What does it take to make meaningful change? How can you build community among people you've just met? Why is advocating for others so important?Ěý
±«Óătv's 2025 Board of Governors' Award recipients, honoured at the Impact Awards Thursday evening (March 27), offer some compelling answers to these big questions through the examples they've set as student leaders.Ěý
In the short profiles below, you'll find stories of students who have made their mark through caring for each other and the planet, sparking new approaches to old problems, and creating connections that have lasting power.Ěý
Each winner provides a glimpse into the potential of student life at ±«Óătv and, taken together, serve as a testament to the power of hard work, compassion, and service to others.
Passion for sustainability nurtured at home
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Mariam Knakriah
Fifth year, BSc in Environmental Science and Environment, Sustainability, and Society
Mariam Knakriah’s first lessons in sustainability came at the family dinner table.
It was a big table, growing up as she did in a large family based in the United Arab Emirates. To get by, they often found the fastest and easiest ways of living and eating —Ěýand that sometimes meant plastic and waste.“I started to realize how bad that is for the environment, and I wanted to change that. I couldn’t change everything in my family, but I could start by changing things for myself.”
That drive for change has been a driving force in her life, taking her from a teenage sustainability ambassadorship in Abu Dhabi to Dal’s one-of-a-kind Environment, Sustainability, and Society program and, eventually, to the presidency of the Dal Student Union (DSU). Re-elected for a second term last year, Mariam has earned praise for her efforts in advocacy, support, and reform.
“To me, being president is about seeing the difference your work makes in people’s lives,” she says. “It’s about creating change that students can actually feel, and building the relationships with students, university administration, and faculty members, to make that change possible.”
She’s launched battery recycling and e-waste services in the Student Union Building, secured dedicated Muslim prayer space and a maternity and wellness room, advocated for lowering caps on provincial tuition increases, and supported policy reforms on sexual violence, elections, and society governance.
She’s particularly proud of her efforts leading a full restructuring of the DSU — from policies and systems to student advocacy —Ěý during her first term as president and of the DSU’s advocacy for divestment and launching a $30,000 fundraising campaign for the PalestinianĚýStudents and Scholars at Risk Program (PSSAR) during her second.
“I’d had leadership experience before, as a Residence Assistant and through my work off campus like sitting on the Ecology Action Centre Board, but the DSU presidency was the first time I stepped into a role with this much responsibility and reach. Making change isn’t easy, it takes time, effort, and a lot of care. But if you believe in what you're doing and have people around you who believe in you too, you can make things happen.
“I still don’t understand how some people step into powerful positions and do nothing with them. Roles like this come with so much potential to make a difference. If you’re trusted with that kind of responsibility, you should use it to actually help people."
— Ryan McNutt
Equal care for all
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Tyler Herod
Fourth year, ±«Óătv Medical School
Tyler Herod treats every patient like they’re family. "I think it’s important to take that extra bit of time to really consider, 'If this were my grandparents or parents, what would I be looking out for?' and ensuring I communicate those concerns," he says.
An unwavering commitment to empathy, mentorship, and advocacy has earned Tyler ±«Óătv’s top student leadership award from the Board of Governors.
Tyler graduates from ±«Óătv Medical School this spring — his third time crossing the stage to collect a Dal degree. While Tyler was able to tap into his love of problem-solving during his mechanical and biomedical engineering degrees, his co-op placements "weren’t resonating” in the ways he expected them to.Ěý
Through trial and error, Tyler discovered his true passion. "I realized that my goal was to use my problem-solving skills to help improve the lives of others, and so the role of physician might actually be what I’m looking for.” Tyler jumped headlong into volunteering at med school, supporting the Thriving Together workshop aimed at improving cohesion for medical cohorts and co-leading a research project exploring the initiative's impact.
“The thing with medical school is when you come in, it's very overwhelming because it's a very big reset. One of the ideas is to normalise that and share that not everyone is thriving right from the start,” he says.
The experience hits close to home for Tyler, who took a personal leave shortly after beginning his studies.
“During the first week of school, I got a phone call that my dad had suffered a major stroke.” Tyler and his family decided he should stay at school, but a few months later he decided to pause his studies, resuming them the following academic term by repeating first year.
“I opted to go through first year a second time, and it was the best decision of my life.”
Fast forward four years, and just a few weeks after Match Day— a day when medical students are paired with the programs where they will complete their residency training — his dad has made a remarkable recovery and Tyler has been accepted into an ophthalmology residency, one of the most competitive programs to match into.
Tyler has been in the spotlight before for his advocacy work with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), delivering more than a dozen presentations to health care professionals across the province and implementing patient care signs in hospitals.
“The word leadership feels a bit jarring to use because what I do is so collaborative. I think what’s made me effective in the things I’ve done, especially with advocacy, is that I’ve worked with the people I’m advocating for from day one.”
— Tanis Trainor
Building a home away from home
Patricia Porto de Barros Ayaz
Doctoral candidate in Political Science
If she had to choose just one song to perform at karaoke, Patricia Porto de Barros Ayaz says it'd probably be Brazilian singer Ana Vilela's international hit "Trem-Bala."Ěý
She’s worked to hone her renditions of this and other favourite songs during karaoke and games nights she's organized for fellow graduate students over the past few years. Perfecting her pitch isn't the real point of the gatherings, though: making friends and helping others do the same is.Ěý
When she arrived at Dal in 2021 after a year of virtual coursework during the pandemic, Patricia was the only PhD student in her political science cohort. It didn’t help that many other grad students at the time chose to return home as they entered the reading and research phases of their degrees.Ěý
"The students who stay sometimes find themselves isolated, so they’ve been really thankful for these events," says Patricia, who is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
She was first inspired to take action after joining Together@Dal: Grad Edition, a program that connects new grad students with peer mentors and offers networking and skills-building programs and events. As she began to learn about this and other Dal supports such as the International Centre, her positivity grew.Ěý
Patricia felt compelled to share the information with others and has done so as a celebrated member of Dal’s Student Leadership Academy during key events welcoming hundreds of new students and in mentoring sessions. "I used to be a very shy student and wouldn't talk much," she says. "I really wouldn't have imagined myself talking at workshops to hundreds of students."
Patricia has stepped up for students in other ways, too, serving on a wide range of Dal committees that have seen her advocating for emergency bursaries for international students, supporting mental health and Black health on campus, and more.Ěý Ěý Ěý
This desire to help others has motivated Patricia to contribute to global development projects and even stretches into her academic work. Her PhD research explores the unequal treatment of refugees, focusing on how Syrians and Ukrainians were received by European countries as they fled crises in their respective countries.Ěý
Patricia earned the Outstanding Graduate Student award at last year's Impact Awards for her leadership efforts. And winning the Governors' award this year serves as further testament to her commitments in building community and serving students.Ěý
For Patricia, it's all been like a dream — one she says she is truly grateful for.
"It's like something I wouldn't have imagined — it's like the university experience from movies."
— Matt Reeder
Championing change from a place of authenticity
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Kriti Maini
Fifth year, Combined Honours in Political Science and History, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS)
Much like the ebb and flow of ocean tides, student societies rise and fall in activity from year to year as members come and go. Kriti Maini has worked hard during her time at Dal to rejuvenate two such groups close to her own heart.Ěý
Kriti currently serves as president of both the ±«Óătv Arts and Social Science Society (DASSS) and the Undergraduate History Society. Under her leadership, these groups were successfully revived after a period of inactivity and are now thriving communities that offer students opportunities for engagement, advocacy, and peer support.Ěý
At the heart of Kriti's leadership is a commitment to authenticity. “It has taught me the value of staying authentic to your own leadership style and personal values, which is the surest way of attracting the right people and opportunities into your circle.” she says. This focus on authenticity has been essential in creating meaningful connections and opportunities throughout her academic career.
Kriti's journey at ±«Óătv has been defined by her ability to bring people together, navigate complex challenges, and push for meaningful change.Ěý
As the head of DASSS, Kriti has worked to strengthen student representation. Her involvement in the Faculty Committee, the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Committee, and the FASS Teaching Award Committee has allowed her to advocate for a more inclusive and supportive academic environment. She has also participated in the ±«Óătv Leadership Academy’s High Performance Leadership program, where she was mentored by Dr. Jennifer Andrews, dean of FASS.
She encourages others to seize their own leadership opportunities.
“I would encourage others to follow their interests and dive into it headfirst without giving power to thoughts of self-doubt,” says Kriti, whose family moved to Halifax in 2017 from New Delhi, India. “They should trust that they will figure it out along the way with the support of their team.”
As her time at ±«Óătv comes to a close, Kriti reflects on the broader impact of her leadership experiences. “Personally, I am someone who has genuinely enjoyed being part of different initiatives on campus, and I feel that they add a lot more colour to an undergraduate career” she says.Ěý
With a strong foundation in academia, leadership, and governance, there is no doubt that she will continue to make waves in her future endeavors.
“As the sun is about to set on my degree, I will certainly cherish the good memories and lifelong friends I have gained through campus leadership and involvement.”
— Farrah Smith