Alyssa graduated in June 2022 with a BA Honours in International Relations with Thesis and Great Distinction and a Minor in Women and Gender Studies. Upon graduation, she was awarded a Gold LEAD Medallion and the LEAD Going the Extra Mile (GEM) award for her involvement on campus. Alyssa volunteered as a Peer REACH advisor, Recruitment Ambassador, and Political Science Peer Mentor through her undergrad.
In addition to holding an excellent academic record and receiving numerous scholarships, Alyssa engaged in major research projects in the Department. She completed her Undergraduate Thesis paper in 2020, in which she explored using youth cultural exchange trips to make Study Abroad more accessible to equity-deserving groups. Alyssa worked as a Research Assistant with Dr. Jamey Essex, in which they conducted a gender-based historical analysis to explore the role of Foreign Service Wives in the 20th century. Many of Alyssa’s research projects combine international relations with equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Alyssa is proud to have called the Political Science Department her home for the last 5 years. She held many leadership roles in the Department, including as a AAUC undergraduate representative, an open house and student recruitment leader, and a Political Science Help Center mentor. These experiences, along with her time as a Senior Mentor in the FAHSS Mentorship and Learning program, contributed to her passion for helping new students transition to university.
“My time in the Political Science Department was an amazing experience. The classes, professors, support programs, and extracurriculars helped me to develop my academic, professional, and leadership skills. The department gave me all the support I needed to excel in my degree, and I met so many amazing friends and mentors along the way.”
Alyssa currently works as an Evaluation Officer for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, where she conducts critical research and evaluation on Canada’s immigration programs. In Fall 2022, Alyssa will be attending the Balsillie School of International Affairs to complete a Master of Arts in Global Governance. She has been awarded a SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship and the President's Graduate Scholarship to support her research. She has also been selected as a Fellowship Candidate for Global Affair Canada’s research and policy analysis program.