When York alumnus Joannes Yimbesalu (MA ’18) decided to transition from his role as a cancer biologist to pursue his passion in international development, he realized he needed to return to school to develop his leadership skills. It would be York’s Leadership and Community Engagement program that would draw his interest, thanks to its focus […]
York alumnus Matthew R. Morris (BEd ’11) is an educator, anti-racism advocate, writer and public speaker based in Toronto. In his recent national best-selling book, Black Boys Like Me: Confrontations with Race, Identity, and Belonging, Morris tackles the issues of identity that young Black students experience as they navigate their way through the education system. […]
Sadie Hamilton (BA ’19) is a social justice advocate with a passion for disability justice, traditional food sovereignty and criminal justice reform. As a student, Sadie worked at Native Men’s Residence where they supported Indigenous men who were unhoused in Toronto. They continued to work at the shelter for three years which stimulated their understanding […]
Marissa Magneson (BFA ’18) is a Cree-Métis artist, photographer and arts educator. Her advocacy for Indigenous and Métis rights to self-govern, uplift youth and reclaim fractured cultural identities due to colonization is deeply rooted in her family history. But when it came to Marissa’s personal identity, it would be her experiences as a student at […]
Paul Saguil’s (BA ’04, LLB ’07) journey since graduating from York University has been an impactful one. As a graduate of Osgoode Law School, he is fighting financial crime and combating corruption worldwide as Deputy Head of Global Sanctions Compliance/Anti-Bribery Program at TD Bank. “Going to Osgoode Law School was an easy decision. It’s one of […]
When Adam Donaldson (JD ’22) graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School, his dream of becoming a lawyer finally became a reality. Today, Adam is an associate at Stockwoods LLP, advocate, community builder and volunteer. “I always felt like York and Osgoode Hall gave me the opportunity to live my dream,” says Adam. “Not only that, […]
Aedan Fida (BBA ’20) is an innovator, entrepreneur and co-founder/CEO of Blade Air, a North American leader in sustainable indoor air quality solutions. He credits his time at York as instrumental in driving his success. “From a young age, I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur and spend my life building businesses,” says Aedan. […]
Leanne Prendergast is an anti-bullying advocate, author and motivational speaker who works to empower young girls and address issues of bullying, low self-esteem and other mental health issues. Why did you choose to study at York? I chose to study at York University because I liked the idea of being close to home while being […]
While a student at York, Tosin Akinwekomi (BCom ’07), founded Beam Inc., a non-profit organization that donated school supplies to underprivileged students in Nigeria and rebuilt schools in the area. Now the Senior Director, Business Effectiveness, Client Contact Centres at CIBC. Tosin shares the experiences he had as a York student and advice he has […]
York alumna Ohemaa Boateng (BA ’17) has lived in the Jane and Finch community since she was a child. But it wasn’t until she started her role as a youth intern at Black Creek Community Farm that she would learn about food sovereignty and the challenges faced by marginalized people in her community. As a youth […]