York University’s Markham Campus is proud to welcome two accomplished educators to the community: Professor Sarah Zipp, leading the new Sport Management program, and Professor Navid Mohaghegh, joining the Lassonde School of Engineering. Their diverse expertise — from sport and social impact to advanced cybersecurity systems — adds fresh perspective to the campus’s growing academic community.
“We’re pleased to have Professor Sarah Zipp leading Sport Management and Professor Navid Mohaghegh joining Engineering here,” said Dan Palermo, Deputy Provost, York University Markham Campus. “They bring very different but equally strong expertise — from exploring how sport connects to society and sustainability, to advancing new ideas in engineering. As our campus grows, their teaching and research will play a big part in building a vibrant, forward-looking community for our students.”
Championing Sport for Social Good: Professor Sarah Zipp
Zipp is the newly appointed associate professor and program coordinator for Sport Management at York University. Zipp has taught at universities in the U.K., U.S., Netherlands, Singapore and Japan, bringing a global perspective to York. Her work explores sport for social good, gender equality, globalization, sport policy and social issues in sport.
Zipp has published numerous journal articles, book chapters, reports and news articles. She has served as a consultant to Nike and is currently an advisor for the Global Observatory for Gender Equality in Sport (Switzerland). She was named the Early Career Researcher of the Year (2020) by the Journal of Sport for Development. She is also the founder of the Power to Play Period, a project on menstrual health education in sport.
Zipp earned her PhD in international development at Erasmus University (Netherlands). As a student, she competed in basketball, athletics and team handball.
Sarah Zipp
Engineering the Future: Professor Navid Mohaghegh
Joining Lassonde School of Engineering at Markham Campus, Mohaghegh brings over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity and AI innovation. As a principal architect and educator, he has led the development of mission-critical systems for organizations including the Government of Canada, IBM, Bell Canada, CN Rail, and major financial institutions.
Mohaghegh’s expertise spans AI-powered threat detection, post-quantum cryptography, and privacy-preserving identity systems. He holds federal secret-level clearance and is a licensed Professional Engineer. His work has shaped national infrastructure, including Canada’s proof-of-vaccine credential system and CN Rail’s autonomous inspection platform.
An accomplished author and mentor, Mohaghegh has guided students who now lead at top tech firms. At York, he will teach advanced AI-based cybersecurity, helping students navigate and shape the future of secure digital systems.
Navid Mohaghegh
Markham Campus is quickly becoming a vibrant destination for forward-thinking education, research, and collaboration. With new faculty bringing global experience and innovative ideas, the campus continues to expand its interdisciplinary offerings and foster meaningful connections among students, staff, and faculty. As the academic community grows, so does the opportunity to shape a bold and inclusive future — one that reflects the energy and ambition of the campus and the broader York University vision.