
Reunited: 2021-22 Year in Review
As the university community returns to campus, YSGS has reconnected with colleagues and associates to continue to support our graduate community.

Message from Dr. Cory Searcy, Vice-Provost and Dean
As we have seen this year, change continues to be the new normal. Fortunately, YSGS has embraced our dynamic environment with aplomb and optimism to serve our graduate community.
We began the academic year working apart but together, launching two new programs: the Media and Design Innovation PhD and Scriptwriting and Story Design MFA. Now, we are working to develop more, including the Master of Project Management in the Built Environment and Occupational and Public Health MSc.
Meanwhile, we continued providing graduate students with online offerings such as the Graduate Leadership Institute’s Learning to Lead workshop series, the GRADTalks interactive speaker series, GRAD Breather mindfulness sessions, the GRADFlix digital narrative competition and GRAD Contests for students to share their experiences and creativity.
As the pandemic situation evolved, YSGS reopened our offices in March and have since maintained a steady in-person presence in addition to online service. Our transition back to campus culminated with the return of the highly anticipated 3MT® Competition, in which Molecular Science MSc student Vanessa Ruscetta won top prize for her engaging live presentation on an innovative form of cancer therapeutics.
It has been exciting and refreshing to reconnect on campus as a community and see so many familiar and enthusiastic faces. Based on the past two years, I am confident that we will keep adapting, learning and growing together in the spirit of collaboration as we navigate our way forward.

Creativity on display
GRAD Postcard and Collage Contest winners share reflections and visions for the future

Gaining the upper hand on cancer
Molecular Science MSc student Vanessa Ruscetta places second at Ontario 3MT® Competition for research on leveraging left-handed molecules for new cancer therapeutics

New career paths
GRADTalks series explores opportunities in government, and global health and equity with WHO’s Dr. Peter A. Singer

Learning to lead
Graduate Leadership Institute workshops help graduate students become successful leaders

From vision to reality
Chemical Engineering PhD student Reza Eslami wins university’s GRADFlix competition for animated video on self-powered wearable biosensor device

Event particpation continues to climb
Record number of attendees for YSGS workshops, webinars and engagement events
Year |
2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total event participants | 352 | 460 | 283 | 577 | 1,053 | 1,179 |

Towards environmental equity
Environmental Applied Science and Management PhD student Amber Grant researches environmental justice in urban forest management in the U.S.

Making a global impact
Urban Development alumna Masooma Ali applies graduate experience to transit advocacy and sustainable planning

From banking to Bitcoin
Ted Rogers MBA alumnus Jesse Berger switches careers, writes book on digital currency

Supporting sustainability
FEAS graduate students Paul Adamu and Bofa Udisi receive fellowships from new Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology Momentum program

How music therapy reduces anxiety
Psychology Professor Dr. Frank Russo’s latest research demonstrates mental health benefits of AI-curated music
Uncovering Canada’s Black history
Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Karen Cyrus is creating a database of Black Canadians as part of Mapping Ontario’s Black Archives research project led by Dr. Cheryl Thompson
Immersive storytelling
Communication and Culture MA student Nikole McGregor is researching volumetric video capture to create an immersive documentary on the immigrant experience

Top research ranking
University ranked first by Research Infosource for research income growth among Canadian comprehensive universities for second year

New frontiers in cancer treatment
Physics PhD graduate Dr. Kurt Van Delinder receives Dr. C. Ravi and Shanti Ravindran Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis on new imaging concept in radiation oncology

Gold scholars
Outstanding graduate students recognized with university’s Gold Medals for academic excellence and engagement

Supporting student success
Jennifer Mactavish Graduate Student Leadership Award recipients recognized for commitment to graduate community

Next-gen water governance
New Geoffrey F. Bruce Fellows Lana Marcy and Kristin Palilionis advocate for environmental sustainability and freshwater protection

Committed to community
Dennis Mock Student Leadership Awards recognize graduate students making outstanding contributions to university life

Dr. Nancy Walton appointed to National Panel on Research Ethics
YSGS Associate Dean, Student Affairs brings expertise to panel supporting tri-council agencies

Exceptional faculty
Dr. Harald Bauder, Dr. Andre Laplume and Dr. Alison Matthews David honoured with YSGS Outstanding Contribution to Graduate Education Award
Graduate education is a collaborative responsibility between the Yeates School of Graduate Studies and the Faculty of Arts, The Creative School, Faculty of Community Services, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Faculty of Science and Ted Rogers School of Management.
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