News

The Outstanding Graduate Student Award is awarded to a graduate student in either a professional or research program. These students exemplify the highest level of passion for their discipline and are engaged in initiatives that improve the quality of the graduate student experience at Dalhousie. Outstanding Graduate Student Award winners positively impact other graduate students with activities that extend beyond their academic programs. 

Patricia Porto de Barros Ayaz, a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science, was awarded this honour at the 2024 Dalhousie Impact Awards.

Political Science department graduate coordinator Dr. Kristin Good provided the following comment:

"As Graduate Coordinator, I have observed Patricia's passion and leadership on many occasions including as President of the PS Graduate Student Society in the department, insofar as she has volunteered to serve as a judge for the last three (!) 3MT competitions and through her work bringing the graduate student perspective on our graduate admissions committee.  Very well done, Patricia! I have appreciated your contribution to the department, and we now know that you are also a model citizen of the university. With my sincere thanks for your contribution to graduate life in the department and congratulations on this well-deserved award!" - Dr. Kristin Good

Learn more about the Impact Awards in Dal News: Beyond the books: This year’s Dalhousie Impact Awards winners lead with purpose.

Other than the activities mentioned by Dr. Good, Patricia has worked as a Together@Dal mentor for graduate students since she moved to Canada from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As a mentor, she has planned and hosted various events on campus, in addition to speaking on panels and workshops organized to support incoming graduate students. She has also served as the student representative of the admission committee of the Political Science department for the last two years and has been the President of the Dalhousie Graduate Society of Political Science during the same time. Last year, Patricia was a member of the Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) planning committee. Moreover, in 2023–24, she volunteered as an organizer for Dalhousie's Black Health Awareness Week and completed the Dalhousie Student Leadership Academy program. Over the years, Patricia's activities beyond her academic program have demonstrated her passion and engagement in improving the quality of the graduate student experience at Dalhousie.