PhD Student and Research Associate, University of Toronto
Graduate Program in Public Policy, Administration & Law, Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law (MPPAL) 2009

Tell prospective students a bit about the work you do.

As a PhD student and researcher, I am currently investigating mental health policy in Ontario, with a focus on the history of health systems and institutions.

Tell prospective students a bit about how your studies at York helped you to get where you are today.

Although I enrolled in the MPPAL program with the intention of training for a career in the public service, my studies at York piqued my interest in academic research and led me to pursue a PhD after graduation. Even though I was in a professional program, my professors encouraged me in this new direction, showing me how my ideas and ambitions could align with a career in research. They shared their own work, patiently helped me refine my own ideas and invited me to present in undergraduate classes. When the time came, they supported my successful application to a leading PhD program in my field of interest. I'll be forever grateful for the encouragement and practical advice I received, and the connections I made to a fascinating group of fellow students who came together around a common interest in policy, and have since succeeded in a very wide range of pursuits.