Career Conference Panels

Speaker Bios

Professional Careers of Graduate Students | April 29, 3 - 4:15 p.m.

Beyond faculty roles, discover some of the rewarding and emerging opportunities that exist beyond academic institutions. Panelists will share their job search journeys, industry insights and tips for a successful transition to the working world.
  • Sarah Wall, Lead of Behavioural Science, Impact Canada | MA Social Psychology, PhD
    Dr. Sarah Wall is a Lead of Behavioural Science at the Impact and Innovation Unit, housed within the Government of Canada's Privy Council Office. She is responsible for overseeing Behavioural Science (BeSci) research related to climate and the environment, such as the Program of Applied Research on Climate Action and the Environment in Canada (PARCA). She also collaborates with partner departments to integrate these research findings into policies, programs, and communications and to mainstream the practice of BeSci within the federal public service. Prior to working on the climate and environment portfolio, Sarah was an Impact Canada BeSci Fellow at the Public Health Agency of Canada. During that time, she worked with interdisciplinary partners to generate and apply BeSci evidence to public health guidance, communications, and policy, in support of the COVID-19 pandemic response and other public health priorities. Sarah has a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University, where she also earned her Master of Arts (Social Psychology) and Honours Bachelor of Arts (Social Psychology).
  • Mike McCleary, Product Marketing Manager, Arctic Wolf | PhD English & Film Studies
    Mike is a cybersecurity product marketing professional with a background in digital forensics marketing and technology partnerships. Most recently, he has worked in the DFIR solutions for law enforcement sector, and prior to that he worked establishing research partnerships between private sector organizations and university researchers in the areas of cybersecurity, cryptography, data privacy, and artificial intelligence, among others.
    Mike has a BA from Thompson Rivers University, MA from Wilfrid Laurier University and a PhD Wilfrid Laurier University. After completing his PhD, Mike joined Manulife as an Instructional Designer and Training Facilitator, which led to an opportunity to join Mitacs (a collaborative research funding agency). Mike worked there to support University of Waterloo graduate students and professors uncover research partnerships with industry partners. From there, Mike discovered a love of Product Marketing and the value storytellers have in industry, especially in the tech sector. Since then, Mike has worked at Miovision (traffic technology), Magnet Forensics (digital forensics and incident response technology), and now Arctic Wolf (cyber security).
  • Tin Vo, Consultant, Collective Results | PhD Social Work, MPH
    Dr. Tin Vo (he/they) is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Their interdisciplinary, equity-focused research centres social exclusion as a determinant of health. Using a critical lens, their scholarship evaluates programs, policies, and systems related to mental healthcare and sexual healthcare and explores intersectional experiences of marginalized communities to enhance their wellbeing. Tin is also a consultant with Collective Results working, with non-profit and public sector agencies and a contract teaching faculty at the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work at Laurier. Previously, they worked as a research and evaluation specialist in a local public health unit in Ontario for eight years, leading projects related to substance use and harm reduction, sexual health, infectious diseases, and environmental health. Tin completed a PhD in Social Work at Laurier in 2022.

Academic Careers | April 30, 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

Learn from professionals who have recently made the leap from student to academic professor to understand the realities of academic careers and the opportunities available in the sector.

Academic Job Search & Interviews | April 30, 3 - 4:15 p.m.

Gain a competitive edge in your job search with guidance and insights from current academics. Participating panelists will review the application process and its purpose and discuss the preparation required to present yourself successfully to a hiring committee.

Jobs on Campus that aren’t faculty roles | May 1, 3 - 4:15 p.m.

Discover opportunities to work on campus outside of the classroom. You'll hear from panelists with diverse career paths and gain insight into new career possibilities.

  • Charity Parr-Vasquez, AVP: Research, Laurier | PhD Food Science
    Charity Parr-Vasquez, PhD, graduated from the University of Guelph with a PhD in Food Sciences, where she studied Malarial enzymes. Prior to joining Laurier in 2012, Charity worked at Network Centres of Excellence, which funded research in advanced food materials, as the Senior Program Officer.
    Charity joined Laurier as a Research Facilitator for the Natural Sciences where she worked one-on-one with faculty to identify funding opportunities and to support the development of successful research grants. Since joining Laurier, she has advanced through the Director, Office of Research Services role and now serves as the Assistant Vice-President, Research. As the Assistant Vice-President, Charity oversees the Office of Research Services and its operations. In addition, she works closely with the Vice-President Research to support strategic decision-making and the advancement of Laurier’s research portfolio.

  • Ian Muller, Director, Policy Research & Advocacy | PhD
    Ian Muller holds a PhD in history from Wilfrid Laurier University, specializing in the Cold War period. Ian’s research analyzes individual encounters with the state and civic engagement with the domestic threat of communism in Canada. While a graduate student, Ian served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Wilfrid Laurier University Graduate Students’ Association for a year.
    Ian is currently the Director, Policy Research and Advocacy with the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union. This multifaceted role balances research, policy analysis, strategic communications, and stakeholder relations with the teaching and mentorship of engaged undergraduate student leaders.

  • Charlene Mak, Learning Consultant, Graduate Orientation & Transition Programs, Laurier | MBA
    The Laurier community is what drew me to study at Laurier. I started my BA (psychology and sociology majors) on the Brantford Campus and later transferred to the Waterloo Campus. My zeal for learning is what has kept me in higher education at Laurier. I began working at Laurier soon after graduation and quickly completed my Career Development Professional Graduate certificate at Conestoga College. During my 15-year career at Laurier, I’ve spent most of my time working with international students and advising on immigration-related issues. I’ve recently completed my MBA and I look forward to the next opportunity to learn and grow.
    As a learning consultant, my role is to support graduate students in their learning and development from pre-arrival to post-graduation. I work with campus and community partners to develop programs and create opportunities for our graduate students to thrive and succeed. My goal is to support our graduate students to reach their academic potential and build a community of support.

Presented by the Career Development Centre and the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.