Nine McMaster students have been selected as McCall MacBain International Fellows, offering them the opportunity to spend a fully funded year abroad studying, living, and working in a different country.
They are part of a cohort of 26 undergraduate students from across Canada, forming the sixth cohort of McCall MacBain International Fellows.
Valued at up to $30,000, the fellowship is designed to provide students with the opportunity to learn a language, participate actively and respectfully in a different community, build lasting international ties, and deepen their ability to work in a different cultural context.
The 2025-26 fellows began their year abroad this summer. They will spend one term learning a new language, one term completing academic studies, and one term engaging in a work or internship experience.
“Marcy and I are delighted to announce the 2025 McCall MacBain International Fellows,” said John McCall MacBain, chair of the McCall MacBain Foundation.
“It is vital for Canada to invest in opportunities that allow students to immerse themselves and build ties to different parts of the world. As a foundation, we believe that investing in programs like these — ones that encourage deeper cultural understanding — will better equip the next generation of young people with the depth of knowledge and lived experiences that will inform how they go on to lead in the future.”
“We hope this fellowship enables students to cultivate key leadership skills: from developing independence and problem-solving skills to finding joy and building flexibility,” said Natasha Sawh, CEO of McCall MacBain Scholarships offered by the foundation.
“And we hope that the fellowship serves as a proof of concept that long-term, immersive experiences abroad can be transformative in fostering the growth of globally minded Canadians.”
The selection process for the McCall MacBain International Fellowships looks beyond academic achievement to examine students’ activities and pursuits in the service of their communities, their leadership experience, and their character.
“By removing financial barriers to travel and international experiences, the fellowship provides students with an unequalled opportunity”, says Sean Van Koughnett, associate vice-president (Students).
“This is going to be a transformative experience for them.”
“Not only will they study, work and learn a language abroad, they’ll also encounter many different perspectives. They’re already extraordinary students; the fellowship will empower them to become global citizens and leaders.”
The nine fellows selected from across disciplines and faculties at McMaster are in Costa Rica, Morocco, Thailand, Colombia, Japan, South Korea, Sweden and Uruguay.
Meet the McCall MacBain International Fellows from McMaster
Anna De Leenheer | Electrical Engineering and Society | Faculty of Engineering
Fellowship year: Spanish in Costa Rica
De Leenheer, who has a keen interest in engineering and sustainability, designed transmission and distribution powerlines in B.C., supported renewable energy installations in Alberta, and helped design electric vehicle charging station infrastructure.
At McMaster, she served as vice-president (Operations) of the McMaster Engineering Competition, president of the McMaster Ukelele Club, and as a marketing officer for the McMaster Engineering Society Sustainability Committee.
De Leenheer has led several outdoor climbing trips and canoe trips that taught camping skills to exchange students. She also worked as an Electrical Physics Teaching Assistant and at the Climbing Wall.
Edris Lutfi | Mathematics and Computer Science | Faculty of Science
Fellowship year: Arabic in Morocco
Lutfi led a fundraising campaign as social media coordinator for the Shir Foundation, helping raise $70,000 in humanitarian aid for families and orphans in Afghanistan. In high school, he founded the Coding Club, organizing weekly sessions to teach coding through games.
At university, he served as vice-president (Academic) of the McMaster Afghan Student Association and a captain at the McMaster Schulich Leader Squad. He also undertook machine learning research and interned at the Toronto Transit Commission.
He was on McMaster’s dragon boat team and has long volunteered at a retirement home, where he organized social events for residents.
In Hamilton, he has run two entrepreneurial businesses — a landscaping business and a tutoring initiative for math and French.
He has also worked as a facilitator for SHAD Canada’s workshops for high school students and interned as a business analyst at a climate tech startup.
Jennifer Tindall | Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences | Faculty of Health Sciences
Fellowship year: Thai in Thailand
Tindall served as co-president of the Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences Society, and she helped lead academic, social, and mentorship programming for students in her department.
Additionally, as president of the McMaster Book Club, she shared her love of reading by organizing events and launching a program in partnership with McMaster Children’s Hospital and the Wellwood Centre, an organization supporting those affected by cancer.
Over the past two years, Tindall has focused on infectious diseases through projects at McMaster and contributed to a gender equity study at the University of British Columbia. Having studied French and Spanish in high school, she is now excited to expand her language skills and support public health research during her fellowship in Thailand.
Lydia Pedersen | Materials Engineering and Society | Faculty of Engineering
Fellowship year: Spanish in Colombia
Pedersen was the chair of the 2024 McMaster Engineering Competition, where she led the organization of a two-day event for more than 400 students on campus.
Previously, she competed and advanced to Ontario provincial debating competitions twice. She was also the communications executive for the McMaster Marching Band, where she led internal communications and played the saxophone.
During her summers, Pedersen works as a senior camp counsellor, teaching water sports, orchestrating camp-wide games, and mentoring younger staff and campers. She is a member of a small group at her local church which fosters a strong welcoming community.
At the age of 20, she took a break from university to attend Tauernhof Bible School in Austria for three months. As part of her fellowship, Lydia hopes to hone her skills as an outdoor adventure sports guide and immerse herself in Colombia’s language and culture.
Omolade George | Applied Psychology and Human Behaviour | Faculty of Science
Fellowship year: Japanese in Japan
George worked as a Sexual Violence Prevention Peer Educator at McMaster, supporting students and liaising between students and the administration. She served as a program assistant with the McMaster Access Program, helping students transition to post-secondary education.
She has also been a Science Undergraduate Senator and served as an ambassador with the Black Student Success Centre.
In her first year, George was elected vice-president (External) of the McMaster First-Year Council, and she later served as the president of the Human Behaviour Society.
Outside university, she teaches children and youth at her local church. Aspiring to sharpen her culinary skills, Omolade hopes to immerse herself in Japanese culture by taking cooking classes, visiting markets, and learning traditional techniques.
Rya Adronov | Arts and Science
Fellowship year: Korean in South Korea
Adronov’s interest in cultural exchanges arose after a year-long sabbatical in France with her family when she was 10 years old.
In 2024, she was a McCall MacBain Shad Leader, through which she volunteered as a judge at the Canada-wide Science Fair and mentored students at the University of Lethbridge’s summer program.
She went on to found a club at McMaster dedicated to supporting young people in STEM. Adronov is also a member of the McMaster University Choir, building on her 11 years of experience singing with the Hamilton Children’s Choir. Before departing for South Korea, she worked as a student researcher developing radiopharmaceuticals in partnership with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories.
Ryan Bakshi | Marketing & Sustainability | DeGroote School of Business
Fellowship year: Spanish in Uruguay
Bakshi worked as a claims registration representative at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, helping injured Ontarians receive access to financial support while off work.
He previously studied abroad in Scotland, where he developed independence and adaptability while navigating a new academic and cultural environment. Bakshi has a strong interest in language learning; He completed an intensive French immersion program in Montreal and was a member of language-exchange clubs in both Hamilton and Glasgow.
On campus, he mentored new students through the First Year Orientation program and participated in business case competitions with ACE Ontario, where he recently placed in the top 5 under the travel management category.
During his fellowship, he looks forward to learning Spanish and exploring daily life and work in Uruguay.
Tracy Cai | Health Sciences and Child Health | Faculty of Health Sciences
Fellowship year: Japanese in Japan
Cai worked as a rehearsal assistant for the Hamilton Children’s Choir, teaching music and theory. She also volunteered as a promotions coordinator with the Student Health Education Centre, promoting healthy living on campus.
Recently, Cai challenged herself by joining the campus rock climbing club. During her summers, she worked as a medical office assistant, where she developed an interest in improving patient outcomes in primary care.
Cai is looking forward to understanding different aspects of Japanese life and culture during her fellowship.
Zahra Tauseef | Health Sciences | Faculty of Health Sciences
Fellowship year: Swedish in Sweden
Tauseef grew up in different countries, which taught her the importance of fostering community in different environments. In Ontario, she spent tow summers as a family guide and events intern at Campfire Circle, where she helped bring joy and connection to children with cancer.
On campus, she is part of the Student Health Education Centre and the McMaster Undergraduate Health Sciences Journal. She also worked as a program assistant at a local Hamilton community health centre. More recently, she joined the Hospital for Sick Children as a Health Equity Data Initiative volunteer and student researcher, where she helped build solutions for the pediatric population.
Tauseef is excited to immerse herself in Swedish culture and language during her fellowship.
To recognize others who distinguished themselves during the selection process, the McCall MacBain International Fellowships also offered two McMaster candidates grants valued at $6,000 to pursue an exchange abroad for one term next year.
Applications for 2026 fellowships are open now. Students interested in applying to the Fellowship are invited to book an appointment with Erin Pease, Global Experience Coordinator, in the Student Success Centre to review the application process and ask questions related to the opportunity.
Visit www.mccallmacbain.org to learn more.