Meet the Team

Ijade Maxwell Rodrigues, MPA

Chief of Government and Community Relations & Protocol

Ijade currently serves as the Chief of Government and Community Relations & Protocol at York University. In this role, she is responsible for managing the university's relationships with government, community and corporate contacts, as well as overseeing institutional events and protocol activities. Prior to this position, Ijade dedicated nearly ten years as the Chief of Staff to the President at York University, where she played a pivotal role in supporting the university's leadership.

With over twenty-five years of experience, Ijade has developed extensive expertise in strategic planning, community engagement, strategic relationship building, issues management, reputation building, finance, human resources, communications strategy, risk management, event management, and protocol.  Ijade holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from York University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, Ijade is an avid volunteer. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Lakeridge Health in Durham Region and as Vice-Chair for the Canadian Universities Government Relations Officers Network. She is also the past Chair of the Council of Ontario Universities Government Relations Officers Committee. Her commitment to volunteerism reflects her dedication to community service and leadership. Throughout her career, Ijade has been recognized for her professional accomplishments. In 2018, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education. More recently, in 2024, she was honored with the Gillian A. Wood Award for Excellence in Government Relations by the Canadian Universities Government Relations Officers Network.

Garth L. Alleyne, MA

Senior Manager, Partner Engagement

Garth joined the office of the President in June 2023. He is a strategic thinker who comes with more than 20 years of international professional experience, having taken on partnership and business development roles in Canada, South Africa, and the Caribbean. Highly entrepreneurial in his approach, Garth will focus on building stronger internal collaboration and support for our efforts to engage external partners in the business and NGO sectors.

Garth holds a Master’s in Geography from the University of Toronto and is also a York U Alumnus with a B.A in Geography, Urban & Regional Development. Outside of work, he has interests in Jazz and Blues music as well as being an avid fan of football (soccer) and formula 1 racing.

Matthew Banninga, MA

Government Relations Officer

Matt joined the Office of the President as the Government Relations Officer in March 2025. He has extensive government relations experience in the post-secondary sector having previously served as a Government Relations Officer for the University of British Columbia and prior to that as the Special Projects Officer in the Government Relations Office at the University of Toronto. He also spent time working for the Council of Ontario Universities as their Strategic Engagement Coordinator and then as their Government Relations Specialist. Matt was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario, and is a double Carlton University graduate with a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management and a Master of Arts in Political Economy.

Mark McCleary, BA

Coordinator, Government and Community Relations

​Mark joined the President’s Office in November of 2023. He joined York after 4 years in non-profit administration and communications management, first in consulting and then in the mineral exploration industry. He has also worked in government relations in both the utilities and mineral sectors. He completed a BA degree in History at the University of Guelph and a certificate in Government Relations Management at Seneca College.

In his spare time, Mark can be found with his head in a book, out for a walk, or watching sports he was never athletic enough to play himself.

Judith Owusuaah, BA

Advisor, Special Projects, Events & Protocol

​Judith Owusuaah joined the Office of the President as the Advisor, Special Projects, Events and Protocols in June 2023. Prior to this role, she held the positions of Coordinator, Intramurals and Events for Queen’s University and Coordinator, Events and Special projects for the Office of the Principal of Humber College, Lakeshore Campus. Judith prides herself on making a positive impact on any and all communities she serves using her experience in high-level event coordination, community engagement, wellness management, and strategic planning.

Judith holds a BA, specialized honours, in Kinesiology and Health Sciences from York University where she was also the recipient of several student employee awards for her work in the Athletics and Recreation Department. As an advocate for a healthy work-life balance, she spends her free time with family and friends, roller skating, coaching and officiating girls’ basketball and participating in cultural events.

Shawna Teper, MSW

Director, Community and Government Relations

Shawna holds a BSW and an MSW from Ryerson University.  She began her social work career as a frontline counsellor in a women’s shelter, working with women and children who had survived domestic violence. Subsequently, Shawna spent over ten years as political staff within the City of Toronto for two City Councillors and her time there spanned three different Mayoral administrations.

In 2018, Shawna joined the Community and Government Relations team at York University.  In her current role, Shawna is focused on enhancing relationships within communities as well as with municipal, regional and Indigenous governments.

Laksh Vig, BA

Engagement & Policy Advisor

Laksh Vig joined the Office of the President in 2017. After a brief stint volunteering for a Councillor at the City of Toronto, he served as a Constituency Assistant to a Member of Provincial Parliament. He later worked at a political consulting firm, where he helped clients in the public, private and charitable sectors achieve their government and public relations objectives, including securing over $20 million in infrastructure funding for a small municipality. He has also been active on federal, provincial, municipal and leadership campaigns. Growing up in the Jane and Finch community has inspired and driven him to pursue work and goals that have a positive impact on society.

Laksh is an alumnus of the School of Public Policy and Administration at York. In his spare time, he enjoys various social activities, time with loved ones and working on his entrepreneurial, creative and community-building aspirations.