MPA Alumni Spotlight
Building a global community in a new country
Moving to a new country to pursue further education poses many challenges, whether that’s academically, adjusting to different norms or just being away from home. Haroon Chaudhry h...
"Identifying issues, finding solutions": JSGS alum and mentor on building a public policy career
Scott Weaver’s career path has taken some unexpected turns, something he feels is a wonderful way to find what you are looking for.
Advancing health equity in Saskatchewan
Adel Panahi is currently the Director of Health at Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, the governing body representing the approximately 80,000 Métis people living in the province, where he...
Creating value through his work
Kwame Neba is currently the Vice President of Nunavut Operations at the Workers’ Safety & Compensation Commission of the NWT & Nunavut, the government body administering safety and...
JSGS graduate has life-changing experience on first day of class
Ian Worme graduated with a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree after a five-year academic journey that began in the most unconventional way—with the birth of his youngest ...
U of R graduate expands her knowledge and refines her leadership skills at JSGS
Amanda Willcox wanted to continue her education with a program that would equip her with the skills to become a leader for positive change in the public service. She is passionate ...
U of R graduate, global citizen serving Saskatchewan communities
Amanda Noubarian identifies as a world traveller, shaped by the beauty, experiences, and stories she has witnessed around the globe. Along the way, she has gathered a passion for s...
USask graduate, Nathalie Atanasova, found a perfect fit at JSGS
There could not have been a better fit for Nathalie Atanasova, than a master’s program that would set her up for success in the public sector.
Mentoring the next generation of public servants
Jeff Bassendowski is currently the Director of the Planning, Reporting and Accountability Branch in the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training with the Government of Saskatche...
Leading innovation in public sectors across Canada
Innovation is key for this Johnson Shoyama MPA grad.
Working towards food security
Change is a learning opportunity for this Johnson Shoyama MPA grad.
A Seat at the Table
Neal Kewistep (MPA’11) got a master’s degree because he wanted a seat at the table—the BIG table, the one where social and economic issues are discussed, where decisions are made a...
Choosing the career of a public servant
Like so many alumni of Johnson Shoyama Graduate School, Oleksandra Orr’s career is the result of both purposeful planning and serendipitous choices. One of those choices was signin...
From waste management to a more sustainable future
As manager of Waste Stewardship and Recycling at the Ministry of Environment, Che-Wei Chung, MPA'13, is using skills honed in the Johnson Shoyama Master of Public Administration pr...
Creating Opportunity
Johnson Shoyama alumnus Ralph Leibel, MPA’09, used an undergraduate degree in regional planning as a springboard to a career in government service.
Building capacity in First Nations organizations
After a decade of using her knowledge and skills to build capacity in First Nations organizations, Nicole Callihoo faced a turning point. If she wanted to achieve more as an admini...
Finding inspiration from abroad
When it comes to JSGS alumni, Andrea Geisbauer is something of an insider—she’s the manager of the school’s Executive Education unit. It is a position she’s held since 2002, when t...
A Difference-Maker: Changing how we think about accessibility and inclusion
Jennifer Gabrysh, MPA’13, grew up in Melfort, Saskatchewan an outdoorsy, sports-loving teen. She went on to play varsity soccer at the University of Lethbridge and to teach yoga an...
Seeing policy development in action
Laura Willcocks has a distinct advantage in life—she’s not afraid of change. “We moved around a lot when I was growing up, so change isn’t scary for me. I’m not afraid to try somet...
A career in politics
In 2008, Jeremy Harrison was in the first cohort of students at the newly minted Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy—just what you would expect from someone who had, b...
Making the most of opportunity
For JSGS alumnus Alyssa Daku, MPA, CIPP, the investment in grad school is paying dividends in an exciting new career path.
Creating a future she's proud of
Kristin Ward Diaz describes her pre-JSGS work history as a “career jungle gym”—she explored a variety of career paths. Today, the 2012 MPA graduate is thriving as a Community Devel...