Congratulations Javeriya Hasan on receiving the FEAS Fall 2024 Gold Medal award.
Awarded to each faculty’s top-performing student, the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS) is excited to announce that Javeriya Hasan from the PhD building science program is our Fall 2024 Gold Medal recipient.
With a perfect CGPA of 4.33, numerous first-authored papers, and active leadership in student communities, Hasan has been an exemplary student, researcher, peer, and mentor throughout her journey at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).
"Receiving the Gold Medal award for FEAS has been an incredibly moving and truly humbling experience. It has led me to reflect on my PhD journey, the valuable connections I’ve formed, and the skills I’ve developed along the way. As a woman in a STEM discipline, I believe this reflects my dedication to the field and demonstrates what women can achieve. It also underscores the importance of community involvement and commitment to academic objectives, whilst also highlighting the crucial role of perseverance in achieving any goal in life."
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Javeriya Hasan at convocation, where she received the Gold Medal award.
We look back at some of Hasan’s achievements and favourite memories from her TMU experience.
Javeriya Hasan delivering a guest lecture on “Solar Energy and Architecture” to a group of architecture students.
Finding new passions and peers in building science.
Hasan cherishes her memories of collaborating with colleagues in TMU’s building science studio and bonding over research discussions and projects. “The Building Science faculty at TMU has played an important role in nurturing my curiosity,” said Hasan, “making my learning experience there extremely fulfilling.” She also fondly remembers listening to guest speakers at The Pit and discovering her love of presenting, never missing a chance to deliver a guest lecture. Hasan said, “My fascination with building science started then and kept expanding due to the diversity of topics and themes covered in the department.”
“Javeriya is a research superstar and the Building Science program has been truly fortunate to have her as a student. In addition to her perfect CGPA and six published journal papers as first author, Javeriya is helping to advance our field by working with organizations like the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants and Women in Engineering, as well as mentoring her peers throughout the graduate community.”
A winter night view of The Image Centre with its lights in full glow.
Discovering solitude and inspiration on campus.
Frequently on campus for research and community initiatives, Hasan enjoyed the campus’ hidden beauty and study spots. In particular, she turned to the 7th floor of the Student Learning Centre for a quiet place to focus, surrounded by the incredible backdrop of buildings along Yonge Street. She recalled, “On a cold winter night after a lecture, I walked by The Image Centre to catch the TTC and was mesmerized by the vibrant flickering lights and the people ice skating on the outdoor rink.”
“I’ve always been impressed with Javeriya’s academic strength, humility, and bravery. Her intellectual curiosity, integrity, and drive for learning are only matched by her passion for building science and sustainability. But what I admire most is how generous she is, always sharing her knowledge and skills with her graduate and undergraduate students – this has truly left a lasting impact on everyone around her.”
Javeriya with her PhD supervisor, Dr. Miljana Horvat, during her defense with the supervisory committee members.
Empowering the next generation of socially-driven researchers.
Passionate about raising awareness for the importance of building science in the face of climate change, Hasan is dedicated to inspiring future students to be involved in the field. As co-chair of the TMU chapter of the Sustainable Buildings Network, Hasan helped organize speaker events for the student community. To build on her leadership skills, she enjoyed taking part in teaching development and leadership programming at the Centre of Excellence in Learning and Teaching and the Graduate Leadership Institute, where she gained valuable insights into pedagogy, goal setting, storytelling, and community mobilization. Hasan shared, “All these experiences have culminated in my unique perspective on teaching, leadership, research, industry, and influence within both the academic and professional realms.”
Javeriya Hasan with members of the Sustainable Buildings Network (external link) committee, Colin Gu (right) and Lala Leung (left), at an event at TMU’s Architecture building.