Valeriy Kostyuk (BFA ’18) is a Ukrainian-Canadian producer who has had a successful career in art and entertainment. However, after hearing about the conflict in his home of Ukraine, he set forth to make a positive change in his community. Now, as the executive director of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, he hopes to build bridges between […]
Amidst the thousands of volunteers we celebrate this month, York University is excited to spotlight just a few of our dedicated alumni volunteers as part of this year's National Volunteer Week. The theme for 2025 is "celebrating service", by showcasing their stories, we aim to inspire and acknowledge the commitment of our entire volunteer community. […]
Looking back at her time at York, Taylor Graves (BES ’15) recalls the experience she gained as a student that provided a strong connection to the university. Today, as a manager of Customer Experience at Metrolinx, she delivers a similarly enriching experience to positively influence public transportation ridership. What was your experience at EUC like […]
In 2013, registered psychologist Andrew Miki (MA ’04, PhD ’09) recognized the lack of adequate mental health support for employees because of barriers like stigma, cost and accessibility. This led to the development of Starling Minds, a digital mental health platform that provides affordable and accessible mental health support and psychoeducation to individuals. Today, over 4 […]
A storyteller at heart and a marketing strategist by trade, Mira Kopanarov is anything but conventional. Throughout her 20-year long career, she has broken down silos, challenged norms and created spaces where women’s voices are heard. From corporate boardrooms to art exhibitions, Mira’s journey has been fuelled by her belief in the power of connection. […]
Growing up, Stephanie Bertini (BA ’07) always felt she was meant to be in the spotlight. But it wasn’t until she became a student at York University that Stephanie discovered she was destined to work on television as an anchor and reporter. Thanks to the help of the York U Career Centre, Stephanie completed various […]
When York alumnus Joannes Yimbesalu (MLCE ’19) 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 […]