Inaugural YSGS Graduate Student Leadership Award recipients honoured

Angélique Bernabé, Economics PhD student

Always enthusiastic about taking action and leading change, Angélique Bernabé focuses her research on the analysis of women’s economic behaviour, ranging from studying the education gap in India to shedding light on the interdependence of economic incentives and violence against women. She is not only a leader on campus but also outside the university through her work for the Institute for Change Leaders, a not-for-profit organization that partners with local NGOs to lead community organizing training and make people’s voices heard. Angélique understands the importance of belonging and she shares that by being a champion for inclusivity and community building.

Eno Hysi, Biomedical Physics PhD student

Eno Hysi has been an active member of the Ryerson community since 2006. Besides his notable academic achievements, which include being a recipient of the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and authoring seven peer-reviewed publications, Eno is dedicated to improving the graduate student experience at Ryerson as a member of GRADCafé and an organizer of the inaugural GRADShowcase symposium. In addition, he has been a member of over 20 different committees and councils including: the Senate, Research Ethics Board, Student Appeals Panel and various search committees. Eno consistently prioritizes the experience of graduate students at Ryerson, and embodies the essence of this award.

Jaclyn Nofech-Mozes, Psychology PhD student

Jaclyn Nofech-Mozes is researching the transmission of mental health from parent to child, assessing the influence of genes and environment on brain biology and behaviour in early life, the most influential stage of human development. Jaclyn also studies the differential efficacy of psychological interventions as they match features of the clients seeking assistance. Both these efforts move us closer to personalised medicine, to the identification of what works for whom. Her findings are disseminated via numerous journal publications and presentations to other professionals and targeted lay audiences. Jaclyn’s work has resulted in direct change to clinical practice in Toronto and beyond.

Riley Kucheran, Communication and Culture PhD student

Riley Kucheran is a Two-Spirit PhD student from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, researching the role of clothing in colonization and Indigenous fashion design as cultural and economic resurgence. His constant involvement in community building on and off campus is inspiring, from his work with Na-Me-Res, an organization which offers housing, support and culture for Indigenous men in Toronto, to his work with student groups at Ryerson. Riley currently works as Indigenous advisor with the Office of the Vice-Provost and Dean, Yeates School of Graduate Studies and the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives to foster cultural awareness, institutional change and better inclusion of Indigenous learners.

Erin Meger, Mathematical Modelling and Methods PhD student

Erin Meger is an outstanding mathematics doctoral student with a robust record of student and community engagement. These qualities are exemplified in her work as a teaching assistant for a master’s course at the African Institute for Mathematics (AIMS) in Cameroon in March 2018. While at AIMS, Erin demonstrated positive leadership and inspired students to do their best. She helped transform the course, taught by her supervisor Dr. Anthony Bonato, into a community of mathematics scholars from 13 African countries. Erin is co-authoring a book based on lectures notes for the AIMS course.

My Inclusive Campus Studio Group, Urban Development master’s students

Zainab Abbasi, David Alton, Berta Haikin, Natalie Hickey, Aaliya Khan, Jennifer Le and Joelle McNeils

The My Inclusive Campus Studio Group from the School of Urban and Regional Planning successfully engaged numerous internal and external partners and the student community to develop high-quality research. The group played a leadership role in promoting the values of equity, diversity and inclusion, and bringing different stakeholders and perspectives into the enhancement of these values. They created a rigorous research framework and innovative problem-solving strategies to support common goals of the university and the community by recognizing the needs and amplifying the voices of marginalized/under-represented groups, such as international students and newcomers. Collectively, they are inclusive city-builders and advocates for social justice and community engagement.