Meet the Ambassadors
What does a Peer ambassador do?
UPSA’s Peer Ambassador program allows students to partake in events and other initiatives that support the development of students or better student life at York University. As a Peer Ambassador for UPSA, students can expect the opportunity to aid student success as well as network with fellow York students. Peer Ambassadors will also be put into roles which allow them the opportunity to grow leadership via facilitation roles, teamwork and collaboration through initiatives like UPSA’s monthly podcasts and bi-weekly newsletters, communication through interactions with other UPSA members or fellow students, and creativity among a variety of other skills. From event help like chat monitoring and note taking to event facilitation, Peer Ambassadors are the representatives of UPSA for almost all the organization’s events. UPSA is very open to receiving input from members so Peer Ambassadors will also have the opportunity to implement new initiatives to better support the York community and grow alongside the organization.
GENERAL AMBASSADORS
Abigail ashley nuosci
she/her
General Ambassador
Abigail is an undergraduate student at York University going into her fourth year of studies and is currently pursuing a BA in psychology in hopes of becoming a future psychiatrist.
Her hobbies include baking, shopping, traveling and spending time outdoors, especially at the beach. She is also a huge animal person and is currently a volunteer at her local animal shelter where she assists in rescuing endangered cats and placing them in foster homes or finding then forever homes!
Used to be in competitive ballet.
Chi Tran Khanh Dao
she/her
General Ambassador
Chi is a dedicated third-year psychology student at York University, aiming to advance her understanding of human behaviour. As a lab volunteer, she actively seeks more research opportunities to hone her skills. Her passion for helping others is evident through her extensive volunteer work. She has also served as a UPSA general ambassador for over a year.
Outside academia, she enjoys spending time with her cat and exploring new coffee shops in town.
"Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about"- Harvey Specter.
Daniella Shekofteh
she/her
General Ambassador
Daniella is a second year psychology student at York university. She plans to continue in the field of psychology and pursue medical school in the future.
She enjoys reading, listening to music and enjoying nature in her spare time. She also enjoys meeting new people and is very excited to start her UPSA journey!
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Eesha Qamer
she/her
General Ambassador
Eesha is a third-year psychology major and neuroscience minor. Her goal is to pursue graduate school where she can explore more about neuropsychology and hopefully become a researcher. Above all, she loves helping others and have always went above and beyond to make sure people get every bit of knowledge they need in order to succeed and get ahead.
Eesha finds joy in little things and tries her best to capture each moment. painting to paint (specifically calligraphy), brain talk, her school (Even though she lives far and absolutely hates commuting), and talking to other and helping others.
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Eimaan Syed
she/her
Marketing Ambassador
Eimaan is a second year psychology student hoping get her masters with focus on psychopathology and counselling. She is hopeful that her experience in UPSA will be positive and is excited to work with and get to know others pursuing similar goals.
In her free time, Eimaan likes to spend her time reading or baking new recipes.
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Emma Bhatti
she/her
General Ambassador
Hi! My name is Emma and I’m so excited to be a part of UPSA. I am a 3rd year psychology student, hoping to specialize in relationships. Being a Psychology student helped so much in raising my own self-awareness and growth as a person. After I graduate I am hoping to continue my masters and PhD to become an entrepreneur as a relationship coach. ✨
I love Hot Yoga, it is my passion. I would personally become a hot yoga teacher but those lab hours really got me busy lol. Besides that I love to paint, hike, dance, and currently I am writing a book!
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Julie Vuong
she/her
General Ambassador
Julie is a keen and ambitious undergraduate Psychology student at York University. She is currently highly interested in counselling and mental health and is aiming to pursue graduate school after her undergrad. She shows her passion and engagement by getting involved with volunteer work and looks forward to starting her Peer Ambassador role here at UPSA.
Julie enjoys to indulge in a good book or some beautiful music. She also loves to try new foods, spend time with friends and family, and rewatch her favourite comfort shows.
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Katherine Bachan
she/her
General Ambassador
Katherine aspires to be a Clinical Psychologist and help others progress in their health and wellness journeys. Her experiences among friends at York University have strengthened her values of connectivity and communal orientation. Fulfilling experiences at York University have energized her commitment to ensuring the York community receives the same fulfillment!
Katherine enjoys active hobbies, especially basketball and running. She also enjoys volunteering within her community and most values her volunteer experiences with children.
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Katherine Mordi
she/her
Marketing Ambassador
Katherine is in the second year of her BSc Psychology Honours program. She gained little insight into the research component of psychology during her first year when she participated in other undergraduates' research in the hopes of doing the same herself. Her long-term aspirations are to continue her education and make a difference in the medical field.
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Mary Buckman
she/her
General Ambassador
Mary is a specialized honors psychology student at York University. She enjoys meeting new people, and harnessing her skills in order to gain knowledge from new experiences. In the future, Mary plans on continuing her education after her undergrad with aspirations of going to law school or pursuing a masters degree.
She enjoys spending time with her friends along with reading and listening to music. Aside from those activities you can find Mary frequently rewatching tv shows that she has already seen a thousand times before.
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Nafisa Quamrun Malisa
she/her
General Ambassador
Malisa is a first year psychology student at York University. She loves listening to people and is most people’s go-to person for support. She aspires to be a clinical psychologist, but is still open to other career paths. Making an impact in the world is really important to her, so she’s ready to uptake every challenge to do that.
Malisa is defined by her creativity. It’s one of her strongest assets and a great way to express herself. In her free time she writes, and bakes the nicest sugar cookies. She loves music too, mostly Taylor Swift, and spends hours analysing Taylors videos to find hidden easter eggs.
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Vanessa Bhalla
she/her
General Ambassador
Vanessa wants to become a therapist or counsellor.
Vanessa loves going to the gym, biking, hiking, rollerblading, and dancing.
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Yeganeh Mousavi
she/her
General Ambassador
Yeganeh was initially interested in pursuing a career in medicine until she took a psychology elective in high school and completely changed her plans! She loves working with children and hopes to work as a professor and clinical paediatric psychologist in the future. She enjoys giving back to the community in any way she can and is also a Co-President of a charity called Hemoglobal at York University.
Yeganeh loves baking and cooking. She also loves to volunteer around the community. She has picked up piano on the side and enjoys playing both classical and pop songs. She is the only person in her family who is planning on getting a PhD.
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Zara Japanwala
she/her
General Ambassador
Hi guys, Im Zara your peer ambassador for the next academic year of 2023-2024. Im currently pursuing a BA degree in Psychology at York and I plan on taking the right steps that will help me get into law school in the forceable future. I joined UPSA back in October of 2022 to find like minded peers and meet seniors with different experiences was a wonderful experience, with the engaging events and seminars that made it so much more fruitful. This academic year I am grateful to be part of the team that made the transition into university quite seamless.
As part of my hobbies I like to journal, I enjoy writing articles and a few of them have been published as well, and a fun fact about myself would be that I have done competitive rowing for 2 years.
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MARKETING AMBASSADORS
parinita chechi
she/her
Marketing Ambassador
Parinita is a second-year BA Psychology Honours student specializing in counselling & mental health. Passionate about understanding the human mind and committed to making a positive change, she volunteers as a crisis responder at KHP, an English tutor, and a dedicated member of Amnesty International at York. Interested in research, she is also expanding her skills as a member of the Association for Research Placement at York. She’s aiming towards a future as a psychotherapist and plans to get a master’s after finishing her BA. When not immersed in her work, she loves to unwind with a good book or a favourite sitcom.
"Life is like a sitcom—sometimes you laugh, sometimes you cry, but it’s always better when you find the humour in it."
simran virdee
she/her
Marketing Ambassador
Simran loves playing the piano and teaches children in her spare time. She hopes to become a child psychologist in the future.
“Believe you can and you’re half way there!”
- Theodore Roosevelt
IKHLAS MEMON
she/her
Marketing Ambassador
Ikhlas is a dedicated psychology student with aspirations in clinical psychology or counseling. Passionate about content creation and social media management, Ikhlas runs a successful Instagram blog, showcasing her love for photography and creative content; @larlascorner. Volunteering at an animal adoption center, she utilized her skills to design posters and promotional materials for events. Additionally, Ikhlas has contributed to promoting various school events. Something she loves working on from time to time are her SFX makeup skills. Her blend of academic focus and creative talent highlights a well-rounded and driven individual.
“It’s good to be scared. It means you still have something to lose.”
—Richard Webber
jun davidson-lau
they/she
Marketing Ambassador
Jun is entering their third year of their psychology degree at York. In the future, they wish to complete graduate studies in psychology, and is also interested in a career in psychological assessment or counselling.
In their second year, Jun was also a Wellness Lounge Ambassador. During the past two summers, they have worked as an inclusion support counsellor at summer camp. In their spare time, Jun likes to listen to music, read, hang out with their cat and go to the thrift store!
aivien shudimai mangahas
she/her
Marketing Ambassador
Aivien is passionate about mental health and wellness, which drives her to become a future psychotherapist. She enjoys taking nature walks and photography, which is a way to express herself- and is also one of the many practices she shares with others to take part in to destress.
"Start living life, it is too short not to enjoy it"
saanvi bhattacharya
she/her
Marketing Ambassador
Saanvi is a 2nd-year psychology student who has been dedicated to helping others since a young age. At 14, she founded an NGO to support underprivileged children. Saanvi has a lifelong passion for dance and is a trained salsa and bachata dancer. She adores dogs and has three of her own. Her interests extend to volunteering for various causes, organizing events, creating designs on Canva, practicing public speaking, and leisure reading. Meeting new people energizes her, and she looks forward to working with UPSA to make a positive impact on the community.
“Even if you know what's coming, you're never prepared for how it feels.“
Natalie Standiford
kathrine mordi
she/her
Marketing Ambassador
Katherine Mordi is a 3rd-year psychology student in the Honours (BSc) program, passionate about research and mental health advocacy. With experience as a Marketing Ambassador for the UPSA and a note-taker for student accessibility services, she excels in teamwork and leadership. Katherine's dedication to mental health and research drives her commitment to making a positive impact in her community.