Our Students

Alana Ramcharran graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Alana majored in the Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies program with double minors in political science and human geography. During her undergraduate studies, she worked for non-profit and community organizations focusing on international development, community engagement, and cross-cultural communication. These experiences sparked her interest to work in the non-profit sector and the government sector post-graduation. Her last experience was working at the City of Toronto where she supported policy analysis and policy review pertaining to Toronto’s public markets (e.g. farmer’s markets). She is pursuing a master’s degree, in international development, to gain knowledge to aid local communities experiencing poverty due to adverse circumstances like inequitable policies. Alana’s research interest includes socio-economic relationships between the Global North and the Global South, settler-colonialism, and the influence of civil society groups for development.

With ten years of experience as a Registered Practical Nurse, Catherine has excelled in leadership roles within the private health sector, and acute care nursing. Graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Public Health from Brock University in 2023, Catherine's research interests focus on health equity and mental health promotion, particularly for parents/caregivers of medically diverse and fragile children. Additionally, Catherine explores how community participation can be integrated into public health interventions and research to enhance program sustainability. Notably, Catherine has conducted research in Namibia, examining the benefits of peer-to-peer support groups for parents. In recognition of their work, Catherine received the EWO Experiential Learning Student of the Year Award (2023) for their contribution towards community collaboration and enhancing experiential learning. Catherine is dedicated to developing public health interventions that account for communities’ unique cultural needs and appreciates the relationship between diversity, health equity, social justice, and intersectionality in enhancing community health.

Faryal Nayab holds a BA in Global Economics from the University of Central Asia, Tajikistan, where she graduated as Valedictorian. She is deeply passionate about fostering positive social change and empowerment within her community. As an active volunteer, Faryal has worked with youth-led organizations focused on improving educational access and quality in the northern areas of Pakistan. Her academic and professional interests center on addressing educational inequity and advancing women’s empowerment through inclusive and sustainable development.

Gianpaolo is an MA candidate in Development Studies at York University, with a focused interest in how legal and regulatory frameworks shape global development outcomes. Building on a Bachelor of Kinesiology, he brings an applied understanding of health systems and equity that now informs a policy-oriented lens on health governance, compliance, and effectiveness. His previous research examined how high school rugby athletes perceive and engage with safeguarding policies, a qualitative study that highlighted how institutional rules are interpreted and lived by youth stakeholders. At the graduate level, Gianpaolo will explore how legal institutions and regulatory rules can strengthen health systems, enhance transparency, and improve efficiency in the health sector across the Global South. He will do this by drawing on an interdisciplinary approach that combines legal analysis, policy evaluation, and development theory. In the long term, he aims to contribute to evidence-based policy reform, procurement, and public governance.

Kayla earned an Honours BA from Wilfrid Laurier University, double-majoring in Communication Studies with a focus on global communication and Global Studies concentrating on international development. During her undergraduate years, she actively engaged in various student clubs and activities. She found particular fulfillment as the Communications Executive of Laurier's Sustainable Development Goals Club, allowing her to practice her human rights and advocacy aspirations. Kayla possesses a steadfast dedication to advocating for vulnerable populations, and she aspires to establish a career in International Law with the goal of fostering a more equitable and just world. Her internship at COSTI Immigration provided invaluable firsthand experience in assisting newcomers in their settlement journey in Canada. Through this experience, she gained a deep understanding of the challenges refugees face upon their arrival in Canada, nurturing a profound empathy for their struggles. This motivation drives her commitment to creating a more inclusive and welcoming society for all. Consequently, her research interests now center around comprehending and addressing the challenges faced by refugees and the support mechanisms available in Canada to assist them.

With more than six years of progressive experience in strategic planning and program implementation within the humanitarian-development nexus with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Rubina Yeasmin has contributed extensively to advancing gender equality and public health outcomes through her work within the UN system and international development sector.

Recognized for her leadership and cross-sectoral collaboration, she has worked with multidisciplinary teams to embed gender-transformative approaches into programming and policy. Her research interests center on the intersection of gender, public health, and development policy, particularly how evidence-based interventions can drive systemic reform in humanitarian and post-conflict settings. She is especially focused on how policy and advocacy mechanisms can address structural exclusion while promoting the rights, well-being, and dignity of marginalized populations.

Motivated by a commitment to sustainable human development and social justice, Rubina Yeasmin is pursuing academic enrichment in Development Studies at York University to further her scholarly engagement in policy leadership and advocacy reform for equitable, gender-transformative change.

Tania Deol is a graduate student in Development Studies whose research examines non-status migrant labour, migration governance, and social justice. She holds a degree in Law and Society from York University and worked as a Student Success Lead at the Registrar’s Office. Alongside her academic work, she serves as a Social Media Coordinator for the Health Coalition.