Our Team
Josh is born Canadian, raised Australian and has Guyanese roots.
He is Lab Manager and Research Associate at OTS Research Collaborative. He is a graduate of the Master of Arts in Health Promotion Program at Dalhousie University.
Josh’s research focuses on intersectional population health and health equity. He is also the interim Research and Knowledge Mobilization Facilitator at the Healthy Populations Institute at Dalhousie University.
Crystal Watson
Nnamdi is a first year medical student at Dalhousie University who has research and professional experience in programming and capacity building within the Black and African Nova Scotian communities.
Having completed an honours project; Retrospect: Supports for Criminal Record Holders, Incarcerated Individuals and Community Reintegration – within the School of Health and Human Performance at Dalhousie University. and working with the Nova Scotia Brotherhood and Sisterhood in Primary Healthcare, Nova Scotia Health, he has valuable understanding and knowledge within this area of research.
Sara Bregaw
Sara is a First-Year Bachelor of Health Science in Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound Student at Dalhousie University. She has research experience in ocean sciences from her Summer Internship at Dalhousie's Department of Oceanography, where she researched the biological, physical, and chemical aspects of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement.
She has competed in the Brilliant Labs Brilliant Blue Challenge, where she and her research team placed second internationally for their sustainably designed, 3D-printed prototype that monitors the growth of endangered marine species in Nova Scotia.
Sara is passionate about creating meaningful change in her community by using her voice, energy and determination to uplift others.
Robin Cunningham
Robin (She/her) is a Health Equity Consultant, current Africentric Social Work student at Dalhousie University, and an award-winning filmmaker, author, and visual artist based in Halifax (Kjipuktuk).
With Xaymaca Afro-Indigenous roots and a Latin Soul, Robin brings a unique cultural perspective to her work. She is deeply passionate about equity and social justice, advocating for femme and children’s rights, and decolonizing systems.
When she’s not sipping tea and minding her business, you can find Robin in community, passionately supporting others."
Miguel Nkeng
Crystal Watson is a PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Health at Dalhousie University and Academic Chair in Health and Human Services at the Nova Scotia Community College. She holds a Master’s degree in Leisure Studies from Dalhousie University and is a certified recreation therapist.
Nnamdi Chiekwe
Joshua Yusuf
Miguel Nkeng is a Master’s of Leisure Studies student in the School of Health and Human Performance at Dalhousie University, supervised by Dr. Barbara Hamilton‑Hinch.
His current research explores African Nova Scotian men’s reflections on their adolescent basketball experiences at the Community Y. Miguel previously received an Imhotep’s Legacy Academy research scholarship, where he examined the experiences of students of African descent who participate in Black‑centered international study abroad programs.
He has also worked as a research assistant on projects focused on Black women’s health, specializing in coding and thematic analysis. In addition to his academic work, Miguel is the founder of NKENG Advisory, where he develops leadership, mentorship, and wellness programming rooted in sport, community, and culturally grounded practice.
Kari Jones-Azure
Kari is a third year Africentric Bachelor of Social Work (ABSW) student at Dalhousie University and is new to the land of research.
Kari has joined the On These Shoulders Research Collaborative by way of her practicum placement, a requirement of ABSW program. It started just as a requirement, but now wishes she was doing this work full-time with the Collaborative.
Working under Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch & her team has truly been a blessing for Kari. Kari’s role in the Collaborative is as a Community Health Navigator, assisting those who have come into contact with the Nova Scotia Criminal Justice System, to re-integrate back into community. This work puts the theories of social work into practice and will strengthen her frame of practice.