Realize your future with TMU Graduate Studies
Giving refugees a second chance
Adrienne Smith, Immigration and Settlement Studies MA alumna
Typically, the fruits of Adrienne Smith’s labours as an immigration lawyer emerge years later, when she sees her refugee clients thriving as new Canadian residents.
As the founder and principal lawyer at Smith Immigration Law (external link) , Smith specializes in LGBTQ immigration issues and often represents LGBTQ refugees before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). Her career stems from the Immigration and Settlement Studies (ISS) MA program.
“The ISS program cemented my aspirations in becoming an immigration lawyer and gave me the tools and confidence to pursue that career with unwavering focus,” says Smith. “The ISS faculty, under Dr. Myer Siemiatycki’s leadership, ignited my passion for legal advocacy and set me on a career path that has been incredibly rewarding.”
For her major research paper (MRP), Smith examined the types of evidence presented at IRB refugee hearings, and the challenges of proving a claimant’s sexual orientation.
“My MRP supervisor helped focus my ideas while at the same time giving me room to develop my personal research interests,” says Smith. “I still consider my decision to enroll in the ISS program one of the best career decisions that I have made.”
At TMU, our faculty provide one-on-one training and guidance to support your research and launch rewarding careers.
Photo credit: Narrative Drive
‘The journey continues to be amazing’
Cyrus Sundar Singh, Communication and Culture PhD student and Documentary Media MFA alumnus
Mahnoor Shahid, Master of Public Policy and Administration alumna
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Kittie Pang, Master of Health Administration (Community Care) student
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Jenny Duffy, master’s alumna, Philosophy & Public Policy and Administration
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Nathaniel Brunt, Communication and Culture PhD student and Trudeau Scholar
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Building Science master's students
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Dalia Hanna, Computer Science PhD student
Building sustainability into architecture
Matthew Ferguson, Architecture master's student
Flipping the script on Black men's pain
David Grant, Master of Social Work alumnus
Standing up for immigrant women
Vathsala Illesinghe, Policy Studies PhD student
Giving refugees a second chance
Adrienne Smith, Immigration and Settlement Studies MA alumna
Opening possibilities with inclusive tech
Mauricio Meza, MBA-MTI alumnus
Secret marathon meets social change
Kate McKenzie, Master of Digital Media alumna
Transgender research meets transformed lives
Jake Pyne, Master of Social Work
Cannabis research meets new potential
Steve Naraine, Molecular Science MSc
Jewelry business meets digital disruption
Noura Sakkijha, Ted Rogers MBA
City issues meet the big picture
Dr. Colin Robert Phillips, Policy Studies PhD
Cancer research meets better patient care
Dr. Michael Kolios, Professor and Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, Faculty of Science
Professional passion meets real-world opportunities
Jacky Au Duong, Master of Professional Communication
Inspirational faculty meets innovative research
Dr. Amira Abdelrasoul, Chemical Engineering PhD
Entrepreneurship meets accessibility
Maayan Ziv, Master of Digital Media alumna
Life-changing experience meets long-term success
Adedoyin Adesemowo, MBA-MTI
Ancient traditions meet empowered youth
Dr. Réal Carrière, Policy Studies PhD