Social Work PhD Doc Talks

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What is Doc Talks

DocTalks is a semi-annual newsletter celebrating the many achievements of students in the FSW’s doctoral program. Students are invited to submit items related to their studies, research, and personal lives. For this issue, students were invited to share achievements, accomplishments, and good news items that occurred between January 2024 and June 2024.

Program Milestones

  • Jason Fernandes defended his dissertation proposal, “The Inclusion and Exclusion of Students with Intersecting Marginalized Identities on Post-Secondary Campuses.” 
  • Bhagwati Gautam defended her dissertation proposal, “Employment experiences among Nepali couples in Southwestern Ontario: Exploring how gender norms relate to couple’s labour market experiences and responses.”
  • Amar Ghelani defended his dissertation, “If somebody takes the time to listen”: Understanding the risks and reasons for cannabis use among youth who have experienced psychosis." and will graduate in October.
  • Halina Haag defended her dissertation, “The Most Important Thing in IPV Right Now": The Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence and Brain Injury" and graduated in June.
  • Grace Ihejiamaizu received REB approval for her dissertation “Gendered Lens on Women’s Social Entrepreneurship in Africa.”
  • Sarah Southey defended her dissertation proposal, Workplace Inclusion and Exclusion for Autistic Human Services Workers.”

Awards, Scholarships, Honours, and Community Recognition 

  • Grace Ihejiamaizu received the SSHRC Special Research Travel and Research Expenses Funding award to support her research on the lived experiences of women social entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

Publications, Presentations, Workshops, Posters, Panels, and Media Attention 

  • Grace Ihejiamaizu presented the paper, “Exploring the Discussions on Women’s Social Entrepreneurship and Social Impact Creation: Towards a 5-point Research Agenda” at the 2024 CASWE conference. 

  • Maryam Motia presented “Culture and Mental Health among Immigrant Women in Canada”, at the 2024 International Conference of Mental Health and Addiction. Algoma University, Brampton, Canada. Maryam also presented “Immigrant Women’s Experiences of Mental Health, Social Support and Group Artmaking” to Laurier BSW students in the course SK421: Creative Arts in Social Work Practice in Winter 2024.

Personal and Career Updates 

  • Amar Ghelani has been offered an Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream) position at the University of Toronto Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work effective August 1, 2024.

Congratulations to each of the students named above and all our PhD students for their ongoing achievements and accomplishments!