Maria Godoy

¡Hola! My name is Maria, and my preferred pronouns are she/her. I am a second-year Ph.D. student in Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba, supervised by Dr. Marcelo Urquia. I hold an MSc in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation from the University of Oxford and bring over a decade of experience in applied and community-based research with a strong focus on human rights.

Supported by a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship, my research explores the intersection of the mental health and youth justice systems in Manitoba. Through collaboration and partnership, I aim to inform transformative, evidence-informed solutions that advance equity. I feel privileged to be a SPECTRUM Fellow and work collaboratively to break silos and address some of Manitoba’s most pressing social issues.

As a first-generation immigrant from Argentina, my research is shaped by lived experience and over a decade of work with organizations such as United Way, Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, RaY Inc., the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth, and the Government of Manitoba. I bring expertise in policy development, program evaluation, community collaboration, and youth-centered approaches. I hope to leverage my skills to support SPECTRUM’s mission of fostering a fair and just society.