Alyssa James

Facet	Description
Graduation Year	HBSc 2011 Woodsworth College
Inside the Classroom	Major: Psychology Major: Equity Studies
Alongside the Classroom	Summer abroad in France Multiple research assistant positions (2007-2011)
Outside the Classroom	Varsity Wrestling and Rugby Associate VP Equity of UTSU Multiple leadership positions on Woodsworth College Students’ Association Intramural softball and volleyball Contributor to Woodsworth student magazine (The Howl) Woodsworth Frosh Leader
Further Education	PhD, Social Anthropology, Columbia University, 2024 (expected) MA, Social Anthropology, York University, 2017
Career Accomplishments	English Teaching Assistant in Martinique from 2011-2013. Moved to London, UK in 2013 and worked as a content writer for clients such as Jamie’s Italian, Legoland, House of Fraser, Barbour, momondo, and Aon Private Clients. In 2014, began freelance writing full-time. Travel writing and reporting has been published in the Globe and Mail, The Local, MSN, Bustle, Porthole Cruise Magazine, International Living Magazine, and more.
In the Media	Personal website Columbia University Graduate Fellows profile

“Do what excites you, not what you think you’re supposed to do. When you follow your passion you’ll always end up exactly where you’re supposed to be when you’re meant to be there – even if the journey doesn’t look the way you think it should.“

Vanessa Bart-Plange

Leave a reply

Facet	Description
Graduation Year	HBA 2017 New College
Inside the Classroom	Major: International Relations Major: Political Science Minor: African Studies
Alongside the Classroom	Community-engaged learning course: NEW 498H: completed while interning at the Ward 15: Eglinton-Lawrence Constituency Office, Toronto City Hall, summer 2015 International exchange: Sciences Po Reims campus, France, fall 2016
Outside the Classroom	Social convener, New College Residence, 8th Floor Secretary, MasterCard Foundation Scholars Council After-school tutor, On Your Mark, St. Nicholas of Bari School, Toronto Tutor, From 3 to 3, Firgrove Public School, Toronto Volunteer, Conference services, North American Model United Nations Leadership Certificate Program graduate, New College Member, Association of Political Science Students, University of Toronto Member, Caribbean and African Studies Writing Group, University of Toronto
Further Education	MA, Development Studies, York University (expected graduation 2019)
Career Accomplishments	Intern, MasterCard Foundation, Toronto (10 months post-graduation) Graduate assistant, GenUrb Research Project, City Institute, York University
New College Impact	The minor in African Studies offered at New College complemented my International Relations and Political Science majors perfectly, thus allowing me to have the African focus that was absent in both of my majors. In retrospect, this has contributed to my interest in public policy and education in Africa during my master’s program. The New College Writing Centre was also key in my academic development, as it helped me learn how to write academic essays, which led to A-grade averages throughout the four years. Being a part of this multicultural college also allowed me to fit in and make friends from both home and other countries, thus allowing me to settle in better and faster in Toronto within my first year, and to create long-lasting relationships till today.

“Strive to be among the best, if not the best, in everything that you do. Do not compete with any other person but yourself. And while you are at it, make sure to enjoy yourself and your relationships, because time flies by.“

Geeta Yadav

Leave a reply

Facet	Description
Graduation Year	HBSc 2003 University College
Inside the Classroom	International Public Health
Outside the Classroom	Academic Appeals Committee Governor, the Governing Council Member, University Affairs Board University College Literary & Athletic Society (UC Lit)
Further Education	Dermatology Residency—Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC), University of Toronto, 2015 MD, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, 2010 MHS, International Public Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 2005
Career Description	Dermatologist Programme Analyst, UNDP, Malawi Policy Advisor, Health Canada

“Take advantage of every opportunity U of T has to offer – there are so many special corners of the university where you can meet people who have your same interests. It’s great to connect with them and to those places so you can develop even stronger support networks and bonds with people whom you may keep in your life for a long time. Take time to enjoy Toronto as well – we are lucky to live in the heart of this great city. Lastly, find good mentors. The university has tons of folks who are willing to give back to an eager learner. Ask lots of questions and figure out what it is you want to do with your life!”

Justine Iaboni

Facet	Description
Graduation Year	HBA 2008 St. Michael’s College
Inside the Classroom	Italian Studies Cinema Studies Switched programs from: Life Science
Outside the Classroom	Italian Club, St. Michael’s College Four-year member and executive council member, Silhouettes Dance Company Performer, A Servant to Two Masters (student production), George Ignatieff theatre T.A. (during graduate studies), co-organizer of academic colloquium, Innis College
Further Education	MA, Cinema Studies, 2008-09, University of Toronto
Career Description	Launched a blog in 2009 and grew it into one of the top fashion, travel, beauty and lifestyle blogs in Canada. Attended fashion weeks in Toronto and NYC writing for fashion publications. Invited on press trips around the world working with tourism boards, hotels, local organizations, airlines, and many other brands. Lectured at U of T and Ryerson on many occasions about her career. Featured in magazines such as Toronto Life and Fashion. Helped to forge the influencer industry in Canada by working with brands such as Unilever, American Express, PANDORA, Cadillac Fairview, Coach, Bayer, Nordstrom, etc., Mentored new bloggers starting out in the industry at Blogging Conferences Volunteered with Filling the Gap TO In 2017, left the blogging world to pursue her true passion: music and the arts. Released an album in 2017 Writes a weekly spiritual newsletter based on the teachings of Wayne Dyer, Gabrielle Bernstein and Marianne Williamson targeted at women who are looking for guidance in their lives, and trying to find ways to work past limiting beliefs.

“I would tell myself that I CAN DO IT. That I am enough. I would tell myself that the world isn’t against me and that I am valuable. I would tell myself that you can have your cake and eat it to; that the limiting beliefs we’ve been passed down through our parents, social constructs, media, are not objective truth. We can choose the life we want to live. The how doesn’t matter. Sometimes having blind faith is the greatest gift you can give yourself, and you don’t have to “do it” the way that the mainstream does. I have always been a deep, feeling person and neglected that part of myself during undergrad. I repressed my inner dreamer for fear of not fitting in and fear of failure. The world has taught me so much, outside of school. I wish I had someone to impart real world knowledge onto me when I was in University. I wish I had someone to tell me that everything is going to be OK, that I CAN DO IT, whatever I dream of, no matter how silly or unconventional – I can achieve it.”

Sylvia Urbanik

Leave a reply

Facet	Description
Graduation Year	HBSc 2017 University College
Inside the Classroom	Major: Health and Disease Minor: Immunology Minor: Sociology Switched programs from: Cell and Systems Biology Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Alongside the Classroom	Research Opportunity Program
Outside the Classroom	Executive Assistant, University of Toronto Students’ Union Leader, University College Orientation Unversity College Literary and Athletic Society Work-Study student
Further Education	Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioural Health Sciences (Health Promotion), Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 2019
Career Accomplishments	Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator, Research Impact Canada
In the Media	LinkedIn profile

Zoha Anjum

Leave a reply

Facet	Description
Graduation Year	HBSc 2017 University College
Inside the Classroom	Major: Health and Disease Major: Physiology Minor: Biology
Alongside the Classroom	Research Student, Independent Research Course – HMB499Y1, Dr. Moriarty’s Lab, September 2016 – April 2017 Employed as a research student, Dr. Moriarty’s Lab, October 2015 – August 2016, May 2017 – present Research Student, Independent Research Course – CSB498Y1, Dr. Varmuza’s Lab, April – September 2015 Employed as a lab assistant, Dr. Varmuza’s Lab, September 2014 – April 2015
Outside the Classroom	Mentorship Peer Mentor, PAIR Mentorship Program, University of Toronto, September 2016 – April 2017 Peer Mentor, Medical Sciences Students’ Union, University of Toronto, September 2016 – April 2017 Senior Mentor, First in the Family Peer Mentorship Program, University of Toronto, June 2016 – April 2017 Peer Mentor, First in the Family Peer Mentorship Program, University of Toronto, July 2015 – May 2016 E- Mentor, University College E-Mentorship Program, University of Toronto, June – December, 2014, 2015, 2016 Lead Mentor, Youth Leadership and Development Program, ICNA, July – September 2014 Mentee, First in the Family Peer Mentorship Program, University of Toronto, September 2013 – April 2014 Leadership Workshop Co-facilitator, Mentorship Foundations, University of Toronto, September 2016 Thrive Orientation Leader, University College, University of Toronto, August – September 2016 Facilitator, Mentorship Resource Centre, University of Toronto, August 2016 – April 2017 Student Facilitator, PRE U of T, University of Toronto, September 2016 Secretary, Biochemistry Undergraduate Student Society, University of Toronto, June 2015 – May 2016 Project Leader, Alternative Reading Week by Centre for Community Partnerships, University of Toronto, May 2015 – April 2016 Alternative Reading Week by Centre for Community Partnerships, University of Toronto, February 2015 SciHigh Volunteer Presenter, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, September 2016 – Present Member, Youth Health and Action Network (YHAN), Toronto Public Health, December 2015 – Present Volunteer Presenter, Brain Day Association U of T, 2014 Volunteer Captain, City of Toronto, August 2015 – present Adopt-a-Student Day, University of Toronto, November 2016 Student Volunteer, Toronto East General Hospital (now Michael Garron Hospital), September 2013 – Present Information Ambassador, Doors Open Toronto, May 2013, 2014, 2015 Poster Presentations Annual Research Day, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, February 2017 Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) National Conference, January 2016 Undergraduate Science Case Competition, March 2015 Student Talks Summer Student Research Day, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, August 2017 Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) National Conference, January 2017 Summer Student Research Program, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, August 2016 Ontario Biology Day 2016, March 2016 Publications Writer: INKspire Magazine, June 2016 – Present Primary Author: Zoha Anjum, Helena Petrosova & Tara J. Moriarty. Importance of Hemolysin III in Lyme Disease Infection. (Manuscript in preparation) Primary Author: Zoha Anjum, Helena Petrosova & Tara J. Moriarty. Short-term high fat diet has no effect on bacterial burden in Lyme disease. Journal of Undergraduate Life Sciences, June 2017 Secondary Author: Helena Petrosova, Azad Eshghi, Zoha Anjum, Nataliya Zlotnikov, Caroline E. Cameron & Tara J. Moriarty. Diet-Induced Obesity Does Not Alter Tigecycline Treatment Efficacy in Murine Lyme Disease. Front Microbiol. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00292 Event Planning Planning Committee Member, “Winter Warm Up: Skating & Social” event, First in the Family Peer Mentor Program, December 2016 – January 2017 Organizer, “Finding Research and Internship Opportunities” event, First in the Family Peer Mentor Program, September – November 2016 Organizer, Food Drive, ICNA, August 2014
Further Education	Masters of Public Health, McMaster University, 2019 Water Without Border Graduate Diploma, United Nations University, 2018
Career Description	Research student in the Moriarty Lab in summer 2017

“I would advise myself to take care of myself! It’s really easy to get caught up with school and extracurricular activities and forget about self-care. I would also tell myself to not overwork and prioritize my commitments better during my undergraduate studies. U of T is a fantastic school with innumerable opportunities, so make use of those opportunities while also enjoying your time!”

Sarah Markarian

Leave a reply

Facet	Description
Graduation Year	2016 Innis College
Inside the Classroom	Major: Psychology Minor: Spanish Minor: Writing and Rhetoric
Outside the Classroom	Alumni & Advancement Assistant, Innis Alumni Office (Work-Study) Co-Chair, Innis Residence Environmental Committee Customer Service Specialist, Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport Don Hiring Committee Member, Innis Residence Front Desk Staff, Innis Residence Orientation Week Leader, Innis College Student Society Recruitment & Transition Coordinator, Innis Registrar’s Office (Work-Study) Secretary & Junior House Rep, Innis Residence Council
Career Accomplishments	Financial Research Assistant Faculty Assistant, London Business School

“Having a life outside of school will actually help your grades! So, do whatever you want to do because these are literally the best years of your life. Also don’t take Stats II.”

Mojan Naisani

Leave a reply

Facet	Description
Graduation Year	2015 Innis College
Inside the Classroom	Specialist: Psychology
Outside the Classroom	Front Desk Staff, Innis Residence Frosh Leader, Innis Orientation Innis College Council Jr. Rep, Secretary, Vice-President, President, Innis Residence Council Participant, Innis Intramurals Basketball, Soccer
Further Education	M.Sc., Psychology, University of Toronto Faculty of Arts and Science

Many of the people you meet and work with become your life long friends and will continue to be sources of knowledge and help as you continue towards your goals.

Tayler Eaton

Leave a reply

Facet	Description
Graduation Year	2011 Innis College
Inside the Classroom	Specialist: Psychology Research Minor: English Switched programs from Life Sciences, Anthropology and Classics
Alongside the Classroom	Research Assistant
Outside the Classroom	Leader, Innis College Orientation Participant, Lacrosse Intramurals Woodsworth Innis New Drama Society (WINDS)
Further Education	PhD candidate, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University (expected 2019)

“Don’t worry about having everything planned. Your life will never unfold the way you expect, and that is a good thing. Enjoy yourself, have a variety of experiences, and don’t stress the bad grades.”

Casey Scott-Songin

Leave a reply

Facet	Description
Graduation Year	HBA 2010 Innis College
Inside the Classroom	Specialist: Anthropology (Society, Culture, and Language) Minor: Ethnomusicology
Alongside the Classroom	Archaeological Fieldwork, Tell Madaba Archaeological Project, Jordan Independent Fieldwork (ANT499), West Kalimantan, Indonesia Research Assistant, OISE, University of Toronto
Outside the Classroom	Co-Director, Innis College Choir Recipient, Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award Resident Advisor, Innis Residence President, Teachers without Borders, University of Toronto Chapter Member, Only Human Dance Collective
Career Accomplishments	Senior Manager Data & Insights, the National Gallery Performance Artist, Company of Dreams User Experience Researcher, the British Museum Senior User Experience Researcher, Which? Senior Associate Consumer Intelligence for Strategy, SapientNitro (Now Publicis Sapient)
In the Media	LinkedIn profile

“Take advantage of every opportunity that arises. Apply for everything you are interested in, as there is a better chance of getting accepted than you think. Optimise your time to take advantage of all the resources you have available to you.”

fastforward

Search hundreds of alumni by a range of facets to find out what they did as students and what they are doing now.

Archives

Alyssa James

Vanessa Bart-Plange

Geeta Yadav

Justine Iaboni

Sylvia Urbanik

Zoha Anjum

Sarah Markarian

Mojan Naisani

Tayler Eaton

Casey Scott-Songin