TDIMM Fellowships

In her final academic year at Lakehead University, Julia Carvello has broadened the horizons of the Lakehead University community in numerous ways. Julia’s path to advancement began by volunteering for the Lakehead University Student Alumni Association (LUSAA), her first two years as director and the past two as part of the executive. LUSAA’s mission is to bring awareness of the Alumni Association and all it has to offer grads, as well as building relationships with future grads before they leave campus. Julia embraced this wholeheartedly by helping the team host 12 virtual events in 2020 and 13 in 2021 despite the global pandemic. Her contributions helped Lakehead receive a bronze Prix d’Excellence award for Best Student/Young Alumni initiative.

“As an effective member of the executive she far exceeded my expectations. She showed her ability to lead with a quiet and gentle hand, and to encourage by doing. Her ability to see the bigger picture became apparent as she started to understand the greater role of graduates to a university.”
Jacquie Kent, External Relations Associate, Lakehead Orillia

In the fall of 2021 Julia joined the External Relations department in Orillia where she has worked to launch a successful summer trial program, updated Orillia donor pipeline database records and set up a reporting tool to pull information, helped to launch a well-attended LGBTQ2+ focussed grad event (a first at the Orillia campus), and helped to host an event for international grads of the university as a whole. She thoroughly understands the importance of building alumni relationships, in connection to their associated philanthropic relationships, and has worked to start that process with current students. 

“She understands the importance of an advancement department to a university and how her contributions have made a lasting difference to the work we do in Orillia with both our internal and external communities.”
Jacquie Kent, External Relations Associate, Lakehead Orillia

Outside of Lakehead, Julia’s passion for enriching lives extends to community volunteer experiences, such as assisting the Elpizo Counseling Center and their therapists, and as a volunteer at Habitat for Humanity.

“Julia showed, commitment, dedication, meticulosity and organizational skills. She was professional in maintaining confidentiality and privacy. She took direction well and executed her given tasks in a timely manner. Julia asked questions to clarify her given tasks and communicated confidently and assertively.
She performed her tasks in an ethical manner. She was a great addition to Elpizo and added value to our work.”
Ruth Baah-Gyebi, M.Sc., RP, Executive Director, Elpizo Consulting Services

Her fellowship year stands to encompass all the skillsets she has acquired. Julia is poised to facilitate the set up and operation of a Lakehead Indigenous Forum through which Indigenous alumni and current students would connect and collaborate. Other projects include the operationalization of a Mental Health and Wellness Platform, Lakehead’s Summer Engagement program, and assisting with the Lakehead Simcoe County Alumni Chapter in setting up and running a campaign to raise funds for Student Scholarships.

“I’m absolutely certain that – because of her current and past work – Julia can bring a student-centred lens that is crucial to each of the important initiatives listed above. She also has the capacity to be innovative, and move the needle on the work we are doing to connect to alumni and students in meaningful ways”
Linda Rodenburg, PHD, Interim Principal, Lakehead Orillia

Julia’s mark on the advancement sector and to the Lakehead community has already made an immense impact, now with receiving a fellowship, she is set for a year of triumphant accomplishment. CCAE and TD Insurance Meloche Monnex are proud to support her path and cannot wait to see where the future will take her.

“Advancement as a whole has taught me a lot about myself and how it relates to the post secondary student experience. Providing comprehensive experiences for students and graduates establishes important connections that can make all the difference, and I know I want to be a part of this great work.”
Julia Carvello, 2023 TDIMM Fellow, Lakehead University

Cheyenne Hardy has a strong desire to ensure all students, regardless of their distinct needs, have access to an exemplary education. Despite the fact she is only at the start of her career, Cheyenne’s list of accomplishments is long. Prior to attending Mount Saint Vincent University, she received the Red Cross Youth Humanitarian of the Year award, the Lieutenant Governor’s Education Award, and the Prince of Wales Community Leadership Award.

When searching for the right post-secondary institution, it was the ‘people factor’ that made all the difference for Cheyenne. She enjoyed meeting with the MSVU recruitment team and received an abundance of information from them, including details of the President’s Scholarship – a prestigious entrance award given to students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to community. Cheyenne applied and was named a recipient of the award in 2019. Since then, she’s had an impact on so many facets of life at MSVU.

Now in her fourth and final year of her Bachelor of Child and Youth Study degree, Cheyenne is new to the world of advancement in the organizational sense, but her connection to the concept is not new. Through her volunteer, advocacy and community work and her shared values with MSVU, she has a solid footing from which to grow a career in advancement and a new desire to work with the team she considers to be crucial to the success of the university: the Advancement team.

“Cheyenne is a true gift to our university – bright, driven and already very accomplished. She has an enviable combination of academic ability and commitment.”
Denise Green, Executive Director, University Advancement, Mount Saint Vincent University

Her desire to remove barriers to education is admirably strong. Cheyenne is currently part of the MSVU Accessibility & 2SLGBTQIA+ Working Group, the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Admissions, Scholarships and Awards, and the Food Security Volunteer Coordinator for the MSVU Student Union’s Food Bank and Captain Crow’s Café (soup kitchen).

“I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Cheyenne and have engaged with her as a student, volunteer, community leader, and university employee. Cheyenne is a student leader of the highest caliber. Her dedication to her academic studies, community, and volunteer activities is second to none.”
Dr. Joël Dickinson, President and Vice-Chancellor, Mount Saint Vincent University

“Her personal engagement in philanthropic service has shown her the value of ‘giving back’ that lies at the heart of authentic philanthropy. She is highly intelligent, motivated, disciplined, and eager to contribute her talents to creating a more just and equitable society.”
Ramona Lumpkin, CM, PhD, President Emerita, Mount Saint Vincent University

Cheyenne is an advocate for people of all backgrounds and understands the needs of students and community members alike through her volunteer work with countless organizations such as the Halifax Region Youth Council; Make a Wish Foundation; IWK Health; and Special Olympics. She has even spearheaded her own initiative called the Project Comfort Program, which she founded as a way of bringing people together to make blankets for those who have suffered the loss of a loved one due to violence, or the loss of shelter and security due to homelessness or domestic abuse.

With Mount Saint Vincent University marking its 150^th anniversary in 2023, Cheyenne’s fellowship year will be an integral part of the success of this celebration. With a full slate of projects surrounding the anniversary planned, Cheyenne will help move MSVU into the next era of advancement.

“I want to be a part of the continuing journey of Advancement in education long after the cap and gown have been worn and the convocation speeches have been given. I want to give back, not just to the school that has encouraged me to expand my thinking, but also to my community and its future students. I want to help afford them the same opportunities that I received no matter their situation in life.”
Cheyenne Hardy, Student, MSVU

When you think about the passion that it takes to make a difference in the advancement sector, Jaya Dhillon of Kwantlen Polytechnic University surmounts all expectations.

In every area Dhillon has touched at KPU, great strides have been made. From sharpening her perception and observation skillset within her anthropology studies, to empowering herself and the institution by becoming involved in student political experiences, Dhillon is unstoppable in her abilities to pursue, seek out and make change. Along the way, in her journey to becoming the President of the Student Council at KPU, she broke barriers to enact change in policies surrounding the reach, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility of scholarships, and additionally creating new endowed awards for students with disabilities, students who identify as people of colour, LGBTQ+ and International students.

Wherever she involves herself, it is noted she is not just talking the talk but walking the walk, and in her efforts create astounding impacts for all. With Dhillon’s sights now turned to the advancement field, at an extreme time of challenges for all due to the pandemic, her mark within the sector is set to take on new heights. As a student intern she got her hands and her creative mind in tune with annual giving and assisted in an exceptional Giving Tuesday campaign that not only bolstered alumni engagement, but also spurred giving internally from staff & faculty.

“With all of my experiences, I have integrated my skills in various ways and will continue to implement those skills in the future. My goal is not only to create equal opportunities but to also create awareness about the barriers put into place. These barriers are often not noticed thus minimal changes are being made. The pandemic has highlighted the challenges for many students, including me, and I believe I provide the unique perspective, leadership qualities, and the willingness to take action to make a change.”

Those who have had the pleasure of working with Dhillon agree, her passion, drive, and lived experience set her ahead of the average student.

Professor Sarah Fessenden, PhD, Faculty of Anthropology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University regales on her time with Dhillon as a student:

“Ms. Dhillon is an eager learner and driven student who not only seeks new knowledge but applies it to pressing social justice problems specifically related to access and diversity. She is a model KPU student who makes “thought meet action” as she has reached out beyond the university to enhance accessibility for those with disability needs. Ms. Dhillon has stood with her creative inquiry and applied engagement.”

Benjamin Newsom, Executive Director of the Kwantlen Student Association, who worked with Dhillon for over two years is again awestruck by her initiative stating:

“As a Council member Jaya has put a great deal of time and effort representing students with disabilities and ensuring we could advocate as best we could for their needs. She has been an instrumental member on Governance committee during this time recommending and implementing policy changes that have led to increased confidence in our democratic structures, and enhanced support for her fellow member of Council.”

Understanding the challenges the advancement sector faces, and what is required to make a true impact within, is an asset of any recipient of the fellowship. TD Insurance Meloche Monnex and CCAE are honoured to provide Jaya Dhillon the opportunity of the fellowship and know that the work she will produce will be go beyond any expectations of excellence and ingenuity.

An extremely strong advocate, scholar, and leader, Catherine Haba understands the true meaning of creating change for the Canadian Education sector and is a person who genuinely strives to make the world a better place.

Haba’s skillset is vast, and she has always been drawn to opportunities that allow her to utilize her passion and experience to enact positive transformation. She already encompasses a great level of understanding advancement through her professional experience in the non-profit sector at the United Way/Centraide Ottawa, and within Health Canada.

“In my current position as a Compensation Assistant for Health Canada, I routinely understand and deal with large volumes of time-sensitive human resource issues that require keen strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and an ability to be self-motivated. My accumulated experience and skills in this role alone strengthened my ability to be successful in the field of advancement which involves multiple moving parts and interpersonal effective stakeholder communication.”

While studying Global Development at Queen’s University, Haba helped to remove barriers to support her fellow student’s success through mental health and inclusivity initiatives. Haba co-wrote and developed a strategy for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity (EDII) issues as an undergraduate representative for the Faculty of Arts and Science. Her advocacy and leadership within volunteer positions shone even brighter as Vice-President of the Queen’s Black Alumni Chapter, where she developed strategies to engage alumni. In addition, as President of the Queen’s Black Academic Society (QBAS), she successfully lobbied for the creation of two additional admission awards aimed at diversifying student recruitment, and led a call to action in response to the Black Lives Matters movement that motivated Queen’s students and alumni to raise over $30,000.

These accomplishments along with so many others have garnered Haba an outstanding reputation within the Queen’s University community and beyond. In 2021 she received the Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Award, the highest tribute given by Queen’s to a student for distinguished service to the university, in 2017 she received the United Way Community Builder award and was named a delegate for Canada at the 2017 Youth Assembly at the United Nations in New York City.

From colleagues to community leaders the impact she has made is widespread. Haba’s colleagues from Queen’s University share in providing insight into her accomplishments and why she is bar none a perfect recipient of the fellowship program:

“In her first year on QBAS she constantly went above and beyond her responsibilities. She truly helped to foster a strong relationship amongst not only Black first years, but all first years of colour, as she encouraged the collaboration with several different minority cultural clubs on campus. Due to her professionalism and overall skill, Catherine was then hired as the head of the QBAS’ conference team. While I was an alumnus the year she served in this role, I continued to work closely with the Society as an advisor. The conference that year, which focused on embracing Blackness in institutions, was a success, primarily due to Catherine’s leadership and vision. She worked passionately and tirelessly to create impactful workshops that were led by dynamic speakers.”
Nyah Hernandez, MA, Vice-President of Operations, Queen’s Black Alumni Chapter (QBAC)

“Ms. Haba is recognized by her peers as a leading presence in the BIPOC community. As part of
her commitment to serving those who are too often underserved, Ms. Haba is intentional about
providing mentorship and support to new students who share a desire to give back and to get
involved. For those seeking to lead, she is a role model; for those seeking understanding and
support, she is a beacon of kindness, a trusted advisor, and a friend… Queen’s owes a great debt to students like Ms. Haba whose passion for justice and hope for a better future are steadily improving the university’s capacity for genuine welcome and engagement of diversity in all its forms. She is an impactful leader, one who continues to grow and to influence change at every opportunity. I believe that individuals like Ms. Haba, with her unique insight and strong leadership background, are the future of educational advancement.”
Stephanie Simpson, Associate Vice-Principal (Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion), Queen’s University

On behalf of TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, congratulations Catherine Haba. CCAE is thrilled to have you be a part of the 2022 fellowship program and cannot wait to see the impact you will provide within the Canadian advancement sector.