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The Black Student Success Centre is dedicated to supporting and championing the holistic (academic, personal and professional) success and overall well-being of Black/African descent students and fostering a positive Black student and athlete experience. The Centre is a safe space where students can meet, share, socialize and access specialized support and services.

BSSC Team

Portrait of Faith Ogunkoya

Iyobosa, Faith Ogunkoya, M.Ed.

Manager, Black Student Success

Email: uyinmwef@mcmaster.ca
Phone: 905.525.9140 x 21786

 

Faith Ogunkoya is an adaptive leader and experienced Higher Education, student success professional with core competencies in leading in the design and implementation of holistic integrated student services, including Experiential Learning, Co-op programs, and services. She is well-recognized for her ability to implement modern and evidence-based student success models, with a deep and wide network of internal and external partners, including employers and equity leads, spanning various sectors.

A headshot of Clare Warner

Dr. Clare Warner

Senior Advisor (Equity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism)

Email: warnec4@mcmaster.ca
Phone: 905.525.9140 x 27614

 

Dr. Clare Warner is the inaugural Senior advisor of Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism in the Department of Student Affairs at McMaster University. She supports the promotion of equity and inclusion values and goals through the vision, mission and mandate of the division and provides strategic guidance focused on building, strengthening, and evaluating inclusive programming, environments, policies, and processes within Student Affairs.

Kobina Baiden

Program Coordinator

Email: bss@mcmaster.ca
Phone: 905.525.9140 x 20759

 

Holds oversight over BSSC’s core administrative functions, and ensures the Centre’s smooth day-to-day operations.
Kobina joins us from the Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin Branch, where they were the Executive Office Administrator coordinating and managing logistical aspects for the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors.

Ola M. Kuforiji, M.A., RP

Black Student Wellness Counsellor

Email: kuforo1@mcmaster.ca
Phone: 905.525.9140 x 20991

 

Ola brings 10 years of experience working in the mental health field across community-based, non-profit and institutional healthcare settings.

He is a person-centred counsellor who draws on the modality of CBT in his work.

Portrait of Efe Chehore

Efe Chehore

Black Student Outreach & Transition Coordinator

Email: chehoree@mcmaster.ca
Phone: 905.525.9140 x 20987

 

Efe brings 8 plus years in student engagement and success across post-secondary and community settings, with a deep and proven commitment to advocating for the holistic wellbeing and academic success of Black students in higher education. Efe worked most recently, as the Imani Black Academic Mentorship Program and Black Student Engagement Facilitator within the Student Life & International Student Center at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus.

A headshot of Chinazo Okereke

Chinazo Okereke, CHRP

Black Student Career & Post Graduate Specialist

Email: okerec1@mcmaster.ca
Phone: 905.525.9140 x 20995

 

A Certified Human Resource Professional;  who brings 15 years experience in recruitment and selection, candidate/client relationship management, training, career coaching and talent development. Experienced in guiding students and job candidates through the exploration of career options and developing career growth strategies.

Student Staff

A headshot of James Esemu-Ezewu smiling.

James Esemu-Ezewu B.Arts Sc. '24

BSSC Marketing and Communications Associate

Email: bss@mcmaster.ca

 

James Esemu-Ezewu is a Nigerian student enrolled in his third year of the Arts and Science Program at McMaster University. He is passionate about creating equity in academic settings and supporting close tight-knit bonds between Black students at McMaster. In his spare time, he loves to rap, film videos, read and produce music.

A headshot of Malikca Lawrence

Malikca Lawrence B.Arts Sc. '24

BSSC Communication Assistant and Student Navigator

Email: bss@mcmaster.ca

 

Hailing from Montego Bay, Jamaica, I am a third-year undergraduate student enrolled in the Arts and Science Program here at McMaster University! I have a strong enthusiasm for connecting students to resources and opportunities available to them on campus as well as for building community through my involvement in the McMaster Black Student Association, the McMaster Association of Caribbean & West Indian Students and MSU Diversity and Equity Network.

Portrait of Timi (Oluwatimisola) Toyon

Timi (Oluwatimisola) Toyon B.A. '25

BSSC Program Support Assistant (Welcome Week Lead)

Email: bss@mcmaster.ca

 

I am a Nigerian student enrolled in the Honors Economics at McMaster University. I am one of the co-presidents of Blackspace, a student club focused on the empowerment of Black Women and Non-binary individuals. I also play an active role in McMaster Musical Theatre as a Costume Designer. I enjoy creative writing, fashion design, and I am passionate about being able to play a role in fostering an inclusive and empowering campus environment for Black students at McMaster. 

A headshot of Alador Bereketab

Alador Bereketab

Outreach & Transition Program Support Assistant

Email: bss@mcmaster.ca

 

Alador is a third-year Health Sciences student specializing in Child Health. She serves as the president of the Black Bachelor of Health Sciences Association (BBA) and is passionate about supporting students as they navigate their academic journeys. She is a musician and performer, through the violin and piano, leading workshops to advocate for music pedagogy accessibility for Black youth. As the associate producer of the Black Studies Podcast, she loves finding intersections in knowledge and thought through bringing together scholars, artists, and activists.

A headshot of Raine Garrell

Raine Garrell

Outreach & Transition Program Support Assistant

Email: bss@mcmaster.ca

 

I am a Jamaican and Black Canadian student who is enrolled in the Combined Honours program of Communication Studies and French here at McMaster University. I look forward to contributing to efforts in welcoming incoming students to the McMaster Community. Another engagement I have on campus is my role as VP of Social Media and Graphics on the Blackspace team. I am also a big fan of all things relating to media, from tv, to movies, music and video games.

Portrait of Tolu (Staff Member)

Toluwalase Dayo-Olaide (Graduate Student)

Peer Mentor, Career & Post-Grad

Email: bss@mcmaster.ca

 

A Nigerian student enrolled in the Masters of Biomedical Innovation program at McMaster University. My project work is currently focused on creating and developing a medical device aimed at improving patient safety in hospitals. I am very enthusiastic about constantly contributing to the Black community on campus and I am very excited to be assisting students navigate the complexities of university life. I am very passionate about working out, making and listening to music.

A headshot of Natasha Muhuni

Natasha Muhuni

Peer Mentor, Career & Post-Grad

Email: bss@mcmaster.ca

 

I am a Kenyan student in my final year of the Health & Society program at McMaster University specializing in Mental Health and Addiction. Presently, I serve as an editor at McMaster’s medical humanities journal, The Muse, alongside partaking in the Advanced Research on Mental Health and Society (ARMS-SAC) at McMaster University as a committee member. My academic passions include critical perspectives on mental wellness, health and social policy, and disability studies. In recent years, I have taken a keen interest in African social and structural development, seeking to understand and address the challenges faced by the continent’s most marginalized communities.

Mailing address:

1280 Main Street West
Peter George Centre for Living and Learning (PGCLL)
Room M07
Hamilton, Ontario
L8S 4S4