School of Information Technology Archives - LA&PS Newsroom

How York researchers are strengthening cybersecurity

baniiig — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:31:41 +0000

�첥��Ƶ researchers are exploring how to better secure a digital world increasingly shaped by the Internet of Things (IoT) by understanding how malicious bots operate and developing stronger defences against them.

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Five LA&PS Alumni on York's 2026 Top 30 Alumni Under 30

efulton — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:59:46 +0000

�첥��Ƶ has announced its Top 30 Alumni Under 30 for 2026, with five of the alumni coming from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. This incredible group under the age of 30 were selected based on their work creating real-world impact and positive change. They continue to use their skills developed through their LA&PS degrees towards causes and endeavours that benefit and inspire others.

“Each year, the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 program highlights the remarkable achievements and impact of York’s global young alumni community,” says Julie Lafford, assistant vice-president, alumni engagement. “This year’s cohort features a diverse group of innovators who are shaping the future through their leadership, creativity and volunteerism.”

The LA&PS Alumni in the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 for 2026 are:

Muhammad Abdulhafiz

Founder, Tutorizer
BHRM ‘24, Human Resource Management

Muhammad Abdulhafiz is an educator, entrepreneur, and changemaker. Recognizing that mathematics is often the most challenging and frequently failed subject for students, he was inspired to rethink how it could be taught. This led him to developing Tutorizer, a tutoring program that supports math students through offering gamified practice and personalized learning paths, while helping them develop confidence and a genuine love for learning. As a secondary school teacher with the Toronto District School Board, He dedicates himself to creating classrooms where every student feels valued and supported. He also participates in extracurricular activities as a club supervisor, soccer coach, and student mentor. Beyond the classroom, he leads the Student Impact Alliance, a not-for-profit organization empowering marginalized and low-income youth through community care events and drives, grocery support programs, and structured mentorship initiatives that build belonging and expand access to opportunity.

Wasi Syed Babar

Senior Program Manager, City of Toronto, Chief Operating Officer, Muslim Youth Revival
BA ’20, Interdisciplinary Social Science and Public Policy, Administration and Law

Wasi Syed Babar is a transformative leader in public service and nonprofit innovation, recognized for driving large scale modernization and building resilient teams. At the City of Toronto, he leads enterprise transformation initiatives focused on enhancing the performance and resilience of mission critical public service systems. Previously, Wasi led Doctors Without Borders Canada’s Project Management Office (PMO), standardizing delivery across various projects in IT, HR, finance, communications and donor engagement. He also advanced federal modernization initiatives for the Government of Canada, managing a multi-million-dollar portfolio and aligning transformation programs with national priorities. Beyond his professional roles, Wasi is Chief Operating Officer of Muslim Youth Revival, a non-profit he co-founded to empower youth through grassroots leadership, mentorship, and community programs. Under his leadership, the organization has tripled its reach, built a volunteer base of more than 50, and secured sustainable funding through strategic partnerships.

Talha Aamer Chaudhry

Technology Consultant, Abacus
BA ’19, Economics

Talha Aamer Chaudhry is an entrepreneur and leadership coach. At Abacus, he spearheads enterprise cloud and integration projects helping organizations become more data driven. Through CodeStitch, his AI-powered apparel venture, he is bridging artificial intelligence with fashion, and sustainability by employing underprivileged communities and promoting ethical production. Talha leads several university chapters across Asia under his mentorship platform, EdSquare, supporting young entrepreneurs and students. He previously served as a coach for MBA students at Hitotsubashi University Business School in Tokyo, teaching Conflict Intervention & Transformation for Leaders. His newest venture, RiDscvr, embodies his mission to help individuals rediscover direction, resilience, and meaning in a rapidly evolving world.

Adam Garisto

Adam  Garisto

Speechwriter, Office of the Prime Minister of Canada
BA ’20, Public Administration & Law

Adam Garisto has crafted the messaging for Canada’s top politicians, including two prime ministers and two ministers of national defence. He has communicated some of the government’s most high-profile policies and decisions. In 2025, Adam held the pen for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first federal budget. As a speechwriter for Prime Minister Carney, Adam has used the written word to move Canadians to reimagine what is possible when building our country. Previously, Adam served as speechwriter and communications advisor to defence ministers Bill Blair and David McGuinty, where he helped craft and launch Our North, Strong and Free. Adam got his start in politics in 2021 working for member of Parliament Michael Coteau before moving to Ottawa to write for prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Esther Martinez

Educator and Founder, Raíces
BA ’21, Children, Childhood & Youth

As the founder of Raíces, Esther Martinez leads an initiative that supports youth in their educational and career journeys through interactive workshops, as well as mentorship and networking opportunities that connect participants with professionals from diverse fields. Since its launch, Raíces has received strong engagement from parents, youth leaders, and the Latino community who recognize the need for dedicated support and greater representation across all sectors. Esther also represents York as a young alumni ambassador, supporting events and initiatives. She is also the vice-chair for the �첥��Ƶ Faculty of Education Alumni Network (YUEAN), where she strengthens alumni relations and fosters connection across the faculty community.

Launched in 2021, York’s Top 30 Alumni Under 30 program seeks to highlight the success and diversity of the University’s alumni community, while inspiring the next generation of young alumni leaders. To view the full list of 2026 recipients, and learn more about them, visit the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 web page.

Originally published in YFile.

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LA&PS projects receive research infrastructure funding

efulton — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:41:13 +0000

The Ontario Research Fund has awarded $1,614,137 to �첥��Ƶ to support the development of its research infrastructure. The funding will support 14 projects across multiple faculties and disciplines, strengthening York’s capacity for innovative research.

The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) is among the recipients, with two projects selected for funding. LA&PS congratulates the researchers whose work will contribute to advancing research excellence at �첥��Ƶ. LA&PS researchers included in the funding:

Aimi Hamraie, associate professor, Department of Social Science
Critical Lab Design: Establish a dedicated research space at York that centres disabled people as designers and makers of technology through research‑creation focused on disability culture and community.
$75,000

Manar Jammal, associate professor, School of Information Technology
Futuristic Infrastructures for AI Framework: Pioneering Self-Healing Cloud and Smart Cities: Establish a high‑performance AI lab to advance self‑healing cloud systems and smart city research.
$75,120

Read the full article in YFile.

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Province invests $1.9M in York's research infrastructure

efulton — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:57:13 +0000

Ontario will provide $1,942,046 to �첥��Ƶ for initiatives that strengthen research infrastructure, including upgrades to equipment and facilities.

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LA&PS to Host the 24th International Conference on Business Process Management (BPM 2026)

efulton — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:34:03 +0000

The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) will host the 24th International Conference on Business Process Management (BPM 2026) from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2, bringing one of the world’s leading conferences in process management to �첥��Ƶ.

The conference will be organized by the School of Information Technology (ITEC), with the organizing committee led by Arik Senderovich, assistant professor in ITEC, and Ravi de Costa, Associate Dean of Research & Graduate Studies. Hosting BPM 2026 reflects LA&PS’s growing leadership in research at the intersection of business processes, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, and underscores its commitment to international collaboration.��

For more than two decades, the BPM conference has been the premier global forum for researchers and practitioners working in Business Process Management. BPM 2026 will continue this tradition, bringing together leading scholars, industry experts and innovators for a week of keynote talks, tutorials, workshops and technical sessions. The conference spans disciplines including computer science, information systems, engineering and management, with a strong focus on real-world impact.

“On behalf of the Faculty, we are honoured to host BPM 2026 at �첥��Ƶ,” said Kathryn McPherson, Interim Dean of LA&PS. “This conference brings together an international community shaping how organizations design, analyze and automate complex processes. We look forward to welcoming the BPM community to our campus and contributing to the advancement of research and practice in this important field.”

BPM 2026 will attract participants from around the world and provide opportunities for faculty, students and industry professionals to engage through paper submissions, workshops, tutorials and volunteer roles. By convening a diverse international community, the conference aims to advance cutting-edge research while supporting meaningful collaboration across disciplines and sectors.

“The School of Information Technology is proud to lead the organization of BPM 2026,” said Senderovich. “The conference offers a unique opportunity to showcase our Faculty’s research strengths while engaging directly with global leaders working at the forefront of AI-driven workflows, process automation and digital transformation. Our goal is to strengthen connections between academia and industry and foster collaboration that translates research into practice.”

For more information about BPM 2026, including submission deadlines and participation opportunities, visit the BPM conference website.

Early-bird registration is available until July 14.

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Professor Enamul Hoque Prince and team win Best Paper Award at IEEE VIS

efulton — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:54:05 +0000

A research team led by Professor Enamul Hoque Prince of the School of Information Technology has won the in the short category at 2025, an international conference on data visualization and analytics.

The award recognizes the paper The Perils of Chart Deception: How Misleading Visualizations Affect Vision-Language Models, co-authored by Prince and students Ridwan Mahbub, Mohammed Saidul Islam, Md Tahmid Rahman Laskar and Mizanur Rahman, with Mir Tafseer Nayeem as a collaborator.

The study investigates a timely question: if misleading charts can fool people, can they also fool today’s AI systems? The team examined how deceptive design choices – including truncated or inverted axes, stretched aspect ratios and unnecessary 3D effects – can distort a chart’s message. These techniques are known to mislead human viewers, sometimes subtly and sometimes dramatically. The study shows that popular AI models used to interpret visual data are often misled in the very same ways, producing incorrect explanations even when the underlying numbers remain unchanged.

Based on a large-scale evaluation of widely used AI tools, the research reveals that visual deception remains a challenge not only for human readers but also for automated systems increasingly used to support data analysis. The work highlights the need for more reliable and deception-aware AI tools as they become part of everyday decision-making.

Reflecting on the award, Prince stated, “As AI tools become more involved in helping people make sense of data, it is essential that they are not vulnerable to the same tricks that mislead humans. Our findings highlight an important gap that the research community must address. I am incredibly proud of my students for leading this work and grateful to our collaborators whose insights shaped this project.”

The paper was featured in the conference’s Best Paper session, marking a significant recognition for �첥��Ƶ’s leadership in responsible AI research.

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ITEC professor receives Canada Foundation for Innovation funding for AI project

efulton — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 18:16:00 +0000

Thirteen �첥��Ƶ researchers have received infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The money will go to projects across a broad range of subjects and expertise from across the university including the Faculty of Health, , Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and .

Manar Jammal, associate professor in the School of Information Technology will receive $75,120 for their project, Futuristic infrastructures for AI framework: Pioneering self-healing cloud and smart cities.The project will look at how smart technologies can help cities operate more safely and efficiently by improving issues with transportation, crime risks and more.

Read the full article in YFile.��

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Six professors from the School of Information Technology receive NSERC grants

efulton — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:55:09 +0000

Six professors from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies’ School of Information Technology have received funding from the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). This project funding was part of an overall $12.1M grant to drive science and engineering research at York. The funded projects are led by 57 different researchers from several Faculties and Schools at �첥��Ƶ. The funded projects range in topics from investigating cutting-edge technologies like machine learning, artificial intelligence and engineering, to focus on the natural sciences.

Congratulations to the following professors and their projects from the School of Information Technology receiving grants:

Zhenhao Li
Towards Intelligent Automation in DevOps: Enhancing Collaboration, Observability, and Reliability
$36,000 annually for five years: Discovery Grants program
and
Towards Intelligent Automation in DevOps: Enhancing Collaboration, Observability, and Reliability
$12,500 over one year: Discovery Launch Supplements program

Sotirios Liaskos
Supporting Evidence-based Evaluation of Conceptual Modeling Languages
$37,000 annually for five years: Discovery Grants program

Marin Litoiu
Engineering Adaptive Generative AI Systems
$55,000 annually for five years: Discovery Grants program

Xuan Luo
Fair and Efficient Data Valuation in Data Markets
$36,000 annually for five years: Discovery Grants program
and
Fair and Efficient Data Valuation in Data Markets
$12,500 over one year: Discovery Launch Supplements program

Md Enamul Hoque Prince
Human-AI Interactions for Democratizing Visual Analytics
$37,000 annually for five years: Discovery Grants program

Liang Xue
Privacy-preserving Artificial Intelligence for User-centric Data Protection in Next-generation Networks
$38,000 annually for five years: Discovery Grants program
and
Privacy-preserving Artificial Intelligence for User-centric Data Protection in Next-generation Networks
$12,500 over one year: Discovery Launch Supplements program

Read the full article in YFile.

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Jasrin Kaur named one of �첥��Ƶ's 2025 Top 30 Alumni Under 30

efulton — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:18:29 +0000

The more proactive you are in seeking opportunities, the more you'll get out of the experience.

— Jasrin Kaur

Jasrin Kaur

Women in STEM mentor and EDI advocate
BCom ’23, School of Information Technology

LA&PS alumna, Jasrin Kaur 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 her achievement, we connected with Jasrin to better understand how her experience as an Information Technology graduate contributed to where she is today.

How did your degree in  Information Technology help get you where you are today?

My degree in Information Technology (IT) provided a solid foundation in key IT concepts such as systems analysis, design, development and management. Through hands-on lab work, group projects and programming courses, I developed both technical and collaboration skills. Participating in long-term case studies and research projects helped me understand how to apply theory to real-world challenges. The Co-op program, in particular, played a crucial role by giving me practical experience and helping me clarify my career direction.

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

I didn’t have a specific job title in mind, but I knew I wanted to work in the tech industry within a corporate setting. The career paths suggested by the program really resonated with me and helped shape my goals. Today, I’m proud to be working as a Senior IT Project Coordinator at CIBC, one of Canada’s top five banks, where I contribute to strategic technology initiatives.

What skills or knowledge from the  Information Technology program have been most beneficial in your career?

The program emphasized real-world experiences such as role-playing, simulated sessions and peer interactions. Activities like gathering interviews, client presentations, user testing, surveys and quality assurance practices gave me a well-rounded perspective on project work. In addition to the technical knowledge, soft skills—like public speaking, teamwork and effective communication—have been especially valuable in my project management career.

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

The connections I made during my time in the program have been incredibly valuable. Many of my classmates became close friends and part of my professional network. I’ve leaned on them for advice and support over the years. Professors also played a key role by offering guidance and mentorship as I navigated my early career choices.

What advice do you have for first-year  Information Technology students?

Information Technology is a strong program that gives you the technical foundation to succeed, but it’s up to you to make the most of it. Take advantage of group projects, engage with your professors, and don’t hesitate to ask questions. The more proactive you are in seeking opportunities, the more you'll get out of the experience—both academically and professionally.

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School of Information Technology Professor Jimmy Huang elected as a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering

efulton — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 19:59:02 +0000

School of Information Technology Professor Jimmy Huang, along with fellow Professor Satinder Kaur Brar from York’s Lassonde School of Engineering, has been elected as a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE). The prestigious fellowship recognizes professionals whose achievements have influenced the field of engineering. The 57 new fellows were officially inducted on May 27.

Professor Huang has done extensive research on probabilistic modelling and machine learning, with his work influencing the development of task-oriented and context-sensitive information retrieval. His research has been included in over 360 publications, a testament to his significant impact upon this area of study.

Read the full story in YFile.

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