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Episode 1
Permission from the Universe
Subscribe to Always Blue with Tim Rahilly: An MRU Alumni Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube Podcasts.
Meet our Guest: Tala Abu Hayyaneh
About Tala
Tala is serving her second term as President of SAMRU. She is passionate about improving housing support, transit access, and inclusive campus spaces for the MRU community. She has led work on everything from academic appeals and policy reform to student affordability campaigns and enhanced student representation at institutional tables. She has spent time as an intern in the Trade Commissioner Service office of Canada.
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Tala’s academic and leadership journey: Tala shares her path from being a new student in Canada seeking belonging, to finding her community through policy studies, volunteering, and student governance, which led to leadership roles within SAMRU and practical experiences such as a Trade Commissioner Service internship.
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Reflections on leadership and skills development: The conversation explores Tala’s leadership philosophy, including balancing responsibility, emotional resilience, collaboration, and the transferable skills she gained through governance, advocacy, and volunteerism beyond the classroom.
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Vision for impact and advocacy: Tala discusses her passion for education policy, refugee education, and accessibility, highlighting accomplishments such as strengthening student–administration relationships and advancing provincial advocacy for post-secondary education, as well as her role in launching and supporting the student refugee sponsorship program.
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Personal background and role models: Tala reflects on how her upbringing in an Arab Muslim family, with strong encouragement from her parents to pursue education and leadership, shaped her confidence, values, and commitment to making a positive difference in her community and beyond.
- Future aspirations and balanced approach to change: She outlines her long-term goals to work in education and policy—particularly supporting refugees, displaced populations, and students with accessibility needs—while emphasizing the importance of balancing critique with collaborative, inside-the-system efforts to drive meaningful change.
Listen to Always Blue with Tim Rahilly: An MRU Alumni Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube Podcasts.
The views expressed by the host and speakers reflect their personal experiences and perspectives, and are not representative of Mount Royal University or the Office of Alumni Relations.
Have questions about Big Ideas? Contact alumni@mtroyal.ca