WELCOME 2024-2025 FULBRIGHT CANADA COHORT

Dr. Mohammed (Jalal) Ahamed, is an Associate Professor in the mechanical, automotive, and materials engineering department at the University of Windsor, Canada. He is also the director of MicroNano Mechatronics Laboratory. His research group is developing nature-inspired inertial sensors and applying them to wearable biomedical sensing applications. He teaches mechatronics, controls, and micro/nano-systems courses. He completed his PhD and MASc from the University of Toronto, Canada. Previously, he was with McGill University and the University of California Irvine, as a post-doctoral fellow acquiring advanced training in nanotechnology and precision inertial sensors. He is member of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) where he volunteers in international conference organizations and serves as an associate editor for the IEEE Sensors journal. He is a registered professional engineer in Ontario.

Dr. Zeynep Akcay is an award-winning animation filmmaker and scholar with extensive international experience. She completed her BA in Istanbul, Turkey, before moving to Montréal, Canada to become an animation artist. There, she pursued further studies and professional work in animation. Currently, she leads the Character Animation major of the Animation Program at Griffith Film School in Brisbane, Australia. Her research explores experimental aesthetics and innovative animation techniques to address social and environmental issues. Dr. Akcay's film “Kam” (2020) has been screened at over 10 international festivals, receiving awards such as “Best Experimental Film” at the International Women Filmmaker Festival (2021) and a “Special Mention” at Under the Radar Vienna (2022). The film was also featured in the Australian Animation Showcase by ASIFA Australia, touring the US and Europe in 2022.

Professor Alford is a seagoing physical oceanographer, the co-founder of the Multiscale Ocean Dynamics group at SIO/UCSD and a co-founder of atdepth LLC, a company providing fluid mechanics-based guidance to deep-sea-mining stakeholders. He develops and employs novel instrumentation to better describe and understand turbulence and other ocean processes; however, he is also interested in how these affect both coastal ecosystems and the larger-scale ocean circulation. Professor Alford received a BA in Astrophysics at Swarthmore College in 1993 and PhD in 1998 from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. In 2002 he received the Office of Naval Research's prestigious Young Investigator Program (YIP) Award, and in 2009 received the University of Washington College of Fishery and Ocean Sciences' Distinguished Research Award. He has spent over three years at sea, and has published over 140 refereed articles in top-tier journals including Nature and Journal of Physical Oceanography, and has led many ambitious experiments funded by the Office of Naval Research and the National Science Foundation. In 2018 he co-created and chaired the first Gordon Conference on Ocean Mixing. In his personal life, he is a loving husband, a proud dad, an avid surfer and loves singing and playing guitar.

Sanjida Amin is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto. She studies peace and conflict with a focus on the civil wars in Sudan and South Sudan. Her doctoral research explores how interstate rivalry can impact civil war processes such as peace negotiations, and organizational structure of rebel groups. Sanjida has conducted fieldwork in several locations (Khartoum, Addis Ababa and Nairobi) in Eastern Africa. Her research seeks to inform successful peacebuilding practices in other countries in Eastern Africa, and in the world.

Elizabeth is a tenacious, intellectually curious, and passionate young leader committed to making Canada and the world a better place. She has worked at the highest levels of the Canadian government, most recently as the Director of Operations for Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Prior to that, she had served as a senior advisor on transatlantic affairs, and international security issues. Her experience during the period leading up to, and following, the illegal invasion of Ukraine has especially galvanized her drive to keep ‘fighting the good fight’. Elizabeth is currently pursuing a masters’ degree in Global Risk from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

Jad Attari is a dedicated neuroscience student at the University of Toronto. Alongside his academic pursuits, Jad is a passionate soccer player and fan, enjoying both the thrill of the game and the camaraderie it brings. His curiosity extends beyond the soccer field into the realm of biotechnology, where he avidly explores the latest advancements and innovations. Jad has recently become a Killam Fellow, underscoring his commitment to academic excellence and research. He aspires to make groundbreaking discoveries in the medical field, contributing to the advancement of science and improving lives in the future.

Professor of English focusing on feminist and queer studies, global studies, comparative literature, social movements, and human rights. Additional experience as Director of Graduate Studies and Director of the interdisciplinary Comparative Literature program. Author of three books, over 30 research articles, and recipient of national international fellowships and grants. Over twenty years of experience directing masters and doctoral students research. Experience in fostering international collaborations between US institutions and those institutions in India, China, and various countries in Africa

Dawn Bazely is a biology professor in York University's Faculty of Science. Her doctorate, from the University of Oxford, applied economic models to sheep grazing behaviour. In 2017, Dawn received the title of University Professor. She is a multiple teaching award winner. Dawn has worn many academic hats since joining York in 1990, along the way, diversifying her areas of research expertise far beyond her grass biologist beginnings. She directed the university-wide Institute for Research in Sustainability (IRIS, 2006-2014). Dawn’s scholarly publications include the edited volume, “Environmental Change and Human Security in the Arctic”, and the monograph, “The Ecology and Control of Introduced Plants. Dawn’s chapter on the under-appreciated contributions of 19th century women to Ontario horticulture was included in “Flora’s Fieldworkers” (2022), about the history of women in Canadian botany. In 2022, she received the Royal Canadian Institute for Science’s Sandford Fleming Medal for Excellence in Science Communication.

Simon is a PhD student at the University of British Columbia studying synergistic governance solutions to socio-ecological challenges. He holds a Master of Philosophy in Politics and International Studies from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Science in International Studies from the Université de Montréal. Simon’s scholarship lies at the intersection of International Relations (IR) and Earth System Science (ESS) and focuses on cooperation, global environmental politics, and multi-level collaboration. A central theme guiding his studies is the identification of adapted answers to transboundary socio-ecological challenges and avenues for fostering cross-border cooperation. He presented his research at several international conferences and published peer-reviewed articles as a single author and with colleagues in the Canadian Journal of Political Science, the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, International Negotiation, the Journal of Multilateralism, and other interdisciplinary journals. Simon is also a certified yoga teacher, tennis coach, sport and outdoor enthusiast, and avid world explorer.

S. Megan Berthold, PhD., LCSW, is a Professor at University of Connecticut's School of Social Work where she teaches clinical, research, and trauma courses from a human rights frame. She has worked with diverse refugee and asylum seeking survivors of torture, war, and human trafficking since the mid-1980s. She was a clinician and educator in refugee camps in Nepal, the Philippines and on the Thai-Cambodian border. Dr. Berthold has conducted NIMH funded research examining the prevalence of torture and its mental and physical health consequences among Cambodian refugees. She is the Principal Investigator of a longitudinal study conducted by the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs (NCTTP), serves on NCTTP’s Executive Committee, and is conducting longitudinal research on refugee resettlement. She has testified extensively as an expert witness in U.S. Immigration Court and was selected as the 2009 NASW Social Worker of the Year for her work with torture survivors.

Dr. Sarah Blue is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Texas State University. Dr. Blue received her B.A. in Geography from the University of Denver, M.A. in Geography at the University of Minnesota, and Ph.D. in Geography from UCLA. Her research has focused on immigration from Latin America to the United States, refugee and asylum issues, and socio-economic inequality for underrepresented groups in the United States, Central America, and Cuba. She has been working with undocumented Latino migrants to the US since 2007 and has focused on the experiences of migrants/asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border since 2015. Her published work has appeared in journals such as Political Geography, Geopolitics, Geographical Review, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Journal of Latin American Geographers, and Population, Space, and Place.

In her undergraduate experience, Meg has studied abroad in France to pursue her love of the French language alongside a passion for scientific research. She has also studied in the Costa Rican jungle to explore her interest in emergency medicine and gain certification in Wilderness First Response. Through these experiences abroad she made not only life long friends, but established international relations that can relay improvements in both her community and theirs. Simultaneously, she has rigorously participated in athletics, exploiting her competitive nature beyond the classroom through field hockey, rock climbing, and marathon running. Beyond this she has served her community as a pharmacy technician, volunteer on and off campus, and as an aspiring physician-scientist looking to promote women’s health through continued research in reproductive endocrinology. She is pursuing a dual-degree with concentrations in microbiology, molecular and cellular biology, and French, and has no shortage of ambition.

Katherine Cart is a writer and graduate of the University of Virginia’s Creative Writing MFA and holds a BS in Biology from the University of Virginia. She began writing while working as a marine biologist on Bering Sea commercial fishing vessels. Her work has been published in Conjunctions, Post Road, Raritan, US Renew News and elsewhere.

Dr. Wayne Inuglak Clark ᐅᐊᐃᓐ ᐃᓄᒡᓚᒃ ᑲᓛᒃ is originally from Churchill, Manitoba and a registered Inuk of the Nunavut Agreement. He is a member of the Voisey family with ties to Tikiraqjuaq ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᖅ and Kangiqsualujjuaq ᑲᖏᖅᓱᐊᓗᔾᔪᐊᖅ. Dr. Clark is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Director of the Wâpanachakos Indigenous Health Program in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta. His research addresses Inuit health services utilization trends, Inuit data sovereignty, and Indigenous medical education. Dr. Clark’s lectures cover Indigenous experiences in healthcare, Indian Hospitals, Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, and intergenerational trauma. Dr. Clark is a principal investigator for the Accelerating Clinical Trials Consortium, which expands Canada's clinical trials network, emphasizing Indigenous participation in trials. He is the former Director of Indigenous Health Services at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, serving from 2013 to 2020, overseeing Indigenous language interpretation, discharge planning, and advocacy for hospitalized patients within regional healthcare facilities. Dr. Clark is the treasurer of the Canadian Society for Circumpolar Health and a member of the International Arctic Science Committee Standing Committee on Indigenous Involvement. He lives and works on Treaty No. 6 Territory in Edmonton, Alberta.

Dr. Coleman is a broadly trained social scientist interested in human dimensions of natural resources, including issues related to the planning and management of public land, recreation planning, recreation management, environmental justice, and environmental education. From 2018 to 2022, Dr. Coleman was a faculty member in the Center for Earth and Environmental Science at SUNY Plattsburgh. She joined the faculty in the Rubenstein School in 2023. Over the course of Dr. Coleman's career, she has worked to build a research agenda that focuses largely on the geographic areas of the Northern Forest Region and the Lake Champlain Basin, although not all her work fits neatly into the boundaries of those two regions. She seeks to pursue research that is useful for both practitioners and scholars alike, and frequently collaborates with partners from state and federal agencies, as well as local land managers and regional non-profits.

Nathan Collett is a student in the Technology and Policy Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, focused on the political economy of sustainable building design. Nathan spent the past two years at a specialized social and behavioural science research unit of the Privy Council Office of Canada, providing evidence-based policy advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on climate change, democratic stability, and public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, he earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science from McGill University focused on human decision-making, politics, and philosophy. At McGill, Nathan was a two-year Research Group on Constitutional Studies student fellow, a researcher at the Montreal Neurological Institute, a volunteer with the Native Friendship Centre of Montreal, and the founding director of the McGill Journal of Human Behaviour and its student research program. Nathan grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, immersed in nature and social democratic politics.

Isaiah A.J. Collins chose UWO because of its outstanding track program and was named Rookie of the Year, a first-team All-Star, and Conference Champion. They led countless events for Student Council as a Club President, sat on various academic committees, worked as the Mustangs mascot, and joined choir. Academic counselling helped Isaiah overcome learning disabilities and embrace neurodiversity to become an Academic All-Canadian. Reduced barriers ignited a love for research labs in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Isaiah’s vision is to make workplaces more accessible for the neurodiverse in a variety of cultural contexts. They are currently completing their CHRL designation and thesis for a BA (Hons) in Psychology. Isaiah just graduated with a BMOS (Hons) and is a member of the HRPA. They are excited about future graduate studies.

Margaret is pursuing her PhD in Comparative International Higher Education at the University of Toronto broadly interested in college affordability, economics of education, and financial aid policy in the United States and Canada. She is a Junior Fellow at Massey College and 2024 Fulbright Awardee. She completed her MA in Higher Education and Educational Policy at the University of Toronto, and a BA in Political Science and French at Trinity College. Apart from her academic life, she is currently engaged as a Policy Research Associate at the Division of People and Culture at the University of Toronto Students’ Union. She has previously worked in government policy research at the provincial and municipal government. Margaret is the Founder and Executive Director of the Persistence Project, an interdisciplinary research group focused on topics related to postsecondary access, persistence, and success.

Scott DeJong is a PhD candidate in Communication studies at Concordia University studying the relationship between playfulness and disinformation. His work explores the paradoxical role of games that spread false ideas alongside the media literacy responses that use play to teach core skills. This work has led to large-scale analysis of fake news games, various studies on political memes and content within Canadian social media, and the creation of the boardgame Lizards and Lies. The game received international attention for its ability to model online information systems, and has showcased the potential of games in education and beyond. Beyond his primary focus on disinformation and media literacy, Scott has also actively explored class precarity and videogames, the use of videogames as disinformation tools, the relationship between humour and games, and the role of educational games in teaching serious social issues. In his freetime, he co-produces a podcast, loves to bake, and holds a strong appreciation for puffins.

Camryn Dewar, accomplished Métis vocalist, champions versatility across contemporary opera, classical, musical theatre, and jazz music. A passionate advocate for living and Indigenous composers, she uses her artistry to amplify Indigenous voices and drive cultural change. As a scholar with the Association of American University Women, Camryn's accolades include the Modern Métis Woman Scholarship, Les Michif Otipemisiwak Fellowship, InPath: N’we Jinan Artworks Fellowship, and the Association of Opera in Canada Fellowship. She holds a Bachelor of Music (Vocal Performance, Distinction) from the University of Manitoba and is pursuing a Master of Music (Performance) at Montclair State University with Metropolitan Opera’s Barbara Dever. Her recent operatic performances feature “The Grapes of Wrath” at Carnegie Hall with Tony Award-winning music director Ted Sperling, “Blind Injustice” in Montclair, New Jersey, “Li Keur: Riel’s Heart of the North” with Manitoba Opera, and the “Living Music” concert at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Mary Jo Easley is a proud Hoosier (Indiana resident) who graduated from Earlham College with a degree in Global Management and minors in Earth & Environmental Science and Environmental Sustainability. As a fervent believer in the power of experiential learning, she has traveled to South Africa and Mozambique to study politics and human rights, England to study marketing and urban design, and Aotearoa New Zealand to study geology and environmental justice. She looks forward to further understanding how the worlds of business and sustainability can intertwine. Her undergraduate research included surveying Midwest farmers about regenerative agriculture and evaluating the ecosystem services of Cope Environmental Center in Centerville, Indiana. When not reading about the latest advancements in seaweed farming or picking up litter in her neighborhood Mary Jo enjoys hitting the golf course, hiking a shady trail, or cooking up a veggie-centric meal.

As a doctoral student at Harvard University, Annie studies approaches to personalizing and optimizing early supports for young learners with developmental differences. A special educator by training, Annie’s passion lies in teaching children, particularly those with autism, Down syndrome, and other neurodevelopmental disorders, and in supporting caregivers to provide enriched home, day care, and school environments for all children. From 2016-2020, Annie worked as a research coordinator and early intervention coach at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, delivering professional development and coaching to preschool teachers learning to implement the Early Achievements intervention. The effects of this intervention were published by the American Speech and Hearing Association: https://pubs.asha.org/doi/full/10.1044/2020_PERSP-19-00155. Annie’s doctoral research has focused on using behavioral and neurophysiological methods to predict intervention response patterns, working toward personalized intervention selection. In her free time, Annie enjoys going on hikes with her rescue dog Hatley and kayaking on the Charles River.

Karen is a senior research associate working with the 'Louis-Edmond-Hamelin Chair affiliated with the University of the Arctic' at Université Laval (Canada) where her research focuses on socio-economic inequalities in the circumpolar Arctic. Prior to this, she was a Research Scholar with the Arctic Futures Initiative at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA, Austria) where her research focused on Arctic governance. Karen completed her PhD at Trent University (Canada) where she studied border management in the Canadian North. Karen is interested in the intersections between security, governance, and socio-economic inequalities and what this means for policy development.

Oli Facq is a French-American & Nakota student born and raised in the Seattle area. They are a fourth year undergrad studying Geoscience and American Indian Studies at the University of Washington. Oli will be First Nations at UW’s Secretary Chair in the 2024-25 academic year, which is a club aimed to foster community and empower all indigenous students at UW. They played an instrumental role during First Nation’s at UW 53rd Annual Spring Powwow by coordinating, planning and leading concessions booths which served roughly a thousand to 3 thousand guests over the two day weekend. First Nation’s at UW Annual Spring Powwow is an entirely student organized cultural event which brings in community throughout Washington state and beyond. They hope to uplift communities through education, indigenous knowledge, and their background in earth sciences to help mitigate the effects of institutionalized harm against marginalized groups in their community and beyond.

Tobi Falana is a third-year student at McGill Faculty of Law. Prior to law school, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with distinction from Queen's University. Tobi was also a finalist for the McCall MacBain Scholarship, Canada's premier leadership-based scholarship for graduate and professional studies at McGill. Beyond her academic achievements, Tobi actively contributes to her community by volunteering with the Toronto Police Neighborhood Officers and mentoring young people in Montreal through McGill's Pick Your Path program. Her passion for volunteerism earned her the Lieutenant Governor's Community Volunteer Award. Tobi's dedication extends to her previous role as an Army Reservist with the Canadian Armed Forces. As a Fulbright Killam Fellow, she will spend a semester studying at the University of Houston Law Center.

Hannah is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she double majored in Psychology and International Studies. She has been involved in all types of psychology research, from cognitive neuroscience to prosocial development. After completing a clinical internship, she presented a Selective Mutism case study poster at Pepperdine University. She also completed a senior honors thesis on social versus nonsocial economic trust over repeated interactions, which she presented at the Weinberg Symposium for the Cognitive Sciences. She was also part of the inaugural cohort of the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service, where she designed a public service voyage structured around mental health accessibility. Hannah hopes to become a clinical or counseling psychologist, focusing on increasing both scientific and clinical representation for ethnic minority groups, focusing on children, youth, and families. In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading, racket sports, cooking, and playing guitar.

Dineli Fernando, from Edmonton, Alberta, is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sociology at the University of Alberta. Previously, she completed a Bachelor of Science (Specialization) in Cell Biology at the University of Alberta. The daughter of Sri Lankan immigrants, Dineli hopes to use her interdisciplinary educational background to inform effective community-based interventions and health policy reforms to improve access to quality and equitable healthcare for marginalized groups. Dineli has engaged in basic science research and clinical research on type 2 diabetes and obesity at the Alberta Diabetes Institute, working to understand the intricacies involved in these chronic diseases and contribute to preventative strategies. She also founded the STEAMistic initiative, which provides free science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) educational programming to youth from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Dineli is a recipient of an Alberta Diabetes Institute Summer Studentship and a Philip Dewey Soper Award in Student Leadership.

Ari Hallgrímur Finnsson is a PhD Candidate in the Department of History at the University of Toronto. He completed his MA in Social and Political Thought at York University in 2020. His SSHRC funded dissertation research tracks the concept of property-owning democracy across the French, American, and British empires since the seventeenth century. He has published on democracy, sovereignty, crisis, and memory politics in historical and theoretical contexts. His research interests are in global and imperial intellectual history, including liberal political philosophy, law, biopolitics, political economy, as well as social and historical theory.

Alyssa is a fourth year undergraduate student pursuing an honours degree in marine biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She enjoys writing and was apart of a science journalism club where she published an article about interdisciplinary science. She also loves sports and spent most of her childhood in the pool as a competitive swimmer. She is also a certified advanced PADI scuba diver and loves to travel, having spent the previous summer backpacking through Europe.

Claire F. Fox is Professor of English at the University of Iowa. She is the author of Making Art Panamerican: Cultural Policy and the Cold War (Minnesota 2013 and The Fence and the River: Culture and Politics at the U.S.-Mexico Border (Minnesota 1999) and co-editor of two volumes that grew out of collaborations among scholars working in and on the Latina/o/x Midwest: Building Sustainable Worlds: Latinx Placemaking in the Midwest (Illinois 2022) and The Latina/o Midwest Reader (Illinois 2017). Her current research focuses on visual culture, performance, and placemaking in the Americas.

Jolie is an incoming Killam Fellow passionate about advancing healthcare into the 4th and 5th dimensions, expanding how we can use emerging neurotech to write the brain, rather than replicate it. As a life sciences student at the University of Toronto, she merges emerging technology, sensory science, and neuroscience. Her impressive projects include developing two AI systems for food and sensory science, conducting one of the world's largest central location tests (CLTs) on the brain-gut connection, and co-founding a 150+ member community of computational neuroscientists and biologists. Jolie previously founded a non-profit organization that has donated over 400,000 menstrual hygiene supplies to women in rural Southeast Asia. She has previously worked at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada, the FDA, WHO, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Driven by a relentless pursuit of knowledge in neuroscience, healthcare, and women's health, Jolie seeks out innovative thinkers and challenges herself with new ideas. With travel to over 65 countries and residency in 15, she is always on the lookout for her next adventure.

Fernando Garcia Menendez is an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University. He uses computational modeling and data analysis to explore interdisciplinary questions about air pollution, climate change, and environmental policy. His research group develops tools based on high-performance computing, uncertainty analysis, and integrated assessment modeling to simulate interactions between environmental and human systems. The groups’ current research includes efforts to study the connections between wildland fires and air quality, the effects of climate change on public health, and the environmental impacts of energy systems. The primary goal of his work is to inform decision-making and policy. Fernando received his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He completed a M.S. from Stanford University and a B.S. from Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico. Before joining North Carolina State University, he was a Postdoctoral Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Holly Ann Garnett is the Class of 1965 Professor of Leadership and an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Economics at the Royal Military College of Canada. She is cross-appointed faculty Queen’s University, and Honourary Research Fellow at the University of East Anglia. Her research examines how electoral integrity can be strengthened throughout the electoral cycle, including the role of election management, cyber-security and election technologies, civic literacy, and campaign finance. She co-directs the Electoral Integrity Project, a global network of academics and practitioners that engages in data collection, research, and stakeholder engagement on issues relating to election quality around the world. She is a co-investigator with the Human-Centric Cybersecurity Partnership and the Consortium on Electoral Democracy, and fellow with the Institute for Intergovernmental Relations. She was the 2023 recipient of the Cowan Prize for Excellence in Research.

Michelle is a senior studying Biomedical Sciences at SUNY Plattsburgh. She is minoring in neurobiology, chemistry and nutrition. During her time at SUNY Plattsburgh she has had the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research regarding bacteriophage through the SEA-Phage program. She has also researched interaction strengths of Covid-19 spike protein variant interactions with human receptors. On campus she is the Vice President of the Phi Upsilon Omicron Honor Society, a member of the Lab Safety Team, and part of the Nutrition Club. Outside of academics, she is a volunteer EMT at a local EMS agency, and she spends time working at the local hospital as a Clinical Assistant. She enjoys both teaching and competing in Irish Dance where she is a four time national qualifier. She is excited for the opportunity to study away from home, meet new people, explore more in her academics, and immerse herself in a new place.

Dr. Sappho Gilbert is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her research interests include food security, nutrition, community and Indigenous health, and climate change (particularly in the Arctic). She earned her PhD at the Yale School of Public Health, Master’s in Public Health at Dartmouth College, and Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in political science at MIT.

Heather Sauyaq Jean Kwamboka Gordon, PhD, MS, owner/principal consultant at Sauyaq Solutions, specializes in research, evaluation, and technical assistance for Indigenous Tribes/communities. Raised in Homer, Alaska, she is Iñupiaq and a citizen of the Nome Eskimo Community and the US. Her Iñupiaq name, Sauyaq, means drum. She works to be a good relative and advocate for Indigenous people, beating the drum to lift up Indigenous voices. The Sauyaq or drum is used at all gatherings and ceremonies to bring people together. In some Iñupiaq dialects the word for ‘skin’ of the drum also means ‘future eye’ relating to the ‘eye of awareness’. Heather married into a Kenyan Kisii Tribal family and was gifted the name Kwamboka which means cultural bridge crossing. Dr. Gordon holds a PhD in Indigenous Studies with a concentration in Indigenous Sustainability. Her work highlights links between culture and wellbeing, emphasizing connectedness with nonhuman and more than human kin, and the importance of listening to Indigneous Knowledges. She addresses conservation, land/water management, and climate change. Her work also highlights the connectivity between Indigenous cultures and educational outcomes, health, wellbeing, and reduced substance use. She is a boundary spanner between knowledge systems and a science diplomat to communicate research to policy makers. She co-lead/organized the Global Indigenous Youth Summit on Climate Change in 2023 and 2024. She serves on the US National Academy of Sciences Co-Production of Environmental Knowledge, Methods, and Approaches committee, the Arctic Research Consortium of the US Board of Directors, as co-chair for the International Conferences on Arctic Research Planning IV Understanding Vulnerability/Resilience of Arctic Environments/Societies-Supporting Sustainable Development priority, as an expert in cultural heritage and Indigenous sustainability for the U.S. Department of State Speaker Program, as adjunct faculty for American University’s Measurement and Evaluation program, and on multiple advisory boards.

Zariyah is a doctoral candidate in history and the collaborative specialization in women and gender studies at the University of Toronto. Her research encompasses gender, slavery, and racial capitalism in the Atlantic World, and she studies 20th-century U.S. history, the cultural, social, and political history of Black urban deviance, and the Black radical tradition across the African diaspora. Outside of her academic career, Zariyah is a member of the Toronto Ballroom community. This predominantly Black and Latinx LGBTQ subculture began in Harlem in the late 1960s and has since spread worldwide. A proud member of the Iconic International Kiki House of Pink Lady, Zariyah walks and wins in the category of fem queen performance, a style of voguing developed by Black and Latina trans women in the 1990s.

Noella Gray is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics at the University of Guelph. She received a BSc from McGill University, an MA from the University of Western Ontario, and a PhD from Duke University. A human-environment geographer and political ecologist, her research examines ocean conservation and governance across scales. Her work explores how knowledge is produced and integrated into environmental policy; impacts of marine conservation initiatives on coastal communities; and the production, contestation, and implementation of global conservation policy. She publishes in both disciplinary outlets (e.g. Geoforum) and interdisciplinary journals (e.g. Conservation Letters). As a Fulbright Scholar, she will further her research exploring the governance of large-scale marine protected areas in collaboration with both academics and practitioners. This ongoing work explores governance priorities, challenges and outcomes for these large-scale sites, especially in relation to equity.

Beth Groleau is a dedicated political science student at Brock University, maintaining a 3.9 GPA. Throughout her academic career, she has achieved honours consistently for three consecutive years. Beth's exceptional writing skills earned her a nomination for the Dean's Excellence in Writing. Passionate about her field, she aspires to pursue a master’s degree to further deepen her understanding and contribute meaningfully to political discourse.

Pranav Gupta is currently pursuing his PhD in Computer Science with a focus on Natural Language Processing at the University of California, Davis. Pranav has presented his research at international conferences, such as the MRS-spring 2024 conference in Washington. He received the prestigious Fulbright Traditional Student Award, the Killam Fellowship, the NSERC Government Research Award, and the Emeritus Professor's Award. Pranav's research experience spans trajectory-user linking in spatiotemporal data and optimizing laser-induced graphene properties using AI. He has also served as an executive in multiple student organizations and actively mentored undergraduate students. His passion for Artificial General Intelligence drives his commitment to impactful research and academic excellence.

Vince Ha is a doctoral candidate in Screen Cultures and Curatorial Studies at Queen’s University. His current research examines the impact of transnational media on local visual ecology, focusing on queer diasporic communities. Beyond academia, Vince is a writer-director who captures fragmentary moments and uses them to challenge issues of race, class, gender, and representation. His artistic works have been funded at the city, provincial, and federal levels and have been presented nationally at the Gardiner Museum, the Museum of Toronto, the Arquives, the Hot Docs Rogers Cinema, the Scotiabank Photography Festival, and internationally in China, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.

Bridget is from Toronto and in her third year at Dalhousie University. She is studying Ocean Science, with minors in Physics and French. In her first year Integrated Science Program at Dalhousie, she completed a research project on wind trends in the Canadian Arctic. This past summer, she participated in the University of Toronto Centre for Global Change Science Internship, researching and analyzing historical temperature and mixing trends in Lake Simcoe in Ontario. Bridget is a member of Dalhousie Women’s Lacrosse Team, participates in Dal Dance, tutors with the Student Success Centre, and is a volunteer note taker with the Student Accessibility Centre. She is very grateful to have received a Killam Fellowship and is looking forward to attending the University of Maine in Fall, 2024

Reza Hasmath (Ph.D., Cambridge) is a Full Professor in Political Science at the University of Alberta. He has previously held faculty positions in management, sociology and political science at the Universities of Toronto, Melbourne and Oxford, and has worked for think-tanks, consultancies, development agencies, and NGOs in USA, Canada, UK, Australia and China. He was formally trained in philosophy, public policy, international studies and diplomacy, and social and political sciences, as well as in various East Asian and European languages. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Civil Society, and is the Foundation Editor of the Routledge Research on the Politics and Sociology of China book series. His award-winning research looks at: (1) the life course experiences of global ethnic minorities; (2) state-society relationships in China, and how emerging actors affect international development; (3) the behaviour of policy actors and citizens in authoritarian regimes; (4) global sustainability and ESG principles/practices; and, (5) the essentialist qualities of the self, community and state.

Ashley Jong is a Korean-Canadian undergraduate student in the Honours Health Sciences (BHSc) program at McMaster University, specializing in Child Health. Having recently completed her second-year studies, she was named to the Provost’s Honour Roll and currently works as an ophthalmology research student at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Passionate about volunteerism and healthcare, Ashley’s community work includes offering complimentary tutoring for youth residing in low socioeconomic status communities, assisting patients and staff at the McMaster Children’s Hospital’s Emergency Department, and performing the cello for various senior homes and charity concerts. As part of Fulbright Canada’s Killam Fellowships Program, Ashley will embark on an exchange to the University of Washington, where she will engage with diverse academic and cultural environments to enhance her understanding of global research, healthcare, and educational practices.

Jessica Kang is a public sector strategy & planning leader with over 13 years of experience from both government and multinational corporations in sport, creative industries, international trade, and banking. She currently attends Harvard Kennedy School as a Master of Public Administration Mid-Career candidate, and is a Fulbright fellow representing Canada. Prior to her role in Government of BC, Jessica has lived and worked in five countries: Singapore (SAP Asia), the United Kingdom (HSBC), South Korea (Yonsei University), and the US (LVMH), and brings a global, market leader perspective to her work. Her professional interests center around the dynamics of business and government partnerships, and economic development initiatives that drive growth through sport, media, and entertainment policies. As a visual artist, Jessica has earned national grants and have been commissioned by several cherished Canadian institutions. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Honours) from University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Amanda was born in Princeton and raised in Seattle. She graduated from Garfield High School, currently attends the University of Washington, and really likes dogs.

Holly M. Karibo is an Associate Professor of History at Oklahoma State University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on the history of vice, labor, and sexuality in transnational urban spaces from the late-19th century to the present. Karibo is the author of the award-winning book Sin City North: Sex, Drugs, and Citizenship in the Detroit-Windsor Borderland (The University of North Carolina Press 2015) and Rehab on the Range: Addiction and Incarceration in the American West (University of Texas Press 2024). She is also the co-editor of Border Policing: A History of Enforcement and Evasion in North America (University of Texas Press 2020).

Jess Kent is studying the divorce mediation process in Canada after completing the University at Buffalo's Emerging Entrepreneurs Program. A mediator by training, Jess is passionate about supporting families through divorce and custody battles. Court programs help support parents and kids through a notoriously challenging time, hence this research is of utmost importance for the public good. Jess is a proud former fellow of Segal, Coro, Bend the Arc, and Interfaith Youth Core. Academically, Jess graduated from Brandeis University (B.A.) and Claremont Graduate University (M.A.). When she is not doing research, Jess enjoys training for a triathlon and eating ice cream. Jess feels hono(u)red to be a Fulbright Scholar in Canada for 2024-2025 and looks forward to the cultural exchange experience immensely.

Greg Kessler has published extensively and delivered invited talks around the world. His research addresses technology, teaching, learning, culture and language with an emphasis on teacher preparation and curricular design. He has held transformative leadership positions, including president of the computer assisted language instruction consortium (CALICO), president of the Ohio teachers of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) and chair of the TESOL CALL interest section. He has been an editor for numerous monographs, special issues and serial publications, including the TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching, CALICO Equinox book series, Advances in CALL Practice & Research, and the Language Teaching & Technology forum in the journal Language Learning & Technology among others. He is professor of Innovative Learning Design & Technology in the Educational Studies department at Ohio University.

Tyson Koch is from Seattle and attends the University of Washington while working part time. He earned his associate degree from North Seattle College while attending high school. He entered the UW as a junior majoring in political science with a minor in French. Prior to starting at the UW, he played bassoon and made the Washington All-State Band by the Washington Music Educators Association. In the future, Tyson looks forward to working in public transportation. When he is not studying or working you can find him sewing or at the local climbing gym.

Adrienne Krone has a Ph.D. in American Religion from Duke University and she is currently Assistant Professor of Environmental Science & Sustainability and Religious Studies at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, USA. Her research focuses on religious food justice movements in North America and her current research project is an ethnographic and historical study of the Jewish Community Farming movement. This decade-long exploration of twenty-five North American organizations demonstrates how engagements with food and farming improve the physical, mental and spiritual health of the Jews involved and how this movement is contributing to the future health of the Jewish people and the earth. Krone has published numerous book chapters and articles on this topic, including recent articles in _Worldviews: Global Religion, Culture, and Ecology_ and _Contemporary Jewry_.

Edouard Laflamme just finished his first year at McGill University, majoring in Philosophy with a focus on jurisprudence, and minoring in Political Science and Urban Studies. As an aspiring law student, Edouard actively participates as a lawyer on McGill's Canadian Mock Trial team. Recently, he has gained valuable experience working as a legal assistant in Civil Litigation at the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C.. Edouard is excited to continue his studies at UCLA next year, where he plans to study the 2024 American election from a philosophical perspective as a foreign student. Edouard is an avid sports enthusiast and has played ice hockey at an international level, serving as a goalie for both Team Canada and Team France.

Adam Lajeunesse, PhD is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Public Policy and Governance program at St. Francis Xavier University. Currently a Fulbright Scholar (2024-5), he is part of the foundation’s Arctic Initiative, where he is continuing work on information operations begun as a Killam Scholar (2024) at the University of Calgary. Dr. Lajeunesse is also the Arctic and Maritime Security Chair at the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and the Director of the Canadian Maritime Security Network (CMSN), a Department of National Defence funded research network examining maritime defence, safety, and security. In addition, Lajeunesse is the Research Coordinator for the Naval Association of Canada and a Research Associate at the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies and a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

Zacharie attends the School of Journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. For years, he has understood that good, effective writing can have a monumental impact, not only in the political sphere but on society at large. Some of Zacharie’s favorite writers include Pulitzer Prize-winner Seymour Hersh and the firebrand Hunter S. Thompson. Zacharie is a longtime admirer of the visionary and bold leadership on which the United States was founded, and Washington D.C. is the perfect environment for him to learn and grow. As a journalist himself, Zacharie has written for both local and national newspapers. In his personal life, Zacharie most enjoys the company of his nuclear family. His brother is his best friend, and he owes the world to him for being the most loyal of buddies.

Dr. Analucía Lopezrevoredo (she/her) is a sociologist, experiential educator, and the founder and executive director of Jewtina y Co. She is dedicated to community development through an asset-based lens and specializes in designing technologies that connect diverse communities. In 2019, Analucía founded Jewtina y Co., a community organization with the mission to nurture Latin-Jewish identity, leadership, and resilience, and to strengthen coalitions between Jewish and Latino communities across English-speaking North America. Born in Lima, Perú, raised in Spain and California, and having called many parts of the world home, Analucía feels like a local to many places.Her research focuses on human migration, immigrant and diaspora identity development, and cross-cultural coalition building.

Jacob Marr is a finance & economics student at the University of Toronto's Rotman Commerce program. Jacob also takes courses remotely at Canada's northernmost university, Yukon University. Jacob has previously completed research projects on internet connectivity in Canada's territories, butterfly habitat restoration initiatives, and vegetation conservation. This year, he will be researching Canadian policy surrounding zero-emission vehicles. In his spare time, Jacob passionately explores long-distance hiking and genealogy (the study of family history).

Liam attended College of the Holy Cross, graduating in 2024 with a BA in Political Science and Sociology. During his time there, he completed two theses. One for the Washington Semester Program on the intersection between lobbying and systemic racism, as well as his Honors Thesis on Equal Protection Clause jurisprudence. Academically and professionally, he is interested in the relationship between law and social structure.

Ty Martin is a third-year undergraduate student at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, pursuing a BSc in Medical Sciences with a minor in Environmental Science. As a proud African Nova Scotian and first-generation university student, his identity profoundly influences his interests and career goals, focusing on environmental justice, social justice, and health equity. Ty actively engages in research, fascinated by the intersection of sociodemographic factors, environmental issues, and public health. Recently, he contributed to a global scoping review on uterine fibroids in Black people of African descent, conducted by the Multidisciplinary Black Research and Advocacy Centre. As a Killam Fellow, he looks forward to exploring these interests further at the University of Washington. Ty is excited to pursue a career in healthcare, where he can advocate for the health and well-being of underrepresented populations. Outside of academics, Ty enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, and walking his dog, Bugsy!

Sarah-Jane (Saje) Mathieu is Associate Professor of History at the University of Minnesota. She earned a joint PhD in History and African American Studies at Yale University and specializes in twentieth-century American, African Canadian, and African American history with an emphasis on immigration, war, race, globalization, social movements, and political resistance. Her first book North of the Color Line explores the social, cultural, legal, and political impact of African American and West Indian sleeping car porters in Canada. Her forthcoming book, The Glory of Their Deeds: A Global History of Black Soldiers and the Great War Era examines the experiences of Black soldiers and civilians during World War One, both in Allies and Central Powers nations.

R.M. McCrary, PhD, MFA, MPH(c) is a Creole public health humanist. Author (as Micah McCrary) of Teaching Cultural Dexterity in Creative Writing (Bloomsbury) and Island in the City (University of Nebraska) his work appears or is forthcoming through Interprofessional Graphic Medicine, the Health Humanities Consortium, the Canadian Association of Health Humanities, and the Graphic Medicine International Collective, among other venues. Dr. McCrary lives on Haudenosaunee homelands, where he is associate teaching professor in the Writing Studies and Health Humanities programs at Syracuse University. He also serves as mentor-teacher and low-residency faculty in Wilkes University’s Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing.

Dr. Medeiros (he/him) research interests focus on understanding the influence of environmental stress on freshwater systems, past, present, and future. He is particularly motivated in applying new methodologies to community-based research in the Arctic. His current research projects outline the influence of environmental change on aquatic trophic systems. This includes investigation of water security through the lens of sustainability and conservation, municipal planning, and engineering for freshwater supply services.

Dr. David Milward is a member of the Beardy's & Okemasis First Nation in Saskatchewan, and was previously an Associate Professor of Law with the University of Manitoba. He has numerous publications in international and leading national law journals in the areas of criminal law, evidence, and Indigenous justice. His first book, Aboriginal Justice and the Charter, won the K.D. Srivastrava Prize in 2012 for the best book published by U.B.C. Press that year. It was also short-listed for the Canadian Law and Society Association Book Prize Award that same year. His second book, The Art of Science in the Canadian Justice System: A Reflection on my Experiences as an Expert Witness, was co-authored with the late Dr. Charles Ferguson. The book describes Dr. Ferguson's experiences with calling into question deficient forensic science evidence in Canadian courts, particularly that of former Ontario forensic pathologist Dr. Charles Smith. He has also authored numerous reports. The Gladue Handbook, co-authored with Allard Hall Professor Debra Parkes, is well-received among both judges and lawyers. He assisted the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada with completing portions of its Final Reports that focused on Indigenous Justice Issues. He also completed a report titled Children Need Families, Not Courtrooms, for the Office of the Children's Advocate of Manitoba that explored the use of mediation-based alternatives for resolving child welfare matters.

Trevor Molin is from Wake Forest, North Carolina. Prior to studying in Canada, they have completed a Bachelor's degree from Elon University in Political Science and a Master's degree from the London School of Economics in Gender.

Dr. Mehnaaz Momen teaches Political Science and Public Administration courses in the Department of Social Sciences at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU). She worked at a nonprofit organization in Bangladesh and completed higher education in Halifax, Canada and Cleveland, Ohio. She is the author of The Paradox of Citizenship in America: Ideals and Reality (Palgrave, 2017), Political Satire, Postmodern Reality, and the Trump Presidency: Who Are We Laughing At? (Lexington Books, 2019), and Listening to Laredo: A Border City in a Globalized Age (University of Arizona Press, 2023).

Jannat is a second-year student at the University of Washington Tacoma majoring in Psychology and Social Welfare, and minoring in Global Engagement. She was born and raised in Iraq, and it lit up a passion in her to later return and help tackle some of the country's most pressing issues. She started her degree aiming to use her education to address the issue of intergenerational trauma that she observed in her home country. As she is further advancing in her education and gaining more experience, she is continuing to refine and update the problems that she chooses to work on in Iraq, including intergenerational trauma. She is hopeful that being an exchange student will allow her to explore more and open her eyes to how other countries tackle similar issues within their populations.

Shreya Nair is recent graduate of Harvard College (A.B. in Government and Molecular & Cellular Biology, 2024). She is enthusiastic about the intersection between biology, ethics, and the law -- and as such, is incredibly excited to be joining Prof. Chandler's team! Previously, she has worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (on maternal mortality & vaccination), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (on the health benefits of green spaces), the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State (on science diplomacy), and the offices of Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey and Assistant Speaker of the House Katherine Clark. In her free time, she loves watching opera and hiking.

Henry Nelson is a Clemson University student Majoring in Mathematical Sciences and Minoring in French Studies. Hobbies include reading, video games, sudoku, writing, philosophy, debate, and esports. —— Henry Nelson is un étudiant à Clemson University, majeure en sciences mathématiques et mineure en études françaises. Ses hobbies sont la lecture, les jeux vidéo, le sudoku, l'écriture, la philosophie, les débats et les sports électroniques.

Taylor Oddonetto is an Arizona native, an undergraduate student at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University, studying finance. During her years in high school, she concurrently earned her Associate's Degree in Business from Eastern Arizona College. Taylor's academic excellence displayed during high school earned her numerous scholarships, including the prestigious position of McCord Mentee. The McCord Scholarship recognizes the top 20 incoming business students with excellent academic ability and strong leadership skills. Taylor’s freshmen year was a testament to her academic commitment. She completed both semesters on the Dean’s list and Cumma Sum Laude. Her achievements were recognized by two professors who invited Taylor to be a supplemental instructor, a position she accepted this upcoming semester. Taylor joined the Arizona Microcredit Initiative during her first semester at ASU to enhance and contribute her business knowledge to the community.

For over three decades, Dr. Olsen’s research has focused on social inequality and strategies to eradicate it. His work examines the distributions of income, wealth, poverty and homelessness, illuminating inequality’s human dimensions - access to rights, inclusion, and the distribution of power. Published in six books and numerous peer-reviewed articles in prominent journals, his cross-national research has furthered understanding of inequality’s dramatic variation across nations. His expertise has been sought by professional associations, universities, research institutes and documentary filmmakers and taken him to over 25 nations, earning him the Faculty of Arts Internationalization Award. A dedicated educator, he has received several teaching awards, including the Faculty of Arts Teaching Excellence Award. He recently received the Faculty of Arts Outstanding Professor Award recognizing his contributions across his career. In 2023 he retired from teaching and was appointed Professor Emeritus.

Owen Oppenheimer is a sophomore pursuing a bachelor of science in economics at the University of Texas at Austin focusing on innovation and acquisition policy reform in the defense industrial base. He currently works at the Department of Defense’s Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) where he writes about counterinsurgency strategies in Latin America. Before joining the IWC, Mr. Oppenheimer worked in external relations for the Inter-American Defense College and as both an events coordinator and defense fellow at the Pericles Institute. In addition, he is a runner, biker, and card carrying member of the Texas State Society of Washington D.C. Mr. Oppenheimer has a professional certificate in political economy analysis from the United States Agency for International Development and has completed the Irregular Warfare course at the Defense Security Cooperation University.

Afshan Paarlberg is an interdisciplinary researcher and lawyer who engages in policy-driven work on philanthropy, migrants, law, and society. She is completing a Global Philanthropy Fellowship, where she leads a team to provide an updated mapping of the enabling environment for philanthropy across 90+ countries and economies in the Global Philanthropy Environment Index. She has a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and a B.B.A. and B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a Ph.D. candidate with the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Her dissertation examines the role of nonprofits in bridging access to legal representation for asylum seekers across legal deserts. She has presented at conferences and invited talks across the United States, Canada, Türkiye, Finland, Croatia, and Switzerland, and she recently published in the Nonprofit Policy Forum and VOLUNTAS. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with family.

Tessa is a soon-to-be third-year undergraduate neuroscience student at York University, interested in all things molecular but hoping to unravel the complex world of neuro-oncology. She is interested in pursuing an MD-PhD and currently does outreach work at local highschools to educate students on the blossoming field of neuroscience. She is an advocate for the homeless population and the issues they face, calling for improved and more dignified access to healthcare, as well as opposing the destruction of encampments without proper measures in place to care for displaced individuals. After shutting down over COVID-19, she revived an organization called Smile YEG in her hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, which provides home-cooked meals, toiletries, and clothes to the inner-city homeless population with compassion. Serving 500+ individuals a week, she hopes to introduce a healthcare aspect to better care for those who need it most. In her free time she loves filmmaking and would love to produce documentaries on topics that are important to her. Finally, she is learning Spanish and would love to someday speak multiple languages.

Jessica is from Kelowna BC, studying Biology at Dalhousie University, where she has remained on the Dean's List.

Katherine C. Pearson is a Professor of Law and the Arthur L. and Sandra S. Piccone Faculty Scholar at Penn State Dickinson Law. Her scholarship focuses on laws and policies connected to aging and she frequently includes age-related issues in her teaching of courses on contract law, conflicts of law and nonprofit organizations law. She is the author of articles and chapters on access to justice, long-term care, continuing care communities, financing and filial obligations, and is the co-author of a treatise, THE LAW OF FINANCIAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION. She has recently authored chapters for the RESEARCH HANDBOOK ON LAW, SOCIETY AND AGEING, forthcoming in 2024 as part of a series on law and society handbooks offered by international publisher Edward Elgar. She spent part of the 2024 summer riding horses around the Ring of Kerry in Ireland -- and spent 2009-10 as a Fulbright Fellow in Northern Ireland.

Zach Polis is a screenwriter, playwright, and former poet laureate. He studied screenwriting at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, as well as Scriptwriting for Film and Television at the National Film and Television School. He completed UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television’s Professional Program in both Producing and Screenwriting. Zach has been featured in the Street Style section of British Vogue, Vogue Italia’s “Best of” PhotoVogue, and Teen Vogue describes his style as brilliant. His poems have been featured on Vogue Italia’s PhotoVogue. He was St. Albert’s first poet laureate, acting as a literary and cultural ambassador to the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. He was one of the Edmonton Public Library’s Featured Writers, as well as Alberta Artist in Residence / Arts Ambassador. His artistic work has been supported by Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Alberta Film Commission, National Screen Institute, Edmonton Arts Council, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Canada Council for the Arts, and Writers' Trust of Canada.

Melissa A. Redford, Professor of Linguistics and Director of the Speech and Language Laboratory at the University of Oregon, is a phonetician with an interdisciplinary background and core interests in speech production, psycholinguistics, and communication disorder. Research in her lab takes a developmental approach to address the question: How do speakers turn language into the action that is speech? The research is designed to challenge common assumptions in the field and contribute to fundamental knowledge about spoken language behavior across the lifespan. Her work is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). When not teaching or collaborating with students and colleagues on research, Professor Redford serves her department, university, and the field. Since her last sabbatical, she served 6 years as Department Head and 3 years as a panel member on an NIH study section.

Taylor recently graduated from Towson University with a bachelor's degree in dance, minoring in Black performance theory. She led the national honours society for dance arts, facilitated dance workshops for children, and joined the advisory board of the National Dance Education Organization as the undergraduate student representative. Taylor also works several part-time jobs, serves as vice-president of her sorority chapter, and directs diversity and inclusion efforts for the National Pan-Hellenic Council, which brings together nine historically African American fraternities and sororities. She will pursue a Master of Arts in Education & Society at McGill, with a long-term goal of leading arts-based community programs for minority youth.

Mary Rodriguez is an associate professor of community leadership in the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State University. She holds a B.Sc. in Agricultural Sciences from Texas A&M University, an M.S. in Agricultural Education, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Extension and Community Development both from the University of Florida. Her focus on improving food security and strengthening the food system through exploration of behavior change and household and community resilience has led her to work with immigrant communities in Columbus and with subsistence agricultural communities in the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Mary was recently honored as a Provost’s Midcareer Scholars: Scarlet and Gray Associate Professor, received the USDA Excellence in College and University Teaching in Food and Agricultural Sciences “Early Career” Award, and inducted as an Association of International Agriculture and Extension Education Fellow. She is a lover of travel, exploring new cultures, and eating great food.

Sarah is a third year astrophysics major at Arizona State University with a minor in studio art. She is an alumni of the ASU/NASA Space Grant program, where she observed and analyzed distant galaxies, aiming to understand the influence of the cosmic environment on their evolution. She is continuing this research beyond the program’s length and hopes to gain insight on her research questions during her time in Toronto. Beyond astrophysics, Sarah loves exploring different creative outlets, both through physical media like painting and ceramics, and through digital animations with various computer programs. She also enjoys discovering the world through travel and exposing herself to different cultures.

Vinicius de Aguiar Sanchez (b. 1987, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice spans animation, print, sculpture and sound. His works address imaginaries from diasporas, Latin American folklore, and science fiction. Conjuring a range of beings, Sanchez reflects on embodied perspectives of a layered immigrant experience. Sanchez has exhibited in international exhibitions and film festivals, including the Galerie Leonard and Ellen Bina, Montréal, QC (CA), The R.C. Williams Museum Paper Animation Film Festival, Atlanta, GA (USA), the MIT Sciex Film Festival, Cambridge, MA (USA), and The Center for Book Arts, NY (USA). He is a recent graduate of the Masters of Fine Arts program at Concordia University and has attended Tufts University/School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (B.F.A. 2011) and the Studio Arts Center International in Florence, Italy, (Post Baccalaureate 2012).

A clinical social worker currently in private practice, Albert was previously a clinical supervisor at The Puerto Rican Family Institute in New York City and later spent more than a decade as a family therapist at Momentous Institute in Dallas, where he served primarily Spanish-speaking families. Albert is especially interested in the challenges faced by immigrants to the US. He has lived in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, and he spent a semester at the Poitiers campus of Sciences Po.

Hornist and scholar Sarah Schmalenberger brings a creative mindset to projects ranging from performance to publications. From her conservatory training as an orchestral hornist, she branched out into unconventional areas to learn improvisation and experimental techniques. As a musicologist, Schmalenberger has pursued topics that expand the field of inquiry to include not only marginalized voices but also unexplored assumptions about what (and who) creates music. The Fulbright award will support her research inquiry into ways that collaborative music-making can facilitate Sustainability

Stefan Simon is since 2005 Director of the Rathgen Research Laboratory with the National Museums Berlin, Germany. The German-American heritage scientist earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich. Simon has broad experience in trans-disciplinary research, specializing in material deterioration diagnostics, micro-analytics, climatology, and non-destructive mechanical testing. He served as a Council Member and Vice President of ICCROM, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property. From 2008-2018 he has been President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites’ (ICOMOS) Scientific Committee for Stone (ISCS). As Inaugural Director of Yale’s Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Director of Yale’s Global Cultural Heritage Initiatives (2014-2019), Stefan Simon prioritized the advancement of sustainable conservation strategies triggered by the global climate crisis and the green museum debate. He is a leading voice in the international “Culture in Crisis” debate and acting on public stage as advocate against illicit traffic of cultural property and for the study of authenticity questions. Between 2001 and 2005, he led the Building Materials Section at the Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles. Simon is a corresponding member of the German Archaeological Institute, and been recognized with Honorary Professorships at X´ian Jiaotong University, China, and the Technical University Berlin. He has co-authored and published more than 150 articles on the preservation of cultural heritage.

Kathy Snow is a Full Professor and the Graduate Studies Coordinator in the Faculty of Education at UPEI. Her research is grounded in approaches to well-being and resilience within education and leadership. As a former Science and Technology educator, as well as calling Nunavut her first home, her research is underpinned by understandings of place, land-based education and issues of systemic (in)justice. As a settler with Mennonite heritage she views schools and schooling as a critical space for reconciliation through consensus building and compassion for one another. She has been the recipient of multiple SSHRC and ArcticNet research awards, however it is the unrecognized work implicated in the shifting tides of Federal and Provincial education funding and policy which most encourages her own resilience.

Kaite Souch is a proud member of Upper Similkameen First Nation, and currently attends Mount Allison University. Born and raised in the beautiful Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, she has since ventured out East in pursuit of post-secondary education. As an Indigenous Studies Major, Kaite spends most of her time working collaboratively with local Indigenous communities, learning from the land, and advocating for Indigenous Rights. Recipient of the 2024 J.E.A. Crake Indigenous Student Scholarship, and current Indigenous Student Senator, Kaite strives to foster reconciliation and create a safe space for Indigenous students within the Mount Allison community. When she's not busy studying, Kaite enjoys fishing, biking, singing, and spending time with friends and family - as well as taking care of her pet snake!

Erin is an undergraduate history major at American University. She is interested in modern Eastern European history, especially nineteenth and twentieth century “national revival” movements & the renewed interest in premodern culture. At the University of Alberta, she hopes to learn more about Ukrainian history and folk culture, as well as the Ukrainian Canadian diaspora. She aspires to pursue her PhD after undergrad. In her free time, Erin enjoys listening to music, birdwatching, and spending time with her cats.

Romilla Syed is an associate professor of information systems and the graduate program director at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her research interests center on cybersecurity and the bright and dark sides of digital platforms. She employs computational, data analytics, and artificial intelligence-based approaches to pursue an interdisciplinary research agenda with the overarching goal of monitoring and protecting the digital information space. Her recent research on designing artificial intelligence applications to counter fabricated dissent while preserving democratic discourses has garnered external funding from several organizations. Her research contributions have received several accolades, including “Best Paper” awards at prestigious conferences for her work on digital organizing and toxic communications. She serves on the editorial boards of several leading journals and conferences. Romilla earned her Ph.D. in Computer Information Systems from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a dog lover, avid runner, and yogi-in-training.

Genevieve “Genna” Symonds is a rising senior at Bridgewater State University studying Criminal Justice and Political Science. In her free time, she works with individuals with special needs and hopes to pursue a career that combines this with her love of social justice. She has dreamed of living in Canada since childhood and is so grateful for the opportunity to live in Ottawa through her Killam Fellowship.

A student at the University of Ottawa studying Health Sciences, she is a multilingual enthusiast fluent in English, Bangla, French, and Spanish. Her diverse upbringing spans cities such as Ithaca, Columbia, Toronto, Dhaka, and Ottawa. She completed the International Certificate Program and the International Baccalaureate Program, showcasing her dedication to a global education. Working as an interpreter, she bridges language gaps and also thrives in scientific research competitions, reflecting her commitment to academic excellence and cross-cultural understanding. Passionate about cultural exploration and open to new experiences, she looks forward to studying at American University this fall and exploring Washington, DC.

Mariam Thalos (PhD University of Illinois, Chicago, 1993) is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She taught at the State University of New York at Buffalo and the University of Utah, before joining the faculty of the University of Tennessee as Head of the Department of Philosophy in 2018. She is primarily a Philosopher of Science, focusing on physical, decisional and human sciences, including formal decision and game theories, and network models of human interaction. She is also active on philosophical topics around existentialism, phenomenology and theories of freedom. She is currently working on a monograph on how humans reason, highlighting its contrasts with AI. Mariam is a watercolorist, and writes philosophical humor in her free time.

Jaye Johnson Thiel, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Childhood Studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Alabama (UA), USA. Her scholarship explores children and youth hobbies, art making, and play to rethink how communities might develop practices and policies that expand understandings of the constructions of childhood in the Southeastern United States as well as what it means to engage in community literacies. Jaye has published many articles and chapters in her field, including coediting the book: Posthumanism and Literacy Education: Knowing/Being/Doing Literacies. Jaye received her PhD at the University of Georgia, USA. Before receiving her PhD, she was an educator (PK-grade 5) and before that she proudly worked in the service industry, including taking orders for bus parts, sweeping hair, and serving food at a local restaurant.

Jaye Johnson Thiel, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Childhood Studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Alabama (UA), USA. Her scholarship explores children and youth hobbies, art making, and play to rethink how communities might develop practices and policies that expand understandings of the constructions of childhood in the Southeastern United States as well as what it means to engage in community literacies. Jaye has published many articles and chapters in her field, including coediting the book: Posthumanism and Literacy Education: Knowing/Being/Doing Literacies. Jaye received her PhD at the University of Georgia, USA. Before receiving her PhD, she was an educator (PK-grade 5) and before that she proudly worked in the service industry, including taking orders for bus parts, sweeping hair, and serving food at a local restaurant.

Jackson Todd was born and raised in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana and moved to New York City to complete his undergraduate work at Hunter College. Coming from a smaller, more conservative town, Todd became fascinated by the contrasts he saw between urban and rural politics as he lived in New York. When he continued his education by studying for a masters degree at The New School for Social Research, Todd often reflected on where he was from while focusing his research on the urban-rural divide in American politics. Since moving to New York, he has published work on urban labor politics in the Village Voice and Metropolitics, and has also commented on U.S.-Canadian relations in Canada’s National Observer and the Watershed Sentinel.

Annika Urquhart-Mladineo, a dedicated 4th-year Finance student from Acadia University, is preparing to pursue her finance degree as a Killam Fellow at Arizona State University. She has consistently demonstrated academic excellence, receiving prestigious awards such as the Donald F. Reed Finance Award, the Singapore Alumni Class of 1987 Scholar, and the Dominion Trust Scholarship in Business. Annika has also earned a place on the Dean's List and actively participates in organizations like Women in Capital Markets and the Acadia Women in Business Society. Outside of academics, Annika enjoys playing indoor and beach volleyball, as well as spending time outdoors doing activities such as hiking, running, and paddleboarding.

Dr. Valdez, born in Peru, is a renowned immunologist. Her research journey began studying H. pylori a bacterium that induces gastritis, ulcers and cancer. Later, she studied T & B cell interactions before delving into the novel concepts of the immune responses to the intracellular pathogen Salmonella and the impact on human diseases. Following postdoctoral work, she led a team at StemCell Technologies focused on innate immunity. She returned to academia and managed the Research Office at the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Currently, she is an invited lecturer in many Universities in South America Committed to equity, diversity and inclusion Dr. Valdez is a champion for underrepresented groups, recognized as a “Women Leader of the Americas” and nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award. She actively contributes to the IUIS education committee and founded @ImmunoLatinXs. A proud mother of two, Dr. Valdez's passion for science and social justice inspires many

Finn Vamosi is a fourth year Computer Science student fleeing the cold winters endured at the University of Calgary. He has worked as an undergraduate researcher on two connected deep learning projects involving causally-generated brain scans, the first culminating in the co-authorship of a conference proceeding for the SPIE Journal of Medical Imaging (MACAW 3D, Ohara et al.). Before that, he developed an immersive virtual reality experience in Unreal Engine for teaching cell biology, designing 3D models and succumbing to nausea while playtesting. His work in both labs has been funded by NSERC and Alberta Innovates. Finn's academic and extra-curricular efforts earned him the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarship, as well as a handful of other entering and continuing awards at UCalgary, including the President’s Admission Scholarship. Outside academics, Finn is a veteran volunteer at the Campus Food Bank, helping alleviate food insecurity for students and faculty in need.

Madison recently graduated from Boston University with her bachelor’s degree in Astronomy & Physics. Passionate about research, she has explored diverse topics in astrophysics from dying stars to machine learning to distant planets. She was recognized as a Goldwater Scholar and a Universities’ Space Research Association Distinguished Undergraduate for her work modeling the evolution of exoplanets. Madison shared her love of astrophysics with others as President of the Boston University Astronomical Society, a learning assistant in first-year physics courses, and as a mentor to underclassmen students. She is excited to further her research as a Fulbright Student at the University of Toronto.

I am currently in my second last year finishing my Bachelor degree in Labour Studies all while studying for my Law School Admissions Test with the intention to become a lawyer specializing in corporate law. While completing my undergrad I have enrolled myself in the Law Plus Program at Brock University which allows me to embrace my passion for law to my fullest potential all while working on my studies. As I am currently enrolled in university I am also actively volunteering amongst my society in accordance to help citizens within the community come together, all while helping these organizations with their administrative and marketing tasks.

Aubrey L. Westfall is a Professor of Political Science at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts (Ph.D., University of Colorado 2010). Her research explores the policies and sociopolitical practices regulating the political behavior of minoritized groups within Western democratic societies. She is the author of multiple articles and books, including The Politics of Immigration in Scotland (Edinburgh University Press, 2022), and The Politics of the Headscarf in the United States (Cornell University Press, 2018). At Wheaton, she teaches courses on comparative and international politics in Europe, international organizations, and migration.

Taylor is an Anishinaabe/Ininew/Filipina woman from Fisher River Cree Nation (Ochekwi Sipi) with connections to Fairford First Nation (Pinaymootang), Peguis First Nation, and the Ilocano region of the Philippines. She holds a Bachelor's in Cultural Anthropology and Conflict Resolution (2016), a Master's in Development Practice: Indigenous Development (2020) and a Public Health Certificate from the University of North Dakota (2023). She is set to attend the Public Health Ph.D. program at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. She holds knowledge and skills in anti-colonial frameworks, ethics, evaluation, and Indigenous health and well-being through her work with various academic and community organizations such as the University of Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba, RRC Polytech, the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba, and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. When not working, Taylor spends time with her family and various pets, teaching herself how to bead and trying new recipes in the kitchen.

Mattias Zeni is a 3rd year Mathematics & Systems Engineering student at Queen's University, attending the University of Washington as a Fulbright Killam Fellow during the Autumn 2024 quarter. Fascinated by the microprocessor development process, Mattias aspires to introduce new application-optimized computer systems to the world.