We are thrilled to announce the recipient of the 2024 Ronald Kent Medal is our esteemed colleague, Magy Baket. 

Magy joined the Student Success and Academic Advising Team in the Department of Economics in 2017 and quickly became an integral member of our administrative team and a champion for student success. As one of the nominators noted, Magy stands out “not just because of her deep knowledge of policy, curriculum and student supports, but because of her remarkable empathy, professionalism and tireless work ethic.” Every day, Magy goes above and beyond her role, continually enhancing her professional knowledge and strengthening her ability to better serve our students. 

Thank you, Magy,��for your exceptional commitment to academic��advising and for being such a wonderful colleague.��We’re��so proud that your dedication to �첥��Ƶ’s values has been recognized.��Congratulations!��

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, �첥��Ƶ Economics students competed in the Bank of Canada Governor's Challenge, presenting their analysis of Canada’s economic situation and interest rate policy to Bank officials. Their strong presentation showcased critical thinking and applied economic expertise.��

This year's team members included��Hyunsu Cho, Yacine Faye, Jiaqi Fu, Manuel Molina, Duy Nguyen and Quang Huy Vu under the guidance of��professors��George Georgopoulos and Ilya Archakov from the Department of Economics.

��is an annual competition that brings together Economics students from universities across Canada. It aims to deepen the understanding of the role of monetary policy in Canada’s economy. The Nov. 12 presentation was the first round, where our students delivered a phenomenal presentation.��

Congratulations��to the team on your success and good luck going forward!

On Monday, Nov. 3, individuals and teams were recognized for their contributions to the York Community at the President’s Staff Recognition Awards. The annual awards celebrate meaningful contributions across the institution in several key areas, including community building, leadership and service excellence.

The following staff members from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies were celebrated as winners and nominees:

Decolonization, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (DEDI) Award

Nominated:

• Colleen Robinson, administrative coordinator, Department of Anthropology 

Gary Brewer Emerging Leader Award

Nominated:

• Bhanu Priya Sharma, student engagement coordinator, LA&PS Colleges
• Tanzina Tahereen, associate director, faculty curriculum, Office of the Associate Dean, Programs (LA&PS) 

Harriet Lewis Team Award for Service Excellence

Nominated:

• English Department Administrative Staff 
• LA&PS Faculty Research Office  

The President’s Leadership Award

Nominated:

• Amanda Rodrigues, director, strategic enrolment, LA&PS��

Ronald Kent Medal

Winner: 

• Magy Baket,��student success and academic advisor, LA&PS��

Nominated:

• Celeta Irvin, undergraduate program administrator, School of Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies, LA&PS

President’s Voice of York Award

Nominated:

• Jacqueline Selman,��undergraduate students coordinator, Department of Social Science, LA&PS

Congratulations to all the staff recognized in the awards.

Read the full story in YFile.

Canada’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) has awarded $1.7 million in federal funding to �첥��Ƶ researchers as part of the Insight Development Grants program. The program will provide funding for projects lasting up to two years, supporting a broad range of topics and disciplines as researchers investigate key societal challenges. A number of applicants from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies received funding for their projects, including:

Gemechu Abeshu, Department of Sociology 
Project: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Refugees Resettled in Canada through the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot  
��ܲԻ徱�Բ�: $62,498 

Kelly Bergstrom, Department of Communication & Media Studies 
Project: Context Collisions and Critical Events: Investigating the True Crime Convention Circuit  
Funding:  $73,181  

Sheetala Bhat, Department of English 
Project: Long-distance Gods: Hindu Nationalism and the South Asian Diasporas in Canada  
Funding: $65,433  

Sarah Blake, Department of Humanities 
Project: Technologies of Beauty and Enslaved Practitioners in the Graeco-Roman World  
��ܲԻ徱�Բ�: $67,215

Zeyad El Nabolsy, Department of Philosophy 
Project: Theories of Education in Nineteenth-Century African Philosophy  
��ܲԻ徱�Բ�: $46,414 

Denielle Elliott, Department of Anthropology, Department of Social Science 
Project: Cinematic Minds: Exploring brain injuries through science fiction horror film  
��ܲԻ徱�Բ�: $74,995

Ida Ferrara, Department of Economics 
Project: Advancing Gender Diversity in Leadership Positions: An Integrated Multidisciplinary Approach  
Funding: $60,720

Benjamin Kelly, Department of History 
Project: Space and Power in the Flavian Palace: 3D Digital Visualisations as Tools for Historical Research  
��ܲԻ徱�Բ�: $69,030 

Sunwoo Lee, School of Administrative Studies 
Project: Retirement Planning for Low-Income Households in Canada  
Funding: $48,547 

Sudeshna Maitra, Department of Economics  
Project: More Skilled Jobs or Subsidized Education? A Micro-to-Macro Approach to Evaluate Anti-Poverty Policy in India  
��ܲԻ徱�Բ�: $71,508 

Margaret O’Brien, Department of Philosophy 
Project: Disagreement, Standing, and Politics  
Funding: $43,751

Jacqueline Petropoulos, Department of English  
Project: Reanimating the Moderns: Canadian Adaptations of World Drama  
Funding: $65,820

Leila Pourtavaf, Department of History 
Project: From Gulistan to Lalezar: The Urban Life and Afterlife of Slavery in Tehran  
��ܲԻ徱�Բ�: $57,461 &�Բ�����;

Nicholas Taylor, Department of Communication & Media Studies  
Project: Building Good Relations  
Funding: $56,215

Natasha Tusikov, Department of Social Science
Project: Governance Challenges of Digital-Contraceptive Apps  
Funding: $74,918

Jun Zhao, Department of Economics  
Project: The Evaluation of Minority Preference Programs in Canada  
Funding: $53,823  

Jelena Zikic, School of Human Resource Management  
Project: How remote workers of an extreme type cope with the ‘connectivity paradox’? From nomadic to lonely work lives  
Funding: $63,253

Congratulations to all LA&PS applicants and their team of researchers.

Read the full story in YFile.

Nikolai Cook, a Department of Economics alumni, was awarded the Economic Sciences prize in the John Charles Polanyi Prizes 2024. Named after the recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the John Charles Polanyi Prizes are prestigious honours awarded by the Ontario government to exceptional early-career researchers across five fields: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and economic science. Cook was recognized for his research exploring the economic consequences of climate change and air pollution, as well as his work to address transparency and credibility issues within economics and social sciences.

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Make sure to get engaged in your student academic associations.

— Samir Janmohamed

Samir Janmohamed

Public policy leader and community volunteer
BA ’18, Department of Economics, Department of Social Science

LA&PS alumnus, Samir Janmohamed was named one of �첥��Ƶ’s 2025 Top 30 Alumni Under 30, recognized among a distinguished group of young leaders making a meaningful impact around the world. In recognition of his achievement, we connected with Samir to better understand how his experience as an Economics and International Development Studies graduate contributed to where he is today. 

What career did you dream of pursuing in undergrad, and where did your professional path take you after graduation?  

I like to think the way I got where I am was unconventional. I always knew I was interested in the intersection between politics and policy. At the same time, I was driven to pursue these degrees because I wanted to graduate and build a career where I could work in partnership with people to improve their lives, address their challenges and foster growth. 

I spent my first year after graduation volunteering with my local community teaching children public speaking and critical thinking skills, helping set up our social hall for events and sorting food after our Ramadhan food drive. Fast-forward to fall 2019 and I was volunteering on an election campaign for my local MP. I was one of the youngest people on the team, leading social media and communications efforts. This opened a door to a role in the MP's office where I continued to support with constituent issues and communications.  

Having seen the challenges businesses and other organizations went through during the pandemic, a new opportunity presented itself at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, where I could support both the Policy and Public Affairs teams to advocate for business support and develop policy to bolster economic growth and recovery in the province. This opportunity further allowed me to engage with a wide range of stakeholders from across the province while aligning with my own career goals.  

What skills or knowledge from the  Economics and International Development Studies program have been most beneficial in your career? 

I learned a lot during my time inside and outside York’s lecture halls and seminar rooms. I’m of the opinion that both programs left me with the ability to think quickly and critically, coupled with the ability to clearly communicate my thoughts and opinions. This was further bolstered by engaging in Model United Nations, Debate Society and Public Speaking Society, where I was able to further exercise and hone my skills.  

In what ways have the network and connections you made during your studies helped you in your career? 

Volunteering with organizations that align with your values and future career aspirations is key. It's hard to find those organizations and spaces when you’re trying to balance extracurriculars and academic commitments. The easiest way you can find the right spaces to engage in is by asking your professors to guide you, or better yet, reaching out to alumni like me who share similar experiences with current students. I have yet to meet an alumnus who is not willing to provide their assistance. We are a resource, ever ready to help current and future York Lions! 

Once you find your way into those spaces, the next challenge is striking up a conversation with other people. Imposter Syndrome is real – but it can be addressed. It's important to remember that everyone in those spaces started in the same place. Try to attend events with a classmate and start off by talking to at least one person in a meaningful way. Don’t approach networking merely to ask someone for a job. Go into the conversation open to learning about what they do and how they got there. Where you go from there is up to you. 

What advice do you have for first-year  Economics and International Development Studies students? 

I’ve received lots of advice, but I’ll limit myself to sharing the following: 

• Don’t squander your opportunity to branch out of your major – consider double majoring, pursuing a minor or taking on a professional certificate. I’d highly encourage others to consider certificates in public policy analysis or foreign languages. This is a great way to learn more about the field you are interested in and set you up for career success or future graduate studies. 

• Make sure to get engaged in your student academic associations. The Economics Students Association and International Development Students’ Association at York are fantastic places to meet and engage with classmates from across the program, where you can benefit from mentorship, take on leadership opportunities and engage with faculty in a meaningful way.  

If you can, consider spending a semester or year abroad through York International. Regardless of whether you are an international student coming to Canada to pursue your undergraduate studies or a domestic student, the ability to spend time abroad as part of your degree will not only further bolster your understanding of the world but help you build life-long relationships and learn in a whole new context. 

Read more about LA&PS 2025 Top 30 Alumni Under 30. 

Hian Siang Chan, who graduated from the Department of Economics in 1980, met his partner, Paulina Lau, during their first year as international students at York. The couple have generously pledged a gift of $1 million to the Paulina Lau Scholars Program, which builds on the family’s initial donation given in Fall 2022 at the launch of this program.

Inspired by their own positive experiences as international students, the program provides students with learning opportunities at institutions internationally, allowing them to form connections and gain new cultural insights. Since the program began, 24 students have participated in experiential learning opportunities at 20 institutions in 14 countries across a range of disciplines.

Read the full story in YFile.

George Georgopoulos, associate professor of in the Department of Economics, was quoted in a recent article in CTV News about the possibility that Canada may be entering a recession.

Many experts believe that Canada was already entering an economic slowdown, which increased after tariffs were imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Elevated prices due to tariffs has increased uncertainty while slowing investments and economic activities.

Georgopoulos predicts that while GDP growth may slow in Canada, it is unlikely to be long lasting, and that there is still hope for healthy discussions regarding tariff rates.

the CTV News website.