Pathways to Prosperity: Canada

For All Graduate Students and Early Career Researchers

Thursday September 28, 2023
12:00 to 1:30 PM ET

Join Zoom Meeting Here
Meeting ID: 846 1429 6281
Passcode: Migration

When pursuing a doctorate degree, tenure-track positions are often presented as the main career option after a PhD (and a post-doc). This workshop aims to move away from these representations and showcase alternative career paths available for PhD graduates, especially in migration studies. While it can be difficult for PhD students to seek help and advice outside of academia (outside of mentors who obtained tenure-track positions themselves), this workshop will be an opportunity for us to discuss career options with PhD graduates who work in government and other organizations outside of academia. In this way we highlight exciting and rewarding career options that allow PhD graduates to utilize their skills outside of the professorship. Panelists will be invited to share their experiences and tips for recent and future graduates. We will address the following questions:
• How did you obtain the position you are currently in? Were there steps you took before and/or after graduating that supported your access to this position?
• What advice would you give to a PhD student/candidate looking to work in your field?
• A PhD degree can make you eligible for senior positions; however, many PhD graduates do not have the work experience typically expected for these positions (e.g., managerial skills). Did you face any similar challenges or other difficulties in positioning yourself in the labor market? What kinds of experience would you recommend PhD candidates obtain to prepare for the labor market when they may not yet know which field they want to enter?

Dr. Shezan Muhammedi completed his PhD at Western University in 2017 as a domestic student. He specialized in Migration and Ethnic relations and his dissertation focused on the resettlement, integration, and identities of Ugandan Asian refugees in Canada. Upon completing his PhD, Shezan worked as a Program Officer for Focus Humanitarian Assistance supporting refugee resettlement in Europe for four years. In the spring of 2021, Shezan joined the federal government through the RPL (Recruitment of Policy Leaders) campaign and is currently serving as an Assistant Director at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. He also recently published a manuscript based on his PHD Studies titled Gifts From Amin: Ugandan Asian Refugees in Canada to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the resettlement initiative.

Dr. Yollande Dweme M. Pitta holds a collaborative doctorate in Humanities, Social Sciences and Social Justice Education as well as a specialization in Education, Francophonie and Diversity. She also holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Administration and Enterprise. She has professional experience in economic and community development. She is currently the Provincial Director of the School Settlement Worker Programme at the Centre d’orientation et de prévention des agressions. She also works in private practice as a social worker-psychotherapist and consultant in research, economic and community development, and teaches part-time at college level.

Dr Syeda Nayab Bukhari holds a PhD from Simon Fraser University and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at McGill University. Currently, she serves as the Senior Research Officer at TechGirls Canada. She also teaches part-time at Concordia University, with a focus on Qualitative Research, Global Migration, Gender, and Human Rights. Dedicated to supporting marginalized ethnic communities in Canada, her expertise encompasses qualitative research, teaching, and developing community-based programs.