MPP Student ambassadors
Curious about the Master of Public Policy program? Why not speak to one of our students?
The MPP program has a group of dedicated student ambassadors to help you understand and navigate the program. To speak with one of our MPP student ambassadors, contact discover.munk@utoronto.ca
Get to know this year's ambassadors below!
Nathania Ebegbare
Nathania is a MPP2 student at the Munk School and a Registered Social Service Worker. Her background in community social services shapes her interest in health and social justice policy. She is particularly interested in how public decisions affect people’s access to care, safety, and opportunity, and in bringing lived experience into those decisions. She enjoys reading, fostering animals, and expressing her creativity through design and style.
Shazma Nafis
Shazma is a second-year Master of Public Policy student at the Munk School. She holds a BA in Global Development Studies with minors in Economics and Political Science from U of T Scarborough. As a former Program Officer at IDRF, she supported education, hygiene, and food access initiatives. Passionate about bridging policy and practice, Shazma aims to advance sustainable, community-driven development through impactful public policy work.
Angel Liang
Angel is a second-year Master of Public Policy student at the Munk School, with a background in engineering and business management. She completed an internship with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation this past summer. She is also Co-Director of the AI Policy Group, a Student Leadership Initiative focused on AI policy and regulation. Angel is particularly interested in how AI and technology intersect with public policy. She is fluent in English and Mandarin, and enjoys attending anime conventions as a cosplayer.
Sophia Qiu
Sophia is a second-year Master of Public Policy student at the Munk School. She studied at Emory University and the University of Chicago before working in investment banking on IPO listings with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Her interests include sustainability, climate policy, and the intersection of finance and public policy. Originally from Beijing, Sophia is excited to begin a new chapter in Toronto and share her experiences navigating graduate school and moving abroad.
Arianne Joyce Padillo
Arianne is a second-year Master of Public Policy candidate at the Munk School with an HBA in Political Science and French Studies from the University of Toronto. Before pursuing her MPP, she was an intern of the Parliamentary Internship Programme and after, a Tour Officer for Jagmeet Singh, then-leader of the federal New Democratic Party. Arianne’s policy interests lie in the intersection of politics and public policy.
Celdric Payomo
My name is Celdric and I am currently a second year MPP student at the Munk School. I have an interdisciplinary background in criminal justice, legal studies, and teaching and learning. The domains of policy that I am interested in are health, criminal justice, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. My professional background is primarily centered around academics and NGOs. Outside of my academics and professional life, I spend my free time travelling, dancing and trying out new restaurants.
Kalaivani Rajalingam
My name is Kalaivani Rajalingam, a second-year student in the MPP Program at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Having taught in Ontario and England, I aspire to utilize my experience and interest in education to inform educational policy. This way, I can create a change and difference in the educational sector through its program delivery, and policy changes that best impact learning experiences for students.
Natasha Rehan
Natasha is in her final year of the Master of Public Policy program. She has experience working in the non-profit and public sectors, most recently completing a summer internship at the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Her policy interests include social and environmental policy, with a focus on addressing the concerns of marginalized communities. She holds an HBA in Political Science and Sustainability from the University of Toronto Mississauga.
Jacqueline Tarka
Jackie is a second-year Master of Public Policy student. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science from the University of Guelph, with specializations in Computer Science and International Development. Her policy interests include higher education, economy and technology. Outside of classes, she enjoys hiking, reading historical fiction and playing games online with friends.
Riya Osti
Riya is a dual degree student at the Munk School (MPP) and Columbia University (MIA). Prior to joining the Munk School, she attended the University of Toronto Scarborough, where she double majored in Critical Development Studies and Urban Planning. Her interests lie in using policy as a medium to advance sustainable and resilient cities, while also exploring the consulting sector and how it can support large-scale organizations in achieving their operational and climate goals.
Rafia Akter
Rafia is a first-year Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Applied Mathematics from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Prior to her MPP, she worked with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on issues spanning immigration, labour markets, productivity, and economic development. Her work involved translating research and data into policy insights, collaborating across government and with external partners, and supporting initiatives addressing complex economic and social challenges. Beyond policy, she finds her creative side through digital art and Bangladeshi dance. She also loves exploring new places whenever she gets the chance.
Monica Hu
Monica is a dual degree student pursuing an MPP at the Munk School and an MIA at Columbia University’s SIPA. She double majored in Political Science and Communications at the University of Ottawa and has experience in the federal public service (Public Safety Canada & Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), municipal government as a political staffer, and community advocacy. Monica is passionate about food security, climate action, and advancing equity through public policy. Monica is always eager to connect with fellow students, exchange ideas, and explore how policy can create meaningful change.
Eric (Hung-Jui) Chen
Eric is a current MPP1 student and a recent graduate from the University of Toronto, having majored in political science and minored in economics and French in his undergraduate years. His policy interests, shaped by his identity as both a daily commuter and an international student from Taiwan, include public transportation, immigration and diasporal politics, and has volunteered at several municipal, provincial, and federal election campaigns in the past. He enjoys dining out, cycling, and travelling in his spare time, and is a dedicated fan of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Farwa Khtana
Farwa is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, with experience in policy research, program evaluation, and community engagement. She is passionate about exploring how policy can address complex social and urban challenges, and enjoys connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Outside of studies, Farwa enjoys travelling, discovering new places, and spending time in nature.
Luis Sanchez Diaz
Luis Sanchez Diaz Luis is currently a Master of Public Policy candidate at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Calgary. His research interests focus on energy and climate policy, environmental governance, and urban resilience, with particular attention to how public institutions design and implement policies that advance sustainability, energy security, and social equity. His academic interests are informed by his experiences living in Alberta and Mexico.
Keena Allison
Keena is a first-year MPP student, recently graduated from McMaster University with an Honours BA in Political Science with a specialization in Global Citizenship. Her current policy area of interest incorporates environmental sustainability and AI regulation. Keena has experience working in the federal public service and is fluent in both English and French. Outside Munk, Keena enjoys reading, film photography, and playing board games.
Michael Unsworth
Michael is a second-year Master of Public Policy student at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. Before joining the program, Michael worked at Veterans Affairs Canada, including as Director of Operations to the Minister. He has also gained provincial policy experience through the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. His policy interests include national security, public safety, energy policy, and intergovernmental relations.
Apostolos Zezos
Apostolos is a first-year Master of Public Policy student at the Munk School. He holds an HBSc in Human Biology from the University of Toronto. He has worked with Doctors Without Borders in Athens, the Greek Consulate in Toronto, and iLoF, a Portuguese biotech company. Apostolos is particularly interested in health policy, law, and international governance. Originally from Alexandroupolis, Greece, he plays lacrosse for the Varsity Blues, and enjoys spearfishing and film photography in his off time.