Our program is empowered by a welcoming and diverse community of students with a uniquely global perspective. Together we are making things right for our communities and our future.
A Azeem is a PhD Student who drafted their Comprehensive Exam topics around Statelessness, Administrative Violence and Legalized Forms of Injustice & The Politics of Belonging and Exclusion: Statelessness and Administrative Violence.
A Hamid is a MA student whose working MRP is about Face Masks and Face Veils: Legal Consciousness in a COVID-19 Context
A Jisri s a PhD student whose research interests are Religion and law Religion in education, Education law, Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), Human rights, Multiculturalism, Public policy, Institutional accountability, Access to justice.
Adonika Wilkes is a PhD candidate in the Socio-Legal Studies program. Her work examines Canadian Black history through the lenses of feminist studies and critical race theory. Her research explores the historical and contemporary construction of race, with a particular focus on anti-Black racism, the racialization of space, and the regulation of Blackness within the Canadian context.
Her past research chronicled acts of anti-Black violence and racism throughout Canadian history that have often been downplayed or obscured in narratives portraying Canada as largely free of racism, particularly in comparison to the United States. By examining how Blackness has been expressed, contested, and regulated across different spaces, her work challenges dominant national narratives and contributes to a more critical understanding of Canada's racial past and present. Building on this foundation, her future research will further investigate the intersections of Canadian Black history, race, gender, and space, expanding scholarship on the enduring legacies of anti-Black racism in Canada.
Alanah Broomfield is a PhD student at York University in the Socio-Legal Studies graduate program. She completed her undergraduate degree at York University Glendon campus in French Studies with a certification in Law and Social Thought. The certificate ignited her interest in the philosophy and ethics of law, questioning what law is and what it ought to be. She is committed to using a legal pluralistic perspective to better understand the perpetuation of racial inequities within institutions. Her MRP research focuses on the racial inequalities within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States.
Alex Painter is a PhD student in Socio-Legal studies at York University. He holds an MA in criminology from the University of Windsor and a BASc in criminology from Lakehead University. His MA thesis examined epistemological biases in the coverage of green protests in Canadian and US news outlets. His work primarily addresses topics in green criminology, internet theory and its interrelation with criminological studies, and trends in protest criminalization.
Alex can be contacted at paintera@yorku.ca.
Alexis Remekie is a scholar-activist with a BA in Criminology & Justice whose research and advocacy focuses on the sociology of law, policy, surveillance, and the carceral state as they intersect with race, queerness, and gender. As a member of the board of directors at Black LGBTQ Justice Canada, she is passionate about turning academic research into real-world, people-serving praxis that is guided by ethics and centered around a community's self-defined needs. As an MA student within the SLST program, Alexis is excited to expand her capacity to conduct advanced interdisciplinary research and critical analysis. After completing her MA, Alexis is aiming to complete a PhD in the same field and spend her career as a professor, researcher, and life-long advocate.
Aliyah Yuksel is an incoming Master’s student in the Socio-Legal Studies (SLST) program at York University, where she earned her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Her research interrogates the foundational paradox of liberal legalism, examining how legal architectures, biopolitics, and automated surveillance systems function not merely to regulate identities, but to actively manufacture them as mechanisms of governance.
For her Major Research Project, The Socio-Legal Fabrication of the ""Moderate Muslim,"" Aliyah re-evaluates ""moderation"" not as a simple identity category or theological standard, but as an engineered legal technology. She argues that Canadian public safety frameworks operationalize structurally unattainable categories of ""perpetual moderation"" and ""performative innocence,” creating an intentionally impossible standard of belonging designed to organize conditional citizenship, legitimize predictive policing, and reproduce the conditions of its own necessity. Complementing her theoretical foundation with targeted professional experience in intelligence analysis, Aliyah aims to leverage her graduate research to bridge radical socio-legal theory with institutional accountability, contributing to systemic reform, transformative policy design, and human rights advocacy.
Andrew Liang is a Master's Student at York University's Socio-Legal Studies (SLST) graduate program. He earned his BA in York’s (Hons.) Criminology program, where he cultivated an academic interest in the interplay between law, power, and the social construction of "security" through the guise of violence. His research interests include necropolitics, politics of grief, the creation of intelligibility, and sensorial state violence. He chose the SLST graduate program due to its emphasis on interdisciplinarity, critically examining law beyond just a legal lens but also through race, gender, intelligibility, and economic pretenses. Through his MA, Andrew aims to examine the paradox inherent in the state’s use of violence: articulating it as necessary to the preservation of life, yet that very prosperity is contingent on the uneven allocation of destruction to those rendered “other” by the state. Andrew aims to incorporate the lens of the senses to explore the intricacies in how the deprivation and/or the exacerbation of the senses leads to the creation and justification of the "other".
My academic studies and research at Trent University were largely interdisciplinary in nature. My Sociology undergraduate degree allowed me to specialize in Crime/Legal Studies and minor in Psychology; most recently, I completed Trent’s Canadian and Indigenous Studies master’s program. To continue my graduate work in Socio-Legal Studies at York - an interdisciplinary program that interconnects Law and Society with Criminology, would appear to be a seamless and logical academic next step.
Intersectionality and the criminalization of healthcare are research interests that I was particularly drawn to as an undergraduate student in Law and Society at York University. As an incoming MA student in Socio-Legal Studies, I hope to deepen my understanding of these areas by researching the impacts of closing supervised consumption sites. My interest in this topic was prompted by the Ontario government's decision to shut down all supervised consumption sites across the province. The research on closing supervised consumption sites relates to broader tensions between discourses of harm reduction and public safety. Overall, I chose the Socio-legal Studies program because it is interdisciplinary and effectively accounts for the multiple perspectives that are relevant to my research interests.
Anthony Aquilina
Arunita Das (she/her) is a PhD Candidate in the Socio-Legal Studies program at York University. She holds an MA in Socio-Legal Studies and a BA in Sociology. Throughout her graduate studies and work experience with non-profit charitable organizations, Das has been developing research in racism, hate and extremism, colonization, and feminist criminology for over five years. Her current research examines the relationship between Canadian far-right women, online hate speech, hate crime, and free expression laws in Canada.
Ayma Amjad
B Sharifi is a PhD Student who is currently working on a PhD Proposal discussing The Provision of Biometric Security: Risk, Uncertainty, and the Securitization of Muslims in Canada.
B. Abou-Tok is a MA student who completed their Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology.
Brianna Garneau is a PhD candidate in Socio-legal Studies and holds a Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship. She earned her MA in Criminology from the University of Ottawa, where she studied the racial exclusionary mechanisms of citizenship and national security. Her doctoral research is focused on the symbiotic harms of detention and deportation as experienced by families in Canada and the ways these experiences are shaped by the racially embedded processes of criminalization, securitization, and punishment. Brianna has worked as a research assistant on the Deporting Refugees: Hidden Injustice in Canada project and has co-authored the article Carceral experiences and custodial lifeworld of prisoners’ families: The impacts of ion scan technology in Canadian prisons.
Brianna can be reached at: bgarneau@yorku.ca.
Britney Andrews is a PhD Candidate in Socio-Legal Studies at York University. Her research examines gendered and racialized experiences of state-sanctioned and interpersonal violence, with attention to the ways these experiences are complicated through various vectors of power and privilege. Her current work focuses on police violence, carcerality and approaches to addressing harm that move beyond traditional, institutional responses.
C Linley is a PhD student who proposed a course on “The Politics of Detention in Canada” It examines detention as a central institution of law, governance, and social ordering in Canada.
C. M. is a MA student with research interests ranging in Animal Rights, Earth Law, Legal Personhood, Environmental Justice & Indigenous Ontologies.
Can Turgut is a Ph.D. candidate in the Socio-Legal Studies Graduate Program. His research project interrogates some of the major theories of comparative constitutional studies and public law, such as constitution-making, constitutional supremacy, rule of law, and sovereignty, in their capacity to influence modern state-making practices, neo-liberal transformations, resistance, transitional justice, self-determination, and indigeneity. He contextualizes these socio-legal concepts and theories in global North and South relations, the expansion of capitalism, neo-colonialism, and Euro-America centrism. His purpose is to expand the scope of the field of comparative constitutional studies and comparative public law by pushing their boundaries away from the binary opposition between liberalism and illiberal authoritarianism.
Before joining York University Socio-Legal Studies Graduate Program, Turgut received his LLB degree from Istanbul Bilgi University, where he was part of the legal clinic team as a law student instructor. After graduating from Istanbul Bilgi University, he continued his studies in the Galatasaray University’s LL.M. program in public law. He was a visiting researcher at Institut d'études politiques de Paris (SciencesPo Paris Law School). He defended his LL.M. thesis titled ‘Comparative legal theory and the case of common law constitutionalism in early medieval Europe’ (forthcoming book in Turkish). He is a non-practicing lawyer with the Istanbul Bar Association, where he previously worked on constitutional and international human rights litigation, refugee rights, and criminal and administrative law. He is the co-chair of the Socio-Legal Studies Graduate Student Association.
Chante Barnwell (she/her) is a PhD candidate in Socio-Legal Studies and a graduate teaching assistant within the Department of Social Science at York University. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, her PhD dissertation research in Socio-Legal Studies examines how the collection, categorization, digitization, and distribution of traditional media-produced crime photographs have contributed to perceptions of criminality and victimization within archival collections in select public institutional holdings in Toronto, Canada. She obtained a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) in 2020 and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Documentary Media in 2018, both from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). During her past graduate studies, she completed numerous courses, two Master's Research Papers, and a solo, self-curated MFA gallery-based thesis exhibition. She also completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto in June 2014, where she specialized in Art and Culture, majored in Studio Visual Arts, and minored in Art History. Chante has presented her individually authored research papers at dozens of conferences and symposiums at several universities and professional associations across Canada, the United States, and Europe, both in person and virtually. In recognition of her doctoral research and merit, she received the Jack and Mae Nathanson Centre Graduate Student Doctoral Fellowship from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in Fall 2022.
Cheng Ni (she/her) is a fully funded PhD student in the Socio-Legal Studies (SLST) program at York University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Macau and a Master of Arts in Gender Studies from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Currently, her doctoral research critically explores how migration and national borders mutually shape one another. She chose the SLST program for its interdisciplinary framework with which to examine socio-legal policies affecting marginalized migrant women. Driven by her deep commitment to gender equality and social justice, she aims to bridge academic research with social advocacy.
If you are interested in academic collaboration, she welcomes you to contact her at chengni@yorku.ca.
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Socio-Legal Studies at York University, where I also earned my LLM from Osgoode Hall Law School. My academic training has shaped my research interest in the legal and social dimensions of sexual and gender-based violence, in the context of conflict. I have worked as a research assistant on international projects examining gendered violence in conflict and a domestic project focused on civil justice in Canada. These experiences strengthened my commitment to research that addresses injustice and supports vulnerable communities.
Given my interdisciplinary interests in conflict-related sexual violence, gender issues, militarized masculinities, international law, and human rights, I am especially glad to be part of the SLST program because the program has given me the opportunity to deepen my analytical and research skills on related issues to my research. My long-term goal is to contribute to research, policy, and advocacy efforts that promote accountability and protect the rights of women and other affected groups in conflict and post-conflict contexts.
Clifton Grant research interests are criminology, recidivism, abolition and restorative justice.
My focus is on the creation of new paradigms of restorative justice that can be interconnected with the successful assimilation back into society of non violent offenders.
Research objectives are to examine the generational cycle of criminal recidivism through empirical evidence and theoretical context and investigate the impact of the intersectional elements of culture, race and identity on the subjugation of Black criminals within and outside of the criminal justice system that manifests in high recidivism rates for members of the African Diaspora in Canadian society.
I chose SLST as it is one of the pre-eminent criminal justice masters programs in Canada that does an exemplary job of blending criminal justice theory with practical societal concepts with many of the leading scholastic researchers in the field.
Deepa Nagari is a PhD student in the socio-legal studies program at York University. Her research focuses on forced migration and bordering laws and policies, particularly examining the Canada-U.S. border and the Safe Third Country Agreement. She also examines alternative solutions, grassroots efforts, and feminist, Global South, and de-colonial perspectives on forced migration laws and policies. Deepa obtained her MA from Carleton University in the Department of Law and Legal Studies, where she also explored the STCA between 2016 and 2018 in her research. Previously, she worked in the private sector alongside IRCC before realizing her passion for academia and research.
Elizabeth Hamilton is a Master’s student in the Socio-Legal Studies program at York University. Her research examines the continued quest for truth and reconciliation within Canadian legal and educational institutions. This interrogative work critically analyzes the conflicting roles of law and knowledge production as tools of both oppression and liberation. From a settler’s positionality, the interdisciplinary approach of the SLST program facilitates her investigation of constitutional sovereignty, settler colonial violence, neoliberal nation-states, and the revitalization of legal traditions to combat Indigenous dispossession.
My undergraduate degree was completed in NB at STU, focusing on Human rights and Indigneous activism. I focused on International law in my honours thesis in Human Rights, applying conventions to provincial sex education to see if it meets cultural and gender competency for 2SLGBTQ+/Indigneous peoples. I minored in women/gender studies, religion and sociology. The blended method of sociology and law in social legal studies, and its intersectional delivery, is what appealed to me at York. I am hoping to continue studies in Indigneous law, and pursue a PHD in the future.
Emily is a MA student whose research interests are Parenting Programs; Crime Prevention; Family-Based Interventions; Youth Justice, Early Interventions
I am a PhD candidate of the Socio-Legal Studies Program at York University. My research experience focuses on indigenous consuetudinary law, transitional justice, and state justice administration in rural areas in peruvian Andes and Amazonia. I chose the Socio-Legal Studies PhD Program because it is focused on society and law, and it has a faculty with experience in research on indigenous peoples and community engagement.
Hello! My name is Ezekiel George (he/him), and I am a PhD student in the Socio-Legal program at York University. My academic background includes a Diploma in Police Foundations and an Honours Degree in Criminal Justice, both of which I obtained from Humber College. Additionally, I have earned a Master’s Degree in Criminology and Social Justice from Toronto Metropolitan University. My research focuses on examining how the Canadian legal system recognizes and responds to the effects of systemic racism on racialized individuals. I intend to analyze the use and efficacy of Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs) within the Canadian legal system, with particular attention to how they address the effects of systemic anti-Black racism and the social and cultural circumstances of racialized individuals in sentencing. Through a rigorous exploration of their development, application, and judicial reception, I aspire for my work to illuminate the extent to which IRCAs can challenge racial inequities within the criminal justice system, as well as the legal and practical limitations that may affect their ability to produce more equitable outcomes.
The Socio-legal PhD program at York University provides an ideal environment for my academic pursuits. Its interdisciplinary focus and commitment to inclusive, student-centred learning align with my research vision. The program also offers diverse career opportunities and is fully funded, which is crucial for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. I am excited to engage in this enriching environment and develop a research agenda aimed at examining how legal tools such as IRCAs can uncover, address, and challenge systemic racial inequities within the Canadian criminal justice system.
Ezekiel’s contact: zekey35@yorku.ca.
Fatimah Hira is a graduate student in Socio-Legal Studies at York University and a recent Honours graduate of the Law and Society program. As a first-generation child of Pakistani immigrants and the first in her family to pursue post-graduate education, her academic journey has been shaped by a deep interest in justice, equity, and the social impact of law.
Her research interests focus on human rights, immigration, race and law, gender justice, institutional discrimination, incarceration, and access to justice for marginalized communities. Fatimah's work is informed by both her academic background and her long-standing community involvement. She has contributed to socio-legal research through undergraduate publications, community-based projects, and advocacy initiatives, including work with the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), the Thorncliffe Wellness Café Group, and environmental justice projects in collaboration with the University of Guelph.
Fatimah chose the Socio-Legal Studies program because of its interdisciplinary approach to examining how law shapes society and everyday experiences. Her long-term goal is to attend law school and build a career dedicated to legal advocacy, policy reform, and advancing social justice through both scholarship and practice.
Fatimah Hira is a graduate student in Socio-Legal Studies at York University and a recent Honours graduate of the Law and Society program. As a first-generation child of Pakistani immigrants and the first in her family to pursue post-graduate education, her academic journey has been shaped by a deep interest in justice, equity, and the social impact of law.
Her research interests focus on human rights, immigration, race and law, gender justice, institutional discrimination, incarceration, and access to justice for marginalized communities. Fatimah's work is informed by both her academic background and her long-standing community involvement. She has contributed to socio-legal research through undergraduate publications, community-based projects, and advocacy initiatives, including work with the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), the Thorncliffe Wellness Café Group, and environmental justice projects in collaboration with the University of Guelph.
Fatimah chose the Socio-Legal Studies program because of its interdisciplinary approach to examining how law shapes society and everyday experiences. Her long-term goal is to attend law school and build a career dedicated to legal advocacy, policy reform, and advancing social justice through both scholarship and practice.
Gregory is a PhD candidate with a background in criminology, immigration, and law. They became a licensed paralegal with the Law Society of Ontario, but found a passion for issues in immigration during the paralegal program. This led them to pursue research through a MA in Immigration and Settlement Studies, focusing on the exploitation of temporary foreign agricultural workers in Ontario. After sharing their research at various conferences and a guest lecture, they decided to pursue a PhD in the SLST program at YorkU to further expand the knowledge on issues relating to temporary foreign workers. Especially with the rise of artificial intelligence/large language models being increasingly used in everyday decision making processes. Gregory hopes to become a professor after completing the PhD program so that they can continue to both share their knowledge with the next generations of students, and make meaningful contributions to academia.
Hijaab Yahya is a PhD student in the Socio-Legal Studies Program.
Irina is pursuing her PhD in the SLST Program.
J is pursuing their Masters in the SLST Program.
J Williams is a PhD student whose research interests include Socio-Legal Studies, Youth Suicide, Mental Health Equity, Criminal Justice, Critical Race Theory, Black Feminist Thought, Structural Inequality, Public Policy, Community Well-Being, Transnational Research.
I have a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Justice at the University of Minnesota. I am interested in researching how mass surveillance, and the increasing prevalence of AI embedded in surveillance technology, suppresses worker rights’ movements. There may be larger social implications on how surveillance changes how people interact with one another in public. I chose this program because as I went through my bachelor program I became increasingly conflicted on if I wanted to enter academia or become a lawyer. This program threads the needle well, with focus on research and social theory, while tying it all back to our legal system. I have experience designing an interview guide and submitting materials to the IRB for a qualitative research project on students’ experiences with AI and higher education. My current professional goals are to become a professor at a university. I also hope to become an active participant in community activism.
Jackie Sikdar is a Ph.D candidate in the Socio-Legal Studies program at York University. Her current research explores the root causes and risk factors of gun violence in Toronto and interrogates why gun violence is a racialized phenomenon despite Toronto's reputation as a multicultural haven. She also examines how in the context of Toronto gun violence, racial identity and past/ongoing conflict with the law can complicate the attainment of victim status and shape victims' experiences within the criminal justice system.
Jessica Malandrino is a 6th year PhD student in socio-legal studies. Her research involves using abolition and resistance to gender violence imposed by the state. Specifically, her work is invested in using art-making methods to cope with gender violence upheld by police and the prison system in Canada. As an alternative to using the criminal legal system as a process of retributive punishment, Jessica's work depends on a transformative justice framework. Similar to queerness that is always becoming, abolitionist frameworks that Jessica's work involves how women's creation vis-a-vis feminism is an approach to address, cope with, and heal from violence and trauma upheld by the state.
John Beckles is a Master of Arts student in Socio-Legal Studies at York University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Business and Society from York University and previously studied law at the University of Guyana. His academic interests focus on the intersection of law, technology, governance, and public policy, with particular attention to labour law, surveillance capitalism, artificial intelligence governance and the social impacts of emerging technologies.
John chose the Socio-Legal Studies program because it offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how law operates within society and institutions. As an aspiring lawyer, he views the program as an opportunity to develop a broader socio-legal perspective that will strengthen his future legal education and practice.
Professionally, John has worked in technology and community-focused environments as a Program Coordinator, where he supported stakeholder engagement, program delivery, and strategic initiatives. These experiences exposed him to the practical challenges of regulation, governance, and organizational decision-making in rapidly evolving sectors.
Through the SLST program, John aims to deepen his understanding of contemporary legal issues and build a foundation for a career in law, public policy, and technology governance.
Hi! I'm Julia and I have a bachelors degree from York University in Political Science. My research interests stem from my time volunteering with elders with Alzheimer's and Dementia. My time spent working with vulnerable groups made me deeply interested and passionate in studying how Canadian public policy falls short in providing and protecting vulnerable and misrepresented populations.
K Shouli is a MA Student.
Karanveer is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Socio-Legal Studies program at York University. His academic interests lie at the intersection of social justice, law, and security. He is particularly focused on exploring the connection between the discrimination individuals face, especially racial, religious, or cultural discrimination and their potential paths toward radicalization. Karanveer aims to understand how systemic inequalities and social exclusion can act as catalysts that push marginalized individuals toward extremist ideologies. By combining socio-legal theory with real-world case studies, his research seeks to uncover the root causes behind radicalization and challenge the dominant narratives that often overlook the role of societal harm. Karanveer hopes his work will contribute to more effective and compassionate policy-making, emphasizing prevention through inclusion rather than punishment. Through his research, he aspires to bridge academic inquiry and public policy to create more equitable and resilient communities.
Kayla is a PhD Student.
Kebrija Leeks-Kottick
Kutay is a PhD Student.
Lauren Moore is a PhD student in the Socio-Legal Studies program at York. Her research critically examines manifestations of anti-Palestinian racism. Specifically, she is exploring how anti-Palestinian racism is used to systematically and socially silence Palestinian and allied voices.
Lauren is particularly interested in topics including social justice, critical approaches to decolonization, resistance movements, and human rights.
Lauren holds a BA in Criminology and an MA in Immigration and Settlement Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University. Her MA research examined Canada's legal obligation to protect stateless communities under international law.
Lauren can be contacted at Laurenmk@yorku.ca.
Lauren Vilinsky
Liam Michaud is a PhD candidate in Socio-Legal Studies at York University.
His research focuses on the criminal legal governance of health, drug policy, and law reform. He collaborates closely with community-based organizations, particularly around issues of harm reduction, policing, healthcare access, and how people who use drugs experience their legal environment.
He has been supported by SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship, the Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime and Security, and the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research.
He has published on these topics in Social & Legal Studies, International Journal of Drug Policy, Policing & Society, and Health & Justice, among others.
He can be reached at Lmichaud@yorku.ca.
My name is Maha, and I am pursuing a Master of Arts in the SLST program at York University. I completed my undergraduate degree at York University in Law and Society, along with a Professional Certificate in Public Administration and Law. My primary research interests include the politics and law, religion, surveillance, and War on Terror. I chose the SLST program because its curriculum and faculty closely align with these interests, which will enable me to deepen and expand my research. Looking ahead, I plan to attend law school and pursue a career in academia.
I am a doctoral candidate in the Socio-legal department, centering my research on the intricate dynamics of free expression and academic freedom. My primary focus is the nuanced examination of these themes within the context of Canadian higher education institutions, aiming to elucidate their profound socio-political ramifications. Furthermore, my research portfolio includes active involvement in various projects pertaining to criminal justice. Particularly, critically examining the sentencing disparities experienced by racialized communities within the Canadian criminal justice system.
Mickey is an MA student in the Socio-Legal Studies (SLST) program at York University. He completed his undergraduate degree at York University in Criminology (Honours). His current research interests are focused on technology and video games with regards to digital regulation and the different ways technology and video games are influenced by both private and public actors in terms of how the laws and regulations (or lack there of) govern the industry. His research aims to examine how these laws and regulations have influenced and been influenced by the industry itself, the video games that are created, and the video game community as a whole to highlight how the decisions that are made are a combination of social, political, and legal factors all combining together to work with and/or against one another at any given time. He chose the SLST program because of its interdisciplinary approach towards legal theory and how it is shaped by social factors.
Mika'il Kamran
Mona brings over 15 years of experience in journalism, political and social research, policy analysis, and migration work across Canada and the MENA region. She holds a Master's degree in Public and International Affairs from Glendon, York’s bilingual school, which included a one-term exchange in Quebec City. During her studies, she received a Canada-wide award for public policy analysis on refugee resettlement in Canada, and completed a major research paper on UN diplomatic mediations in the Syrian conflict.
Mona is now pursuing a PhD in Socio-Legal Studies at York University, drawing on her interdisciplinary background to explore how governance shapes society, and examining the intersections of communities with law and regulatory power.
She currently works at Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), helping build journalists' capacity to cover human rights issues effectively across Africa, MENA, and beyond. She is also passionate about film as a storytelling medium and contributes to the Toronto Arab Film Festival as a member of its board and screening committee.
Mona has worked for diplomatic and government institutions, as well as NGOs and community-based organizations. She is fluent in English and Arabic, with working knowledge of French, and has completed multiple trainings in research ethics and journalism.
I hold a Master’s degree in Gender Studies with certifications in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Indigenous Canada. My academic and professional interests focus on gender equity, social inclusion, community engagement, and evidence-based policy.
Professionally, I have worked with United Nations agencies to support gender equality and youth engagement through inclusive training initiatives and stakeholder dialogues. My experience in the non-profit sector and volunteer work has strengthened my commitment to advancing equitable opportunities for under-served communities.
I chose the SLST program because of its interdisciplinary approach to social change and its strong emphasis on research that addresses real-world challenges. I hope to strengthen my research skills and contribute to policies and programs that promote equity and inclusion.
Nat Perez de la Cruz (she/her) is a current M.A. student at the Socio-Legal Studies program, she completed her undergraduate degree in Law & Society in which she committed herself to researching and analyzing immigration issues within a scope of (de-)colonial studies, she hopes to continue towards this commitment within a community centred scope of academia in this new year.
Natasha Khan (she/her) is a Master's student at York University’s Socio-Legal Studies graduate program. She earned her BA in York’s (Hons.) Law and Society program, where she cultivated an academic interest in the interplay between law, power, and social justice. Her research interests include racialization, Islamophobia, migration, surveillance, and the politics of performative state apologies in regulating racialized communities. Natasha chose the SLST program for its interdisciplinary focus and commitment to critically examining law within broader social, historical and political contexts. The program's emphasis on colonialism, critical theory, and legal pluralism aligns with her interest in postcolonial theory, biopolitics, and feminist-of-colour scholarship, allowing her to examine how legal liberalism and social discourses function as tools of political control. Through her MA, Natasha aims to contribute to critical socio-legal scholarship by exploring the regulation of Muslim communities through neo-racist state practices. She is passionate about challenging dominant narratives of multiculturalism and justice and aims to advance a nuanced understanding of how state power sustains racial hierarchies. Natasha aspires to use her knowledge to advocate for transformative legal and policy frameworks, emphasizing how discursive practices, when responsibly employed, can be mobilized to address systemic oppression.
Natilie Richer (she/her) is a PhD candidate in Socio-Legal Studies at York University, who is also earning a diploma in Art History and Visual Culture. Her research-creational project unpacks the potential to decolonize overlooked sites of legal discourse, including the museum, the art gallery, and the university by challenging imperialist histories of curatorial and exhibition knowledge, as well as knowledge production more generally. Detailing her collaborative endeavour with Canadian Indigenous visual artist, Melanie de la Morandiere, Henvey Inlet, First Nation and their experimental, and exploratory engagement with arts-based practices, her project illustrates the ensuing necessity of grappling with exhibitionary spaces as comparable or directly linked to the sociolegal and the academic as well as their distinct ways of knowing. Natilie’s doctoral research is supported by the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canadian Graduate Scholarship.
Oleksandra Huzik
Priya is a MA Student.
Rebecca Okech is a first-year PhD student in the Socio-legal Studies Program with a strong academic and professional background in Gender, Protection, and Social Development. She holds a Master of Arts in Gender and Development Studies from the University of Nairobi, where her thesis examined the Effects of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) on women of reproductive age.
With over ten years of professional experience, she has worked extensively in protection and humanitarian programming, specializing in Child Protection, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Safeguarding, Family Reunification and Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Her work focused on supporting vulnerable populations, strengthening protection systems, and promoting survivor-centered approaches across diverse contexts.
She chose the SLST program to deepen her research skills and contribute to the development of policies and interventions that improve the lives of women, children, and marginalized communities. Through her doctoral studies, she hopes to generate research that informs practice, influences policy, and advances equitable and sustainable social change at both national and international levels.
Robert a is PhD student who is working on her disseration about the Sociotechnical Imaginaries in Brazil.
S. B. is a PhD student in the SLST Program.
Sarah Al Naqeeb
Dr. Saren Saunders is a socio-legal scholar, criminologist, and educator whose research examines policing, accountability, surveillance, and justice reform. She holds a Ph.D. in Humanities (Criminology) from York University and is currently pursuing a second Ph.D. in Socio-Legal Studies at York University. Her interdisciplinary academic background also includes a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Criminology with a Minor in Law, and diplomas in Law and Legal Studies and Medical Laboratory Assistance.
Dr. Saunders' research focuses on policing, institutional accountability, intelligence-led policing, surveillance, white-collar crime, and the relationship between law, governance, and marginalized communities. Her doctoral research critically examined systemic sexual misconduct within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), exploring institutional culture, accountability, and organizational reform. She has published scholarly work on police misconduct, surveillance, and justice policy.
In addition to her research, Dr. Saunders has extensive teaching experience in secondary and post-secondary education. She is a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA), reflecting her interest in integrating intelligence analysis with socio-legal research. Through her scholarship, she aims to contribute to evidence-based policy, strengthen police accountability, and promote more transparent, equitable, and effective justice systems in Canada.
Sheraz is a PhD student in the SLST Program.
Shree Brown
Sophia Martensen (she/her) is a Ph.D. student in the Socio-Legal studies program at York University. She holds an Honours Specialization in Criminology and a Major in Psychology from Western University, and obtained her Master’s in Criminology and Sociolegal studies at the University of Toronto. Her current research offers a critique of institutional spaces and examines the production of racial knowledge. Specifically, Sophia is interested in examining the possibility for transformative change within institutional spaces when demands are made to improve social justice work.
Stephanie Giorno earned her BA (Hons) in Law & Society from York University; an MA in Criminology and Social Justice from Toronto Metropolitan University; and a Diploma in Criminal Psychology & Behaviour. Collectively, these academic experiences have shaped my interdisciplinary approach to understanding crime and justice and, ultimately, have significantly influenced the nature of the research I am conducting throughout my doctoral studies.
Currently, I am a PhD student in Socio-Legal Studies at York University, where my research draws on criminology, critical social theory, law, and media studies to examine how violence is constructed through cultural discourses and systems of power. More specifically, my research explores the selective, interpretive frameworks that news organizations strategically apply to label violent offenders through ideological and pathological narratives, while examining the implications of media discourses for socio-legal constructions of equality, justice, and understandings of violence beyond binary frameworks of interpretation.
I chose the Socio-Legal Studies program because of its interdisciplinary approach to understanding how legal, cultural, and social forces intersect to influence the ways in which crime, deviance, and justice are defined and interpreted. By drawing upon scholarship from criminology, sociology, law, and media studies, my research aims to advance understandings of how politicized labelling practices shape perceptions of violence and criminality, while contributing to broader, ongoing discussions concerning equality, justice, and institutional responses through which violence is understood and addressed.
Stephanie Saliba is a second-year PhD student in Socio-Legal Studies. She holds a Master of Arts in Socio-Legal Studies from York University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Toronto Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on how restorative justice principles are applied through Extrajudicial Measures and Extrajudicial Sanctions Programs, with particular attention to how the circumstances of racialized immigrant youth are considered. Her research employs a socio-legal approach that draws on criminology, philosophy, and politics. York University’s Graduate Program in Socio-Legal Studies will situate her academically to investigate the social biases and structural racism that contribute to the overrepresentation of racialized immigrant youth in the criminal justice system.
My name is Tanya, and I have an Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. Throughout my undergraduate I gained strong interest in how political, social and technological changes were shaping crime, justice and inequality. My research interests are on a focus on crime and Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically the impact of technology on economical systems throughout contemporary forms of criminality and social control. I chose the SLST program because of the wide range of interdisciplinary nature and the wide range of research opportunities it offers. The programs flexibility will also allow me to explore different research skills and the ability to engage in issues with science and technology.
Tanya is a PhD Student in the SLST Program.
I am Tara Fulad, a criminologist, animal rights and ecojustice advocate. My academic background focuses mainly on the politics of Canadian policing and the policing of political protests, and my other extensive research trajectories aim to shed light on the criminalization of environmentally beneficial activities and dissent. My research extensively draws upon the treadmill of production and profit-making by corporate governmental actors through a Marxist political economy framework and aims to demonstrate the moral economy behind environmental and animal rights degradation. I am hoping to expand my framework within a zeimiological approach to harm, power structures and discretion. I chose the SLST program mainly due to my interest in research and policy work in future and to practically develop my research skills and skills associated with success in governmental roles in policy. I have experience in advocacy for marginalized youth and as a youth council member of the Children's Aid Society, advocating for youth in care of future generations with stakeholders and the child welfare agency. My objective is to become a criminal defence lawyer and transform systems of oppression into a more just, ethical and accountable world.
Yalda Khosravi is a PhD candidate in Socio-Legal Studies at York University. She holds an LLB and an LLM in Human Rights Law from ATU and previously completed doctoral coursework, comprehensive examinations, and a dissertation proposal in Public International Law. Her academic interests span law and technology, human rights, legal theory, peace and violence studies, and conflict resolution.
She chose York’s Socio-Legal Studies program for its interdisciplinary approach and its strong engagement with questions of law, power, inequality, and social transformation. Her current research examines how emerging technologies and algorithmic governance shape human agency, subjectivity, accountability, and access to justice.
Alongside her doctoral research, Yalda has worked as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant at York, including on the AI, Evidentiary Activism, and Social Justice project. She is also a member of the Centre for AI & Society, and a former Co-Chair of the Socio-Legal Studies Graduate Student Association.
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The Graduate Program in Socio-Legal Studies at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.