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Our Alumni

Meet our accomplished, experienced and passionate alumni. We are proud of the positive impact our Department of Sociology graduates are making in their communities and around the world. Find out all the ways our alumni are providing inspiration, bringing about change and providing mentorship for students.

Top 30 Under 30 – 2024

York University has announced its Top 30 Alumni Under 30 for 2024, and this year features a Sociology graduate.

Photo of top 30 under 30 grad Larissa Parekh 350x350

Larissa Parekh

Community builder
BA ’17, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

Larissa Parekh is a community-centered leader specializing in capacity development, community resilience, leadership, climate change and international development. Her passion for strengthening community resilience in vulnerable communities drives her to build meaningful connections and emphasize an asset-based approach to community development. Larissa’s commitment to community engagement started as an undergraduate student at York University where she worked with local organizations to provide funding and resources for vulnerable populations. As a student, her research explored how informal leadership and social capital drives the success of community-based adaptation methods to climate change and community resilience in the Global South, with an emphasis on rural, women-focused experiences. Larissa has served as a conference coordinator for a non-profit organization dedicated to creating spaces that advocate for the needs and interests of rural or remotely located communities and she continues to volunteer and offer support for their rural conferences to foster greater collaboration and connection. Larissa’s experience with community engagement contributes to her current work with communities, emphasizing vulnerable neighbourhoods and working to strengthen community resilience and preparedness against disasters and emergencies. 


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Leticia Akparah

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2012

Residential Support Worker, Homestead Salvation Army

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Efua Ayanda Appiah

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2008

School Counsellor, Association International School, Accra, Ghana

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David Biskey

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2010

Pilot, Porter Airlines

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Kareem Bonner

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Director of eCommerce and Marketing, Elizabeth Grant Skin Care

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Christina Boodhan

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1998

Family Law Clerk, Beard Winter LLP

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Dadrien Brown

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2014

Singer/Songwriter, bé Thirst Music

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Julie Chambers

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2015

Emergency Management Specialist, QM Environmental

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Catherine Chan

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1977

Senior Manager, An accredited Community Mental Health organization in GTA

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Ana Chicaiza

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2010

French Teacher, Toronto Catholic Board

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Steven Crombie

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2015

Legislative Assistant, Legislative Assembly of Ontario

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Walter DeKeseredy

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1982

Anna Deane Carlson Endowed Chair of Social Sciences, Director of the Research Center on Violence, and Professor of Sociology, West Virginia University

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Vita Di Serio

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1995

Vice President, People and Culture, Numeris

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Cathi Eaton

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1975

Retired,

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Mary El’Bably

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2012

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Yasamin Fahd

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2015

Law Student / Paralegal,

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Heidi Fuentes

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2002

Online Services Program Assistant Manager, COSTI Immigrant Services

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Valerie Gerechter

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1978

Registered Psychotherapist, Self Employed

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Richard Graham

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2007

Transit Operator & Motivational Speaker, Toronto Transit Commission

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Clinton Green

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2010

Lawyer,

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Barbara Green

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1996

Partner/Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Robins Appleby LLP

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Robyn Hadder

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2007

Teacher, Durham District School Board

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Ghazal Haidary

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2017

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Jennifer Haque

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2013

Coordinator, Community Living Ontario

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Anika Holder

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Head of Human Resources, Penguin Random House Canada

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Merle Jacobs

Sociology
2000

Associate Professor, York University

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Rabia Kara

Sociology
2011

Religious Education Teacher,

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Yousaf Khan

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2010

Lawyer, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

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Nancy Kim

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2003

Photographer, Self employed

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Susan Kitchen

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1989

Urban Planner, City of Toronto

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Ilmeeyat Mahmud

Sociology
2015

Compliance Analyst, Affinity Global

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Philestena McLeod

Sociology
2009

Mental Health Consultant & Developmental Service Worker & Instructor, OxFord College of Arts, Business and Technology

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Jimmy Ng

Sociology
1984

Part-time trainer in social work, A social work agency in Guangzhou, China

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Eric Nguyen

Sociology
1995

Corporate Counsel/Head of HR, Plexxis Group of Companies

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Cheryl Nomdarkhon

Sociology
1998

In-Centre Landmark Forum Registration Manager, Landmark Worldwide Canada Ltd

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Tracy O’Brien

Sociology
1990

President, Designs by O'Brien, Designs by O'Brien, Interior Design Company

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Ijeoma Ofodile

Sociology

Lawyer,

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Jennifer Paiva

Sociology
1998

Assistant to the Controller of Finance, Peel District School Board

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Andriani Papadopoulou

Sociology
1994

Senior Investigator in The Greek Ombudsman/Department of Equal Treatment, The Greek Ombudsman

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Talisha Ramsaroop

Sociology
2014

Community Planner, Social Planning Toronto

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Julia Rao

Sociology
2017

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Jessica Rizk

Sociology
2011

PhD Candidate; Occasional K-10 Educator, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB)

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Valda Robertson

Sociology
2014

President, Women & Children Soical Networking

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Emily Robinson

Sociology
2012

French Immersion Kindergarten Teacher, Toronto Catholic District School Board

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Sara Shafiei

Sociology
2015

Student,

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Athena Sham

Sociology
2008

Marketing Specialist,

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Ayoma de Silva

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1994

Director, Data Client Solutions, Epsilon

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Simmerjote Singh

Sociology
2016

Designated Early Childhood Educator/ Professor, Peel District School Board

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John Stapleton

Sociology
1973

Principal, Open Policy

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Terri Stapleton

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Honours 2008

Vice-President,

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Tara Sutherland

Sociology
2008

Front End Supervisor, Value Village

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Lisa Tassone

Sociology
2004

Teacher, TDSB

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Tria Urnom

Sociology
2008

Operations Director, Brands For Canada

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Monica Walsh

Sociology
2013

Female Support Worker-Residential Counsellor,

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Breanne Williams

Sociology
2016

Child and Youth Worker,

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Asha Yusuf

Sociology
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2016

Director, Urgent Care Clinic