President’s Student Leadership Program announces 2023 cohort of students

The Burns Leadership Institute is pleased to announce the fifth cohort of the President’s Student Leadership Program (PSLP) at the University of Manitoba. 

Representing an array of 18 unique disciplines, the 22 PSLP Fellows are emerging leaders enrolled at the University of Winnipeg, Red River College Polytechnic and the University of Manitoba. These selected participants demonstrate leadership experience in their community or student life, dedication to learning from diverse perspectives, and commitment to applying their learning to positive social change and making meaningful impact in their future careers. 

The program’s core week is an immersive experience featuring a range of learning formats: workshops, site visits and community building. PSLP Fellows hear from senior Manitoba leaders including Winnipeg Art Gallery President and CEO Stephen Borys, NFI Group President and CEO, Paul Soubry [BComm(Hons)/84,LLD/22], United Way Winnipeg CEO Michael Richardson, Winnipeg Boldness Project Director Diane Roussin [BSW/96], and Manitoba Chicken Producers Executive Director Wayne Hiltz [BSA/90]. They will also visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation with UM Elder-in-Residence Norman Meade [Ext.Ed/88]. 

Leadership workshops with Cate Friesen [BMR,OT/84] (The Story Source), Keren Taylor-Hughes [BA/85] (Leader-in-Residence and Agile Change Consultant), Rob Nickerson (Rob Nickerson Improv), Professors Lukas Neville (Negotiations for Emerging Leaders) and Jae Kim (Ethical Decision-Making) are also part of the program.

These components and others serve to enhance and strengthen PSLP Fellows’ leadership skills and capabilities while broadening their leadership networks and community of practice. While they learn from our community of senior leaders, they also learn from each other; their peer work draws on their different disciplines, diverse backgrounds and individual identities. The understanding of diverse perspectives they cultivate in the program is key for their leadership effectiveness. 

Professor Suzanne Gagnon, who developed the curriculum and leads the program through her mandate as Director of the Burns Leadership Institute, is proud to see how the participants and the program grow each year.

“Building on Fellows’ already impressive leadership experience and equipping them with relevant, cutting edge, and transferable skills suitable to any sector, the PSLP is committed to developing the next generation of leaders in Manitoba,” she says. “We evolve and adapt the curriculum to expose participants to the latest pedagogical trends in leadership, and we connect participants with senior leaders who share practical and real-life examples of how they approach and manage challenges and opportunities.” 

This year, Lukas Neville, Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at the Asper School of Business, will co-lead the academic side of the year-long program, the students’ summer leadership projects and fall activities in particular.  

Gagnon is grateful for all community and business leaders who support the program by sharing their time and experience with the participants. “The Program benefits tremendously from engaged and generous community leaders who share their and leadership journeys directly with our students through dedicated Q&A sessions, talks and mentorship. Over the four cohorts of PSLP to date, we have learned from an incredible array of inspiring leaders in many sectors,” she says.

PSLP Fellows undertake their work in addition to their regular studies, and this year’s cohort of 23 joins 91 PSLP graduates from the previous four cohorts.  

Congratulations to the new PSLP Fellows of Cohort 5!

Abigail Kawadza. University of Manitoba, Master of Nursing (Administration)

Allison Balasko. University of Manitoba, Medicine (MD/PhD)

Amy Lloyd. University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Science (General)

Carolina Cespedes. University of Winnipeg, Master of Science in Applied Computer Science and Society

Christopher Yendt. University of Manitoba, Doctor of Philosophy in Education

Chun Yin (Victor) Chau. Red River College Polytechnic, Diploma in Applied Computer Education

Edwin Alarcon. Red River College Polytechnic, Diploma in Business Technology Management

Hiwot Jonk. University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Science in Human Nutritional Sciences (Dietetics)

Jennifer Breddam. University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Arts in Labour Studies 

Jesse Shen. University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Physics (Hons)  

Joao Carlos Fidencio da Silva. University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Science in Biosystems Engineering

Justin Hiebert. Red River College Polytechnic, Diploma in Business Administration (Marketing) 

Kathleen Murphy. Red River College Polytechnic, Diploma in Business Administration 

Mark Rauhaus. University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry 

Mehraz Sarker. University of Manitoba, Master of Arts in Sociology

Michael Zarychta. University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Mudra Dave. University of Manitoba, Master of Science in Kinesiology

Pelumi (Samuel) Akinola. University of Manitoba, Master of Science in Pharmacy

Pinaz Mehta. University of Manitoba, Master of Business Administration

Randi Roy. University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Science in Microbiology Hons. Co-op

Tasnim Ferdous. University of Manitoba, Master of Landscape Architecture

Winnica Beltrano. University of Manitoba, Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)

We wish you a fantastic year ahead in the program. 

For more information about the President’s Student Leadership Program, and if you are interested in applying in 2024, visit the President’s Student Leadership Program website.

The Burns Leadership Institute was created through a visionary endowment to the UM from the Power Corporation of Canada, Canada Life, and IG Wealth Management. For more information on the Institute, please see: Burns Leadership Institute.

Asper Staff