Human Rights Alumni of the Month Profile- January 2026
Tue. Jan. 27, 2026
We are excited to spotlight Katrina Leclerc (BA 2016) as our alum of the month for January!
Katrina Leclerc (she/ her) is a human rights advocate, peacebuilder, and educator whose work spans government, international organizations, and academia. She recently returned to Global College's Human Rights program as a sessional instructor.
She completed her Bachelor of Arts (4-year) with a double major in Human Rights and Conflict Resolution in 2016 and her Master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies in 2020.
Growing up as a Francophone minority in British Columbia alongside friends from refugee and newcomer communities, Katrina developed a deep awareness of privilege and social responsibility. This inspired her to pursue a Human Rights degree at Global College, the only program of its kind offered in Western Canada, where she valued the emphasis on experiential learning, cultural exchange, and applying theory to real-world issues.
When reflecting on what makes the Human Rights program unique, Katrina said,
“The Human Rights program at Global College stands out because of how it connects the classroom to the real world. Human rights weren’t treated as abstract theory — we were constantly encouraged to apply what we were learning, to critically engage with current issues, and to see ourselves as part of the global human rights movement (as “globalists”). The diversity of students and faculty was also key: Winnipeg itself is a place where Indigenous rights, newcomer experiences, and minority rights intersect, and that was reflected in the program. It created an environment that was both intellectually rigorous and profoundly human.”
After graduation, Katrina joined Senator Marilou McPhedran in Ottawa, focusing on transparency and human rights in the Senate of Canada. She later served as Program Director for an international peacebuilding organization, overseeing initiatives across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Today, she continues to contribute to the field through research, UN consultancies, and teaching.
Katrina credits her time at Global College with shaping her career, emphasizing that human rights work is challenging but deeply rewarding. She encourages students to engage fully in their studies, bring their full selves to the program, and take advantage of every opportunity.