The Speakers and Facilitators
Opening Remarks: Cory Searcy
Dr. Cory Searcy has been appointed vice-provost and dean of the Yeates School of Graduate Studies (YSGS).
As interim vice-provost and dean, Dr. Searcy led the creation of Ryerson’s Graduate Scholarship (RGS) Awards and helped to coordinate the efforts to meet the year’s graduate enrolment targets. In the last several months, he has also continued progress on YSGS's Indigenous framework, advanced new program development, and planned for the occupancy and animation of the new space for interdisciplinary graduate students in the Daphne Cockwell Centre.
Keynote Speaker: Nour Abu-Shabaan
In her role as a program worker at a non-profit settlement agency in Toronto, she has actively monitored, developed, planned, and facilitated multiple integration arts-based, recreational, and educational after-school programs for refugee and newcomer children and youth in the Greater Toronto Area. In addition, as a program coordinator, she has been invited by the City of Toronto to discuss and consult on the Youth Equity Strategy and present training on how to mentor vulnerable refugee and newcomer youth in a multi-agency setting. Nour has held a position at United Way Greater Toronto, as an Associate Manager to manage a city-wide contract between the Toronto Police and the City of Toronto. Nour is also finalizing her Master's in Immigration and Settlement in Toronto, with a focus on environmental justice and healthy food access to marginalized communities.
Panelist: Alexandra Gooding
Alexandra migrated to Toronto from Barbados in 2011 to pursue a BFA in Photography Studies. In her third year, she participated in a workshop in Paris, France and found her professional calling. She worked in arts and culture for three years before finally receiving her Canadian permanent residency, which enabled her to complete her MA in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections management without incurring any debt. She has worked part-time at the RIC for nine years, and was hired on contract as a Curatorial Assistant at the Art Gallery of Ontario. In her spare time, she is busy turning her side-hustle into a profitable business.
Panelist: Kevin Zhang
After completing his undergraduate and master's degree at U of T, Kevin worked in engineering consulting for a few years before returning to university to obtain his PhD at Ryerson in Civil Engineering, graduating in 2020. His research involved building science, with a focus on wood materials. Kevin currently works at Entuitive, an engineering consulting firm.
Panelist: Jessica Sutherland
Jessica Sutherland is an assistant teaching-stream professor at York University. She has a BA from Ryerson University, an MA from the University of Toronto, and a PhD from Ryerson University. Her research interests are in the intersection between developmental science and the law, including youth in conflict with the law, peer influence on adolescent decision-making, and adolescent wellbeing. Outside of academia, she has worked in the public and non-profit sectors in a research capacity.
Facilitator: Ketan Marballi
Ketan Marballi holds a Ph.D. in Cellular and Structural Biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, with postdoctoral training from the University of Texas at Austin, University of Arizona, and Syracuse University, focusing on the molecular biology of neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. He has written articles on career development and organized career development events on academic and non-academic careers for graduate and postdoctoral trainees. He facilitates a community of practice coaching graduate students. He aims to use his lived experience as an international graduate student and postdoctoral trainee to help Ryerson students transition into fulfilling careers.
Facilitator: Jessica Kearney
Jessica Kearney (she/her) is your National Graduate Chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students. As Chairperson, she is passionate about developing a future vision for the national graduate caucus and engaging with students on all the amazing and challenging moments that come along with graduate studies. Jessica is currently completing her Master of Social Justice and Community Engagement at Wilfrid Laurier (local 56). Her research is a critique of the climate action plans throughout post-secondary institutions. Prior to Laurier she attended Lakehead University and obtained a Bachelor of Education (local 32). Jessica has been actively involved in the student movement since 2012 and IS still learning every day from the students she interacts with.
Facilitator: May Haithem
May is an Employment Coach with 6+years of experience in the not-for-profit sector. Specializing in training, utilizing marketing tools, and developing career strategies, May assisted job seekers, including youth and Internationally Trained Professionals from various sectors, obtain meaningful and sector-specific employment. During her most recent experience, she worked with Internationally Trained Engineers and IT professionals in bridging programs by providing 1:1 coaching and training workshops to help them navigate and understand the Canadian job market and establish effective strategies to implement during their job search process.
Facilitator: Wesam AbdElhamid Mohamed
Wesam AbdElhamid Mohamed (He/him) is currently serving as the Deputy Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). Wesam graduated his Masters of Engineering Science as an international graduate student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Western University, Canada. Wesam served two terms as the Vice-President Advocacy for the Society of Graduate Students, a graduate student-run organization representing over 6300 graduate students at Western. Wesam has pushed various projects forward at Western, including, Student-Supervisor Letters of Understanding and an Emergency Bursary Pilot Program. Moreover, he served as an elected representative of the CFS National Executive as the International Students' Commissioner and the Chairperson for the National Graduate Caucus of CFS.