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 mpp.admissions@utoronto.ca.
Get to know this year's ambassadors below!
Manvir Mangat
Manvir is a dedicated first-year candidate for the Master of Public Policy degree at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Her policy interests include tech policy, digital governance, AI, and digital accessibility. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from York University. In her spare time, Manvir enjoys watching and playing soccer.
Jinyan Li
Jinyan is doing a Master of Public Policy degree at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto double majoring in Political Science and Economics. Her current academic interests: (1) the respective political economy in central banking, sovereign debts, and trade and monetary policies; (2) energy and technology (ex., AI, digital currency, etc.) regulations; (3) Canadian federalism, Constitution, judicial politics, and (comparative) legal analysis; (4) political representation and identity politics; and (5) the ancient, modern, and contemporary political thought. In her spare time, she’s a varsity curler and classical piano player.
Matthew McLeish
Matthew is a first-year Master of Public Policy candidate at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. He previously graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Joint Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in History and Political Science. Since joining the Munk School, Matthew has been elected the Graduate Students' Union Representative for MPP students and worked as a Team Lead with the Public Good Initiative, consulting on the availability of affordable housing and refugee healthcare access and outcomes. With previous experience as an Analyst for the Government of Canada and as a Constituency Assistant to a local Member of Parliament, he has developed a strong interest in building trust and strong communities through collaborative, evidence-based policy. Matthew is an avid reader of history in his spare time and is a die-hard fan of the Montréal Canadiens.
Lynette Furtado
Lynette is a first-year Master of Public Policy candidate at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Before that, she graduated with a degree in law, sociology, and public administration from York University. Lynette's primary policy interests are immigration, education, law and justice. This year, she is working as a Policy Consultant and Team Lead with the Public Good Initiative, working closely with Cystic Fibrosis Canada on exciting work! She is also acting as an Analyst with the Mental Health Policy Initiative and an Academic Functions Coordinator with the Master of Public Policy Student Association at the Munk School. In her free time, Lynette works as a Talks Speaker with Jack.org, a Canadian Non-Profit organization focusing on youth mental health. Lynette is a classical and jazz-trained singer and pianist. She specializes in teaching students with cognitive disabilities. She loves reading and cooking.
Tashyana Davidson
Tashy is in her first year of the Master of Public Policy program at the Munk School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science from McMaster University and has worked in program development in non-profit disability services. She has also worked as a writer and in the learning design industry. Tashy is interested in co-operative housing, care economy issues such as long-term care, and the intersection between political philosophy and public policy. She volunteers with the Public Good Initiative and the Public Policy and Governance Review.
Tasha Romeyn
Tasha is a first year Master of Public Policy candidate at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Social Justice Certificate from Simon Fraser University. Tasha has worked for the federal government as a Program Assistant at Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada and as a Jr. Policy Officer at Women and Gender Equality Canada. In 2022-2023, she co-led an initiative called Year of the Salish Sea, for which she engaged with municipal governments, members of the general public, and attendees at various conferences, speaking about ocean stewardship and governance.
Cassidy MacNeil
Cassidy is a first-year Master of Public Policy candidate at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She holds a Bachelor's in Conflict Studies and Human Rights from the University of Ottawa. As a Policy Analyst at the Privy Council Office, Cassidy worked on justice, public safety and equity policy. At the University of Toronto, she is an Associate Editor of the Public Policy and Governance Review and Logistics Coordinator for L'Association de la francophonie de l'école Munk. In her spare time, Cassidy enjoys reading, playing intramural sports and exploring Toronto.
Alexander Carter
Alexander is a first-year MPP student at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, is developing his skills as a policy consultant with the Public Good Initiative, focusing on newcomer settlement strategies. He's also actively involved in various Student-Led Initiatives (SLIs) and Case Competitions at Munk, applying classroom learning to practical scenarios. Fluent in both Mandarin and English, Alexander brings a diverse, multicultural perspective to his studies and classroom.
Steffi Hebel
Steffi is a Master of Public Policy student at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Guelph. During her undergraduate degree, she was the head of the Student Advocacy Centre at the University of Guelph. Throughout her academic journey, Steffi has been deeply interested in community engagement and student mentoring. She is passionate about research relating to the areas of comparative politics. Steffi has a keen interest in studying languages and learning about other cultures.