# 60 Years of Excellence in Graduate Education

**Source**: https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/60years/
**Parent**: https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/students/future-students/funding-packages-by-program/

The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) continues to be a tremendously exciting place to study and work. We are proud to support those who will have an integral part in Canada’s future. Graduate Studies is where the next generation of impactful careers and cutting-edge ideas are born.

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## Quick Links

- Discover Grad Research: [Knowledge Now](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/knowledge-now/)
- Read our monthly newsletter – [FGSnews](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/fgsnews/)
- View our [Graduate Studies Handbook](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2023/02/york-2026-2027-grad-studies-handbook.pdf)
- Attend our next Open House: [Experience Grad York](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/egy/)
- Read York University’s [Land Acknowledgment](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/about-us/our-mission/land-acknowledgement/)

#### A MESSAGE FROM OUR VICE-PROVOST & DEAN

We continue to lead both in our commitment to engaged research and in the values at the core of York as a university: excellence, equity, access, sustainability, diversity and decolonization among them. These values guide the research that is conceived and created in collaboration between students and supervisors and – equally – the inclusive approach to graduate education and research that shapes that research, with an emphasis on engagement, collaboration, depth of thought, expanded conceptual horizons and broken boundaries.

**Alice MacLachlan\
Vice-Provost & Dean**

[**Read the Vice-Provost & Dean’s Message**](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/60years/dean-message/)

A photo of Alice MacLachlan

#### TESTIMONIALS

It has been 60 years of knowledge creation and passion for excellence. Graduate Education at York empowers citizens, leaders, changemakers and communities with rich knowledge and applied skills.

*— Tokunbo Ojo, Associate Dean Students (2023-Current)*

Sixty years of creating a space where students can self-identify a scholarly passion project and be mentored in order to affect change. Real change. That’s graduate studies at York University.

*— Cheryl van Daalen-Smith, Associate Dean, Academic (2022-Current)*

Graduate education at York is a place of constant change. It can never be accused of being dull; there is always something emerging, innovating, changing. What I have always appreciated about the graduate community at York is the *people*. Our students are incredible: leading creative and innovative research and showcasing their talents in such interesting ways. Our dedicated grad faculty members embark on this journey with their students, guiding them through their degrees with unwavering mentorship and helping to shape leaders in their fields. The FGS team, along with the broader graduate administrative staff, possess a unique and profound knowledge base. In FGS alone, our team boasts over 120 years of combined FGS experience, a testament to their dedication and commitment.\

*— Heather Moore, Executive Officer (2011-2016, 2024-Current)*

As a proud member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, I can wholeheartedly say that my journey here has been nothing short of transformative. From the very first day, I was welcomed into a community that values collaboration, and personal growth. I have had the privilege of working alongside dedicated colleagues who are not only passionate about their roles but are also deeply committed to student success. The supportive environment encourages us to share ideas and challenge one another, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. I look forward to many more years of learning, and growing together.

*— Richolette Freckleton, Associate Director, Research, Scholarships & Awards (2008-Current)*

Supporting the academic journeys of such a diverse body of graduate researchers and scholars is an enriching experience that the Faculty of Graduate Studies embraces each and every day.

*— Wesley Moir, Associate Director, Graduate Academic Affairs (2014-Current)*

Graduate Studies at York is where the next generation of impactful careers and cutting-edge ideas are born. It’s a place where knowledge is made!

*— Anesa Albert, Associate Director, Communications & Digital Engagement (2016-Current)*

Between its pan-university academic Council and its dedicated administrative team, FGS demands\* and promotes the conditions in which scholarship and creativity, research and state-of-the-art training can flourish. Those conditions are certainly material, physical, programmatic and institutional – but especially as these enable fundamentally important human and interpersonal conditions: professors and peers with whom one develops the acumen and confidence to experiment in novel, dazzling ways.  We want a consequence of *Tentanda Via*to be “I couldn’t have achieved what I have anywhere else but at York.”

*— *Thomas Loebel, Dean & AVP Graduate (2018-2023)**

When I think of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, I just think brave. Graduate students that bravely ask (and answer) the hard questions. Faculty members that bravely guide and challenge the best and brightest. A team in the Office of the Dean that bravely lives the values, and takes on the challenges of being the very first central service within a body of Senate at York University. All coming together to prioritize and expand the knowledge and curiosity to solve tomorrow's problems. What a defining moment to have been part of this group.

*— *Jodi Tavares, Executive Officer (2015-2017, 2018-2022)**

FGS is the crucial foundation for York as an interdisciplinary university—it’s the pan-University Faculty that ensures excellence, success, and support for graduate students and faculty across all York campuses.

*— *Michael Zryd, Associate Dean, Academic (2015-2019)**

The time I spent as the Executive Officer in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, I was impressed by the wealth of high-quality academic support and dedication by our staff to ensure our graduate students are successful in their academic careers.

*— *Mario Verrilli, Executive Officer (2015-2018)**

Graduate education matters and is critical to our ever expanding global community.

*— *Barbara Crow, Dean & AVP Graduate (2012-2017)**

Collegial participation marks Graduate Studies at every level and makes its well-being a case of "United We Stand."

**— John Lennox, Dean (1999-2005**)

My role as Graduate Program Administrator has been deeply rewarding, allowing me to witness firsthand the growth and achievements of countless students.

*— Karen Dancy, Graduate Program Administrator (1995-Current)*

York will go on being fresh, innovative, and somehow always right for its time.

**— Toronto Life Magazine, (October 1970*)*

In universities generally, courses focusing on women and their concerns began to be taught in the very early 1970s. York was in the 99 vanguard in developing this field.

**— Michiel Horn, York University: The Way Must Be Tried**

Student accomplishments are recognized around the world, but above all, it’s the staff who work in Graduate Studies that really distinguish it.

**— Diane Jenner, Graduate Program Coordinator**

Graduate education has been established with care and thoroughness and we are now able to move forward…confident that graduate education at York has a widely recognized status.

*— Murray Ross, These Ten Years*

#### OUR GRADUATE COMMUNITY

##### **PhDs**

##### **MBA**s

##### **MA**s

##### **MESes**

##### **MSWs**

##### **MScs**

##### **MEds**

##### MFAs

##### EMBAs

##### MFAcs

##### MScNs

##### MAcc

##### MSTMs

##### MPPALs

##### MHRMs

##### MFs

##### MBANs

##### MMKGs

##### MAScs

##### MPIAs

##### MSCMs

##### MDEMs

##### MLCEs, MDeses, MFScs

##### MMAIs

##### MREIs

##### MCIs

##### Postdoctoral Fellows and Visitors

##### Faculty Members Appointed

##### **Graduate Programs**

##### **Academic Degrees and** **Diploma**s

#### PURSUE YOUR PASSION, FIND YOUR PROGRAM

York’s Faculty of Graduate Studies offers over 100 full- and part-time professional and academic degree and diploma programs to enhance your expertise and guide you toward a fulfilling career.

Programs added in the 2020s

MSc - Management Practice

Graduate Diploma - Creative Writing

MBA – Business Administration (New Specialization in Digital Transformation)

Graduate Diploma - Foundations of Canadian Law

Graduate Diploma - Biotechnology

MBM - Biotechnology Management

Graduate Diploma - Global Metals and Minerals Management

Graduate Diploma - Health Industry Management

MBAt - Business Administration in Technology Leadership

LLM - Construction Law

PhD - Global Health

PhD - Disaster & Emergency Management

Graduate Diploma - Management

MHIA - Health Industry Administration

Graduate Diploma - Accounting Analytics

Programs added in the 2010s

MBAN - Business Analytics

Graduate Diploma - Language & Literacy Education

MBA - Business Administration

Graduate Diploma - Culture, Communication & Leadership in Canadian Business

MAcc - Accounting

LLM - Canadian Common Law

Graduate Diploma - Comparative Literature

Graduate Diploma - World Literature

Graduate Diploma - Quantitative Methods

MBA – Business Administration (Added Global Retail Management Specialization)

Graduate Diploma - Professional Accounting

PhD - Nursing

MASc - Mechanical Engineering

MASc - Civil Engineering

MREI - Real Estate & Infrastructure

MMAI - Management in Artificial Intelligence

MPIA – Public & International Affairs (Dual Degree with Laval University)

MMgt - Management

MMKG - Marketing

MSCM - Supply Chain Management

MPIA – Public & International Affairs (Dual Degree with University of Strasbourg)

MA/MSc/PhD – Digital Media

MLCE - Leadership & Community Engagement

Graduate Diploma - Education in Urban Environments

Graduate Diploma - General Interpreting

PhD - Civil Engineering

PhD - Mechanical Engineering

MA/JD- Philosophy

MSCM - Supply Chain Management

MMKG - Marketing

Graduate Diploma - Advanced Accounting

Graduate Diploma - Intermediate Accounting

Graduate Diploma - Law for Law Enforcement Professionals

LLM - Canadian Common Law

LLM - General Law

LLM - Tax Law

Programs added in the 2000s

MDes - Design

MFA - Dance

MF - Finance

MScN - Nursing

MASc - Electrical and Computer Engineering

EMBA - Business Administration

MA - Development Studies

MDEM - Disaster & Emergency Management

PhD - Art History & Visual Culture

MSc - Mathematics and Statistics (Applied & Industrial)

MCI - Conference Interpreting

MA/PhD - Critical Disability Studies

IMBA - International Business Administration

MACC - Accounting

MFAC - Financial Accountability

MHRM/PhD - Human Resources Management

MPPAL - Public Policy,\
Administration & Law

MPIA - Public and International Affairs

MA/PhD – Socio-Legal Studies

MA - Information Systems & Technology

PhD - Cinema & Media Studies

PhD – Dance Studies

PhD – Etudes Francophones

PhD – Kinesiology & Health Science

PhD – Linguistics & Applied Linguistics

PhD – Social Work

PhD – Visual Arts

MA/PhD – Health

MA/PhD – Humanities

MA/PhD – Theatre, Dance, & Performance Studies

MA/PhD – Science & Technology Studies

MA – Cinema & Media Studies

Graduate Diploma - Curatorial Studies in Visual Culture

Graduate Diploma - Early Childhood Education

Graduate Diploma - Mathematics Education

Graduate Diploma - Postsecondary Education: Community, Culture & Policy

Graduate Diploma -Business & the Environment

Graduate Diploma -Environmental/Sustainability Education

MA/MFSc- Kinesiology & Health Science

Nurse Practitioner (PHCNP) MScN - Nursing

Graduate Diploma - Health Psychology

Graduate Diploma - Neuroscience

Graduate Diploma - Advanced Hebrew & Jewish Studies

Graduate Diploma - Asian Studies

Graduate Diploma - Jewish Studies

Graduate Diploma - Value Theory & Applied Ethics

Graduate Diploma - Nonprofit Management

Graduate Diploma - Mathematics Education

Programs added in the 1990s

MA/PhD - Communication & Culture

PhD - Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

MA - Études francophones

MSc - Kinesiology & Health Science

PhD - Music

PhD - Environmental Studies

MA - Linguistics & Applied Linguistics

MA - Translation Studies

MA/PhD - Gender, Feminist & Women’s Studies

PhD - Education: Language, Culture & Teaching

Combined Program - MBA/MFA/MA

Graduate Diploma - Democratic Administration

Graduate Diploma - German & European Studies

Graduate Diploma - International & Security Studies

Graduate Diploma - Latin American & Caribbean Studies

Graduate Diploma - Refugee & Migration Studies

Graduate Diploma - Arts, Media and Entertainment Management

Graduate Diploma - Financial Engineering

LLM – Administrative Law

LLM – Business Law

LLM – Constitutional

LLM – Criminal Law and Procedure

LLM – Dispute Resolution

LLM – Energy and Infrastructure Law

LLM – Financial Law

LLM – Health Law

LLM – Intellectual Property Law

LLM – International Business Law

LLM – Labour Relations

LLM – Privacy & Cybersecurity Law

LLM – Securities Law

Programs added in the 1980s

MA - Art History & Visual Culture

MEd - Education: Language, Culture & Teaching

MSc - Computer Science

PhD - Mathematics & Statistics

MSW - Social Work

PhD - Social Anthropology

Programs added in the 1970s

MFA – Theatre

MA - Social Anthropology

MA – Music

MA – Dance

MA – Interdisciplinary Studies

MA – Film: Production and Screenwriting

MFA – Visual Arts

MFA – Film: Production and Screenwriting

MA/ MSc - Physical Education (No Kinesiology & Health Sciences)

MSc/ PhD - Geography

MA/ PhD - Social & Political Thought

PhD - Biology

PhD - Administrative Studies

PhD - Economics

PhD – Administration

Programs added in the 1960s

MA/PhD – Psychology

MA/PhD – Philosophy

MA/PhD – Political Science

MA/PhD – History

MA/PhD – Sociology

MSc – Biology

MSc/PhD – Chemistry

MBA – Business

MA – Geography

MA – Economics

MA – Mathematics & Statistics

MA/PhD – English

MPA – Public Administration

MES – Environmental Studies

LLM/PhD – Law

MSc/PhD – Earth & Space Science

MSc/PhD – Physics & Astronomy

Joint MBA/JD, MBA/JD, MBA/MFA, MBA/MA – Business Administration

#### FGS BY THE NUMBERS (ANNUAL)

## $11.2M

**Awarded in Tri-councils +\
prestigious scholarships**

## $75M

**Given in funding dollars (inc. Fellowships & TAs)**

## $1.4M

**Provided towards research support (inc. Academic Excellence Fund)**

## $10M

**Created in graduate bursaries**

## $65.5M

**Bestowed in graduate awards**

#### MEET OUR TOP 30 ALUMNI UNDER 30

At home and abroad, graduates of York University are not only entering the workforce prepared to put their education into practice, but to enact positive, real-world change. Representing every faculty at the University, the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 are applying the education, skills and experiences they received at York to meaningful careers and community service endeavours, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to the public good.

- [2024](#tab-2024)
- [2023](#tab-2023)
- [2022](#tab-2022)
- [2021](#tab-2021)

##### Bintu Alkassoum

*MMAI ’22, Schulich School of Business*

Artificial intelligence innovator and entrepreneur\

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bintualkassoum/?originalSubdomain=ca)

##### Khadeja Elsibai

*MPPAL ’22, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies*

Public servant and community builder

[View LinkedIn profile](https://ca.linkedin.com/in/khadeja-elsibai)

##### Ketaki Gadre

*MF ’21*,*Schulich School of Business*

Author and educator\

[View LinkedIn profile](https://ca.linkedin.com/in/ketaki-gadre)

##### John Lau

*MES ’19, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change*

Sustainability leader*\*[View LinkedIn profile](http://linkedin.com/in/john-lau-826038a9)

##### Sara Pishdadian

*MA ’18, PhD ’23*, *Faculty of Health*

Clinician and health equity advocate \

[View LinkedIn profile](https://ca.linkedin.com/in/sarapishdadian)

##### Sam Rockbrune

*MA ’19, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies*

Community leader and social justice advocate\

[View LinkedIn profile](http://www.linkedin.com/in/samrockbrune)

##### Bianca Bondi

*MA ’19, Faculty of Health*

Clinical researcher and child development advocate

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancabondi/)

##### Victoria Canale

*MSW ‘21 Faculty of Graduate Studies*

Public health researcher and social worker

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-c-0b49281a1/)

##### Lucas DeLuca

*MA ’19, Faculty of Health*

Accessibility strategist and advocate

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-deluca-7a58b4181/)

##### Philip Geller

*MFA ’22, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design*

Theatre artist and storyteller

[View Philip's website](https://www.philipgeller.com/)

##### **Ying Gu**

*MES ’19*,*Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change*

Sustainability advisor and climate change advocate

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ying-gu/)

##### Shalini Iyer

*MSc ’22, Faculty of Health*

Scientist, STEM educator and EDI advocate

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalini-iyer-/)

##### Kate Haiyun Mossop

*MLCE ’21, Faculty of Education*

Community builder*\*

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-haiyun-mossop-a7b97b1bb/)

##### Lela Pacitti-Sander

*MES ’17, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change*

Community planner and youth worker\

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lelapacittisander)

##### Raghavender Sahdev

*\
MSC ’18, Lassonde School of Engineering*

Entrepreneur

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/raghavender-sahdev/)

##### Alyssa Segula

*\
MBA ’22, Schulich School of Business*

Healthcare innovator

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssasegula/)

##### Korina Thomas-Reynolds

*MEd ’20, Faculty of Education*

Educator and entrepreneur

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/korina-thomas-reynolds/)

##### Iris Yusupov

*\
MA ’18, Faculty of Health,\
MBA ’22, Schulich School of Business*

Clinical researcher and mental health advocate

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/iris-yusupov/)

##### Suzanna Alsayed

*MDEM ’20, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies / Faculty of Graduate Studies*

Tech entrepreneur\

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannaalsayed/)

##### Sayjon Ariyarathnam

*MPPAL ’22, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies*

Public servant and community builder

[View LinkedIn profile](https://ca.linkedin.com/in/khadeja-elsibai)

##### Elijah Bawuah

*MES ’21, Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change/ Faculty of Graduate Studies*

EDI advocate and mentor

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcelijahmbawuah/)

##### Jonathan Clodman

*MEd ’20, Faculty of Education/Faculty of Graduate Studies*

Educator and public health advocate

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoledoray/)

##### Bri Darboh

*MA ’18, Faculty of Health*

Health equity advocate\

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bri-susanna-darboh-998979116)

##### Osman Naqvi

*MA ’19, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies*

Community leader and social justice advocate\

[View LinkedIn profile](http://www.linkedin.com/in/samrockbrune)

##### Jason Robinson emailWebsite

**MES ’19, Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change*/Faculty of Graduate Studies*

Environmental and EDI advocate\

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmarobinson/)

##### Miranda Baksh

*MES '19*, *Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change*

CEO and Founder, Community Climate Council

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/miranda-baksh/)

##### Bo Cheng

*MMAI '20*,*Faculty of Science; Schulich School of Business*

Data Scientist, Rogers Communications

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ai-everywhere/)

##### Nicole Doray

*MES '19, Glendon College;* *Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change*

Manager, Social Impact, Innovation and Transition Leadership at Academy for Sustainable Innovation; Senior Researcher, ASI International

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoledoray/)

##### Mikhaela Gray-Beerman

*MED '18, Glendon College; Faculty of Education*

Anti-trafficking advocate, researcher and educator

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikhaela-gray-787b6573/)

##### David (Xiaoyu) Wang

*MSCM '20, Schulich School of Business*

Environmental Advisory Committee and Accessibility Advisory Committee, The Town of East Gwillimbury; Manager, Transportation and Optimization, Labatt Breweries of Canada

[View LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidxywang/)

### [VIEW OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE YEARS](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/60years/through-the-years/)

###

#### AWARDS & RECOGNITION

- [Postdoctoral Supervisor of the Year Award](#tab-postdoctoralsupervisoroftheyearaward)
- [Faculty Teaching Award](#tab-facultyteachingaward)
- [Thesis and Dissertation Prizes](#tab-thesisanddissertationprizes)
- [Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships](#tab-vaniercanadagraduatescholarships)
- [Banting Postdoctoral Researchers](#tab-bantingpostdoctoralresearchers)
- [Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship for Black & Indigenous Scholars](#tab-provostspostdoctoralfellowshipforblackampindigenousscholars)

#### Postdoctoral Supervisor of the Year Award

Recognition will be given to one Postdoctoral Supervisor who has demonstrated exemplary support for postdoctoral scholars at York University, exceeding general supervisory expectations. One Postdoctoral Supervisor will be honoured with the Postdoctoral Supervisor of the Year Award at the Postdoctoral Welcome Event each fall.

**Recipients (Present - 2017)**

2024\
**Ethel Tungohan**

2023 **\
Alison Crosby**

2023 **\
Amro Zayed**

2022\
**Sapna Sharma**

2021\
**Ellen Bialystok**

2020\
**Petros Faloutsos**

2019\
**John Douglas Crawford**

2019\
**Sean Rehaag**

2018\
**Laura Levin**

2017\
**Pat Armstrong**

#### Faculty Teaching Award

The Faculty of Graduate Studies’ Teaching Award is bestowed annually on a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies who has displayed substantial, significant and sustained excellence, commitment and enthusiasm to the multifaceted aspects of teaching at the graduate level at York.

**Recipients (Present - 1994)**

2023-2024

**Year:** 2023–2024

**Name:** Benjamin Berger

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Law, Socio-Legal Studies

2022-2023

**Year:** 2022-2023

**Name:** Anne MacLennan

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Communication & Culture, History and Interdisciplinary Studies

2021-2022

**Year:** 2021-2022

**Name:** Eric Mykhalovskiy

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Socio-Legal Studies, Sociology, Health, Science and Technology Studies

2020-2021

**Year:** 2020-2021

**Name:** Michele Johnson

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Education, History, Social & Political Thought, Theatre & Performance Studies

**Year:** 2020-2021

**Name:** Sandra Schecter

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Education

2019-2020

**Year:** 2019-2020

**Name:** Michaela Hynie

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Development Studies, Environmental Studies, Health, Interdisciplinary Studies, Kinesiology & Health Science and Psychology

**Year:** 2019-2020

**Name:** Michael Zryd

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Communication & Culture, Film and Humanities

2018-2019

**Year:** 2018-2019

**Name:** Richard Murray

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Biology, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, and Psychology

2017-2018

**Year:** 2017-2018

**Name:** Rebecca Pillai Riddell

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Psychology

2016-2017

**Year:** 2016-2017

**Name:** Carl E. James

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Education, Interdisciplinary Studies, Social & Political Thought, Sociology, and Social Work

2015-2016

**Year:** 2015-2016

**Name:** Nicholas Cercone

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Computer Science & Engineering

**Year:** 2015-2016

**Name:** Celia Haig-Brown

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Education, Environmental Studies, Gender, Feminist & Women’s Studies, Humanities, and Social & Political Thought

2014-2015

**Year:** 2014-2015

**Name:** Kathryn McPherson

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in History and Gender, Feminist & Women’s Studies

2013-2014

**Year:** 2013-2014

**Name:** Meg Luxton

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Gender, Feminist & Women’s Studies, Social & Political Thought and Sociology

2012-2013

**Year:** 2012-2013

**Name:** Laurence R. Harris

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Biology, Kinesiology & Health Science and Psychology

2011-2012

**Year:** 2011-2012

**Name:** Joel Katz

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Psychology

**Year:** 2011-2012

**Name:** Paul Lovejoy

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in History

2010-2011

**Year:** 2010-2011

**Name:** Bettina Bradbury

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in History and Women’s Studies

**Year:** 2010-2011

**Name:** Janine Marchessault

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Communication & Culture, Film, Humanities, Social & Political Thought and Sociology

**Year:** 2010-2011

**Name:** Ward Struthers

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Health and Psychology

2009-2010

**Year:** 2009-2010

**Name:** Geoffrey Reaume

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Critical Disability Studies, Environmental Studies and Health

**Year:** 2009-2010

**Name:** Marc Stein

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in History and Women's Studies

2008-2009

**Year:** 2008-2009

**Name:** Amir Asif

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Computer Science and Earth & Space Science

**Year:** 2008-2009

**Name:** Norman Gledhill

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science

2007-2008

**Year:** 2007-2008

**Name:** Liora Salter

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Communication & Culture, Environmental Studies and Law

**Year:** 2007-2008

**Name:** Daniel Simeoni

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Translation

2006-2007

**Year:** 2006-2007

**Name:** David Hood

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Biology and Kinesiology & Health Science

**Year:** 2006-2007

**Name:** Adrienne Perry

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Psychologyraduate Programs in Biology and Kinesiology & Health Science

2005-2006

**Year:** 2005-2006

**Name:** Leslie Higgins

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in English and Humanities

**Year:** 2005-2006

**Name:** Stephen Weiss

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Business Administration

2004-2005

**Year:** 2004-2005

**Name:** M. Jane Irvine

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Biology, Kinesiology & Health Science and Psychology

**Year:** 2004-2005

**Name:** Isabel M. Killoran

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Critical Disability Studies and Education

2003-2004

**Year:** 2003-2004

**Name:** Douglas Crawford

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Biology, Kinesiology & Health Science and Psychology

**Year:** 2003-2004

**Name:** Livy Visano

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Social & Political Thought, Social Work and Sociology

2002-2003

**Year:** 2002-2003

**Name:** Barrie Coukell

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Biology

**Year:** 2002-2003

**Name:** David Reid

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Psychology

2001-2002

**Year:** 2001-2002

**Name:** Barbara Godard

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in English, Études françaises, Social & Political Thought and Women's Studies

2000-2001

**Year:** 2000-2001

**Name:** Robert Murdie

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Geography

**Year:** 2000-2001

**Name:** David Smukler

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Theatre

1999-2000

**Year:** 1999-2000

**Name:** Deborah Britzman

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Education, English and Social & Political Thought

**Year:** 1999-2000

**Name:** Barbara Hanson

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Sociology

1998-1999

**Year:** 1998-1999

**Name:** Gary Bunch

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Education

**Year:** 1998-1999

**Name:** Hiroshi Ono

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Psychology

1997-1998

**Year:** 1997-1998

**Name:** Selma Odom

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Dance

1996-1997

**Year:** 1996-1997

**Name:** Ken Little

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Communication & Culture and Social Anthropology

**Year:** 1996-1997

**Name:** Shake Toukmanian

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Psychology

1995-1996

**Year:** 1995-1996

**Name:** David Rennie

**Program Name:** Graduate Program in Psychology

1994-1995

**Year:** 1994-1995

**Name:** Robert Witmer

**Program Name:** Graduate Programs in Ethnomusicology & Musicology, Social Anthropology

#### Thesis and Dissertation Prizes

The Faculty of Graduate Studies will award a maximum of six (6) thesis prizes for exceptional theses defended in a given year (i.e., calendar year January 1 to December 31). Normally three (3) of these will be awarded for Master’s theses and three (3) for Doctoral dissertations.

**Recipients (Present - 1993)**

2024

**Thesis Prizes**

- Nina Garrett, Graduate Program in Biology, “Measuring neotropical bat diversity using airborne eDNA”
- Haider Shoaib, Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, “Performance Modeling and Optimization of Connected And Autonomous Vehicles With Reliable Wireless Connectivity”
- Pooya Badkoobeh, Graduate Program in Film, "Based on a True Story"

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Jennifer Porat, Graduate Program in Biology, *RNA methyltransferases Influence Noncoding RNA Biogenesis and Function Through Catalytic-Independent Activities*
- Alison Humphrey, Graduate Program in Cinema & Media Studies, The Shadowpox Storyworld as Citizen Science Fiction:  Building Co-Immunity through Participatory Mixed-Reality Storytelling
- Inbar Peled, Graduate Program in Law, *Professionalizing Discrimination:  Legal Actors and the Struggle Against Racialized Policing in Multicultural Societies*.

2023

**Thesis Prizes**

- Melodie Lao, Graduate Program in Chemistry, “Developing an Automated Nitrous Acid (HONO) Platform to Detect Emerging Pollutants in a Commercial and Domestic Environment”
- Abdul Basit, Graduate Program in Civil Engineering, "Impact of Climate Change on Thermal Behaviour of Pavement Structures in Ontario"
- Anna Waisman, Graduate Program in Psychology, "Investigating the Role of Autobiographical Memory in Postsurgical Pain Up To 1 Year after Major Surgery"

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Kathleen Dogantzis, Graduate Program in Biology, *Understanding the Evolutionary Origin and Ancestral Complexity of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Populations*
- Dylan Ludwig, Graduate Program in Philosophy, *The Functional Contributions of Consciousness*
- Sara Pishdadian, Graduate Program in Psychology, *Subjective and Objective Spatial Memory and Navigation Abilities in Aging and Amnesia*

2022

**Thesis Prizes**

- Timothy Young, Graduate Program in Civil Engineering, “Semiautomated Analysis of Pedestrian Behavior and Motion for Microsimulation of Transportation Terminals”
- Hamidreza Taleghamer, Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, “Machine Learning Strategies to Analyze Quantitative Ultrasound Multi-Parametric Images for Prediction of Therapy Response in Breast Cancer Patients”
- Ilana Shiff, Graduate Program in Psychology, “Distress Regulation During Preschool Vaccinations:  Child and Caregiver Predictors”

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Andrea Claire Durant, Graduate Program in Biology, *The Physiology of Ammonia Transport in the Disease Vector Mosquito Aedes Aegypti:  Ammonia Transporter Localization, Function and Characterization*
- Ahmed Elkholy, Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, *Characterization of Heat Exchange for Additively Manufactured Components*
- Meredith Evans, Graduate Program in Social Anthropology,  *Composing Care:  The Aesthetics and Politics of Music Therapy in the Clini*c

2021

**Thesis Prizes**

- Nour Moataz Wafsy, Graduate Program in Chemistry, “Palladium-Catalyzed Functionalization of 4-Alkylpyridines: Pyridylic Dehydrogenation and Mechanistic Investigation of Pyridylic Allylation”
- Alison Duke, Graduate Program in Film, “Promise Me”
- Nakisa Samadi, Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, “Active Thermography Using Cellphone Attachment Infrared Camera”

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Nadejda Tsvetkov, Graduate Program in Biology, *What's really out there? Investigations into the effects of pesticides and pathogens on bee health*
- Junjie Kang, Graduate Program in Earth & Space Science, *Theoretical and Experimental Investigtation of Despin Control of Massive Space Debris by Tethered Space Tug*
- Aaron Kreuter, Graduate Program in English, *Playing Jewish Geography:  Diaspora, Home, Nation-State, and Zionism in Contemporary Canadian and American Jewish Fiction*

2020

**Thesis Prizes**

- Leah Lynn Wright, Graduate Program in Biology, "Using Light-Level Geolocation to Investigate the Carry-over Effects of Long-Distance Migration on the Reproductive Success of Dunlin (*Calidris Alpina Hudsonia*)"
- Elizabeth Jackson, Graduate Program in Film, "Biidaaban:  First Light"
- Massimo Nardone, Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science, "Comparison of Non-Invasive Peripheral Vascular Function to Invasive Measures of Coronary Function in Patients with Suspected Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction"

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Rafael Rodrigues Ferrari, Graduate Program in Biology, *Systematics and Biogeography of Colletinae with Revisionary Studies of the Species of Colletes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Colletinae) from Chile and Eastern South America*
- Meghan C. Hughes, Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science, *Exploration of the Mitochondria as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy*
- Kosuke Kato, Graduate Program in Physics & Astronomy, *Precision Microwave Frequency-Offset Separated-Oscillatory-Fields Measurement of the 2^3 P\_1-to-2^3 P\_2 Fine-Structure in Atomic Helium*

2019

**Thesis Prizes**

- Azizia Wahedi, Graduate Program in Biology, "Characterization of the Adipokinetic Hormone/Corazonin-Related Peptide Signalling System in the Mosquito, Aedes Aegyptim"
- Daniel Debebe Negatu, Graduate Program in Film, "Tesfaye/Hope”
- Andrew Leonard Paul, Graduate Program in Geography, "'With the Salween Peace Park, We Can Survive as a Nation':  Karen Environmental Relations and the Politics of an Indigenous Conservation Initiative”

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Anna Veprinska, Graduate Program in English, *"The Skin of Another":  Empathetic Dissonance in Twentieth and Twenty-First-Century Poetry after Crisis*
- Sara Rafique, Graduate Program in Psychology, *Development of Low-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Tool to Modulate Visual Disorders:  Insight from Neuroimaging*
- Guillaume Dandurand, Graduate Program in Social Anthropology, *The Techno-Politics of Food Security in New Delhi:  The Re-Materialization of the Ration Card*

2018

**Thesis Prizes**

- Julia Gauberg, Graduate Program in Biology, “The Barrier Properties of the Skin of Aquatic and Semi-Aquatic Vertebrates”
- Lesley Chan, Graduate Program in Film, “The Urge to Run a Lap”
- Lana Forman, Graduate Program in Music, “The Positivistic Mysticism of Alexander Scriabin:  An Analysis of the Three Études, Op. 65”

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Manfred Becker, Graduate Program in Communication & Culture, The Frankenbite: Ethics and Reality in the Post-Production of Factual Programming
- Brock Harpur, Graduate Program in Biology, Population Genomics Approaches to Understanding the Genetics and Evolution of Social Insects
- Bryan Nelson, Graduate Program in Social & Political Thought, Democracy Against: The Antimonies of Politics

2017

**Thesis Prizes**

- Muhammad Salman Chaudhry, Graduate Program in Earth & Space Science, “On the Characterization of Engineered Elastomers At High Strain Rates“
- Karam Al Masri, Graduate Program in Film, “Juha the Whale“
- Kathryn Hardill, Graduate Program in Nursing, “That Look That Makes You Not Really Want to Be There: Health Care Experiences of People Who Use Illicit Opioids in Small Urban and Rural Communities - A Critical Social Theory Analysis“

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Dennis Kolosov, Graduate Program in Biology, *The Role of Tight Junction Proteins in Regulating Epithelial Permeability in Fishes*
- Melissa Dalgleish, Graduate Program in English, *'Her Constellated Mind: Jay Macpherson's Modernism and the Canadian Mythopoeic Turn*
- Angus Gavin Grant, Graduate Program in Law, *Confronting (In) Security: Forging Legitimate Approaches to Security and Exclusion in Migration Law*
- Paul Christopher Gray, Graduate Program in Political Science, *The Tragedy of Marx and Justice: A Critique of Marx's Failed Attempt to Dispense with Principles of Justice*

2016

**Thesis Prizes**

- Vladimir Paskaljevic, Graduate Program in Film, “Absence is Present”
- Dana Phillips, Graduate Program in Law, “Let's Talk About Sexual Assault: A Feminist Exploration of the Relationship Between Legal and Experiential Discourses”
- Gabrielle LaFortune, Graduate Program in Linguistics & Applied Linguistics, “A Qualitative Study of Anti-Feminist Discursive Strategies in Online Comment Sections”

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Douglas Hunter, Graduate Program in History, *Stone of Power: Dighton Rock, Colonization and the Erasure of an Indigenous Past*
- Daniel Fitzakerley, Graduate Program in Physics & Astronomy, *Antihydrogen Via Two-Stage Charge Exchange*
- David Moffette, Graduate Program in Sociology, *Governing Irregular Migration Logics and Practices in Spanish Immigration Policy*

2015

**Thesis Prizes**

- Gabriela Krivdova Biology, "Inhibition of HIV-1 Vif by Pokeweed Antiviral Protein and its Impact on Cellular Immune Defense"
- Diana Resetca, Chemistry, Characterizing Protein Dynamics of Protein-Ligand Interactions by Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry
- Savitri Gordian, Law, "Contesting Risk, Precaution and Legitimacy:  A Case Study of Lafarge"

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Serene Wong, Graduate Program in Computer Science & Engineering, *Exploiting Structure Information for Network Dissimilarity Characterization -- Application to Disease Network Analysis and Treatment Prediction*
- David Coodin, Graduate Program in English, *A Sudden, Inexplicable Onrush of Affectionate Feeling':  Subjectivity Beyond Limit in Cather, Larsen, Fitzgerald, and Woolf*
- Marc Champagne, Graduate Program in Philosophy, *The Semiotic Mind:  A Fundamental Theory of Consciousness*

2014

**Thesis Prizes**

- Michelle Bobala, Graduate Program in Development Studies, “Empowering Women and Promoting Gender Equality?  The Relevance of MDG3 in the Context of Georgetown, Guyana”
- Jennifer Dysart, Graduate Program in Film/Cinema & Media Studies, “Kewekapawetan:  Return After the Flood”
- Sue Patrick Breit, Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Studies, “The Phenomenology of a Simple Song:  Expression, Creativity, and the Recovery of Aesthetics”

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Amanda Paxton, *All or Nothing:  Sado-Erotics and Subjectivity in Victorian Religious Poetry*, Graduate Program in English
- Jacqueline Beaudry, *An Examination of the Development of Rapid-onset Diabetes Induced by Elevated Exogenous Glucocortoids and a High-fat Diet in Young Sprague Dawley Rats*, Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science
- Rory B.B. Lucyshyn-Wright, *Riesz-Schwartz Extensive Quantities and Vector-Valued Integration in Closed Categories*, Graduate Program in Mathematics & Statistics
- Karine Côté-Boucher, *The Micro-Politics of Border Control:  Internal Struggles at Canada Customs*, Graduate Program in Sociology

2013

**Thesis Prizes**

- C. Stanley, Graduate Program in Biology, "The Nonbreeding Season of Wood Thrush (Hylocichla Mustelina): Examining the Winter Ecology, Migration Ecology and Migratory Connectivity of a Neotropical Migratory Songbird"
- A. Gianfranco, Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science, "Investigating high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation in the transgenic G93A mouse model of amyotropic lateral sclerosis"
- C. Wloka, Graduate Program in Computer Science & Engineering, "Integrating Overt and Covert Attention Using Peripheral and Central Processing Streams"

**Dissertation Prizes**

- B.L. Nicholson, Graduate Program in Biology, *Molecular Analysis of Tombusvirus Cap-Independent Translation*
- N. Spunt, Graduate Program in English, *Figuring Consumption: Reading Economics of Disease, Desire and Consumerism in nineteenth-and Early Twentieth Century Literature*
- H. Marsh, Graduate Program in Psychology, *Apes in the Information Age: An Investigation of Information Management by Orangutans*

2012

**Thesis Prizes**

- Phuong Bui, Graduate Program in Biology, “Tight Junctions in 'Reconstructed' Gill Epithelia Derived from the Puffer Fish Tetraodon Nigroviridis Marion de Procé, 1822”
- Annie Veilleux, Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Studies, “Knowing Landscape: Living, Discussing and Imagining the Toronto Carrying Place”
- Jacinta Reddigan, Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science, “Associations between Metabolic Risk Factors, Physical Activity and Mortality Risk”

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Keith Barney, Graduate Program in Geography, *Grounding Global Forest Economies: Resource Governance and Commodity Power in Rural Laos*
- Helen Chasiotis, Graduate Program in Biology, *The Role of Occludin Tight Junction Protein in Freshwater Telost Fish Osmoregulation*
- Dr. Mandeep Pinky Ghaidu, Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science, *The Role of AMP-Kinase in Regulating and Remodelling Adipocyte Metabolism*

2011

**Thesis Prizes**

- Stephanie Lombardo, Graduate Program in Chemistry, “The Development of Solution and Surface Associated Protein Nanotubes for Applications in Bionanotechnology”
- Chelsea McMullan, Graduate Program in Film, “Deadman”
- Xin Zhang, Graduate Program in Computer Science & Engineering, “Measuring Process of Model Checking Randomized Algorithms”

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Sadat Reza, Graduate Program in Economics, *Essays on Econometric Analysis of Strike Duration Data*
- Jordana Greenblatt, Graduate Program in English, *Word Like That: Reading, Writing and Sadomasochism*
- Christopher Holman, Graduate Program in Political Science, *Politics as Performance: Toward a Non-Identitarian Model of Political Action*

2010

**Thesis Prizes**

- Jennifer Petruniak, Graduate Program in Biology, “Analysis of Bythotrephes longimanus Spatial Dynamics in Harp Lake, Ontario”
- Giulia Uguccioni, Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science, “The Importance of PGC-a in contractile activity-induced mitochondria adaptions”
- Claire Wynveen, Graduate Program in Theatre, “Smashing the Psychoanalysis Dam:  Exploring Fear and Release in *The Betwitched*”

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Jason John Gibbs, Graduate Program in Biology, “Revision of the Metallic Species of *Dialectus* in Canada (Hymenoptera:  Apoidea: Halictidae:  *Lasioglossum*”
- Bernd Schulze, Graduate Program in Mathematics & Statistics, “Combinatorial and Geometric Rigidity with Symmetry Constraints”
- Lisa Cooke, Graduate Program in Social Anthropology, “North to Yukon:  (Beyond) the Frontier in Canadian National-Cultural Imaginaries”

2008

**Thesis Prizes**

- Francisca Duran, Graduate Program in Film, “Mr. Edisons's Ear”
- Mandeep Gaidhu, Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science, “The Regulation of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism by AMP-activated Protein Kinase in Isolated Rat Adipoycytes”
- Tia Dafnos, Graduate Program in Sociology, “Policing Ethnicity: A Critical Analysis of the use of Ethnic Identifiers in the Policing of Organized Crime in Canada”

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Jamie Kwan, Graduate Program in Biology, *Sterile Alpha Motif Domain Structures And Protein Partnerships*
- Colette A Granger, Graduate Program in Education, *Silent Moments: A Psychoanalytic Autoethnography of Learning and Teaching*
- Ye Sun, Graduate Program in Mathematics & Statistics, *Higher Order Likelihood Inference for a General Statistical Model*

1995

**Thesis/**Dissertation Prizes****

- Lee Anne Waldorf, Master Candidate, Programme in Law: "Beyond the Discursive Horizon: Challenging the Limits of Post-Structuralist Feminist Legal Theory"
- Andrew Bartlett, Doctoral Candidate, Programme in English: Violence and Inheritance: Birth Secrets in Four Eighteenth-Century English Novels.
- Jose Brandao, Doctoral Candidate, Programme in History: 'Your Frye Shall Burn No More': Iroquois Policy Towards New France and Her Native Allies to 1701.

1993

**Thesis Prizes**

- Mark Vicari, “The Grazing Ecology of Red Fescue, Festuca rubra, on St. Kilda,” Graduate Programme in Biology
- Priscilla Costello, “Gnosticism Then and Now: From the First Centuries A.D. to the Psychology of C.G. Jung,” Graduate Programme in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Stephen Foster, “Behind a Sheet of Glass,” Graduate Programme in Visual Arts

**Dissertation Prizes**

- Richard John Reiner, A Framework for Theories of Bounded Rationality, Graduate Programme in Philosophy
- Xianhua Jiang, Wobble-Nutation Modes of the Earth, Graduate Programme in Physics & Astronomy
- Rae Anderson, The Corset of Compromise: Negotiating Social and Spatial Boundaries in Two Artist’s Housing Cooperatives in Toronto, Graduate Programme in Social Anthropology

#### Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)

The Vanier CGS program aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, engineering, and health.

**Recipients (Present - 2011)**

2024

**Name:** Grace Ann Bischof

**Program:** Physics & Astronomy

**Project:** Characterizing Inter-Crater Dust Dynamics in Gale Crater, Mars in Preparation of Human Exploration.

**Name:** Roberta Da Silva Medina

**Program:** Socio-Legal Studies

**Project:** Vertical Surveillance: Urban Police Use of Drone Technology in Brazil and Canada.

**Name:** Joshua Marcus Harris Fountain Lamers

**Program:** Law

**Project:** The Golden Ticket? Black Adoptees, Transracial Adoption and Rethinking Legal Adoption.

**Name:** Romeo Joe Linao Quintero

**Program:** Geography

**Project:** Building Liveable Futures in Camps: Everyday Placemaking Practices of Internally Displaced Women in the Southern Philippines.

2023

**Name:** Areej Alshammiry

**Program:** Sociology

**Name:** Jordan Lynne Marissa Krywonos

**Program:** Physics & Astronomy

**Name:** Marissa Anne Magneson

**Program:** Education

**Name:** Austin Martins-Robalino

**Program:** Civil Engineering

**Name:** Greg Levi Procknow

**Program:** Critical Disability Studies

**Name:** Cole Ernest Swanson

**Program:** Environmental Studies

**Name:** Anna Waisman

**Program:** Clinical Psychology

2022

**Name:** Katherine Barron

**Program:** Education: Languages, Culture & Teaching

**Name:** Toby Anne Finlay

**Program:** Sociology

**Name:** Sarah Grace Grothaus

**Program:** Computational Arts / Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

**Name:** Deanne Michelle Sowter

**Program:** Law

**Name:** Alyssia Dawn Wilson

**Program:** Clinical Developmental Psychology

2021

**Name:** Debbie Renee Ebanks Schlums

**Program:** Cinema and Media Studies

**Name:** Maureen Achieng Owino

**Program:** Environmental Studies

2020

**Name:** Laura Marie Keane

**Program:** Mathematics & Statistics

**Name:** Balikisu Osman

**Program:** Environmental Studies

**Name:** Rajat Nayyar

**Program:** Theatre, Dance, & Performance Studies

**Name:** Cameron Michael Butler

**Program:** Social Anthropology

2019

**Name:** Heather Anne Bergen

**Program:** Social Work

**Name:** Shraddha Chatterjee

**Program:** Gender, Feminist & Women's Studies

**Name:** Nadha Hassen

**Program:** Environmental Studies

**Name:** Inbar Peled

**Program:** Law

**Name:** Okechukwu Emmanuel Effoduh

**Program:** Law

2018

**Name:** Rivka Ruth Green

**Program:** Psychology

**Name:** Natasha Lorraine Henry-Dixon

**Program:** History

**Name:** Hannah Charlotte Rackow

**Program:** Theatre, Dance, & Performance Studies

**Name:** Susan Anne Bell Chiblow

**Program:** Environmental Studies

**Name:** Leigha April Comer

**Program:** Sociology

2017

**Name:** Claudia Francesca Sicondolfo

**Program:** Cinema & Media Studies

**Name:** Erica Lee Tatham

**Program:** Psychology

**Name:** Tyrone Christopher Hall

**Program:** Communication & Culture

**Name:** Elan Taylor Marchinko

**Program:** Theatre, Dance, & Performance Studies

**Name:** Kam Jyhming Phung

**Program:** Administration

2016

**Name:** Syrus Ware

**Program:** Environmental Studies

**Name:** Alison Dudley Humphrey

**Program:** Cinema & Media Studies

**Name:** Jesse Adrian Thistle

**Program:** History

**Name:** Zachary Agele Lomo

**Program:** Law

2015

**Name:** Dessi Petrova Zaharieva

**Program:** Kinesiology & Health Science

**Name:** Samantha R. Fashler

**Program:** Psychology

**Name:** Christopher Vanden Berg

**Program:** Political Science

**Name:** Jolin Joseph

**Program:** Gender, Feminist & Women's Studies

**Name:** Noa Rachel Nahmias

**Program:** History

**Name:** Kyo Iona Maclear

**Program:** Education

2014

**Name:** Alexandra Eileen Terrana

**Program:** Physics & Astronomy

**Name:** Vanessa Fleet

**Program:** Art History & Visual Culture

**Name:** Oded Haas

**Program:** Environmental Studies

2013

**Name:** Douglas William Hunter

**Program:** History

**Name:** Bretton Fosbrook

**Program:** Science & Technology Studies

2012

**Name:** Juha Pekka Mikkonen

**Program:** Health

**Name:** Samantha Akemi Yamada

**Program:** Psychology

**Name:** Kaley Maureen Roosen

**Program:** Psychology

**Name:** Pierre-Yann Dube Dolbec

**Program:** Administration

**Name:** Gorcin Dizdar

**Program:** Humanities

2011

**Name:** Yasin Kaya

**Program:** Political Science

**Name:** Isaac Levi Osuoka

**Program:** Environmental Studies

**Name:** James Daniel Trepanier

**Program:** History

**Name:** Tania Hernandez Cervantes

**Program:** Environmental Studies

**Name:** Healy Frances Johanna Thompson

**Program:** Women's Studies

**Name:** Lisa Angela Romano-Dwyer

**Program:** Education

**Name:** Kristine Lynn Fitzgerald

**Program:** Psychology

**Name:** Danielle Silvie Oiming Kwan-Lafond

**Program:** Sociology

**Name:** Dilys Elizabeth Haner

**Program:** Psychology

\

#### Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Competition

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program provides funding to the very best postdoctoral applicants, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to the country’s economic, social and research-based growth.

**Recipients (Present - 2015)**

2023-2024

**Name:** Saba Asaad

**Department:** Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

**Project:** Over-the-Air Federated Learning via Benchmark Wireless Network

**Name:** Stephen Melly

**Department:** Department of Mechanical Engineering

**Project:** Development of the computational constitutive model for super-soft 4D bioprinted materials

**Name:** Lynn Yu Ling Ng

**Department:** Department of Politics, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

**Project:** Care for All is Care that Pulls Us Through

2022-2023

**Name:** Chiara Camponeschi

**Department:** Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research

**Project:** Turning Moments of Crisis into Moments of Care: An Integrative Approach to Climate Resilience and Planetary Health

**Name:** Ashlee Christoffersen

**Department:** Department of Politics

**Project:** Operationalizing Intersectionality: Equality policy and NGOs

2020-2021

**Name:** Mohammad Naderi

**Department:** Biology

**Project:** Deciphering the role of environmental contaminants, bisphenol A and bisphenol S, in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder using zebrafish as a model system

**Name:** Vasily Panferov

**Department:** Chemistry

**Project:** Innovative Point-of-Care Monitoring of Inflammatory Biomarkers for Early-Stage Diagnosis of Sepsis

2019-2020

**Name:** Melchisedek Chetima

**Department:** History

**Project:** Boko Haram’s Grand-Fathers: Slave-Raiding, Kidnapping and Weaponized Social Mobility in the Chad Basin Borderland

**Name:** Kate Turner

**Department:** Social Science

**Project:** A New Generation of Geographical Indications in the Americas? Mobilizing Biocultural Heritage for Self-determined Community Development

**Name:** Salman Hussain

**Department:** Social Science & Anthopology

**Project:** Hijra Human Rights and Legal Recognition in Pakistan: Gender Justice, ‘Third Gender’ and Embodied Identity

2018-2019

**Name:** Sylvie Bodineau

**Department:** Social Science/Law & Society

**Project:** Fifteen years after. The everyday social life of ex- child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo

2016-2017

**Name:** Heather Fitzsimmons Frey

**Department:** Theatre, Dance, & Performance Studies

**Project:** Rehearsing Revolutions: Girls, Amateur Theatre, and Encounters Between 19th and 21st Century Girls

2015-2016

**Name:** Richard Last

**Department:** Humanities, History

**Project:** The Occupational and Neighbourhood Settings of Early Christianity

**Name:** Mary Elizabeth (M.E.) Luka

**Faculty:** School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design

**Project:** From creative citizenship to globally networked cultural collaborations: Imagining culture, identity and creative work today.

**Name:** Heath MacMillan

**Department:** Biology

**Project:** MacMillan’s research integrates observations at the subcellular, cellular, tissue, organ and whole animal levels to explain the critical differences in animal physiology that can mean life or death in the cold.

#### Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship for Black & Indigenous Scholars

The Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars program was created to address the under-representation of Black and Indigenous scholars in many disciplines, fields of research, and associated careers. One fellowship for a scholar identifying as Black and one for a scholar identifying as Indigenous are typically given in an academic year.

**Recipients (Present - 2021)**

2023

**Name:** Doug Anderson

**Department:** Education

**Name:** Jean de Dieu Uwisengeyimana

**Department:** Biomedical Engineering

2022

**Name:** Sylvester Aboagye

**Department:** Electrical Engineering

**Name:** Landing Badji

**Department:** Ecology and Ecosystem Management

**Name:** Leora Gansworth

**Department:** Critical Human Geography

**Name:** Graeme Reed

**Department:** Rural Studies

2021

**Name:** Godwin Dzah

**Department:** Law

**Name:** Don Davies

**Department:** Biology

**Name:** De-Lawrence Lamptey

**Department:** Critical Disability Studies

**Name:** Ruth Murambadoro

**Department:** Gender, Sexuality and Women Studies

#### GRAD STUDIES’ HIGHLIGHTS & RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTS

##

**York University announces first-of-its-kind PhD program**\
\
Due to the growing frequency and severity of disasters experienced around the world, and the ongoing need for management and mitigation of such risks, disaster and emergency management (DEM) has become an expanding academic and professional field that is sure to experience increased relevance – both domestically and internationally – for the foreseeable future. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2024/08/23/york-university-announces-first-of-its-kind-phd-program/)

##

**York U community members among Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards winners**\
\
Each year, Canadian Immigrant magazine names the winners of its Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, given to immigrants or refugees who have made a significant impact on their adopted country. Among this year’s winners are three York University alumni and one former faculty member.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2024/08/16/york-community-members-among-top-25-canadian-immigrant-awards-winners/)

##

**York University SDG toolkit earns prestigious nomination**\
\
The York University SDGs-in-the-Classroom Toolkit, designed to assist the interdisciplinary infusion of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in academic curriculums, recently earned a prestigious spot as an international finalist for the Green Gown Awards, which recognize exceptional sustainability initiatives. It serves as culmination of the pioneering journey to create it.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2024/08/02/york-university-sdg-toolkit-earns-prestigious-nomination/)

##

**Doctoral student named Trudeau Scholar**\
\
Zoe M. Savitsky, a doctoral candidate at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School, was named a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar for work that promises to examine the ways corporations gained the power of expression and how they have expanded and defended that power. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2024/07/24/doctoral-student-named-trudeau-scholar/)

##

**York Postdoctoral Fellow receives close to $30,000 SSHRC Knowledge Synthesis Grant**\
\
Congratulations to John Doyle-Raso on receiving a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Knowledge Synthesis Grant of $29,859 under the Evolving Narratives of Cultures and Histories program for his project “Colonial genocide in intercultural and interdisciplinary perspective”.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/2024/07/25/colonial-genocide-grant/)

##

**Three York U graduate students earn Governor General’s Gold Medals**\
\
Three York University graduates received this year’s Governor General’s Gold Medals, which recognize the outstanding scholastic achievements of graduate students in Canada. The 2024 recipients are Jennifer Porat, Carly Goodman and Alison Humphrey.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2024/06/12/three-york-u-graduate-students-earn-governor-general-gold-medal/)

##

**Four PhD students awarded Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships**\
\
Four PhD students from York University are recipients of this year’s prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships. The award, presented by the Government of Canada, supports first-rate doctoral students who undertake graduate studies in the fields of social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering, and health. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2024/06/05/four-york-u-students-awarded-vanier-canada-graduate-scholarships/)

##

**Three York University scholars named Banting Postdoctoral Fellows**\
\
York University scholars Saba Asaad, Stephen Melly and Lynn Yu Ling Ng have been named among this year’s recipients of the prestigious Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship awarded by the Government of Canada.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2024/05/31/three-york-university-scholars-named-banting-postdoctoral-fellows/)

##

**Novel shines spotlight on a public health nurse’s care for a small rural community**\
\
‘*Everything is connected…*’ That’s the message author Cheryl van Daalen-Smith, Associate Dean Academic in the Faculty of Graduate Studies brought to the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario Nursing Week celebration at the annual Mississauga Chapter and Brampton Chapter Nursing Week dinner May 9, in Brampton.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/2024/05/09/the-chronicles-of-paisley-corners/)

##

**York University hosts conference on the state of graduate student supervision with an eye to the future**\
\
One of the foundational relationships of the graduate student experience is the one between the graduate student and supervisor. As part of our 60th-anniversary celebrations, the Faculty of Graduate Studies at York is hosting a one-day online Graduate Supervision Conference geared specifically for graduate supervisors.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/2024/04/10/grad-supervision-conference/)

##

**Learn more about our five innovative graduate programs headed to York University’s new Markham Campus!**\
\
Located in the heart of the vibrant City of Markham, York University’s new campus is an ideal home for a community of positive changemakers. Students will be presented with opportunities to collaborate directly with employers, start-ups and community partners to obtain hands-on experience and learn to drive innovation across all areas of knowledge and society.  \
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[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/2024/03/27/grad-programs-markham-campus/)

##

**Niarchos scholarship brings students from Greece to York U**\
\
Students from Greece have an opportunity to study or conduct research at York University through a scholarship supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), an international philanthropic organization that honours the late shipping magnate.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2024/01/05/niarchos-scholarship-brings-students-from-greece-to-york-u/)

##

**Another Year of Excellence in Graduate Education: FGS Reflects on 2023!**\
\
As the year comes to an end, the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) reflects on all the transformative work undertaken by our inspiring community. Our faculty, staff and students have exemplified all the values portrayed in York University’s mission to incorporate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into our daily practices.\
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[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/2023/12/18/2023-reflections/)

##

**FGS enhances graduate supervision experience with support hub**\
\
York University’s Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) is celebrating 60 years of knowledge creation and marking the milestone by creating a Graduate Supervision Support Hub (GSSHub) – a place where supervisors, committee members and students can gather to collaborate and build mutually beneficial relationships drawing on graduate supervisory pedagogy and capacity-building principles that acknowledge the pivotal role of effective supervision.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/12/15/fgs-enhances-graduate-supervision-experience-with-support-hub/)

##

**Grad course teaches inclusive, human-centred design research**\
\
After completing an advanced diploma in design, designer Rupsha Mutsuddi took her education a step further by pursuing a master’s degree in design at York University. The graduate course that influenced her most has been GS/DESN5104 M – User-centred Design Research Methods and its exploration of inclusive, human-centred design, taught by Shital Desai, an assistant professor and York Research Chair in Accessible Interaction Design.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/12/14/grad-course-teaches-inclusive-human-centred-design-research/)

##

**Graduate students see health equity in practice**\
\
While working toward a master’s degree in health equity, Erin Flanagan’s experiential education (EE) opportunity in the Human Rights & Health Equity graduate course offered by Jessica Vorstermans was a factor in her decision to pursue her passion for health policy and equity in the PhD program at York University.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/12/14/graduate-students-see-health-equity-in-practice/)

##

**Graduate physics professor shares machine learning knowledge with academic community**\
\
With the recent advances in machine learning techniques, Joel Zylberberg, an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at York University, decided it would be useful to science students to understand these methods, so he developed a graduate course to share his knowledge.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/12/14/graduate-physics-professor-shares-machine-learning-knowledge-with-academic-community/)

##

**Faculty of Graduate Studies looks towards the next 60 years**\
\
Graduate students in physics apply machine learning to predict the dark matter halos for a population of galaxies and to see the glowing cells in a mouse’s brain. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/12/14/graduate-physics-professor-shares-machine-learning-knowledge-with-academic-community/)

##

**Professors help racialized grad students navigate academy**\
\
In a desire to commit, in material ways, to York University’s Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (DEDI) Strategy, the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) held several roundtable discussions at its Faculty Council. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/12/14/professors-help-racialized-grad-students-navigate-academy/)

##

**Student film exploring community-based sustainability screens at COP28**\
\
A documentary short created by York University PhD student Peyman Naeemi and supported by CIFAL York was competitively accepted to screen on Dec. 11 at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, as part of COP28’s Canada Pavilion events program. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/12/08/student-film-exploring-community-based-sustainability-screens-at-cop28/)

##

**Master’s research film looks at sharks as indicator of ocean health**\
\
Recent York University graduate Vivian Guido (MES ’23) is screening her new documentary, *Turning Tides: Sustainability Measures for Shark Conservation*, on York University’s Keele Campus on Dec. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Nat Taylor Cinema. \
\
[Lear](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/12/08/student-film-exploring-community-based-sustainability-screens-at-cop28/)[n More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/12/06/masters-research-film-looks-at-sharks-as-indicator-of-ocean-health/)

##

**York students engaged in heart, brain research earn inaugural award**\
\
Four York University students were recognized with an inaugural award for Black scholars – an initiative by the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Brain Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-ICRH) – for their work and research in heart and brain health.\
\
[Lear](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/12/08/student-film-exploring-community-based-sustainability-screens-at-cop28/)[n More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/11/28/york-students-engaged-in-heart-brain-research-earn-inaugural-award/)

##

**AMS Healthcare awards fund York research on history of medicine**\
\
Earlier this month, Canadian charitable organization AMS Healthcare announced two York University scholars as recipients of its 2023 History of Healthcare Awards Program: Jody Hodgins, a PhD candidate in the Department of History; and Kenton Kroker, an associate professor in the Department of Social Science, both in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.\
\
[Lear](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/12/08/student-film-exploring-community-based-sustainability-screens-at-cop28/)[n More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/11/28/ams-healthcare-awards-fund-york-research-on-history-of-medicine/)

##

**Provostial fellowships support scholars from marginalized groups**\
\
York University has announced Doug Anderson and Jean de Dieu Uwisengeyimana as this year’s recipients of the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars. The Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program seeks to attract outstanding scholars who will push the boundaries of knowledge in necessary ways. \
\
[Lear](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/12/08/student-film-exploring-community-based-sustainability-screens-at-cop28/)[n More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/11/17/provostial-fellowships-support-scholars-from-marginalized-groups/)

##

**PhD candidate receives fellowship to bring Indigenous lens to STEM**\
\
Andrew McConnell, a PhD candidate at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering, has been awarded an Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Fellowship to transform the future of technical science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for Indigenous students.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/11/01/phd-candidate-receives-fellowship-to-bring-indigenous-lens-to-stem/)

##

**New online workshop supports Black graduate student success**\
\
York University’s Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) is hosting its inaugural Fostering Black Scholars Scholarship Success Workshop for incoming and current graduate students on Monday, Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to noon. This online event aims to create a welcoming space to share experiences and resources and build peer-to-peer connections.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/08/18/new-online-workshop-supports-black-graduate-student-success/)

##

**Two York students presented with Autism Scholars Awards**\
\
Alaa Ibrahim and Carly Magnacca, two York University doctoral scholars, are named recipients of the 2023-24 Autism Scholars Award. The community of scholars fostered by this awards program excel in the creation of new knowledge of child autism that positively increases the province’s capacity for diagnosis and assessment of autism and leads to a strengthened treatment system. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/07/26/two-york-students-presented-with-autism-scholars-awards/)

##

**Graduate students recognized for contributions to Philippine Studies**\
\
Eight graduate students from three Faculties at York University are recipients of Philippine Studies Group funding for research, fieldwork and language acquisition.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/06/28/graduate-students-recognized-for-contributions-to-philippine-studies/)

##

**York takes academic leadership role at Congress 2023**\
\
Upwards of 250 York University faculty members and scholars are among the presenters during the 2023 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, where they take an academic leadership role in sharing their research with colleagues from across the nation.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/05/30/york-takes-academic-leadership-role-at-congress-2023/)

##

**Professor becomes York’s first School of Nursing doctoral graduate**\
\
Ramesh Venkatesa Perumal, a sessional assistant professor in the Faculty of Health, became the first doctoral graduate of York’s School of Nursing program on Feb. 21 when he successfully defended his dissertation, “Impact of social support and mentoring on career advancement of internationally educated nurses.”\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/03/28/professor-becomes-yorks-first-school-of-nursing-doctoral-graduate/)

##

**York postdoctoral Fellow is Holland Bloorview’s first EMBARK scientist**\
\
Recognized for his exceptional contributions to pediatric health care, York postdoctoral Fellow De-Lawrence Lamptey has been named Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital’s inaugural EMBARK scientist. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2023/02/07/york-postdoctoral-fellow-is-holland-bloorviews-first-embark-scientist/)

##

**Reflecting on 2022: Important initiatives taking flight at FGS**\
\
York developed its most recent University Academic Plan (UAP) in 2020, which included a university-wide challenge to contribute to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/2022/12/22/2022-reflections/)

##

**York PhD candidate takes centre stage at United Nations Security Council debate**\
\
Zahra Nader, a York University doctoral student in the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), appeared as a civil society representative before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in a recent debate on women, peace and security.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2022/11/29/york-phd-candidate-takes-centre-stage-at-united-nations-security-council-debate/)

##

**Graduate student sports league makes it easy to stay active, build communities**\
\
More than 40 graduate students and faculty members met on the fields near Tait Mackenzie on Sept. 16 for the inaugural event of the Grad Sports League. Four teams battled for the top spot in a round-robin ultimate Frisbee tournament. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2022/10/14/graduate-student-sports-league-makes-it-easy-to-stay-active-build-communities/)

##

**Toronto Musicians’ Association names PhD student Levon Ichkhanian 2022 Musician of the Year**\
\
York University PhD student Levon Ichkhanian is the Toronto Musicians’ Association‘s 2022 Musician of the Year. The award recognizes Ichkhanian’s dedication to excellence in all aspects of music and his high standard of professionalism and artistry.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2022/08/17/toronto-musicians-association-names-phd-student-levon-ichkhanian-2022-musician-of-the-year/)

##

**International students navigating PhDs in geomatics research**\
\
Researchers at the Lassonde School of Engineering are seeking to transform the reliability of Global Navigation Satellite Systems, which means that one day in the near future there won’t be a need to override cellphone navigation systems to summon a rideshare or food delivery, as accuracy will be dramatically improved.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2022/07/22/international-students-navigating-phds-in-geomatics-research/)

##

**Passion for mechanical engineering leads grad student to explore 4D-bioprinting**\
\
York PhD student Daphene Solis is researching new ways to create a novel type of material that is similar to soft contact lenses, which can be used to grow artificial blood vessels for tissue engineering applications.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2022/06/22/passion-for-mechanical-engineering-leads-grad-student-to-explore-4d-bioprinting/)

##

**York University endowed with US$250,000 prestigious fellowship from Meta**\
\
Meta has endowed York University with a fellowship of US$250,000. This new endowment establishes the first-ever corporate-sponsored graduate fund for sustaining vision research at York.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2022/05/31/york-university-endowed-with-us250000-prestigious-fellowship-from-meta/)

##

**New graduate program uses experiential education as fuel to drive learning**\
\
In today’s data-driven world, there’s no need for students in the accounting stream of the new Master of Science in Management Practice (MScMP) program to sit and wonder what impact the degree will have on their careers.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2022/05/19/new-graduate-program-utilizes-experiential-education-as-fuel-to-drive-learning/)

##

**PhD scholar in social and political thought chosen as one of SSHRC’s five best storytellers**\
\
The York community celebrates Vincci Li for being named one of the final five best “storytellers” in a national competition held by the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2022/05/17/phd-scholar-in-social-and-political-thought-chosen-as-one-of-sshrcs-five-best-storytellers/)

##

**York researchers’ paper on mental health services for LGBTQ+ people receives top award**\
\
A paper published in 2021 in the *Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling*, co-authored by Dr. Leah Keating (PhD ’17), psychologist and former postdoctoral Fellow at York University, Dr. Robert T. Muller, psychologist and professor in the Faculty of Health, and York PhD student Cassy Wyers (MA ’21), has been awarded the 2021 Quantitative Article of the Year award.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2022/04/05/york-researchers-paper-on-mental-health-services-for-lgbtq-people-receives-top-award/)

##

**Anti-Black racism pervades cultural arts curricula in Ontario schools, research finds**\
\
Research by a PhD student in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design digs deep into the multifaceted challenges that Canadian Black cultural arts educators encounter in Greater Toronto Area (GTA) schools.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2022/03/10/anti-black-racism-pervades-cultural-arts-curricula-in-ontario-schools-research-finds/)

##

**Graduate Studies webinar series invites students to Choose Grad York**\
\
The Faculty of Graduate Studies will launch its inaugural graduate conversion event, Choose Grad York, from March 15 to 17 to help support future students in their decision-making process.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2022/03/09/graduate-studies-webinar-series-invites-students-to-choose-grad-york/)

##

**FGS presents Why Black History (Month) Matters**\
\
The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) will host a panel discussion on Tuesday, Feb. 22 from noon to 1:15 p.m. titled, “Why Black History (Month) Matters.”\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2022/02/15/fgs-presents-why-black-history-month-matters/)

##

**FGS reflects on the positive changes 2021 brought to our community!**\
\
Even though 2021 has been a year full of challenges and uncertainties, the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) has been able to create meaningful opportunities and innovative programs to support students, postdocs, faculty and staff.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/2021/12/14/2021-brings-positive-changes-to-fgs/)

##

**Become Career Ready with FGS’ Individualized Development Plan**\
\
Graduate school is often overwhelming, and all the skills acquired in the process can be difficult to track. The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) is here to help. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/2021/10/27/career-ready-with-fgs-idp/)

##

**FGS launches Academic Excellence Fund**\
\
York University’s Faculty of Graduate Studies introduces the Academic Excellence Fund (AEF). The fund’s primary goal is to support graduate students in advancing their research and scholarly objectives by providing them with simple access to funding. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/2021/09/02/faculty-of-graduate-studies-launches-academic-excellence-fund/)

##

**Meet the inaugural recipients of the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars**\
\
York University has announced the four inaugural recipients of its new Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars: Godwin Dzah, Don Davies, De-Lawrence Lamptey and Ruth Murambadoro. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2021/08/22/meet-the-inaugural-recipients-of-the-provosts-postdoctoral-fellowships-for-black-and-indigenous-scholars/)

##

**‘Knowledge Now’ brings graduate research to life during pandemic**\
\
In any other year, the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) would have celebrated the breadth of research by graduate students with a large reception on campus. However, these are not normal times and the pandemic required FGS to be more creative in promoting graduate research. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2021/05/20/knowledge-now-brings-graduate-research-to-life-during-pandemic/)

##

**Dean’s letter: The Faculty of Graduate Studies is a Faculty like no other**\
\
The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) is a Faculty like no other – in part because FGS is pan-university, co-ordinating 10 Faculties’ diverse graduate learning, training, researching and creating missions. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2021/05/20/deans-letter-the-faculty-of-graduate-studies-is-a-faculty-like-no-other/)

##

**Grad students share challenges and successes of creation during the pandemic**\
\
Creative Shifts proved that creativity is alive and well at York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD), despite the challenges of the pandemic.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2021/03/18/grad-students-share-challenges-and-successes-of-creation-during-the-pandemic/)

##

**York graduate students showcase research at first virtual 3MT competition**\
\
Fourteen York graduate students shared their research during 3 Minute Thesis (3MT), a fun yet challenging academic competition coordinated every year by the Faculty of Graduate Studies at York University to celebrate and highlight graduate student research.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/2021/01/13/york-graduate-students-showcase-research-at-first-virtual-3mt-competition/)

##

**York retirees raise funds for graduate student awards**\
\
In October, a group of retired York University employees will be participating in the Scotiabank Virtual Charity Challenge, to raise money for graduate student awards at York University.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/2020/09/28/york-retirees-raise-funds-for-graduate-student-awards/)

##

**World premiere of ethnographic performance at graduate theatre symposium**\
\
The world premiere of *the morning I died I flew over the tobacco fields…*, a multimedia ethnographic performance created by York University undergraduate and graduate students and a team of artistic collaborators involved with Sensorium research centre, will take place on March 28 at a conference and symposium co-hosted by York’s Graduate Program in Theatre and Performance Studies and the Centre for Imaginative Ethnography.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2020/02/25/world-premiere-of-ethnographic-performance-at-graduate-theatre-symposium/)

##

**The Faculty of Graduate Studies celebrates Barbara Crow’s 16 years at York University**\
\
A reception was held on Friday, May 12 to celebrate the accomplishments of Barbara Crow, dean and associate vice-president, graduate, at the Schulich Executive Dining Room. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2017/05/15/the-faculty-of-graduate-studies-celebrates-barbara-crows-16-years-at-york-university/)

##

**York U grad student selected to be Global Changemaker Youth Ambassador**\
\
As part of celebrations of International Development Week 2016 (Feb. 7 to 13) the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC) has selected Ashley Rerrie, a graduate student at York University, as one of seven Ontario youth in the Global Changemaker Youth Ambassadors program for her contributions to international cooperation and social justice.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2016/02/22/york-u-grad-student-named-global-changemaker-youth-ambassador/)

##

**York U graduate student Dessi Zaharieva a rising star in diabetes research**\
\
Though she didn’t realize it at the time, the year Dessi Zaharieva turned seven may have been the most significant one of her life.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2015/11/28/york-u-graduate-student-dessi-zaharieva-a-rising-star-in-diabetes-research/)

##

**York University launches new Postdoctoral Fellowship program**\
\
The Faculty of Graduate Studies at York University has launched a new program aimed at supporting advanced research through funded, one-year postdoctoral research positions. Open to both Canadian and international students, the York Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (YPDF) supports research excellence in all disciplines.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2015/10/20/york-university-launches-new-postdoctoral-fellowship-program/)

##

**York PhD student carries torch during recent Toronto 2015 Pan Am relay**\
\
A third-year York kinesiology PhD student was one of the torch carriers in the relay that opened the recently completed Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2015/08/10/york-phd-student-carries-torch-during-recent-toronto-2015-pan-am-relay/)

##

**Photography by York graduate student featured in AGO exhibit**\
\
Jordan, who is completing a MES at the Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES) along with diplomas with the Center for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC) and Business and Environment at the Schulich School of Business, is one of nine young black visual artists featured in the exhibit.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2015/08/03/cerlacfes-student-featured-in-ago-exhibit/)

##

**York graduate student comes full circle**\
\
After graduating with a BA in English in 1980 from Glendon College, Mark Terry has charted quite a course since returning to pursue a master’s degree in humanities at York. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2014/10/02/york-graduate-student-comes-full-circle/)

##

**York grad develops new genetic test to predict ovarian cancer survival**\
\
For women living with ovarian cancer, a research project led by Jason Bielas (BSc ’98, PhD ’03), an alumnus of York University’s Faculty of Science, is offering new hope.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2014/01/30/york-biology-grad-develops-new-genetic-test-to-predict-ovarian-cancer-survival/)

##

**York University’s 2013 Summer Institute in Film looks at national cinemas of India and Iran\**\
Nation, modernity and cinema is the theme of York University’s fifth annual Summer Institute in Film, launching today and running to June 13. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2013/05/28/york-universitys-2013-summer-institute-in-film-looks-at-national-cinemas-of-india-and-iran/)

##

**Prof awarded nearly half a million to study concussions and dementia**\
\
Everyone from young sports players to construction workers may be at risk of being declared fit for regular duties too soon after having a concussion because no one tests their cognitive and mobility skills together, says York kinesiology Professor Lauren Sergio.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2013/05/16/prof-awarded-nearly-half-a-million-to-study-concussions-and-dementia/)

##

**Prof and grad student talk video games and brains at Ontario Science Centre**\
\
How do video games change brains? Professor Lauren Sergio and graduate student Joshua Granek will talk about their research on skill, coordination and brain changes in expert video gamers at the Ontario Science Centre’s Sci Fri event.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2013/04/01/prof-and-grad-student-talk-video-games-and-brains-at-ontario-science-centre/)

##

**Three grad students named Elia Scholars\**\
Out of nearly 2,000 York University doctoral students, three are selected each year to join the Elia Scholars Program, worth $30,000 per year for four years of doctoral study. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2012/05/18/three-grad-students-named-elia-scholars/)

##

**Six York grad students conduct research in Sierra Leone\**\
Six graduate students from York’s Department of History are currently conducting archival research at the Sierra Leone Public Archives in Sierra Leone to help preserve endangered documents and repatriate historical material to the country. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2012/04/26/six-york-grad-students-conduct-research-in-sierra-leone/)

##

**English Graduate Students’ Association launches new journal\**\
Lying, cheating and dissimulation might sound like the premise of a good film, but instead it is the enticing title of the inaugural issue of Pivot: A Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies & Thought by York’s English Graduate Students’ Association (EGSA) launching next week.\
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2011/09/08/english-graduate-students-association-launches-new-journal/)

##

**York grads behind one of three Canadian films at Cannes\**\
Three freshly minted alumni of York’s Graduate Program in Film are behind one of the three Canadian productions in the official selection at this year’s prestigious Cannes International Film Festival. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2011/05/17/york-grads-behind-one-of-three-canadian-films-at-cannes/)

##

**New graduate program on launch pad\**\
York University is pleased to announce a new Graduate Program in Humanities. Applications to the Program are now being invited, with a deadline of April 1. \
\
[Learn More](https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2003/01/20/new-graduate-program-on-launch-pad/)

#### TIMELINE

York University opens its doors

1959

Faculty of Graduate Studies is approved

1963

First graduate students enroll

1964

First meeting of the FGS Council

1964

Dean: Edgar McInnis

1965 - 1966

Dean: Mort Appley

1966 - 1967

First PhD is awarded (in psychology)

1967

Acting Dean: John Yolton

1967 - 1968

Acting Dean: Frank Elkin

1968 - 1969

Construction of Osgoode Hall

1969

Dean: Michael Collie

1969 - 1973

Toronto Life Magazine calls York U "the happiest campus in Canada"

1970

Acting Dean: Richard Storr

1971 - 1972

Jack Layton, former NDP leader, earns his MA in Political Science

1972

York U now offers MA and PhD degrees in all major fields of study

1972

Dean: Graham F. Reed

1973 - 1981

Acting Dean: Barry Argyle

1975 - 1976

Dean: David V.J. Bell

1981 - 1987

YUGSA, the York U Graduate Student Association, is officially initiated as a voice and advocate for graduate students

1983

Steve MacLean, former head of the CSA, earns his PhD in Physics

1983

Wendy E. Alger wins York U's first Governor General's Gold Medal for academic excellence in graduate studies

1985

Dean: Sandra Pyke

1987 - 1992

Dean: David Leyton-Brown

1992 - 1999

The Susan Mann Dissertation Scholarship is created in honour of York University's first female president

1995

Christian Bök, author of Canada's best-selling poetry collection Eunoia, earns his PhD in English

1997

The first doctorate in Women's Studies in Canada is awarded to Katherine Side

1997

Dean: John W. Lennox

1999 - 2005

Dean: Douglas Peers

2007 - 2011

Isaak Osuoka, Jillian Ollivierre, and Yikun Zhao become the first Elia Scholars, York U's highest honour for graduate students

2008

Samantha A. Yamada becomes York U's first Vanier Scholar, Canada's highest doctoral award

2009

Craig Kielburger, Co-Founder of Free The Children, earns his EMBA

2009

Alfred Metallic defends the first PhD dissertation in Canada completed in an Aboriginal language without translation

2010

Dean: Allan C. Hutchinson

2011 - 2012

Dean: Barbara Crow

2012 - 2017

Acting Dean: Fahim Quadir

2017 - 2018

Dean: Thomas Loebel

2018 - 2023

\

Dean: Alice MacLachlan

2023 - Present

\

Faculty of Graduate Studies hosts conference on the state of graduate student supervision with an eye to the future

2024

York University announces first-of-its-kind PhD Program in Disaster and Emergency Management (DEM)

2024

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## FGS 60th Anniversary Award

This newly-established award will be given to 6 part-time BIPOC scholars who are making excellent academic progress and demonstrate financial need. This award represents FGS’ commitment to both DEDI and Access for All, in acknowledgement of the barriers facing many scholars who balance advanced study with other commitments and caregiving.

[MAKE A GIFT](https://giving.yorku.ca/FGS)

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