Alumni

Claudia graduated with her bachelor’s degree in 2015. She completed a major in international studies, with a concentration in security and conflict. While at SFU, she was an active member of the International Studies Student Association, starting as a member at large and finishing her tenure as President. She was also a recipient of the Dr. Alfredo Hurtado Scholarship and, in 2014, she travelled to Montenegro to participate in Model NATO.

Her experiences at SIS taught Claudia to think critically, to start negotiating before you get to the negotiating table, and to lead with authenticity.

After SFU, Claudia completed her Juris Doctor at UBC. While in law school, she volunteered at the Law Students’ Legal Advice Program. She represented clients in Small Claims Court, before the Immigration and Refugee Board, and before the BC Human Rights Tribunal. She also travelled to the Kwadacha and Tsay Keh Dene First Nations to participate in circuit court.

Claudia was called to the bar in 2018 and has been practicing insurance defence in-house at ICBC since then. She can often be found at the Supreme Court of British Columbia, arguing in Chambers or assisting senior counsel at trial. Claudia cannot wait to conduct her first trial as a “first chair”. She is certain the skills she learned at SFU will play their role in helping her become the best lawyer she can be.

Alicia Blimkie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University in 2016 with a major in International Studies and a minor in World Literature. During her degree, she was a member of the International Studies Student Association and was Editor-in-Chief for the first edition of Confluence, the student association's journal. She also completed an internship with the United States Consulate General in Vancouver and studied abroad in the Hague, Netherlands, where her interest in law developed. 

Alicia graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Law and Juris Doctor from McGill University’s bilingual Faculty of Law in 2019. At law school, Alicia was an editor for Inter Gentes: The McGill Journal of International Law and Legal Pluralism and volunteered with a number of immigration-focused legal clinics. In 2018, she spent the summer working at the Ateneo Human Rights Centre in Manila, Philippines. 

Since being called to the British Columbia bar in 2021, Alicia has worked as counsel with the Department of Justice Canada. Alicia's practice is varied, including administrative law, constitutional law, environmental law, and personal injury litigation. 

Alicia's time in the International Studies program, as well as her internship with the U.S. Consulate General, taught her to write succinctly and clearly, a skill she uses often when writing legal arguments or case status reports for clients and managers. Alicia's advice to students would be to engage in as many extracurricular experiences as possible, as you'll learn best what you enjoy doing when you have the opportunity to apply your skills outside of the classroom.

After completing a double major in International Studies (Honours) and Economics, Melissa VanderHouwen attended law school at the University of Ottawa. She now practices at a progressive labour, employment, and human rights law firm in Vancouver, where she provides advocacy to unions regarding a wide variety of labour matters, and advice and representation to non-unionized employees on many workplace issues.

Melissa also has a particular interest in advising and advocating for unions and individuals on a variety of human rights issues. Her interest in human rights was kindled during her time at the School for International Studies, where she was given the opportunity to explore conflict, inequality, and injustice on a global scale. She now advocates for clients in human rights matters as part of her daily work, and draws regularly from what she learned at SFU.

Her time in the International Studies program taught her to think critically about the information we receive, the narratives we are given about people’s stories, the gaps in knowledge we have about the truth, and the nebulous nature of what “justice” means. Much of her legal practice involves telling people’s stories in a way that will be persuasive to an adjudicator, and seeking to enforce their rights in a deeply flawed legal system. Melissa draws heavily on the perspective she developed at SFU to advocate for her clients’ rights, and to push for equality and justice.

Melissa’s legal practice can be found here.

Aske Nørby Bonde graduated with a BA Honours in International Studies in 2013. During his studies, he was actively involved in student life and served as Secretary General of SFU’s own Model United Nations club and conference. Extracurricular activities complemented his courses as learning opportunities and were also a great way to make new friends. As an international student, the welcoming attitude of classmates and staff quickly made him feel at home in a friendly and encouraging learning environment. According to Aske, questions were critically approached from different angles in the interdisciplinary IS programme, fundamentally challenging and enriching his preconceived ideas of society. He describes the programme as academically demanding but also incredibly flexible with every semester providing the opportunity to choose between courses, internships, exchanges and field school.

Shortly after finishing his BA in IS, Aske did a Master’s degree in Development Studies at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland. He felt particularly well prepared for the Master’s degree, being familiar with central concepts in subjects such as international relations, economics, and sociology from his studies at SFU. After graduation, he chose to dedicate a year to attempt to learn Arabic in Jordan while doing short-term consultancies for a UN agency. He subsequently worked at the Foreign Service of the European Union in Brussels. Since 2019, Aske has worked as a diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark where he says he continuously benefits from the global outlook and critical reflections promoted at SFU’s School for International Studies.

At the time of writing, Joseph is a brand new Foreign Service Officer and is looking forward to beginning his rotational career shortly in a currently undetermined embassy overseas. Prior to joining the School for International Studies at Simon Fraser University, Joseph served as an infantry reservist in the Canadian Armed Forces with the Royal Westminster Regiment.

Throughout his BA, Joseph took advantage of the range of courses offered by the School for International Studies, and found particular interest in security and conflict related courses. He greatly enjoyed the interdisciplinary nature of the IS program, and was especially drawn to anthropology and sociology as a lens in which to understand and analyze developments at the local, regional and international level. He greatly values his time spent in small-sized classes having difficult but critical discussions with classmates and professors on a range of international issues.

In addition to his courses, Joseph completed a number of full-time internships spanning 20 months in total at the Mexican Consulate General in Vancouver, Global Affairs Canada's Trade Commissioner Service in Vancouver, and the Embassy of Canada to Thailand in Bangkok.

After graduating from the School for International Studies, Joseph obtained his LL.M in International Law from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, with a dissertation titled "Evaluating Legitimate Expectations: Demarcating the Limits of State Deference and Regulatory Measures in the Renewable Energy Sector". After obtaining his LL.M, Joseph worked as a legal clerk at an international commercial arbitration center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before being selected into the Foreign Service with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. 

Lauren graduated with a BA from SFU's School for International Studies in 2013 and soon began an internship with a French humanitarian NGO in South Sudan. She started her career in the finance and program development sector and transitioned to camp management and humanitarian coordination when the ethnic-political civil war broke out at the end of 2013. Since then, she has worked in South Sudan, Iraq and Yemen.

In 2017, Lauren completed a Masters degree in migration and development at SOAS in London, UK. Her research focused on humanitarian “accountability” and how humanitarian systems perpetuate, rather than challenge, the power imbalance between providers and receivers of humanitarian assistance.

Since early 2019, Lauren has been in Yemen, where she works with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). She is the country coordinator for the agency’s camp management operation, which supports civilians displaced by the ongoing proxy war. Her work involves managing camps and humanitarian programs to increase the quality and effectiveness of service provision (water, sanitation, shelter, food, protection, and health care) for displaced people in camp-like settings. Her experiences at SFU – notably, the opportunity to take a leadership role in SFU’s chapter of Schools Building Schools (an NGO), and mentorship from this organization’s founder, Craig Vandermeer (MAIS 2011) – are key factors that Lauren credits for launching her career in the humanitarian sector.

Jenna Dixon (BAIS 2010, MAIS 2015) currently works as the Special Assistant, Political Affairs to the Chief of Staff for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) in Baghdad. Since starting her career with international organizations in mainly conflict and post-conflict zones she has supported efforts in peace-building, political inclusion and humanitarian issues. Jenna previously worked for the UN Verification Mission (UNVMC) in Colombia, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE SMM) in eastern Ukraine, the UN Assistance Mission to Somalia (UNSOM) in Mogadishu and UNHCR in Ecuador and Costa Rica.

This work builds on the interest and expertise in International Security, Conflict and Development that Jenna developed through her studies as an undergraduate and graduate student at the SIS. During her BA, Jenna completed an extended minor in Latin American Studies as well as an exchange term at the University of Belgrano in Buenos Aires. In the MA program, Jenna focused one of her final extended essays on the Colombian refugee situation.

Nic graduated from the School for International Studies (SIS) in 2019. After finishing his degree, he accepted a full-time position as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Mission Possible. A not-for-profit organization in the Downtown Eastside, Mission Possible supports those struggling with poverty, addictions, and homelessness to reintegrate into the workforce. In 2021 Nic moved on to work as an Employment Coach at the YMCA of BC and later as Supervisor, Employment Programs where he worked to support multi-barrier youth rejoin the workforce.

Currently, he’s the Manager, Employment Programs at DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society, a newcomer serving organization in Surrey, BC, where he oversees the implementation of provincially funded skills training and education programs for multibarrier men and women survivors of violence. He also works with corporate partners to support internationally trained professionals with foreign credential recognition and labour market attachment.

One of the main drivers in Nic’s decision to join the international studies program was the small and personalized nature of the School and the tailored approach to learning brought forth by professors. While at SIS, Nic took advantage of many opportunities including three co-op placements with the Consulate General of Mexico, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, and Schools Building Schools in Uganda. He served as the President of the International Studies Student Association and was a committee member of Confluence, the undergraduate journal in international studies.

In his last year, Nic pursued an honours degree, writing an undergraduate thesis focused on South American identity reformation during the pink-tide movement. His work earned him the Dr. Alfredo E. Hurtado Memorial Essay Award and later his thesis was published in the Temas Sociales journal of the Universidad Mayor de San Andres in Bolivia. The combination of experiences and opportunities that he had at the School, together with the great relationships he built during his time in IS, have been instrumental in both his professional and personal life.

Nic is also a Certified Leadership Coach (CLC) which allows him to better support the people he works with through non-directive coaching and empowerment. He also serves as a board member for the World YMCA Steering Committee on 21st Century Christian Identity.

Alexander graduated from SFU’s School for International Studies in 2012. He began his graduate studies the following year at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, at the University of Toronto. Upon finishing his master’s degree he returned to Vancouver, where he worked at the intersections of social change, equity and innovation efforts with organizations including Apathy is Boring (as a member of its Board of Directors), RADIUS at SFU, Reconciliation Canada and the Vancouver Foundation. 

Upon relocating to Naarm/Melbourne (Australia), Alexander founded Past Futures, a strategic advisory consultancy that works with purpose-driven organizations to amplify and accelerate social change efforts. He also serves on the Board of GetUp, a progressive movement building organization. 

For Alexander, his BA in International Studies has been foundational to his current work. The program provided him with a space for critical reflection and the opportunity to develop and strengthen his ability to see the interconnectedness of our communities and our world. In reflecting upon his time with the School, he says he is forever grateful to its faculty and staff, who invest deeply in their students over the course of their studies.

For those embarking on their studies at SIS, Alexander’s advice is to never lose sight of your potential to make a meaningful difference, or of the causes and communities you seek to be in service to through your work.

Disha completed her bachelor’s degree in international studies in 2016, with a concentration in international development, economic and environmental issues. During her time in the program, she completed four co-op terms which allowed her to apply the research, writing, and communication skills she had developed in her classes within a professional setting, Her co-op experiences led Disha to her position as an Employment and Assistance Worker at the BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, where she assisted British Columbians in need. Her work involved assessing eligibility for income or disability assistance and providing other forms of support. During her three years in this role, she witnessed first-hand the impact of policy changes on the lives of her clients living in poverty, which sparked her interest in pursuing a Master in Public Policy at SFU. Through her master's program, she started working with BC Housing on various projects such as solutions for homeless encampments, the definition of low income housing, and others. As part of her master's studies, she wrote a thesis on the topic of supports for immigrant women experiencing intimate partner violence focusing on policy related solutions for the federal government. Following completion of her master’s degree, she moved to Ottawa for a job opportunity where she could apply the knowledge and skills honed from her master’s thesis. She has since been working as a Policy Analyst at the Canada Border Services Agency on improving immigration enforcement policies to account for specific considerations related to victims and survivors of gender-based violence to avoid retraumatizing them. 

A highlight of Disha’s undergraduate experiences was the exchange semester she completed at Sciences Po Paris. At Sciences Po, she had an opportunity to combine the disciplines of her major (International Studies) and her extended minor (French) by taking an International Studies course entirely in French, while also earning credits transferable to SFU. Her semester in France also gave her a chance to experience daily life in Paris and to travel across Europe on weekends with new friends she had made on exchange.

Disha’s advice for future students is to go on exchange (or seek out any other international adventure), and also opt for co-op: “The experiences, skills, and connections you gain outside the classroom are just as important as the ones you gain inside it. And a degree in international studies doesn’t necessarily mean you have to work abroad. The skills and knowledge you develop through the program can be applied in many careers right here in Canada.”

After graduating from SFU’s School for International Studies in 2015, Graciela moved to Ottawa to pursue a career in government. Since then, she has held a number of positions with Global Affairs Canada. In 2018, during Canada’s G7 Presidency, she served as a communications officer with the G7 Stakeholder Engagement team. In this role, she worked directly with the Prime Minister’s office and met with civil society actors who were seeking to have their voices and ideas reflected in the G7 summit process. Graciela then served as the Desk Officer for Ecuador, a position in which she worked on political and trade files and served as the focal point within the Ministry for all Ecuador-related matters. She has also organized a successful bilateral consultation process between the Ecuadorian and Canadian Governments, which focused on shaping policy and facilitating initiatives of significance to both countries. After a 6 years in Ottawa she decided to move back to Vancouver. Since 2022 Graciela has been working at Vancity as part of their stakeholder relations team. She works with partners to achieve Vancity’s commitment to be net zero by 2040 across all mortgages and loans.

In December 2020, Graciela completed a master’s degree in Communications at Carleton University in Ottawa. As part of her graduate studies, she explored the use of social media by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, examining how it has enabled her to become a kind of celebrity politician.

Graciela says she is grateful to the International Studies faculty at SFU for designing courses that spur students to think critically about global issues and policies. She says that her studies at SFU have not only shaped her understanding of global affairs, they have also influenced her activism in important ways. Outside of work, she has been involved in grassroots organizing on a range of issues, including climate justice and a $15 minimum wage. Her experiences as an activist encouraged her to enter politics in 2019, when she ran for the federal nomination of the NDP in Ottawa Central. Although her campaign did not result in the outcome she had hoped for, Graciela encourages young women, people of colour, and queer people to run for public office, and she offers the following advice: “Navigating systems and structures of power is not always easy. With every success there will always be setbacks and that's okay! However, I encourage all young women, folks of colour, and queer people to take up space and aim to be in places they never thought of being in. We need them in politics now more than ever.”

Samaah Jaffer completed her undergraduate studies at SFU in 2018, with a joint major in International Studies and World Literature, and a minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic History. While completing her BA, she worked at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, The Peak, The Lyre Magazine, and was the B.C. editor at rabble.ca. She also organized and presented at the 2017 Middle East and Islamic Consortium of BC student conference, where she received the Andrew Rippin top-essay award. As a recipient of the International Studies travel award in 2018, Samaah spent a semester studying Arabic in Cairo, Egypt. She returned to Cairo in 2019 to participate in the Summer Institute for Islamic Studies at the American University in Cairo.  

Samaah’s time at SIS was formative in shaping her thinking on Islam through a global lens. Discussion of Islamic history, law, and politics in IS seminars formed much of the foundation and inspiration for her graduate research.

In 2020, Samaah graduated from the MA/MSc program in International and World History at Columbia and the London School of Economics. She completed additional graduate coursework at the Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies at NYU in 2020-2021.

Claire finished her honours degree in International Studies at SFU in 2016. During her time in the program, she learnt from a number of different experiences, including working as a junior policy analyst at Global Affairs Canada, participating in the Educational Network for Human Rights in Palestine/Israel’s (FFIPP) summer internship programme, and completing an honours essay on socialism’s contested meanings in Cuba.

After graduating, Claire joined Canada’s Parliamentary Internship Programme, where she worked for two Members of Parliament and researched how Senators understand their relationship to the public. In 2017-2018, she completed her MA in Sociology at the University of Toronto. She then worked at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy’s Global Justice Lab from 2018 to 2019. At the Global Justice Lab, her work examined topics like police oversight and the criminal justice system’s response to sexual assault in different countries. In 2019, Claire began her PhD in Sociology at New York University. With an interest in culture, organizations, and morality, she is particularly focused on how these dynamics unfold in accountability systems.

Throughout these experiences, Claire has drawn on the tools and questions that she developed at SFU’s School for International Studies, which she describes as a programme that truly fosters curiosity. Claire says she is immensely grateful to the staff, professors, and fellow students at the School; their encouragement to ask questions and read widely led her to pursue her current research direction.