McCall MacBain International Fellowship Recipients 2025

Anna

Electrical Engineering & Society, McMaster University

Fellowship year: Spanish in Costa Rica

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Anna grew up in Peterborough, Ontario, where she completed an IB Diploma. With a keen interest in engineering and sustainability, she designed transmission and distribution powerlines in B.C., supported renewable energy installations in Alberta, and helped design electric vehicle charging station infrastructure. At McMaster, she served as Vice President Operations of the McMaster Engineering Competition, President of the McMaster Ukelele Club, and as a Marketing Officer for the McMaster Engineering Society Sustainability Committee. She led several outdoor climbing trips and canoe trips that taught camping skills to exchange students. She also worked as an Electrical Physics Teaching Assistant and at the Climbing Wall.

Ava

Biology, McMaster University

Fellowship year: Italian in Italy

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Ava grew up on a small island off the coast of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. In grade 10 she spent a year with family living in the Dominican Republic and going to school in both English and Spanish. Since childhood, she has supported outreach projects in various locations across the Caribbean and Central America. Currently working toward a career in dentistry in Halifax, Ava has worked consistently throughout her undergraduate studies, in positions of increasing responsibility in the hospitality industry. She loves cooking, physical fitness, volunteering at a local nursing home, and spending time in nature while visiting her home community in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Cade

Economy & Statistics, University of Manitoba

Fellowship year: Vietnamese in Vietnam

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Cade completed a French immersion program to Quebec in high school which stirred his interest in learning new languages and travelling. He worked as a sports store sales associate, a camp counselor, and a waiter in various restaurants in Winnipeg to save money to travel to Europe at the age of 19. His interest in sustainable travel and deeper cultural integration led him to work at a sea turtle conservation site in rural Costa Rica. At home in Winnipeg, he was a member of his varsity basketball team and cross-country running team. He served as a coach for 3 years at a basketball camp, running drills, coaching games and helping develop skills and love for the sport in youth. He participates in community trash pick-ups and is an active member of the University of Manitoba Global Political Economy Students Association.

Cole

Electrical Engineering, University of British Columbia

Fellowship year: French in Switzerland

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Originally from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Cole is an elected second-year representative for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Student Society at his university, where he advocates for his peers, helps organize tutorial sessions, and plans social events. He contributed to his university’s engineering design team as a software developer, working on a smart parking application that benefits campus commuters. He also volunteers at community run events in Vancouver and has worked as a web development intern, retail sales associate, and summer camp counsellor. Moving across the country from Ontario to British Columbia for university has deepened his appreciation for new environments and perspectives – a mindset he brings to Switzerland, along with his newfound love of skiing.

Darlene

Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba

Fellowship year: French in Mauritus

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Darlene co-chaired the Winnipeg Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy initiative, assessing community needs, organizing outreach, and supporting grant-writing efforts. As a UN Online Volunteer, she has collaborated with international UN offices to advance Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. She volunteers with Harvest Manitoba, preparing and distributing food hampers to Manitobans every month. Passionate about sustainability and alternative energy, she served as her university’s representative at the 2024 and 2025 Canadian Nuclear Association Conference. Darlene has worked for the Government of Manitoba’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, utilizing GIS technologies, and as a contaminated sites and district energy technician for engineering consulting firms in British Columbia.

Edris

Mathematics & Computer Science, McMaster University

Fellowship year: Arabic in Morocco

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Edris led a fundraising campaign as Social Media Coordinator for the Shir Foundation, helping raise $70,000 in humanitarian aid for families and orphans in Afghanistan. In high school, he founded the Coding Club, organizing weekly sessions to teach coding through games. At university, he served as Vice President Academic of the McMaster Afghan Student Association and a captain at the McMaster Schulich Leader Squad. He also undertook machine learning research and interned at the Toronto Transit Commission. He was on his university’s Dragon Boat team and has long volunteered at a retirement home, where he organized social events for residents. In Hamilton, he has run two entrepreneurial businesses – a landscaping business and a tutoring initiative for math and French. He has also worked as a facilitator for SHAD Canada’s workshops for high school students and interned as a business analyst at a climate tech startup.

Elena

Cognitive Science, McGill University

Fellowship year: Danish in Denmark

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Elena worked as a tutor for adolescents with learning disorders, helping plan and implement appropriate interventions. As a high school student, she helped grow a wellness club at the University of Calgary, promoting mental well-being among university students. She brings these experiences and her academic expertise in cognitive science to her Fellowship in Denmark to explore the Scandinavian approach to well-being. She is also a decorated athlete, having represented Alberta in national speed skating competitions and McGill University at rowing regattas. Her work experience spans roles as a math tutor, linguistic research assistant, course assistant, and server at a local restaurant.

Ella

Art History, McGill University

Fellowship year: Mandarin in China

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Ella served as Vice President of Finance for McGill’s Art History and Communication Studies Student Association, where she managed budgets, supported journal publications, and helped lead student events. She also developed and hosts a two-hour weekly art and culture program for her campus-community radio station. As an art writer and interviewer for the Cheng Huai Art and Culture Association, she explored creative expression across cultures. Her work experience includes roles as a historical research assistant, curatorial and archival intern at an art gallery, youth cooking class manager, and swim instructor. A previous short-term language program in China sparked her interest in deepening her cultural and artistic understanding of the country through the Fellowship.

Eman

World Islamic Studies & African Studies, McGill University

Fellowship year: Arabic in Egypt

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Eman founded and served as President of the Black Student Association at her high school in Ottawa to address the lack of representation. At McGill, she served as Vice President of Events for refugee advocacy with World University Services of Canada to support refugee scholars and raise awareness about global displacement and promote solidarity. She believes in storytelling’s power to unite people and performs her own creative writing and storytelling in Montreal and Ottawa. She has worked with Debaser, an Ottawa-based artist collective, to support local cultural projects that have a direct impact in the community. She continues to also be involved in facilitating workshops and fundraising to support relief efforts in Sudan.

Emily

Biology & International Development, Dalhousie University

Fellowship year: Spanish in Chile

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Emily has contributed to impactful community initiatives, including a fundraising campaign that raised over $17,000 for a local shelter supporting people experiencing homelessness. She served as the first-year representative for the Arts and Social Sciences Society at her university. She is a clarinetist with the Dalhousie Wind Ensemble, and a member of the university’s water polo team. Over summers, she has worked as a Park Interpreter at Saskatchewan Provincial Parks where she enjoys bringing people closer to nature. She continues to participate in the global climate strike movement and has spent part of this summer helping plant trees in her community. After spending five months in France improving her French and two months in Austria and Germany learning German, she is eager to continue growing through immersive language learning – this time in Chile learning Spanish.

Jasmine

Environmental Biology, McGill University

Fellowship year: Norwegian in Norway

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Jasmine volunteered as an English tutor at her college and organized activities to provide companionship at a local senior residence. A creative writer, she had two original short fiction pieces published through an arts and literature competition. Her passion for animal care led her to intern as a wildlife caretaker at a rescue centre, where she helped rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife. She also worked at a Nature Pet Centre, supporting the adoption of rescue animals. With a strong interest in wildlife conservation, she looks forward to learning about arctic ecosystems and conservation practices during her Fellowship in Norway.

Jennifer

Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University

Fellowship year: Thai in Thailand

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Jennifer served as Co-President of the Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences Society, and she helped lead academic, social, and mentorship programming for students in her department. Additionally, as President of the McMaster Book Club, she shared her love of reading by organizing events and launching a program in partnership with McMaster Children’s Hospital and the Wellwood Centre, an organization supporting those affected by cancer. Over the past two years, she has focused on infectious diseases through projects at McMaster and contributed to a gender equity study at the University of British Columbia. Having studied French and Spanish in high school, she is now excited to expand her language skills and support public health research during her Fellowship in Thailand.

Juan Pablo

Business, University of Manitoba

Fellowship year: Japanese in Japan

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Juan Pablo represented his faculty as an academic delegate for International Business and Operations Management at JDC West, an undergraduate business competition. He served as Director of Corporate Relations for a fundraising initiative supporting people experiencing homelessness and as Director of Marketing for his college student council. He interned as a Trade Commissioner Assistant at Global Affairs Canada, gaining insight into international trade and diplomacy. He also worked as a summer camp supervisor for several years, leading multi-day canoe trips and managing campers in the wilderness. Having grown up in both Colombia and Canada and being fluent in Spanish, English, and French, he looks forward to learning Japanese during his Fellowship year.

Kadia

History & Anthropology, McGill University

Fellowship year: Spanish in Bolivia

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Kadia was a dedicated synchronized swimmer from the age of six, training over 20 hours a week and later serving as a coach and role model for younger athletes. She has also volunteered as a facilitator teaching archeological method and theory, and as a tour guide at the Bata Shoe Museum. At McGill, she served as Vice President of Communications and Internal Affairs for the Fine Arts Commission, helping organize student art shows. She has worked as a researcher at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, with the Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw, and as a lifeguard. Driven by her interest in Indigenous cultures in Latin America, Kadia is excited to deepen her understanding of the region through her Fellowship in Bolivia.

Kellia

International Development, Psychology & African Studies, McGill University

Fellowship year: Spanish in Spain

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Kellia served as the President of the African Studies Student Association (ASSA), contributing to campus life by advocating for inclusive education and Afrocentric interdisciplinary studies. She currently works as the Community Outreach Assistant with Le SocialRoom, an organization dedicated to providing psychosocial support to young athletes in Quebec. Her passion for this work is rooted in her own experience as a basketball player from elementary school through university, where she eventually served as the Women’s Team Manager at McGill. Kellia is also an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Cultural Developmental Science Lab (CDS), which explores the factors that support healthy development and resilience among racially and ethnically minority youth and families facing discrimination.

Lola

Journalism & International Development, Dalhousie University

Fellowship year: Spanish in Argentina

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Lola founded and served as President of Dal Creative Minds, a society that curates artistic events and fosters a vibrant creative community at Dalhousie University. She was also Editor-in-Chief of No Take Back Magazine, where she led the creative strategy, celebrating untraditional sports and local culture in Nova Scotia. After her first year of university, Lola took a gap year to work with the University of Adelaide as a development intern with cocoa farmers in the Pacific Islands. She continued to develop her storytelling practice through her experience tree planting in northern British Columbia, where she began documenting the grit and spirit of young Canadians reforesting the country. Her photo series, Keep Cool, was later featured in Toronto’s CONTACT Photography Festival. She aims to expand her understanding of international development and journalism throughout her time in Argentina.

Luca

Bioresource Engineering, McGill University

Fellowship year: Arabic in Morocco

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Luca worked as a Coastal Steward with Parks Canada, promoting ocean safety and community-building among Canadian surfers. He volunteers with Québec Secours, training in search and rescue, and representing the organization at first-aid events. Passionate about the outdoors, Luca organized McGill’s first surf expedition through the Outdoors Club and completed his Level 1 Surf Instructor certification in Tofino. He also led a school-wide art exhibition celebrating student cultural expression and organized weekly German conversation circles in Ottawa. Luca once gave up his smartphone for over two years to foster deeper human connections and explore analog photography, building a darkroom at home. During his Fellowship, Luca looks forward to immersing himself in daily life abroad, learning Darija Arabic, and continuing to connect his love of nature, culture, and community service.

Lydia

Materials Engineering & Society, McMaster University

Fellowship year: Spanish in Colombia

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Lydia was the Chair of the 2024 McMaster Engineering Competition, where she led the organization of a two-day event for more than 400 students on campus. Previously, she competed and advanced to Ontario provincial debating competitions twice. She was also the Communications Executive for the McMaster Marching Band, where she led internal communications and played the saxophone. During her summers, Lydia works as a Senior Camp Counsellor, teaching various water sports, orchestrating camp-wide games, and mentoring younger staff and campers. She is a member of a small group at her local church which fosters a strong welcoming community. At 20 years old, she took a break from university to attend Tauernhof Bible School in Austria for three months. As part of the Fellowship, Lydia hopes to hone her skills as an outdoor adventure sports guide and immerse herself in Colombia’s language and culture.

Masha

Cognitive Science, Latin American & Caribbean Studies, McGill University

Fellowship year: Spanish in Mexico

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Masha was the Vice President External for the McGill First Year Arts and Science Committee and a competitive Hip-Hop dancer. In CEGEP, she was Vice President of Finance for the Student Union of John Abbott College, where she administered the finances of over 40 student clubs. Masha was also the Head Delegate for John Abbott College Model United Nations and worked as a medical first responder volunteer with Saint John Ambulance. Through discovering her interest in Latin American music, she developed an interest in the culture, history and language of the genre. She hopes to deepen her knowledge of Latin American and Caribbean Studies through her Fellowship in Mexico.

Nika

Political Science & Russian Studies, McGill University

Fellowship year: Turkish in Turkey

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Nika was a 2024-2025 facilitator at the ECOLE house, a model of urban sustainable living and a physical hub for the McGill and Montreal sustainability communities. She was also a Fulbright Youth Ambassador, where she received a grant to support youth refugees and immigrants in her high school. This past year, she was selected to serve on the President’s Advisory Council for Engagement (PACE), which was created to address ongoing political polarization on campus by training students in conflict mediation. Alongside her community engagement, Nika is currently a research project co-lead and VOICE Youth Adviser supporting knowledge production on effective youth engagement in policy and politics. She has worked for various student societies and advisory councils at McGill.

Omolade

Applied Psychology & Human Behaviour, McMaster University

Fellowship year: Japanese in Japan

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Omolade worked as a Sexual Violence Prevention Peer Educator with the EDI Strategy Office at McMaster, supporting students and liaising between students and administration. She served as a Program Assistant with the McMaster Access Program, helping students transition to post-secondary education. She also served as the Science Undergraduate Senator and as an ambassador with the Black Student Success Center. In her first year, she was elected VP External of the McMasters First-Year Council, and she later served as the President of the Human Behaviour Society. Outside of university, she teaches children aged 7 to 15 at her local church. Aspiring to sharpen her culinary skills, Omolade hopes to immerse herself in Japanese culture by taking cooking classes, visiting markets, and learning traditional techniques.

Rya

Chemical Biology, McMaster University

Fellowship year: Korean in South Korea

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Rya’s interest in cultural exchanges arose after a year-long sabbatical in France with family when she was ten years old. In 2024, she was a McCall MacBain Shad Leader, through which she volunteered as a judge at the Canada-Wide Science Fair and mentored students at the University of Lethbridge’s summer program. She went on to found a club at McMaster dedicated to supporting young people in STEM. She is a member of the McMaster University Choir, building on her eleven years of experience singing with the Hamilton Children’s Choir. Before departing for South Korea, Rya worked as a student researcher developing radiopharmaceuticals in partnership with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories.

Ryan

Marketing & Sustainability, McMaster University

Fellowship year: Spanish in Uruguay

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Ryan worked as a Claims Registration Representative at the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, helping injured Ontarians receive access to financial support while off work. He previously studied abroad in Glasgow, Scotland, where he developed independence and adaptability while navigating a new academic and cultural environment. Ryan has a strong interest in language learning; He completed an intensive French immersion program in Montreal and was a member of language-exchange clubs in both Hamilton and Glasgow. On campus, he mentored new students through the First Year Orientation Program and participated in business case competitions with ACE Ontario, where he recently placed in the top 5 under the travel management category. During his Fellowship, he looks forward to learning Spanish and exploring daily life and work in Uruguay.

Tracy

Health Sciences & Child Health, McMaster University

Fellowship year: Japanese in Japan

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Tracy worked as a Rehearsal Assistant for the Hamilton Children’s Choir, teaching music and theory. Tracy also volunteered as a Promotions Coordinator with the Student Health Education Center, promoting healthy living on campus. Recently, she challenged herself by joining the campus rock climbing club. During her summers, Tracy worked as a Medical Office Assistant, where she developed an interest in improving patient outcomes in primary care. Tracy is looking forward to understanding different aspects of Japanese life and culture during her Fellowship.

Zahra

Health Sciences & Mathematics, McMaster University

Fellowship year: Swedish in Sweden

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Zahra grew up in different countries, which taught her the importance of fostering community in different environments. In Ontario, she spent two summers as a Family Guide and Events Intern at Campfire Circle, where she helped bring joy and connection to children with cancer. On campus, she is part of the McMaster Student Health Education Centre and the McMaster Undergraduate Health Sciences Journal. She also worked as a Program Assistant at a local Hamilton community health center. More recently, she joined The Hospital for Sick Children as a Health Equity Data Initiative volunteer and research student, where she helped build solutions for the pediatric population. Zahra is excited to immerse herself in Swedish culture and language during her Fellowship.

Zola

Computer Science & Linguistics, McGill University

Fellowship year: Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan

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Zola worked as a part-time web developer for the Canada Masonry Design Centre, building digital tools and maintaining the organization’s website. She is also an independent visual artist and musician, performing liquid light shows and original music across Montreal and Toronto. She is assisting with the ongoing modernization of pro-feminist group Men For Change’s Healthy Relationships Curriculum as a youth editor, integrating inclusive language and perspectives. At Camp Artism, a vocational arts camp for youth on the autism spectrum, she provided logistical support and worked with campers through creative activities. Throughout her student career, she has actively supported peers through tutoring in math and French. As a language learner and a linguist, Zola hopes to deepen her understanding of Mandarin and explore Taiwanese culture through her Fellowship year in Taiwan.

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