From South Africa to Social Sciences: Maia Ferguson’s McMaster Journey

There aren’t many areas of the Faculty of Social Sciences that Maia Ferguson hasn’t left her mark on.

Ever since her first year at McMaster, Ferguson, who is graduating from the Health and Society program, has been a part of the fabric of the Social Sciences, joining research projects work-study opportunities, ambassadorships and so much more, leaving you wondering how she finds the time to fit it all in.

Perhaps what makes it even more impressive is that the international student did all of this thousands of miles away from her friends and family, creating her own sense of home right here in Hamilton.

A home away from home

When she was at high school in South Africa, Ferguson knew she wanted to come and study in Canada, though admittedly, she hadn’t considered McMaster.

That all changed when her parents brought her to Hamilton to see the campus. Driving through Westdale and onto campus, she was suddenly able to see herself here.

“It felt like home, somewhere where I wouldn’t feel like a small fish in a big pond,” she said. “I could really see myself living here.”

Afterwards, she was driven to come here, and ended up being admitted to the Faculty of Social Sciences.

It wasn’t long after she moved onto campus that she had found her community, especially when her roommate moved in, and they quickly became best friends.

“We would rent the city bikes and just ride around campus in the evening,” she said. “We would walk around campus in the dead of night, perfectly safe and just free to have fun and be silly.

“We’d sit in the middle of the football field and just talk for hours.”

A chance encounter leads to big opportunities

It didn’t take long for Ferguson to get involved in campus life. A meeting with Nicole Owusu Ampofo, who was then the student experience coordinator for the Faculty, ended with Ferguson being  invited to join the student ambassador program.

“As soon as Maia appeared on my Zoom screen, she had such a vibrant energy,” said Owusu Ampofo. “Her camera was even on! We spoke about her goals and the supports she would benefit from as a Mac student and in the back of my mind I knew she would be an amazing addition to our team. I’ve had the pleasure of watching her flourish into a confident, eloquent, driven young professional and I’m so excited to see where her future takes her!”

From there, Ferguson jumped at every opportunity she could find: she became the president of the FSS Student Ambassador team, joined the BluCru welcome week planners, was appointed as the marketing exec for the McMaster Public Health Association, and joined the Centre for Advanced Research on Mental Health and Society as a research student and Student Advisory Council member.

She even found time to undertake work-study terms for the Faculty’s dean’s office, as a recruitment assistant and communications assistant. In those roles, she was involved with important projects such as the Social Sciences website migration and large recruitment events like the university’s flagship May @ Mac program.

Ferguson’s work-study supervisor, Meghan Johnston, said that Ferguson’s contributions were integral to the success of recruitment initiatives.

“We were so lucky to work with a student like Maia—someone who brings such a high level of leadership, expertise, and initiative that she elevates the entire recruitment team’s approach,” said Johnston. “Her contributions have gone far beyond the typical scope of a work-study role and have truly helped reshape how we work.

“Maia’s leadership extended naturally into greater responsibilities, including roles in some of our signature recruitment events like May@Mac, helping ensure their success.”

A full-circle moment

Ferguson’s academic journey isn’t over. She will be attending Sheridan College to complete a graduate certificate in Human Resources Management beginning Fall 2025, before moving to the United States to study Master of Healthcare Administration at The George Washington University- Milken Institute School of Public Health beginning Fall 2026.

No matter where she goes, she’ll find her community and she’ll continue to seize whatever opportunities come her way.

But before she left McMaster, she made sure to rent a city bike with her best friend, cycle through campus, sit on the football field and reminisce about her time at McMaster, a place that will forever hold a special place in her heart.