The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa is pleased to announce that Sharon Ayele, a Master’s student of Public and International Affairs, has been awarded this year’s Anne and Saul Zussman Scholarship.
At the university, she has served as a Community Advisor, supporting students in their transition to university life, and as a Peer Support and Peer Wellness Leader, where she developed programs addressing mental health, wellness, and belonging. Her community service activities beyond the university, both in Canada and abroad, have also been extensive. They include working with the Institute on Governance in Ottawa on public-sector education initiatives, and with non-governmental organizations in Tunisia and Ethiopia, respectively, on environmental and humanitarian issues, among many other activities.
“This scholarship,” she writes, will “not only support my academic journey but also allow me to continue contributing to the communities that have shaped me and those I hope to serve in the future.”
The Anne and Saul Zussman Scholarship was established by Dr. David R. Zussman, former Professor of Public Policy and Management and former Dean of the Faculty of Administration at the University of Ottawa. The award is named after his parents. It provides financial assistance to GSPIA students for their service and dedication to the community.