Jamaa, an economics graduate (BA ’22), has been recognized for his vast contributions to the student community during his time at York. He held various senior positions within several student organizations, including his roles as president and orientation Chair at Vanier College Council, student senator at the Senate, and councillor at Faculty Council of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. Jamaa was also involved in several search committees for senior York administrative positions such as dean of the Faculty of LA&PS, vice-provost students and the search for York University’s next chancellor. Through his many leadership endeavours, he was able to advocate the needs of the student body and facilitate efficient collaboration between students, faculty and administrators.

“York provided me a rich academic experience both inside and outside the classroom,” he says, “and it not only helped me prepare for my academic journey, but also the journey of an experienced leader who understands the changes that are taking place in the world and ways we can contribute to them.”

In addition to his involvement in student governance, Jamaa was also founder and president of the International Students’ Association at York. While in this role, he improved the visible representation of international students on campus. He worked towards an enhanced engagement of international students in the University-wide decision-making processes so that their concerns get vocalised seamlessly.

Putric, a recent graduate of the Disaster & Emergency Management (DEM) program (BDEM ’22) has been recognized for her research involvement and contributions to the York brand and community. While at York, Putric maintained various positions, including her role as an emergency management assistant with York’s Office of Emergency Management, where she helped modernize York’s Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA). Putric later became lead editor of the HIRA and co-authored six papers with the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research on the ethics of digital contact tracing for COVID-19.

She said her motivation to do research was “not only about developing an expertise, but it’s about discovering new knowledge and becoming a thought leader.”

Putric also helps York international students navigate their experience at York and continues to be a proud ambassador of the University. She actively promotes York and its DEM program at various events, including Collision, one of the world’s largest tech conferences, and abroad, as the first DEM student in Canada and the United States to be awarded the Fulbright Killam Fellowship, where she completed an exchange program at Wellesley College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and participated in the Harvard University Women in Foreign Policy Conference.