The Samuel Fellowship empowers students, recent graduates, youth, and people with lived experience to carry out innovative research that will inspire local and global action to build community and belonging. Check out the short profile below of each Fellow, the partner organization, and area of research.

All Fellows

Fellow Name	Report	Issue Area	Organization	Fellowship Year	Impact Location
Suad Ahmed	Suad Ahmed (she/her) is a community-based researcher with a passion for advancing social justice knowledge. With extensive experience in various...	Anti-Racism	Coastal Research, Education, and Advocacy Network (CREAN)	2024	Canada	View Fellow
Stanford Ndlovu	Stanford Ndlovu (he/him) holds a bachelors degree in Education and Honours degree in Teacher Education and Professional Development both from...	Youth, Leadership	Synergos	2024	South Africa	View Fellow
Shaznay Waugh	Shaznay (she/they) is a Two-Spirit Dënesųłiné and white youth from Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́, Denendeh. She is about to enter her fourth-year...	Indigenous	Qmunity Camp NWT	2024		View Fellow
Sarah Combs	Sarah (she/her) recently graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BSPH in Environmental Health Sciences...	Climate Change	Data-Driven Envirolab	2024	United States of America	View Fellow
Samantha Luntha Chikopa	Samantha (she/her) was raised in a tight knit family of 5 in the warm heart of Africa – Malawi. She...	Global Health	Partners in Health	2024	Malawi	View Fellow
Ruth Tamari	Ruth Tamari (she/her) is currently working on a Masters degree at McMaster University in Health and Aging, focusing her thesis...	Older Persons	HelpAge Canada	2024	Canada	View Fellow
Pallav Singh	Pallav (they/them) holds a postgraduate degree in Public Policy and Governance from Azim Premji University, Bangalore, India. Passionate about rights-based...	Peacebuilding	Seeds of Peace	2024	India	View Fellow
Nat Slater	Nat Slater (they/them) is a researcher and artist whose work aims to elevate the perspectives and wisdom of those closest...	Disability Rights	Human Rights Watch	2024		View Fellow
Méliss Desmond	Méliss Desmond (they/them) is developing a career in public health, with a deep interest in investigating and creating equitable health...	Disability	Special Olympics International	2024		View Fellow
Maya Oversby	Maya (she/her) is a part of the Fellowship program working in tandem with the Samuel Centre of Social Connectedness and...	Indigenous	Indigenous Climate Action, Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness (SCSC)	2024	Canada	View Fellow
Kenneth Butler	Kenny (he/him) holds a BA in Organizational Studies from Pitzer College and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration...	Incarceration	Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program	2024		View Fellow
Kaiden Kanagarajan	Kaiden (he/they) lives in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal. He is completing his research fellowship with the Relationships Project. They will be helping to...	Relationships	The Relationships Project	2024	United Kingdom	View Fellow
Joe Schwartz	Joe Schwartz (he/him) is a teaching assistant and training coach with Temple University’s Inside-Out Training Institute, as well as a...	Incarceration	Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program	2024		View Fellow
Fionn Crombie Angus	Fionn Crombie Angus (he/him) is an extraordinary young man with Down syndrome. Combining his love for traditional Irish music and...	Disability Rights	Harvard Law School Project on Disability (HPOD)	2024		View Fellow
Dorothy Mazeau	Drawing on more than 20 years of experience of living in shared homes, Dorothy Mazeau (she/her) has poured her enthusiasm...	Older Persons	HelpAge Canada	2024	Canada	View Fellow
Caroline Naluwemba	Caroline Naluwemba (she/her) is a dedicated self-advocate from Inclusion Uganda, championing the rights of peers with intellectual disabilities. She volunteers...	Disability Rights	Harvard Law School Project on Disability (HPOD)	2024	Uganda	View Fellow
Tore Price	Tore Price (he/him) worked with Inside Out Prison Exchange Program ®, an organization dedicated to facilitating dialogue and education across social...	Incarceration	Inside-Out Prison Exchange	2023		View Fellow
Siena Rose Cook	Siena Rose Cook (she/her) worked with Misipawistik Cree Nation (MCN) addressing the importance of connecting ininiw kiskinomakewin (Cree education) protocols into the...	Indigenous	Misipawistik Cree Nation	2023	Canada	View Fellow
Ruth Masuka	uth Masuka (she/her) worked with Books, Arts, Music (BAM) Collective a youth-led, arts based, intersectional organization in Toronto, Ontario. Her work centered...	Community	Books Art Music Collective (BAM)	2023	Canada	View Fellow
Prachir Pasricha	Prachir Pasricha (he/him) spent the summer working with the Foundation for Social Connection, an organization dedicated to addressing the crisis of...	Social Connectedness	Foundation for Social Connection (F4SC)	2023		View Fellow
Paula Camino	Paula Camino (she/her) worked with Special Olympics International (SOI) to understand the current landscape of family advocacy for SOI athletes and their...	Disability	Special Olympics International	2023		View Fellow
Nicole Traynor	Nicole Traynor (she/her) worked with Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre (QCFC) investigating the role food plays in building belonging, and how economic solutions...	Food Security	Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre (QCFC)	2023	Canada	View Fellow
Kisha German	Kisha German (she/her) worked with Partners in Health International with their team in Malawi. Her research focused on understanding how current electronic...	Global Health	Partners in Health	2023	Malawi	View Fellow
Hanine El Mir	Hanine El Mir (she/they) worked internally at the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness investigating what belonging looked like for LGBTQ+ newcomers to...	2SLGBTQIA+	Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness (SCSC)	2023	Canada	View Fellow
David Taylor	David Taylor (he/him) worked with the Harvard Project on Disability (HPOD) and Self-Advocats Becoming Empowered (SABE). He worked with Chaquetta Stuckey to learn...	Disability Rights	Harvard Law School Project on Disability	2023	United States of America	View Fellow
Chaqueta Stuckey	Chaqueta Stuckey (she/her) worked with the Harvard Project on Disability (HPOD) and Self-Advocats Becoming Empowered (SABE). She worked with David Taylor to learn...	Disability Rights	Harvard Law School Project on Disability	2023	United States of America	View Fellow
Anusha Pandey	Anusha Pandey (she/her) in her role as an SCSC worked with Data-Driven Envirolab this summer. Her work focused on mapping pocket-green spaces...	Climate Change	Data-Driven Envirolab	2023	Nepal	View Fellow
W.A	W.A worked with Human Rights Watch supporting their  #WelcomeToCanada campaign, which calls on Canadian authorities to stop incarcerating immigration detainees in provincial jails –...	Refugees & Immigration	Human Rights Watch	2022	Canada	View Fellow
Unathi Mabena	Unathi worked with Motheo Training Institute Trust. Motheo Training Institute Trust is a South African based public benefit trust that operates as...	Intergenerational Trauma	Motheo Institute Trust	2022	South Africa	View Fellow
Tony Phillips	Tony worked with the Harvard Project on Disability (HPOD) and Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) on a participatory research project. Working with Diana Mairose,...	Disability Rights	Harvard Law School Project on Disability	2022	United States of America	View Fellow
Paarth Alekshender Mittal	Paarth worked with Books, Arts, Music (BAM) Collective to address the gaps between Indigenous Peoples and Newcomers/Refugees, and foster conversations around Indigenous cultures,...	Indigenous-Newcomer Relations	Books Art Music Collective (BAM)	2022	Canada	View Fellow
Muhammad Bilal Raza	Muhammad worked with the Tamarack Institute to support their ongoing “Cities Deepening Community” work, which centres asset–based community development, loneliness, and community resilience. Community Engagement Initiative ...	Community	Tamarack Institute	2022		View Fellow
Laura Murphy	Laura worked with Data-Driven Envirolab, an interdisciplinary research group that seeks to create solutions to environmental challenges using cutting edge data analytics....	Cities	Data-Driven Envirolab	2022	United States of America	View Fellow
Fairuz Karim	Fairuz worked with Meal Exchange Canada, a nationally registered charity that has inspired and empowered students across the country to create healthy,...	Food Security	Meal Exchange Canada	2022	Canada	View Fellow
Esther Kim	Esther worked with Human Rights Watch, Disability Rights Division, to advance research and advocacy on climate change. She specifically sought to understand...	Climate Change	Human Rights Watch	2022		View Fellow
Emily Mullins	Emily worked with HelpAge Canada a national charitable organization that funds community-based initiatives that help older adults age with dignity.  Community Engagement...	Older Persons	HelpAge Canada	2022	Canada	View Fellow
Diana Mairose	Diana worked with the Harvard Project on Disability (HPOD) and Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) on a participatory research project. Working with Tony Phillips,...	Disability Rights	Harvard Law School Project on Disability	2022	United States of America	View Fellow
Dara Wawatie-Chabot	Dara worked with Indigenous Climate Action an Indigenous-led organization guided by a diverse group of Indigenous knowledge keepers, water protectors and land...	Indigenous	Indigenous Climate Action	2022	Canada	View Fellow
Ashli Au	Ashli worked with Arts Research Internship Awards (ARIA) at McGill University with the support of Dr. Claudia Mitchell, a professor within the...	2SLGBTQIA+	ARIA, McGill	2022		View Fellow
Ariana Seferiades Prece	Ariana worked with Fora: Network for Change, an organization dedicated to gender equity and youth empowerment. Young women were disproportionately impacted...	Women	FORA: Network for Change	2022	Canada	View Fellow
Aida Mohajeri	Aida worked with Special Olympics International and co-researcher Margaret Turley, a Special Olympics Athlete, to understand the needs of Special Olympics athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Community Engagement...	Disability	Special Olympics International	2022		View Fellow
Adrianna Vanos	Adrianna Vanos grew up in Guelph, Ontario before moving to Halifax, Nova Scotia to attend the University of King’s College...	Disability	Special Olympics International	2021	Canada	View Fellow
Ellen Spannagel	Ellen is currently a BCL/JD student at McGill’s Faculty of Law and holds a Bachelor of Journalism and Humanities from...	Climate Change	Human Rights Watch	2021		View Fellow
Simone Renault	The lone child living in the international dormitory at Eden Theological Seminary in Missouri, Simone was raised by her aunties...	Mental Health	Friendship Bench	2021	Zimbabwe	View Fellow
Devika Parsaud	Devika graduated from York University’s School of Health Policy and Management with a Masters in Health specializing in Health Policy...	Cities	City of Toronto	2021	Canada	View Fellow
Tuviere Onookome-Okome	Tuviere is a graduate student at McGill University’s department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health and holds an Honours Bachelor...	Climate Change	Data-Driven Lab	2021	Canada	View Fellow
Tafadzwa Simphorosa Mhazo	Tafadzwa holds a Master of Social Science in Development Studies, an Honours degree in Development Studies and a Bachelor of...	Children	Motheo Institute Trust	2021	South Africa	View Fellow
Maude Jodoin Léveilée	Born and raised in Montréal, Maude received her Bachelor and Master degrees in International Studies at l’Université de Montréal. She...	Grandmothers	The Grandmother Project	2021	Canada	View Fellow
Rossen Lee	Rossen Lee is a recent graduate from Ryerson University with a BASc. in Nutrition and Food as well as a...	Environment	The Stop Community Food Centre	2021	Canada	View Fellow
Alice Finta	Alice grew up in Kent, England and now lives in London. She studied Spanish and Portuguese for her undergraduate degree...	Global Health	SeeChange International	2021	Latin America	View Fellow
Chester Finn	Chester Finn has been a strong advocate for people with developmental disabilities for more than 20 years. He currently works...	Disability Rights	Harvard Law School Project on Disability	2021	United States of America	View Fellow
Tammy Bui	Tammy is an MSc. Public Health graduate at McGill. She grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. Tammy completed her bachelors degree...	Older Persons	HelpAge Canada	2021	Canada	View Fellow
Olaoluwa Abagun	Olaoluwa Abagun holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and a Masters in Gender and Development (with distinction) from the Institute...	Youth	Peace First	2021	Nigeria	View Fellow
Sam McQuillen	Sam McQuillen earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Affairs from Lafayette College and is working to complete a...	Social Isolation	Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative	2021	United States of America	View Fellow
Lateisha Ugwuegbula	Born and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Lateisha has an undergraduate degree in International Relations from the University of Western Ontario...	Indigenous	Misipawistik Cree Nation	2020	Canada	View Fellow
Mayumi Sato	Mayumi is a current postgraduate student studying Sociology at the University of Cambridge. Having lived in several countries in Asia,...	Older Persons	HelpAge International	2020	Moldova	View Fellow
Sarah Roberts	Sarah has spent the majority of her life calling the east coast of Canada her beloved home. She is currently...	Refugees	Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness (SCSC)	2020	Canada	View Fellow
Olivia Najdovski	Olivia graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Science specializing in Psychology. She was born and...	Disability	Special Olympics International	2020		View Fellow
Hannah Melville-Rea	With parents from Australia and New Zealand, Hannah grew up in Osaka, Japan. She studied Political Science and Economics at...	Environment	Data-Driven Lab	2020	United Arab Emirates (UAE)	View Fellow
Lebogang Mahlalela	Lebo completed an Honours degree in Sociology, as well as a Bachelor of Political Science in International Relations from the...	Leadership	Synergos	2020	South Africa	View Fellow
Ji Yoon Han	Ji Yoon completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Bioethics from the University of Toronto. She grew...	Migrant Workers		2020	Canada	View Fellow
Emma Greenfield	Emma Greenfield is currently working towards her Master of Education in Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies...	Indigenous	TakingITGlobal	2020	Canada	View Fellow
Hana Geadah	Hana grew up between Washington, D.C. and Beirut and moved to Montreal to complete an interdisciplinary Bachelor’s Degree in Cognitive...	Global Health	Partners in Health Liberia	2020		View Fellow
Bianca Braganza	Bianca is a second year JD/BCL student at McGill’s Faculty of Law and holds an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences...	Community	City of Toronto	2020	Canada	View Fellow
Lavanya Virmani	Lavanya grew up in India and moved to Montreal to pursue an undergraduate degree at McGill University, majoring in Psychology...	Global Health	Partners in Health	2019	Canada	View Fellow
Claire Suh	Claire grew up in New Providence, New Jersey in the U.S. and moved to Montreal, where is currently completing an...	Climate Change	Data-Driven Lab	2019	Canada	View Fellow
Yolanda Sankobe	Yolanda Sankobe was born in the arts capital of South Africa, Grahamstown but grew up in multiple cities. She graduated...	Youth	Synergos Institute South Africa	2019	South Africa	View Fellow
Noah Powers	Noah grew up in Toronto and moved to Montreal to attend McGill University, where he is graduating with a Bachelor...	2SLGBTQIA+	Our Place Sustainable Developments	2019	Canada	View Fellow
Priya Nair	As an Indian who grew up in Japan and then returned to her home country as a foreigner, Priya grew...	Forced Migration	Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness (SCSC)	2019	Canada	View Fellow
Mallory Lowes	Mallory Lowes grew up in Grand Coulee, Saskatchewan prior to attending Vancouver Island University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts...	Older Persons	The Stop Community Food Centre	2019	Canada	View Fellow
Alexis Gardner	Alexis completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Studies of Women and Gender from Vancouver Island University. She grew up...	Youth	TakingITGlobal	2019	Canada	View Fellow
Danielle Cherpako	Born and raised north of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Danielle is currently completing the pre- MA program in the department of Political...	Indigenous	Misipawistik Cree Nation	2019	Canada	View Fellow
Quinn Barrie-Watts	Quinn graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and a minor in East Asian Language and Literature....	Disability	Special Olympics International	2019	Canada	View Fellow
Shaista Asmi	Shaista is Bangladeshi but was born and raised in Saudi Arabia and educated in an international school. She is currently...	Indigenous	Human Rights Watch	2019	Canada	View Fellow