The future is bright for Rakha Zabin. Her vision of a thriving educational landscape for students from all backgrounds is making waves across the province and inspiring the next generation of learners.

The Educational Studies PhD student recently received a 2022-23 Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities’ Award of Excellence in the category of Rising Star, which honours graduate students and early career professionals who are making a difference in education, inspiring students or conducting innovative research in the post-secondary education sector.

Zabin was honoured by Jill Dunlop, Ontario’s Minister of Colleges and Universities, at an event Thursday, May 16 at the First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) in Deseronto, Ont.

Brock President and Vice-Chancellor Lesley Rigg commended Zabin for her valuable contributions towards making the University a more inclusive and vibrant place to study and for her groundbreaking research in educational policy and administration.

“Through her tireless advocacy, exemplary leadership and innovative teaching and research approaches, Ms. Zabin is not only making an impact here on campus, she is also helping to shape the future of the post-secondary landscape,” said Rigg.

Over the past six years, Zabin has amplified the voices of Brock grad students through key University student leadership roles, sharing issues of concern and highlighting experiences that make Brock an exceptional place to pursue graduate studies.

Brock PhD in Educational Studies student Rakha Zabin (left) received a 2022-23 Minister’s Award of Excellence from Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop on Thursday, May 16.

During her tenure as President of Brock’s Graduate Students’ Association (GSA), Zabin represented the association on Brock’s Senate and Board of Trustees, raising the visibility of the association on campus.

Zabin is also an active member of Brock’s Strategic Planning Committee and International Strategic Planning Committee.

When Zabin chose Brock in 2018 to pursue her Master of Education (MEd), leaving her home and family in Bangladesh, she was hopeful the University’s commitment to student engagement and support would ring true.

“The care and support I received on campus meant so much to me; I was a person, not a number,” she said. “The way I was valued inspired me to give back to Brock the way it had given so much to me.”

By the time she completed her MEd degree, Brock had become her second home, and she knew there was nowhere else she wanted to pursue her PhD.

Through her doctoral work focused on educational leadership and policy studies, Zabin connects real-world student experiences to institutional, provincial and federal policies in education.

She aims to make recommendations for educators, policy-makers and administrators in academic leadership that help align policies and their implementation, particularly when it comes to policies related to international graduate student integration.

Zabin is also dedicated to creating transformative educational experiences as a part-time instructor in the Faculty of Education, where she teaches courses in the Leadership in Community-Based Education Certificate and Canadian Culture and Education Studies Certificate programs.

Looking forward, she hopes to extend her career in teaching and find her place in the field of academic administration.

Reflecting on her journey and success, Zabin urged new students to reach out and actively engage in university and broader community initiatives.

“Enjoy the experience, make new connections and do new things,” she said. “Breaking through the first barrier and reaching out to people makes all the difference.”