-level conferences and is working towards publications. Outside academia, she’s an avid traveler and spends her weekend exploring the mountains of Vancouver Island. Ritu brings a unique blend of technical skills, research experience, and global curiosity to every opportunity she pursues.

Trent is a fourth-year Sport Management Undergraduate student at Brock University completing his exchange at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He has been named to the Dean's Honour List in each of his first three years of university, along with being awarded the Brock Scholar's Award. Trent is bilingual in English and French, and was enrolled in French Immersion through elementary school up until the completion of high school, and has continued on with French courses at the university level. Trent enjoys staying active in his free time by playing hockey, baseball, golf and working out, as well as watching true crime documentaries and sports with his roommates. Trent also enjoys travelling, specifically to attend sporting events, including the 2018 Winter Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and has visited 9 Major League Baseball stadiums and 8 National Hockey League arenas

A specialist in nineteenth-century North America, Dr. Sarah K.M. Rodríguez has held faculty positions at the University of Arkansas and Florida Gulf Coast University. She is the author of One National Family: Texas, Mexico, and the Making of the Modern United States, 1821-1867 (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024) and is currently working on a second project entitled “American Omnipotence: Canada and Mexico in the Age of US Expansion.” In addition to the Fulbright, she has received fellowship appointments from the Smithsonian Museum of National History, the Huntington Library, the Clements Center for Southwest Studies, and the McNeil Center for Early American Studies where for three years she served as assistant and then managing editor of Early American Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal. He received her PhD in history from the University of Pennsylvania in 2015. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she enjoys mountain biking, skiing, hiking, cooking, and all things canine-related.

Ryan is a Fulbright Award grantee for Fulbright Canada and a recent graduate in computer science from the University of Rochester. He will start his Master's in Computer Science this fall at the University of Ottawa with a Fulbright Grant. His interests include software engineering, cybersecurity, and AI technologies. Previously, Ryan has worked on hardware security devices, game designs, web apps, and backend engineering. He's passionate about practical problem-solving and user-centric design. Ryan aims to build systems that are technically sound and accessible to all. He's pursuing a master's degree to deepen his knowledge in computer security and accessibility. He aims to enter the workforce following his time in Canada.

Elan just graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Logic, Information, and Computation and minors in Religious Studies, Computer Science, and Math. He has conducted research in programming language theory, sports analytics, and graph theory. He has presented research at the Joint Mathematics Meetings, was a teaching assistant for three courses, and studied at the Budapest Semester in Mathematics. After Fulbright, he plans to pursue a PhD in Math or Computer Science along with a Masters in Divinity or Theology, applying formal logic to religious belief. Outside of math and computer science, Elan chaired the Interfaith community on campus and was involved with the Jewish community.

Emily Ruan is a Fulbright Canada Research Award recipient and a graduate of Stanford University, where she studied economics. She is currently conducting research at McGill University’s Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health on the impact of population-based cancer screening programs. Prior to her Fulbright, Emily worked as a healthcare consultant at the Boston Consulting Group and co-authored applied economics and policy research published in the Yale Journal on Regulation, the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, and The Wall Street Journal. She aspires to become a physician and health policy researcher.

Alyssa Dawn Schatz is a member of Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation. She comes from the LeCaine family. Alyssa previously served as a Senior Policy and Prairies Advisor to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Canada. In this role, she mobilized billions in settlements to address historic wrongs perpetrated against Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Further, she supported the Minister as the Head of the Canadian Delegation at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Alyssa advised on economic development, G7 negotiations, and maintained critical relationships with Chiefs. In previous roles, she was a Policy Advisor to the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada. Additionally, she worked in the public service to help implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for Canada. Alyssa completed her undergraduate in Human Geography and Economics at the University of Alberta.

John Shekitka has been a faculty member at Manhattanville University since 2018 and currently holds the title of Assistant Professor of Social Studies and Secondary Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education. He has taught courses focused on education generally and social studies and history specifically. He previously served as an adjunct faculty member at several colleges and universities in the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic. Before his work in higher education, he served as a Catholic school principal in Wappingers Falls, New York and was a social studies teacher in both New York and California. John completed his Ph.D. dissertation in Social Studies Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. He has published five academic articles and a book chapter, exploring the intersection of social studies, religions, and education.

Marina Shi is a dual-degree student at Western University, studying Film Studies and Business Administration at Ivey Business School. Passionate about storytelling and sustainability, she co-produced two documentaries—one on Ukrainian refugees in Canada, and another on a conservation finance tool developed by Ivey’s Sustainable Finance Lab, which supports Indigenous reconciliation and environmental stewardship. She has been recognized with multiple awards and scholarships for her academic, community, and leadership work. Marina is currently an intern at Powered by People, a global marketplace for sustainable and ethically made goods, where she supports mission-driven brands through business development and funding strategy. In her spare time, she enjoys K-pop, dance, and niche hobbies like collecting credit card points and exploring loyalty programs.

Xavier Stephens is an undergraduate student at Brock University who is working toward a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Minor in Sport Injury Management. After graduating from Niagara Christian Collegiate as Valedictorian and Student Council President, Xavier opted to study kinesiology at Brock University due to his interest in the intersection of science and health promotion, as well as the University's robust experiential learning opportunities. He has worked diligently to make the most of his University experience, serving as a student sport performance coach and student first aider for the Brock Women's Hockey and Men's Rugby teams respectively, research assistant in the Spine Biomechanics and Neuromuscular Control Lab, and as Vice President of the Kinesiology Students' Association. In his free time, Xavier enjoys training, playing hockey, expanding his knowledge in a wide variety of domains, and takes great joy in serving within his local church community.

Andy is an electrical engineering student at McMaster University. He is interested in microelectronic device applications in robotics, IoT, and health. He has researched nanomaterials for pH sensing in food and water quality monitoring. When he isn't working, you may find him cooking, reading, or hiking in nature.

Fittingly named after the California Bay Laurel tree, Laurel (she/her) is excited to pursue an MSc in Forestry at the University of British Columbia. She has a degree in Environmental Science with minors in Conservation Biology and Environmental Engineering and graduated summa cum laude with highest departmental honors in 2023 from UCLA. Her work with numerous habitat restoration non profits and biological fieldwork conducted across California, Wyoming, Colorado and Florida has given Laurel a strong background in conservation and field botany. With her undergraduate research on the climate adaptation of the native California plant toyon, she has presented at the Ecological Society of America in 2023 and first authored a paper published with the American Journal of Botany in 2024. She is passionate about conserving and increasing access to native plants and their respective ecosystems and will apply her background to her graduate studies in Canada.

Sarah is a 4L student at McGill's Faculty of Law with a keen interest in entertainment and media law. She brings a multi-disciplinary approach to legal problem-solving, shaped by her diverse experience across law, media, and communications. Her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto in Sociology, Philosophy and French nurtured a curiosity about systems of power, cultural production, and the role of language. Sarah has served as Co-President of the McGill Sports and Entertainment Law Association and a caseworker at Compass Legal Clinic. Sarah also worked at the Media Ecosystem Observatory, promoting research on the growing influence of artificial intelligence on Canadian media. As a part-time YouTuber and passionate storyteller, Sarah sees strong parallels between compelling legal advocacy and effective storytelling. She has also worked as a photographer for various arts initiatives in Toronto and Montreal, deepening her appreciation for the challenges faced by creators in protecting their work.

Clinton Westman is a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Saskatchewan. He grew up in rural Alberta and completed a BA in Humanities at the University of Calgary. Westman began his graduate studies in Environmental Studies at York University before working for over six years as a policy advisor for the Government of Canada (Environment Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada). Subsequently he completed a doctorate in Anthropology at the University of Alberta and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Département d’anthropologie at Université de Montréal. He has been a visiting scholar at the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada. Westman has conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Cree and Métis communities of northern Alberta, and national parks in Alberta and Saskatchewan. He is the author of Cree and Christian: Encounters and Transformations, and co-editor of Extracting Home in the Oil Sands: Settler Colonialism and Environmental Change in Subarctic Canada.

Dr. Mustafa Yavuz is a professor in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, with cross-appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Systems Design Engineering. He directs the Nano- and Micro-Systems Laboratory at the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN) and leads the Collaborative Graduate Nanotechnology Program. Dr. Yavuz completed his doctoral studies in Materials Engineering and Applied Physics at the University of Wollongong and the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE). His research focuses on nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), MIM diodes for THz applications, nanoplasmonic and graphene-based biosensors, quantum resonators, and AI-integrated sensor networks. He previously held academic appointments at Tohoku University (Japan) and Texas A&M University (USA), and served as Principal Engineer at Accelerator Technology Corporation, where he contributed to advanced accelerator and vacuum systems.

Ruben Zaiotti (PhD Toronto, Mst Oxford, BA Bologna) is the Director of the European Union Centre of Excellence and Full Professor in the Political Science department at Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia). His main areas of interest are border control and immigration policy, European Union politics, public diplomacy, and transatlantic relations.

Dr. Diane Zelman is a Professor at California School of Professional Psychology of Alliant International University, where she teaches courses in biological bases of behavior, sleep psychology, and psychopharmacology. Prior to that she served as a hospital-based neuropsychologist and clinical health psychologist. Her research interests include chronic pain, sleep, substance use, anxiety disorders and neuropsychology, especially as these relate to culture. She has published two books on sleep health, has completed numerous publications and presentations, and chaired more than 140 doctoral dissertations. A past professor at Alliant’s Hong Kong psychology doctoral program who has also taught in Japan and South Korea, she is a winner of the Henry David International Mentoring Award of the American Psychological Association for exceptional mentoring in an international context. She is also a clinical associate professor at the Department of Family Medicine at University of California at San Francisco Medical School.

Dr. Ally Zhou is the Director of Professional and Cultural Education and Professor of TESOL in the Office of Academic Affairs—Innovative Education and Partnerships at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). Prior to this role, she served as Chair of the Department of Teacher Preparation Programs and Chair of the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Culture in the College of Education at FGCU. Dr. Zhou holds a Ph.D. in Second Language Education from the University of Toronto. Her teaching and research focus on second language writing, pedagogical grammar, English for Academic Purposes, discourse analysis, English curriculum reform, and government-funded professional and leadership development programs. She has served as Principal Investigator for four Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Programs and two Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership Institutes, both sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by IREX. Dr. Zhou has served on the U.S. Student Fulbright National Screening Committee.