Viola Desmond Awards and Bursary Program

Feben is an accomplished student leader and graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University with a strong record of leadership across academic and professional student organizations. 

She served as president of the Biology Course Union and vice- president of Professional Development for the Association of Undergraduate Women in Science, leading high-impact initiatives, industry partnerships, and mentorship programs. 

Feben is the recipient of two Dennis Mock Student Leadership awards, Best Leadership in a Student Group Award, and Excellent Social Award, and is committed to inclusive leadership, community engagement, and advancing professional development within science communities.

Zintiat Kolly (she/her) is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s social work program and holds an Honours diploma from Durham College. 

She currently works as a program manager, Student Success at the Pinball Clemons Foundation, supporting over 120 students through financial aid, mentorship, and advocacy. She served as vice-chair on the board of Future Black Female, where she helped advance access to education and leadership opportunities for Black girls. 

Zintiat is an avid volunteer both locally and internationally, most recently volunteering in Indonesia with Islamic Relief Canada. Passionate about community impact, mental health, equity, and immigration advocacy, she is committed to using her voice and lived experience to advance justice and opportunity for marginalized communities.

Jada Johnson-Mills is a senior student in the midwifery education program at Toronto Metropolitan University, with a strong commitment to reproductive justice and Black maternal health. 

Drawing on extensive clinical experience in primary and complex care settings, she works to support safe, respectful, and equitable care for diverse families.

Jada is passionate about community-centred midwifery, health equity, and advancing culturally responsive care within Ontario’s healthcare system. She plans to practice as a certified midwife and continue advocating for improved outcomes and trust in maternity care.

Naomi Wokocha is completing a double major in English and philosophy, with a minor in criminology. During her time at TMU, she has pursued a range of academic and professional roles, including serving as vice-president of the TMU Pre-Medical Society and working as a research assistant with the philosophy and history departments. She is particularly interested in public policy, clinical ethics and qualitative research. Her academic and research experience has led to a competitive clinical ethics internship with William Osler Health System, a summer research assistantship with the Government of Ontario, and her current role as a research assistant and lead project facilitator with the International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership (ICCRP).

Helena is a 4th-year Business Technology Management co-op student, minoring in Marketing. She currently serves as the executive vice-president for the Black Business Student Association and values leadership, collaboration, and creating meaningful impact for the communities around her. 

Professionally, Helena is passionate about leveraging her skills to connect technology, business strategy, and marketing, developing innovative solutions that drive results and create value for organizations and communities.

A proud Ghanaian Canadian raised in Toronto and Vaughan, Lynn dedicated almost 15 years to supporting young people as a child and youth worker with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). 

Encouraged by coworkers who recognized the depth of her child‑care practice, she applied to Toronto Metropolitan University as a mature student, a decision that reshaped her path in education. Creativity and innovation guide Lynn’s work, especially when creating culturally focused activities that engage Black and Indigenous students and foster meaningful cultural awareness. 

This commitment to community and care was recently recognized through the Sidney and Mettalia Ferguson Award, an honour that confirmed the purpose behind Lynn’s journey.

Dr. Trudy McFarlane is a family physician, general practitioner psychotherapist and assistant clinical professor at the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine, where she serves as associate dean, Black Flourishing in Medicine and Healthcare. A leader in health equity and medical education, she has helped shape admissions pathways, curriculum and learner supports that advance Black representation, belonging and excellence in medicine. 

Dr. McFarlane is deeply committed to uplifting Black communities through community engaged programs and partnerships to address health disparities and national mentorship throughout the educational continuum, supporting Black youth, university students, medical learners and trainees. Her leadership is guided by Ubuntu, the belief that our humanity is bound together with the conviction that when systems see people fully and holistically, they create conditions for flourishing and reflect the legacy of Viola Desmond, dismantling structural barriers while building pathways for future generations. 

Nicole Austin is an alumni of the Food and Nutrition Program at TMU and the Black-led programs coordinator at the Urban Farm where she founded the Harvest Collective and Learning Circle, Black Food Sovereignty Initiatives. 

Nicole is an ardent food justice advocate who knows nutrition and food are central to individual and community health and well-being. She champions restorative justice, progressive urban planning, environmental stewardship, and community-based initiatives upon which people can build capacity and become food sovereign on their own terms. Nicole firmly believes positive, sustainable food system transformation comes through collaboration, intentional reconciliation, knowledge reclamation and knowledge-sharing.

Zoë Walwyn is a graduate of the Lincoln Alexander School of Law (LASL) and a recipient of the Royal Society of Canada Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize, awarded upon graduation to a student most likely to positively influence equity and social justice in Canada and globally. She currently serves as a judicial law clerk at the Federal Court of Canada, where she works across areas including immigration and refugee law, prison law and human rights law. 

Zoë has demonstrated a sustained commitment to equity and anti-racism through her advocacy, including co-founding LASL’s Pardon Clinic, serving as Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer for LASL’s Black Law Students’ Association, and leading anti-Black racism initiatives in educational settings. She is motivated to pursue a legal career grounded in social justice, equity, and compassionate advocacy.

Deborah Flint is the President and CEO of Toronto Pearson Airport, Canada's largest international gateway. 

She leads the organization’s strategy and operations, driving its work to modernize airport services and enhance global connectivity. 

Before joining Toronto Pearson, she held senior roles in aviation management and infrastructure development.

Dr. Luz Longsworth is a transformational leader in higher education and corporate learning with a global footprint. She served as principal and pro vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies Open Campus and Global Affairs, spearheading digital transformation and leadership development across the Caribbean. As senior corporate director at Sandals Resorts International, Luz leads the Sandals Corporate University, shaping training for over 20,000 team members in nine countries. 

Dr. Longsworth has advised international organisations, served on public and private sector boards, including the University of Belize and Montego Bay Community College, and is an Honorary Fellow of the Commonwealth of Learning, mentoring female leaders worldwide.

Claudette McGowan is a global information technology leader with more than 20 years of success leading digital transformations and implementing cybersecurity platforms and solutions. She has worked in the technology industry for several organizations, including Deloitte, Metropolitan Police Services, North York General Hospital, Bank of Montreal (BMO), and TD Bank.

Claudette is currently the chief executive officer of Protexxa, an innovative cybersecurity software and services company. She is the creator of Protexxa Defender, an AI-powered cybersecurity platform that helps companies and individuals find and fix cyber vulnerabilities. In 2024, McGowan shattered records by raising $10 million in venture capital funding and Protexxa now has government and corporate customers worldwide.

Over the past decade, Claudette has received recognition as one of the Top 100 Global Leaders in FinTech by FinTech Magazine. Toronto Life recognized Claudette as one of the city's Top 50 Most Influential Torontonians, the Digital Finance Institute honoured her as one of the Top 50 Canadian Women in FinTech, IT World Canada named among the Top 20 Canadian Women in Cybersecurity, and the Women’s Executive Network recognized her as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada.

In June 2025, Claudette was appointed to the Order of Canada for her global leadership in cybersecurity, advocacy for women, and the promotion of digital human rights.