Graduate Awards

William Grenville Davis, PC, CC, OOnt, QC, is a former Minister of Education and Premier of Ontario. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election and became a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under Premier John Robarts, he was minister of education.

In 1964, Davis was given additional responsibilities as Ontario's Minister of University Affairs, and held both portfolios until 1971. He soon developed a reputation as a strongly interventionist minister, and oversaw a dramatic increase in education expenditures throughout the 1960s.  Between 1962 and 1971, education spending in Ontario grew by 454%. He established many new public schools, often in centralized locations to accommodate larger numbers of students.

Davis established new public universities as minister, including Trent University and Brock University, and established the province's community college system. He was also responsible for the establishment of Canada's first educational research institute, the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) in 1965, and the establishment of the Ontario Educational Communications Authority educational television network (now TVOntario) in 1970.

He succeeded Robarts as Premier of Ontario in 1971 and held the position until resigning in 1985.

Nethma Hapuarachchi (2023)

Nethma Hapuarachchi is a full-time graduate student in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at Toronto Metropolitan. She graduated with distinction from Toronto Metropolitan university with a major in Politics and Governance and minors in Criminology, Philosophy and Psychology. Outside of school, Nethma has a diverse volunteering portfolio that has contributed to a number of social community programs such as interviews and research with incarcerated people, volunteering at food banks and shelters, mentoring students and non-profit journalism. Growing up low-income in a racialized family, Nethma became extremely aware of the many inequities and systemic barriers that impede marginalized communities. This, along with her academic and volunteer experience has strengthened her passion for social justice. She hopes to pursue research and a career dedicated to social welfare programs and equitable socio-economic policies for marginalized communities. 

Amber Robidoux (2023)

Amber is a dedicated full-time student in TMU's Master of Public
Policy and Administration Program. Her academic focus revolves around
human rights, with a particular passion for Indigenous issues in
Canada. Amber has complemented her academic pursuits with a wealth of
volunteer experiences, including grant writing for Durham Alliance
Outreach, mentoring special needs youth with Extend-A-Family, and
serving as a task force member on the finance and fund development
board with Big Brothers Big Sisters. These experiences have deepened
her understanding of the practical impact of public policy. Upon
completion of the MPPA program, Amber aspires to advocate for
Indigenous rights, reconciliation, and a just and equitable future for
all Canadians.

Shayna Sayers (2023)

Shayna Sayers is a full-time graduate student in the Masters of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at Toronto Metropolitan University. She graduated with High Distinction from University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Women and Gender Studies & Sexual Diversity Studies. While completing her undergraduate degree, Shayna worked as the Program Coordinator of Planned Parenthood Toronto’s Teens Educating And Confronting Homophobia (T.E.A.C.H.) program, training and supporting youth in delivering 2SLGBTQ+ education workshops in schools and community settings across Toronto and the GTA. Shayna also volunteered as a Peer Counsellor at UofT’s Sexual Education Centre, and worked as a Workshop Facilitator with CANVAS Arts Action Programs, as well as a Peer Researcher at Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre. Upon graduating from the MPPA program, Shayna is planning to pursue work in social policy and is interested in exploring how peer support and education models could be applied to public consultation practices to increase trust and engagement in democratic institutions. 

Sabreena Bapoo (2022)

Sabreena Bapoo is a full-time graduate student in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at Toronto Metropolitan University (2022-2023). She graduated with High Distinction from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a double specialization in research and public policy, with a management option. While completing her undergraduate degree, Sabreena participated in the co-operative education program and had the opportunity to work in both the non-profit and the private sector, supporting learning and development initiatives. During her time at Wilfrid Laurier, Sabreena is most proud of founding the Laurier for Canadian Civil Liberties Association (LCCLA). With her team, Sabreena collaborated with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association to host workshops, focusing on current issues facing Canadians including reproductive justice, privacy rights, and religious freedoms. Upon graduating from Toronto Metropolitan University, Sabreena strives to utilize her perspective as a woman of colour to apply an intersectional lens to various policy areas, including education and healthcare. 

Alexa Chapelle (2022) 

Alexa Chapelle is a full-time graduate student in the Master in Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) program at Toronto Metropolitan University. She graduated with first-class honours from York University, Glendon College with an Honour’s Bilingual Bachelor’s Degree Specializing in Political Science. The highlight of her undergraduate studies was her participation in the C4 Capstone Classroom; an experiential education program where students work in interdisciplinary teams on real-world challenges with social impact. Through the program, she worked as a student researcher to develop a software application that connects dementia residents in long-term care and their families. She also worked with MaRS and C4, as project manager, to redesign outdoor spaces to be more accessible year-round for low-income marginalized groups in Scarborough. In addition to her studies, Alexa has been very involved in providing support to a family member in their journey with mental health challenges. She has witnessed first-hand the barriers to treatment, lack of resources, and toll it takes on families. While these projects and personal experiences have provided her with hands-on experience, they have instilled in her a strong desire to have an impact in areas, such as healthcare reform and health policy. In pursuing a MPPA, her hope is to build on the professional and academic capacity that will allow her to address these multi-dimensional issues and create meaningful solutions upon graduating. 

Bethany Smith (2022)

Bethany Smith is a full-time student in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at Toronto Metropolitan University. She graduated with the highest distinction from Saint Mary’s University with a double major in Political Science and French, in addition to a certificate in Atlantic Canada Studies. Through her undergraduate studies and her continued summer employment with the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists, Bethany garnered an interest in public policy, particularly within the health domain. Upon graduating from the MPPA program, she hopes to pursue a career in the development and delivery of health and social policies to ensure equitable access to services for all Canadians. 

Julie Anker (2021)

Julie Anker is a full-time student in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at [TMU]. She graduated from Western University with an Honours Specialization in Political Science. During her undergraduate career, Julie volunteered at Mine101, which is a second-hand clothing store that is affiliated with Anova. Anova provides safes places, shelter, support, counselling, and resources for women and their children. Julie also had the opportunity to be a representative for the USC Women in House initiative where she shadowed a female Member of Parliament for a day in Ottawa. This experience helped Julie develop personal and professional awareness of women’s representation in Parliament. Julie is passionate about women’s rights and will continue to advocate for women’s rights upon receiving her degree.

Victoria Faria (2021)

Victoria Faria is a full-time graduate student in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at [TMU] (2021-2022). She graduated with distinction from the University of Guelph with an Honours specialization in Justice Studies and a diploma in Community and Justice Services from Humber College. During her undergraduate studies, Victoria contributed to many community engagements, such as assisting with the reintegration of those who have been incarcerated, advocacy for those wrongfully convicted, and peer mentorship for children with disabilities. Her community engagement has developed her professional ambition to alleviate inequities, promote social justice, and advance social mobility. Upon graduation, Victoria is committed to pursuing a career in the interest of equitable socio-economic policies to support marginalized communities through community-led initiatives and consistent stakeholder engagement. 

Evangeline Lu (2021)

Evangeline Lu is a full-time student in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program (2021-2022) at [TMU]. She has been a healthcare professional for over five years with experience providing health services in rural communities, clinics, and hospital settings. She holds three Bachelor’s Degrees with Honors in Chemical Biology, Health Sciences, and Nursing with consistent high academic standing. She has diverse volunteering experience over the past decade, ranging from ESL tutoring at community centers to helping clients with schizophrenia in day programs to health promotion activities at the local youth shelter. She is driven to do the best she can for her community because she understands the differences that these changes can make for individuals from marginalized communities, having grown up facing language barriers, social isolation, and financial insecurities as a first-generation immigrant. Most recently, she had been working on the frontlines as a Registered Nurse during the pandemic as well as a contractor for the Ministry of Health in COVID-19 case management, focusing on the delivery of public health policies. As a nurse, she’s had the privilege to advocate for patients, their families, and the nursing profession on issues of health disparity and social injustice. Bringing her experience and insight from healthcare, Evangeline hopes to pursue a career in public service to continue to make a difference for people of all walks of life by participating in the making and delivery of fair, balanced, and equitable social and health policies.

Natassja Bilinski (2020)

The unique challenges associated with stewardship of the complex body politic of Canada motivated Natassja to pursue a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration at [TMU] with a focus on citizen-oriented governance; specifically, how public consultations might offer an integrous process of generating informed democratic engagement and anti-oppressive policies and theories. As the first in her family to pursue a post-secondary degree, Natassja is keenly aware of the importance of education for self-empowerment and community building. Recently graduated from the University of Waterloo (UW) in Honours Political Science and Legal Studies, Natassja has been privileged to hone and accrue knowledge in public policy and law from a diverse curriculum, mentorship from a variety of scholars, and experiential opportunities, so as to diversify her intellectual capacities and develop her personal interest in political education and legal advocacy. These experiences culminated in the writing of an original honours essay on agglomeration economics (“Location, the Crux of Cluster Economics: A Case Study of Toronto’s Financial Services Cluster”). Natassja supplemented these scholastic achievements with a myriad of legal and public policy-relevant extracurricular commitments such as: Director of Education and Outreach, UW Model Parliament; Assistant Director, UW Model G20; Competitor, UW Model United Nations; Director of Relations, UW Undergraduate Mock Trial; and Competitor, Osgoode Cup Moot Court Competition. These collaborative experiences taught her how to cultivate trust and legitimacy, steer vibrant legal and political discussions, and listen to the voices of students with diverse backgrounds and interests. Natassja hopes to prosper as a capable and integrous participant within the larger legal-policy environment of Canada.

Glyn Narca (2020)

Glyn Narca is a Masters of Arts in Public Policy Candidate at [TMU]. She graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Equity Studies. During her undergraduate career, Glyn worked with the Filipino Students’ Association of Toronto (FSAT) in organizing the mentorship program for young Filipino students. She also worked as a Youth Settlement Work providing social services to newcomer youth in Toronto, which she continued on after graduation. Her interest lies in not only advocating for, but also working with, the Filipino community in Canada in addressing the unique challenges experienced by the community through public policy. Upon receiving her degree, she intends to help develop alternative policies that will be beneficial to newcomer youth in Canada.

Maria Rodriguez (2020)

Maria Rodrigues is a full-time student (2020-21) in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at [TMU]. She was born in Colombia and, at the age of six, immigrated with her family to Canada with hopes of escaping violence and finding a better life and future. The family settled first in Peterborough, and then in St. Catharines. She holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Brock University (2017), and was awarded the Distinguished Graduating Student Award for graduating with the highest academic standing in the program. During undergraduate degree studies, she had the opportunity to organize a Women In House shadow program aimed at increasing female participation in politics. Since graduation, she has worked as a program manager for an expense management firm, focusing on telecommunications policy and implementation. In 2019, she decided to transition her career and focus on her passion for policy. After finishing the MPPA program she hopes to pursue a career in the public sector pertaining to immigration and social policy - which are her main areas of interest, with the hope of making a difference to immigrant and vulnerable communities.

Chante Barnwell (2019)

Chante Barnwell is a full-time student in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at [TMU]. Born in Toronto, Canada, Chante is a multidisciplinary visual artist, documentarian and scholar, who in 2014, obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree, Specialist in Art and Culture, Major in Studio (Visual Arts) and a Minor in Art History from the University of Toronto. In 2018, she graduated from [TMU] with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Documentary Media and has held leadership positions in several local, national and international initiatives, accumulating over 5000 volunteer hours. Due to her academic excellence and community contributions to various organizations across the City of Toronto, Chante was selected as the 2009 (OCNA) Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year award winner, representing Scarborough and was honoured by the former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable David C. Onley, at a ceremony in the Ontario Legislative building, Queen’s Park. While conducting research for her MFA degree, she became interested in the social and political implications of cultural policy, which led her to pursue a second Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration. Upon graduating from the MPPA program in 2020, she will continue to contribute her time to community initiatives that focus on social justice, art, culture and citizen-centred policy implementation in Canada.

Lucas Meilach-Boston (2019)

Lucas Meilach-Boston is currently enrolled in the Masters in Public Policy and Administration program at [TMU]. Lucas graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Cultural Studies in 2014, and spent the intervening five years pursuing a variety of passions. He has worked as the program manager at a small non-profit organization fighting food insecurity through urban harvesting and food skills training programs, and as a community researcher seeking to identify policy options to support young artists impacted by the gig economy. He has also toured across North America in a (still) emerging rock band, and has spent considerable time in Labrador with Innu First Nations elder and activist Elizabeth Tshaukuesh Penashue. Having learned a tremendous amount from these experiences, he aims to bring a commitment to community-based policy development and a uniquely creative perspective to his studies and future professional work in public policy.

Chinelle Mcdonald (2018)

Chinelle was a student in the Masters of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at [TMU]. She completed her Bachelor of Social Work, also at [TMU], with a minor in Sociology. Chinelle has supported marginalized youth and their families across the City of Toronto in various capacities. She assisted homeless and street involved youth with getting their lives back on track by connecting them with support services across the GTA. She completed two internships at the City of Toronto where she worked in Councillor Mike Layton’s office as well as designed a program evaluation tool in the Social Development, Finance and Administration department. Chinelle has also been very involved on campus where she has supported First Generation students and assisted first year resident students with their transition into university over the past 4 years. Chinelle hopes to become an agent of change in revolutionizing the secondary education system to create one that is more restorative and inclusive of the various ways students learn

Alyas Omeed (2018)

Alyas pursued his MA in Public Policy and Administration at [TMU]. In addition, he holds two bachelor degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Sociology, and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.). He was born in Afghanistan, and is a Canadian citizen. He lost his eyesight at the age of seven due to the civil war in Afghanistan in 1992. A grenade landed on the family home one afternoon and he immediately lost vision in his left eye. Within one hour, he lost all of his vision in his right eye. Any hope of emergency medical attention was absent due to conflicts in the area.

Over the years, Alyas’ life has shown him how war is destructive. His responses to life's challenges have taught him how human rights presents all with opportunities to progress and thrive. As a result, his focus throughout life has been to work in the field of human rights and public policy, to make a difference – even if it is small –  in his life and in the lives of other people.

Alyas is interested in continuing his human rights activism given his life experiences and graduate degree in Public Policy and Administration. Because he understands the challenges that minorities have gone through, he likes to be a voice for minorities in society by providing policy recommendation to better accommodate them. He understands because he has visited so many countries, understands cultural sensitivities, and is himself a visually impaired person.

Mavis Chan (2017)

Mavis is a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration Candidate at [TMU]. She graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor’s of Environmental Studies, in which she took part in the co-operative education program and had the opportunity to work in the private, and public sectors and in a startup. During her last year of undergraduate studies, she started an organization to engage the youth vote in the 2015 federal election. Her interests lie in climate change policy, democratic reform, and youth engagement. Having lived and worked in different cities across Canada, Mavis is interested in a career in federal politics and playing a role in representing individuals across Canada.

Anum Dhalwani (2017)

Anum Dhalwani is a student in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at [TMU]. Having spent a majority of her childhood and youth in Pakistan, Anum noted the ways in which a lack of inclusive policies affected the most marginalized and vulnerable.  Subsequently, she pursued a Bachelors in Economics, at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, focusing specifically on development policies for the poorest of the poor. Post-graduation, she worked with various social development organizations for low-income communities in Pakistan. After immigrating to Canada, she continued her work for social justice by working with non-profits such as Youth Challenge International, and The Lung Association. Working with these community-based organizations informed her further of the need for evidence-based policies in ensuring that the needs of the most vulnerable in the community are met. Anum is currently pursuing a co-op placement at the Ministry of Infrastructure, where she is working on design-thinking to ensure that infrastructure investments reach communities which need them the most. Upon graduating from this program, she hopes to continue using evidence-based policy in the Ontario Public Service to ensure that policies developed are inclusive to the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Shannon Donnelly (2016)

Shannon Donnelly is a student in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at [TMU]. Shannon graduated from Trent University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree with a Joint Major in History and English Literature, and earned President’s Honour Roll status. She also holds a Bachelor of Education degree and is an Ontario Certified Teacher, qualified to teach all grade levels. In addition to teaching for two public school boards, she has been a Coordinator for both a nonprofit organization and a municipal government within the City Clerk’s Office. She plans to continue to contribute to the public sector through development, analysis and implementation of policies that focus on efficiency, transparency and innovation. Shannon’s diverse work, volunteer and academic experience motivate her to continue making a positive and lasting impact in her community.

Beth Spratt (2016)

Beth Spratt is currently pursuing an MA in Public Policy and Administration at [TMU]. She holds a BA in Political Studies as well as a JD from Queen's University. She completed an LL.M. at the University of Toronto in 2011. Beth practiced in immigration and refugee, civil litigation, and estates law before deciding to focus her passion for social justice into a career in public policy. She is interested in working on issues faced by marginalized communities, particularly women and girls, and hopes to work on policy alternatives that help address and alleviate injustices faced by these communities.

Eglantina Bacaj-Gondia (2015)

Eglantina Bacaj-Gondia is pursuing her Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at [TMU].  After attaining her BA in Psychology from the College of New Rochelle in the US, Eglantina worked in the nonprofit sector providing social services to torture survivors, individuals impacted by natural disasters, and sexual assault survivors.  She is interested in immigration policy, particularly in refugee resettlement issues.  Eglantina hopes to influence the development of specialized programs to address the multifaceted needs of refugees seeking asylum in Canada.

Kenneth Santos (2015)

Kenneth Santos is a candidate in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at [TMU]. He holds an Honours Bilingual Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and French Studies (Minor) from Glendon College at York University and a Bachelor of Education degree (Concurrent) from York University. He is an Ontario Certified Teacher and has been teaching at the Toronto Catholic District School Board since 2012. He is also a social justice advocate for the Filipino Canadian community through the Magkaisa Centre, a progressive Filipino Canadian organization based in Toronto. He is interested in education, labour, immigration, settlement and LGBTQ issues in public policies. Upon completion of the program, he intends to help develop alternative policies that will be of benefit to racialized, immigrant and other marginalized communities in Canada.

Tara Disenhouse (2014)

Tara Disenhouse is a student in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at [TMU]. Tara holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Kinesiology from Western University, where she delved into the dynamic interaction of exercise and science. During her undergraduate career, Tara worked for the Chief of Cardiology at SickKids Hospital, where she published two medical research papers found in the Journal of Physiological Science. As well, she was chosen to help run a study on accessibility and diversity for the Chief of Geriatric Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. Tara’s time spent volunteering in a variety of integrated healthcare environments taught her how important it is for healthcare organizations to integrate their services, to create accessible, appropriate and comprehensive care pathways for the community. Tara hopes to one day become an influential leader in healthcare policy-making. She hopes to profoundly change lives, by improving a community’s ability to deliver quality healthcare, in an effective, caring and compassionate manner.

Xheni Foto (2014)

Xheni Foto is a student in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at [TMU]. Xheni graduated summa cum laude with a Honours Double Major in Political Science and Law and Society at York University. As a legal assistant, Xheni experienced first-hand the Canadian legal system and the application of laws to real life situations. This, combined with her volunteering experience within non-for profit organizations that assist new immigrants, individuals coming from low-income families and domestic abuse, are what have shaped her career goals. Xheni would like to utilize her academic background and experience in order to build a stronger, safer, and healthier community through policies and a commitment to justice and equity.

Gwen Hughes (2013)

Gwen Hughes is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration at [TMU]. In addition to receiving the St. George’s Society of Toronto award, she is also the recipient of a Toronto Met Graduate Fellowship (formerly RGA). She completed her Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies at the University of Winnipeg, where she received numerous awards including the Margaret Penwarden Scholarship. Following her undergraduate degree, Gwen worked in various governmental and non-governmental positions in Canada, the United States, and Brazil. Most recently, Gwen worked for 6 years with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation. Upon completion of her Masters, Gwen plans to pursue a role in the provincial government focused on community economic development. She would like to develop policy that assists youth and new immigrants to access entrepreneurship opportunities. Gwen enjoys travel, music and the arts, and loves spending time with her husband and daughter Amaya.

Alzira Islamovic (2013)

Alzira Islamovic is Master of Public Policy and Administration Candidate at [TMU].  Alzira holds Batchelor of Arts Degree from Simon Fraser University, with major in sociology. She also holds certificate in British Columbia United Way Public Policy Institute. During her undergraduate career, Alzira published a paper in the local student newspaper on Canadian immigration system, and she was chosen to present a working paper at SFU Conference on the new work in social research. While attending university, she worked in telecommunication industry where she held several managerial positions.  Alzira’s passion to social equality, justice and fairness led her to volunteer and eventually obtain a position at MOSAIC, one of the most reputable settlement agencies in Vancouver. Her hobbies include tutoring, creative writing, and biking.  Alzira hopes to one day, continues making a difference in the lives of newcomers to Canada by working in the department of Citizenship and Immigration.