After completing her master’s degree in 2024, Steffie Dmello is now a doctoral student in the Faculty of Education. “I completed my master’s last August, and I immediately started on my PhD because that was my goal,” she shares. She says that her Faculty advisors recommended that she start with a master’s degree and write a research paper that would set her up for the PhD, and that this was the right decision. “I took many research method courses that helped me navigate towards my PhD by exploring different perspectives of my topic.”
An academic journey from India to Canada
Dmello’s academic journey began in India, where she earned bachelor’s and a master’s degrees in science before completing a BEd in teaching at the secondary level. Her passion for education is also a family tradition. “My mom is also a teacher, so that’s where the influence came from. I’ve always been passionate about teaching,” she adds.
Highly committed to lifelong learning, she wanted to explore the foundations of education in depth by pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership, policy and evaluation. “It [the program] helped me understand how the assignments work or what the expectations are—it’s so different!”
Now Dmello is conducting research on outdoor science education, a field that perfectly merges her academic background in science with her passion for teaching. “My current research is a combination of all I’ve done in the past. I did science, then education...Now my research is science education!”
Support that goes beyond funding
Dmello was awarded the O’Meara Family Scholarship, an endowment that assists graduate students enrolled in an English-language program in the Faculty of Education. Established in 2002, the scholarship reflects the O’Meara family’s commitment to education as a means of social advancement.
Dmello acknowledges the financial impact of this scholarship: “It really helped me because [...] it doesn’t put that financial pressure on me, so it’s very exciting!” This funding allows her to fully concentrate on her studies and on achieving her career goals.
For Dmello, receiving this scholarship was both practical and meaningful. “Coming from a rural background in India, every bit of financial support makes a big difference. But what moved me the most was the application process,” she shares. The process was therapeutic: “I thought about how my mother played a major and crucial role in shaping my understanding of education and how education has the power to create change. So, I was very emotional while writing the application because I was reflecting on my own journey.”
A call to reflect and engage
“I remember my supervisor, Giuliano Reis, telling me: ‘Just go for it, Steffie! Take that time to reflect and to engage even if you don’t get it [...] you might surprise yourself!’”
Steffie Dmello
“I remember my supervisor, Giuliano Reis, telling me: ‘Just go for it, Steffie! Take that time to reflect and to engage even if you don’t get it. The process is more important. You might surprise yourself!’ That’s what I will always remember.”
This heartfelt message is Dmello’s way of encouraging students who are hesitant about applying for scholarships. She believes that applying is not just about seeking funding; it’s a chance to pause, reflect and take ownership of one’s journey. Even in the face of self-doubt, unfamiliarity with the system, or the perception that opportunities are out of reach, Dmello is strongly convinced that the process is powerful. “The questions require answers that come from the heart.”
A message of gratitude
As she prepares to walk the stage at the Rogers Centre during convocation, Dmello reflects on her journey with gratitude. “I love what I am doing. There has been incredible support from all Faculty members. They’ve provided immense assistance, and that’s what pulled me towards the University for my PhD. I’m not exaggerating: the professors know me by name, they are motivating and so supportive. It gave me a sense of community; I feel I belong!”
She gives thanks to the O’Meara family: “I am very thankful to them. In addition to the financial assistance, the questions they asked made me reflect. It was like pouring my heart out and for that I am grateful.”
Dmello should be proud of her journey. Through her research, her teaching, and her academic leadership, she is already giving back to the “community that believed in her” and paving the way for future educators who, like her, are committed to the transformative power of education.
About Steffie Dmello
Steffie Dmello is a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. Steffie Dmello holds a master’s degree in education from 糵. Prior to beginning her master’s, she worked as a secondary school teacher for five years. Steffie also holds a bachelor’s degree in education, and both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science from the University of Mumbai.
About the O’Meara Family Scholarship
Established in 2002 by Ann Robson and her family, the O’Meara Family Scholarship honours the legacy of William and Elizabeth O’Meara, two Irish Catholic working-class residents of Ottawa in the early 20th century. Although none of their children attended the University, their grandchildren have pursued higher education and careers in teaching. This scholarship is awarded annually to graduate students enrolled in an English-language program at the Faculty of Education.