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Meet our Current Students
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Rami Abu-Zeidan After completing an Honours B.Sc in Psychology (Behavioural Neuroscience Specialization), Rami enrolled in the MA Globalization program at McMaster University and is concurrently completing a graduate diploma with the United Nations University (UNU) – Waters Without Borders Program. The aim of the WWB program is to bridge science and policy together in the nexus of water. Given his undergraduate background and his interdisciplinary interests, Rami is interested in investigating the effects on mental health of people impacted by natural disasters. He is currently collaborating with Dr. Lucilla Spini, the Executive Officer of Global Environmental Change and Human Health (GECHH) with the UNU. Rami actively participates in community service and was the recipient of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (Gold Standard). During his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, traveling and working in his vegetable garden. |
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Khaoula Bengezi Khaoula Bengezi completed her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at McMaster University where she completed a double major in Political Science and Peace Studies. During her time at McMaster, she was socially active and involved in a number of human rights related initiatives. While holding an executive position with McMaster Muslims for Peace and Justice for two years, Khaoula and the executive team held events pertaining to issues surrounding women’s rights, poverty and freedom of speech, amongst others. In her second year of university, she was invited by the Program Coordinator for the McMaster Human Rights and Equity Services to participate and engage in an ad hoc working group to improve human rights policies at McMaster University. Khaoula and other members of the ad hoc group compiled a list of initiatives that McMaster University should attend to in order to improve human rights on campus. The recommendations included a women’s center and more accessibility for disabled students and staff. Khaoula also participates in dialogue groups with women from Jewish, Christian and Catholic faith groups by sharing her religious beliefs and cultural practices, while learning about her peers’ beliefs. Khaoula’s main research interests are human rights in a globalized world, global governance, neo-imperialism and its effects in the developing world, social activism (both global and local), humanitarianism and its contentiousness. After graduation, Khaoula hopes to work with a global humanitarian non-governmental organization. |
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Mark Burgess Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Studies and History from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of King’s College. He has worked as a staff reporter for The Low Down to Hull and Back News, a weekly newspaper in Wakefield, Que., and for The Wire Report, an Ottawa-based news service covering business developments and regulatory policy in the broadcast, telecom and new media industries. Mark has also worked on several projects with the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre. He was a member of the media cell on simulation exercises for NATO and European Union forces in Turkey and Germany, and he worked on training courses for police, military and diplomats in Kenya and Libya. He has travelled extensively in Europe and South America, taught English in Argentina, and written about Venezuela and Berlin for Outpost magazine. Mark’s research interests include the evolution of foreign reporting, media discourse, nationalism and multiculturalism. |
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Allie Crowder Allie graduated from Carleton University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts Combined Honours in Human Rights and Philosophy. Since then, she has worked with different divisions of the municipal and federal governments in a variety of fields. For the past three years, she worked for the Ottawa Hospital as a secretary with the Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario. A substantial amount of her time there was spent dedicated to the Integrated Database Application (IDA) project, which will transform quality management in the field of emergency medical services. While her interests extend across a variety of disciplines, it was her desire to make a meaningful contribution to the advancement of social causes that prompted her to pursue an MA in Globalization Studies. |
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Abimbola Fajobi Abimbola completed her Bachelor of Science (Honors) majoring in Family and Consumer Science with a focus area in Child Development and Family Relations at North Carolina Central University. She also completed a Master of Social Work at the University of Connecticut (Honors) with a focus area in International Issues in Social Work. Following graduation, she worked as a psychotherapist with children and families with mental health needs both in the home and community. Some of Abimbola’s research interests include human rights, especially in developing countries, immigration due to conflicts, social issues and international development. Abimbola plans to pursue a career in immigration and human rights. |
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Doran Hoge Doran Hoge has been involved with several youth development and leadership programs, such as Katimavik and Canada World Youth. He has volunteered with organizations such as the Saint John Volunteer Centre, the Rights and Democracy Network and the Public Interest Research Group Network. Also, Doran has worked with several international and community development organizations, which include; The Southern Alberta Family Community Support Service, the Lethbridge College, the University of Lethbridge and the Canadian International Development Agency – Gender Equality Division. Doran completed his BA (Honours) in Sociology and Spanish at the University of Lethbridge. Currently his research interests include: Social Justice, Governmental Transition, World Heritage, Tourism and Gentrification, Environmental Responsibility and Gender Equality. Doran is an avid long-distance cyclist, enjoys rock climbing and music composition, and values active engagement in his community. |
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Kashfah Khan Chowdhury Kashfah completed a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) majoring in both Human Resource Management and Marketing at the North South University. She is an international student from Bangladesh. During her undergraduate degree she worked as an assistant teacher at Holy Cross Girls’ High School and wants to pursue a career in teaching in the future. She also aspires to work in an international organization as a researcher. Her research interests include work and labour issues in developing countries, water crisis in South East Asia, international development and global business. Kashfah is also interested in sports and traveling. |
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Gent Llukaj Gent Llukaj is interested in studying how the communication of ideas can influence political organization and social hierarchies. He studied at York University where he completed his undergraduate studies in Public Policy and Management. He joined the Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition to research how collective participation in online activities can influence the provision of ‘public goods.’ He is interested in studying social activism on the Internet, ‘commons-based peer production,’ and intellectual property legislation. Some of his favorite scholars in this field are Yochai Benkler, Clay Shirky, Lawrence Lessig, Roland Coase, and Manuel Castells. |
| Layla Mashkoor Layla Mashkoor graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism and Human Rights, and with a minor in English Literature from Carleton University in 2011. Before leaving Ottawa to pursue a graduate degree in Hamilton Layla served as the Director of Public Relations of Fashion Cures and volunteered with various organizations such as No One is Illegal, Journalists for Human Rights and War Child. Layla is a published journalist whose work has been featured in various publications such as Capital News, Centretown News, Women’s Free Press and Incite Magazine. Layla currently works as a research assistant to award-winning journalist David Halton and serves as the elected graduate representative to the McMaster Board of Governors and Finance Committee. Her research interests include the negative consequences of globalization, neoliberalism, biopolitics, the media-politico complex and the war on terror’s violations of international law, specifically through the use of torture. In her leisure time Layla enjoys live music and the arts. She hopes to spend some time travelling after graduation. |
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Amber Merucci Amber completed a Bachelor of Social Work with a focus in Social Justice and Peace at the University of Western Ontario. She has worked with at-risk youth, individuals living with mental and physical disabilities, patients with acquired brain injuries, as well as women and children who have experienced abuse. She has volunteered in Honduras and travelled to Nicaragua and Pakistan. She was privileged to have supervision from Dr. Siu-Ming Kwok to work on an Independent Study researching social work advocacy within the parameters of International Human Rights, referencing Guantanamo Bay, and presented her research at UWO’s Social Work Research Day. After graduation she hopes to pursue research and work internationally, with interest in education and social welfare for street youth, corporate responsibility, cultural awareness with specific interest in Islam, as well as methods of conflict prevention on a local and global scale. In her spare time she enjoys cooking (not always successfully!) and spending time with family. |
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Raj A. Paleja As an undergraduate student, Raj placed great emphasis on complementing his academic background in International Relations with seeing the world. He volunteered at an orphanage and primary school in Tanzania, learned some French in Quebec City, went on an exchange at the international school of the University of Amsterdam, and participated in Model NATO in Ottawa. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from McMaster, he completed an internship with jhr: Journalists for Human Rights in Toronto. He is currently engaged in producing content and hosting on-air interviews for Global Beat Radio, a show that he also helped create. His research interests include critical pedagogy, journalism and media, market-driven democracy, the effects of neoliberal policy, Biopolitics, institutional identities, and grassroots social movements. He enjoys living and travelling abroad, exploring music and film, new and old, and is slowly improving his cooking skills. |
| Sonia Persaud | |
| Sean Pittman Sean completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science with a minor in History at McMaster University. During his undergraduate career, he organized delegations to attend the North American Model United Nations conference in Toronto, as well as the Carleton Model NATO conference in Ottawa. Sean also presided over the McMaster Political Science Student's Association, an undergraduate academic club. During his 4th year, Sean completed a 12-month internship with the City of Hamilton where he was responsible for the implementation of the city's organic waste recycling program for multi-residential buildings. Sean's research interests include globalization, international political economy, and the role of non-state actors in international relations. Sean's general interests include cycling, racquet sports, fencing, collecting vinyl records and photography. |
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| Adnan Raja | |
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Nicole Rallis Nicole Rallis completed a Joint-Honours degree in Politics and History from Trent University, Peterborough Ontario (2010). Her educational training at Trent focused on global politics and international relations, with interests on researching current processes of globalization and the impacts they have on issues surrounding citizenship, human rights and securitization. Nicole is currently studying environmental, grassroots social movements, observing their effectiveness at changing ‘the praxis’ of speaking truth to power, which incorporates a critical study of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, East Africa. Her academic insights are greatly influenced by the work of Antonio Gramsci, bell hooks, Edward Said, and John Steinbeck. Nicole enjoys international travel, and is an enthusiast of the arts in general! |
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Gillian Round Gillian completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) majoring in Childhood and Social Institutions with a minor in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. During her time at UWO, she competed nationally in the sport of synchronized skating. Gillian’s research interests include the effects of globalization on international sex trafficking as well as issues surrounding intellectual property rights in the provision of HIV/AIDS treatments in developing nations. Gillian’s other hobbies include skiing/snowboarding, travelling, and volunteering as a skating instructor. Following graduation, Gillian is intending to look for a position in an international non-governmental organization. |
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Mola Shahsavari Born and raised in Iran, Mola immigrated to Canada in 2002. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communication from Royal Roads University, concentrating on digital communication. Upon graduation, he worked as social media coordinator with numerous local NGOs in Vancouver including AIDS Vancouver. In January 2011, Canadian Crossroads International awarded Mola a placement in Zimbabwe where he worked with the Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe as the resource coordinator. In the summer of 2011, from more than 700 applicants, Mola was selected to participate at the International Peace & Security Institute Symposium on Conflict Prevention, Resolution, and Reconciliation that was held at the Johns Hopkins University SAIS Bologna Center. Mola is also a freelance photographer. For more info visit: www.molashah.com |
| Rachel Unterman Rachel completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Development Studies at Trent University in 2009. In 2007-2008, she studied abroad at the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies. As part of her year abroad Rachel participated in a three-month volunteer internship and research position with a Non-Governmental Organization in Northern Ghana, studying the implications of NGO’s within development contexts. In her final year of studies, Rachel completed an independent research project exploring the relationship between widowhood, poverty and development discourse, supervised by Dr. Michal Avram. Her current academic interests lay within a more local context, focusing on the localization of the global food system, specifically, local food movements in her hometown of Toronto. Rachel feels deeply connected to issues of food security and food sovereignty, especially within urban spaces. Over the past couple years, she has become more active within the local, non-profit food sector in Toronto, having volunteered with a variety of organizations, including urban agriculture initiatives, community-shared agriculture projects, social enterprises, food cooperatives and farmer’s markets.
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