Alumni Spotlight

York alumnus continues the fight for 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion amidst changing tide

Trevor Fairlie (JD ’19) has devoted significant time and energy into promoting inclusion for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. However, with recent changes in the social and political spheres, this cause has faced a new challenge – one that Trevor hopes to meet head on.   Trevor is a lawyer and the former chair for Start Proud, a national non-profit organization that provides support for 2SLGBTQIA+ students during the early stages of their career.  The organization had an enormous impact on his […]

Alumna opens doors for Black girls and young women 

As a Black youth coming to Canada from Zimbabwe, Tapo Chimbganda (PhD ’17) had a difficult time adjusting to a new country. She felt isolated and saw first-hand many of the barriers that young Black women face. It was this early experience that inspired her to start Future Black Female, an organization that seeks to guide and empower Black girls and young women to achieve […]

Award-winning alumna challenges systemic barriers

Desaraé Dee (BFA ’12) is a Canadian fusion artist, pianist, composer, producer, and educator whose work centres on instrumental and genre-blending music that explores emotion, spirituality, and storytelling. Like many alumni, Desaraé’s career path was not a straightforward one, and she credits York University as a key influence in becoming the successful, award-winning instrumentalist she […]

Building a community of mental health support 

After dealing with his own personal battle with depression, Jason Balgopal (JD, LLB ’97) saw the importance of a support group to help combat a challenge that many deal with in isolation. To address this crucial need, Jason started the Mental Wellness Peer Support Group, a weekly peer-to-peer support group for those who face similar […]

Environmental and public health leader recognized for advancing clean air policies and tobacco control 

Michael Perley (BA ’70) is an environmental and public health advocate whose exceptional leadership has earned him one of Canada’s highest honors, the Order of Canada. He’s being recognized for his transformative work on tobacco control, creating smoke-free spaces and influencing significant legislative changes on acid rain emissions and air pollution in Canada and the […]

Alumni Spotlight: Irene Jeremic (LLM ‘11)

Since graduating from Simon Fraser University (B.Sc.), Jeremic’s career path has been nothing short of remarkable. As an executive at SFU’s spin-off company, eLearning Solutions, she unleashed her passion and displayed a knack for global commerce. As the eLearning Solutions’ VP Business and Customer Relations, Irene was responsible for managing of the development of an […]

Criminal defense lawyer discovers passion for teaching  

Many students follow a traditional path when it comes to their education and career. For alumnus Jamie Glass (BA ‘91), the path to a career in education was anything but linear. What began as a career in law evolved into a desire to empower future generations of students. It was a shift that began with […]

Former minister dedicates career to advancing 2SLGBTQIA+ legislation 

Reverend Doctor Cheri DiNovo C.M. (BA ’94) is a queer activist, author and former minister and politician recognized for her transformative leadership in advancing 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and legislation. While her passion for activism began in her late teens, it was during her time as a student at York University that she would make her first […]

Indigenous filmmaker and advocate finds inspiration at York

Lisa Jackson (MFA ’19) is an Anishinaabe (Aamjiwnaang First Nation) award-winning filmmaker who has written, directed and produced films, television and multimedia projects, from a dome film to VR and IMAX. Partway through her film career, she decided to pursue a master’s degree and studied in York’s MFA in Film program. “I was at a […]

Top 30 Alumni Under 30 Spotlight: Alexander Grynszpan (iBBA ’17, JD/MBA ’21) 

When Alexander Grynszpan (iBBA ’17, JD/MBA ’21) first stepped onto Keele Campus, it was with a clear vision to merge his passion for law with his interest in finance. Growing up in a multilingual household, he dreamed of a career with an international footprint. The International Bachelor of Business Administration (iBBA) at the Schulich School of […]