Research Clusters

Ryan Umphrey

Ryan Umphrey is a current graduate student in the Master of International Public Policy program at Balsillie School of International Affairs. Before attending the Balsillie School, Ryan graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University, earning an Honours Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science, a minor in North American Studies, and an International Policy Option.   […]

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Taylor Reilly-Smith

Taylor is a dedicated student in the MIPP program at BSIA. He graduated from Trent University in 2025 with a BAH in Global Development Studies & Anthropology and a specialization in African Studies. Throughout his undergraduate studies, Taylor participated in a year abroad in Ghana, during which he completed a 3-month internship with a social

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Katie Burry

Katie Burry is a graduate student in the Master of International Public Policy program at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. She earned her Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from the University of Alberta, majoring in Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies. She also completed a Certificate in Globalization and Governance, which strengthened her

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Sarah Borkowski

Sarah is a graduate of the University of Toronto Mississauga with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminology, Law & Society. Throughout her undergraduate degree, Sarah developed a strong interest in researching transitional justice, diplomacy, and issues of conflict and security. In her final undergraduate year, Sarah undertook research in each of

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Meghan Purkis

Meghan Purkis is a current graduate student at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, pursuing her master’s degree in International Public Policy. Before attending the Balsillie School of International Affairs, Meghan graduated with distinction from Wilfrid Laurier University, earning an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, as well as a Minor in Criminology. In

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Prishaa Rajalathan

Prishaa Rajalathan is a graduate student at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in the Master of Development Practice (MDP) program. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences with a concentration in Biomedical Science from Lakehead University. Her undergraduate thesis focused on microbial biotechnology for sustainable pharmaceutical applications. The research she conducted

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Maham Naweed

Maham Naweed is a PhD Candidate in Global Governance at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, admitted through the University of Waterloo. She completed her Bachelor of Law (Honors) from the Lahore University of Management Sciences in Pakistan and her Master of Laws (LLM) from Yale Law School in the United States. Maham is a

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Saihaj Kaur Rehsi

Saihaj Kaur Rehsi holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Guelph, graduating with distinction in Honours Political Science Co-op. Her research interests include globalization and power distribution as they relate to the economy, society, international organizations, and more. She is also generally interested in trade & development, and social justice. Over

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Valeria Aristizabal

Valeria Aristizabal is a graduate student at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, where she is pursuing a Master of International Public Policy. She graduated with distinction from the Royal Military College of Canada in 2025, earning an Honours Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Political Science. As part of her undergraduate

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Julia Larmer

Julia Larmer recently graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies, with a concentration in Peace and Conflict and a minor in Political Science. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she demonstrated a strong commitment to social justice and civic engagement. As an executive member of Laurier’s Social Justice Club, Julia

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Alexander M. Michael-Handal

Alexander M. Michael-Handal is a graduate student in the Master of International Public Policy program at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo, where he completed a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in International Development with distinction, alongside a Diploma in Spanish Language, in June 2025. Alexander has

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Caroline Szawlowski

Caroline is a graduate student in the Master of International Public Policy program at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. She graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2025, majoring in Political Science with the Management option and a minor in English. During her bachelor’s degree, Caroline spent a semester studying at Sciences Po Lille in

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