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

Shaping the future of health care
Kittie Pang, Master of Health Administration (Community Care) student

A new look at the world’s oldest profession
Jenny Duffy, master’s alumna, Philosophy & Public Policy and Administration

Making black-and-white more grey
Nathaniel Brunt, Communication and Culture PhD student and Trudeau Scholar

Supporting women through building science
Building Science master's students

Using drones to locate people with dementia
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