Meet Your 2025 VUSAC BIPOC Leadership Award Recipients

^{Jackson Leslie and Zahra Ahmadi, recipients of the 2025 VUSAC BIPOC Leadership Award, have each made lasting contributions to student life and equity at Victoria College.}

By Dan Blackwell

Fourth-year students Jackson Leslie and Zahra Ahmadi are the 2025 recipients of the VUSAC BIPOC Leadership Award, which recognizes two outstanding Victoria College students for their significant contributions to student life and the broader community. The award, given to individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour,  celebrates leadership, involvement and positive impact on campus and beyond. 
 
Leslie, a double major in neuroscience and fundamental genetics, has been a steady presence in student life at Victoria College. Now a senior residence don, Leslie has also served as vice-president internal of the Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council, student ambassador and a mentor with Success Beyond Limits. As a member of the Vic Black Steering Committee, he helped guide the implementation of the Scarborough Charter and led initiatives to support Black students, including securing funding for cultural programming. 

“Growing up in Belize, in a predominantly Black community, and then moving to Canada for university—there was definitely some culture shock,” Leslie said. “I struggled to find my place. However, through organizations like VUSAC and the Vic Black Steering Committee, I found a sense of belonging, and I realized just how important building a community is. I wanted to give back.” 
 
Leslie said that serving the Black community at Vic has been a priority. 

"For me, it’s important that students not only know about this award but also recognize the many ways we can contribute to student life and help address equity issues here at Vic."
 
Ahmadi, a student majoring in ethics, society and law with a double minor in Indigenous studies and French, has also taken on a strong leadership role within the university community, despite living off campus. As senior commuter don at Victoria College, she manages a team of six commuter dons and helps oversee the development of more than 50 academic and social programs designed to support students who don’t live in residence.
 
She said getting involved in campus life gave her a way to build connections while supporting others in similar positions. 

“In first year, most of your peers have already formed bonds and connections through residence,” said Ahmadi. “They’re living together and spending a lot of time together, so you can feel a bit like an outsider.” 

Ahmadi said the best part of her role is encouraging students to get involved even when they feel hesitant. 

“You can be there to support them, reassure them, give them advice on how to go about it,” she said. “It’s really about finding your first two friends who you have something in common with. From there, you feel a part of the community and confident in yourself.” 

Ahmadi has also contributed to campus life as a research assistant in Access to Justice at Trinity College, a Dean’s List scholar and a four-time recipient of the Pauline M. Scott Scholarship. She said she’s honoured to receive the VUSAC BIPOC Leadership Award, especially because of what it symbolizes. 

“I think it’s amazing that this award exists—it’s really important,” Ahmadi said.

“Everyone on campus needs support and a place to call home, but for students of colour especially, institutions aren’t always built with us in mind. Having someone who represents you and works to make this environment more inclusive is powerful. That the college recognizes and encourages this work is a meaningful step.”

Want to learn more about the VUSAC BIPOC Leadership Award and how it recognizes outstanding student contributions at Vic? Visit the Leadership Acknowledgement Awards page for details.