Aila Narimani, graduating with an honours bachelor of arts in psychology from the Faculty of Health, has received York University’s Murray G. Ross Award.
The award was established in honour of the University's first president and is presented annually to a graduating student for scholarship and outstanding contributions to undergraduate student life.
Narimani knew she had invested deeply in her time at York University – through academics, advocacy and leadership. Still, when she received the call telling her she had won the Murray G. Ross Award, the news came as a surprise.
“I am so beyond honoured and grateful,” she says. “To have all that work recognized at such a high level is truly one of the most special feelings.”
When Narimani joined York, she did so with a clear purpose already in mind. “I originally entered university with the intention of pursuing law, driven by a sense of justice and a desire to make systemic change," she says.
Narimani started living up to that goal by making an impact on York University, notably as an active voice in student governance. She served two consecutive terms as a Faculty of Health student senator and played a key role in academic planning at a pivotal time for York, including the development of the new medical school.
Driven by a commitment to ensure her peers are informed, supported and aware of what is happening at the institutional level, she also served on the Senate Appeals Committee, where she participated in academic honesty hearings. "This role became one of the most important learning experiences of my time at York,” she says.
It became a turning point, reinforcing her belief in the importance of empathy and transparency in academic decision-making. Recognizing how many students struggled to navigate university processes, she went on to chair the Student Senate Caucus Outreach Working Group, which is now finalizing a legacy document to help future senators share resources and increase student awareness.
Narimani’s impact also extended to co-curricular involvement. She held executive roles in student clubs focused on public health, psychology and law, and worked with the Ontario Mock Trial Association before shifting her career path toward health care. As an advocacy executive for UNICEF at York, she helped bring attention to humanitarian issues such as the crisis in Congo and the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests in Iran.
While Narimani started at York wanting to pursue law as a career, during the summer before her fourth year she decided on a change.
“I found myself longing for something more immediate and personal,” she says. Reflecting on her values, background and what fullfilment meant to her, she returned to dentistry, a field that has always been part of her life. “Having grown up watching my father work as an orthodontist, I associated dentistry with comfort, confidence and care. I saw the way his work could bring someone relief, restore their self-esteem and change the way they saw themselves. I now hope to follow that same path by providing meaningful care, advocating for accessibility in health services, and helping people in ways that feel both personal and lasting.”
Looking ahead, Narimani plans to apply to dental school, continuing a journey of care that has long been close to her heart. Looking back, she is grateful for the mentorship and support from faculty that she received at York. She credits professors like Archer Pechawis, Julie Conder, Jodi Martin and Tony Kostroman with shaping how she thought, learned and approached challenges, reinforcing her commitment to thoughtful, student-centred engagement.
As she reflects on receiving the Murray G. Ross Award, her gratitude extends further and closer to home. “I am incredibly grateful to my parents – my dad, whose commitment to education has always inspired me, and my mom, whose resilience and drive motivates me,” she says. She credits her partner and friends for their support and believe in her potential and dedicates the award to her late grandfather. “He saw learning as something sacred and a lifelong nourishment for the soul. Though he is no longer here, I carry his words, his values and his quiet strength with me in everything I do. This recognition is as much his as it is mine.”
She also notes that receiving the award in June holds special significance for her. “Receiving this award during Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, I also want to honour the memory of Alex Katona,” says Narimani. Katona, her partner’s cousin, passed away in 2024. "His loss has reminded me of the importance of mental health, compassion and holding space for those who are struggling," she says.
Narimani will receive the award during her convocation ceremony on Tuesday, June 17 at 10:30 a.m.