Future leaders and changemakers: The first cohort of the FASS Dean's Undergraduate Fellowship

Elijah is interested in sociolinguistics and passionate about multilingualism, and is currently pursuing his graduate degree in linguistics as part of the accelerated master's program. Working under the supervision of Dr. Suzanne Hilgendorf, Elijah is studying the global phenomenon of World Englishes, notably in multilingual contexts. While at SFU, he was won several awards, including outstanding scholar-athlete for the 2023-2024 year, and writing awards from the Department of French. Outside of academia, he is a proud member of the SFU wrestling team where he has competed in NCAA wrestling for the past four years. Elijah's other interests include language learning, travel and skiing. 

As a proud elected member of SFU's Board of Governors, Emmanuel brings a passion for leadership, advocacy, and community engagement. He currently also serves as the President of the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS), where he works to represent and advocate for the interests of 25,000 + SFU undergraduate students.

As a former student athlete with the SFU Football team, Vice-President of the Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry, and President of the SFU Residence Hall Association, he has focused on creating supportive spaces for all students. His commitment to fostering an inclusive campus life extends to his advocacy for social justice in and beyond SFU. After graduation, he aspires to go to law school while also remaining involved in community through boards, governance, and policy initiatives. In his down time, he enjoys playing sports, reading, listening to music/podcasts, and travelling. 

Evan Accettola is an active advocate for Indigenous representation, serving as the Youth Representative on the Provisional Council of his nation, the Métis Nation of Ontario. At SFU, Evan is the current treasurer and SFSS representative for the Indigenous Studies Student Union, a Indigenous Student Ambassador at SFU's Indigenous Student Centre, a former member of the SFU Water Polo club.

He is a Licensed Practical Nurse, having obtained his Diploma in Practical Nursing from George Brown College. Evan is currently completing his Certificate in Emergency Management at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). 

Evan's diverse experiences include volunteering with the KidsHelpPhone Crisis Text Line, participating in the Vancouver Police Department Indigenous Cadet Program, and attending COP28 in Dubai. Evan is passionate about promoting health, education, community engagement, and Indigenous rights in everything he does.

This year, Gabrielle is writing their honours essay about the political economic factors that influence the recovery of endangered species in British Columbia. When they're not working on their project, Gabrielle is planning events with the Geography Student Union, working with students as a writing and learning peer educator, and running the Debate and Speech Association of British Columbia as the organization's interim president.

She completed three co-op work terms with the federal government and has been a research assistant for three professors in the Department of Geography — Dr. Magie Ramírez, Dr. Rosemary Collard, and Dr. Eugene McCann. Outside of coursework and research, Gabrielle likes listening to music, baking with their siblings, and crocheting on their bus rides to campus.

Hannah is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Sociology and Criminology at SFU. Within these fields, Hannah has especially enjoyed diving deeper into political sociology and quantitative methods. For the last couple of years, she has had the privilege of being the President of the Sociology and Anthropology Student Union (SASU). During her time with SASU, Hannah has worked with her executive members to create a warm community for all Sociology and Anthropology students. To do this, they frequently host social events and created an academic journal, POLIS.

Outside of SFU, Hannah is an avid reader, and she especially enjoy fiction novels with nuanced characters and relationships. Her love for reading has grown larger as she has been working at a bookstore for the last two years. Finally, Hannah also enjoys going to watch movies in theatres with her family and friends! 

Itzel began her journey at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in 2022 as a transfer student from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), joining with SFU's Ken Caple Transfer Entrance Scholarship. Initially intending to major in Psychology, she discovered her passion for Linguistics after connecting with the Linguistics Student Union (LSU) and later joining the executive team, where she currently serves as a merchandise officer. Immersed in the field, she declared Linguistics as her major and developed a strong interest in early language acquisition. 

Prior to SFU, Itzel volunteered as a psychology research assistant at KPU, presenting preliminary findings at the Northwest Cognition and Memory (NOWCAM) 2022 conference. She continues to participate in conference poster sessions alongside her former professor. Beyond her studies, she is committed to her community, serving as an executive on the Parent Advisory Council at her children's school and as an administrator for a community group of over 1,200 active members. She has also served as a strata council member, and this summer, she concluded nearly three years of teaching music to children under 12—a volunteer role she found particularly rewarding.

Looking ahead, Itzel plans to pursue a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. In the meantime, when she isn’t focused on academics or volunteering, she can be found crafting, playing board games, or, in the spring, playing soccer.

Karen is a fourth-year criminology student who is an aspiring police officer. She is passionate about crime analysis and how intelligence-led policing can advance modern practices. She is currently an intern at BEL Investigations where they investigate criminal risk across supply chains and ownership networks. Her internship role reflects her interest in organized crime and allows her to gain hands-on experience analyzing complex international criminal enterprises, terrorist groups, and their operations.

In the future, Karen plans to apply her acquired knowledge and experience to pursue a career in law enforcement where she can contribute to public safety and justice. She hopes to bridge the gap between police and communities while restoring public trust. Outside of academia, Karen continues her love for gymnastics through her own training and coaching the next generation of athletes. She enjoys travelling, learning about nutrition, and spending time with friends. 

On track to begin her pursuit of a graduate degree in the fall, Kathryn's intended area of study centralizes horror literature in the 19th and 20th century, particularly on the axis of gender politics and how gender disquietude accretes around and manifests in literary works. In 2023, she was recruited by the academic team of the World Literature Student Conference (WLSC) as an Academic Associate and Panel Moderator. The following year, she returned as a board member and served as the Academic Director of the 9th annual WLSC — SFU’s largest undergraduate conference to date. Kathryn aspires to complete a PhD in English Literature and is honoured to have been selected as one of the inaugural FASS Dean's Undergraduate Fellows.

Kathryn grew up in dance and has an affinity for ballet. She also loves to make music and garden in her time. Post grad-school, she aspires to attain her PhD and eventually profess herself.

Kayla is a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, where she pursues her passion for language as a Linguistics major. Additionally, she has explored many of the faculty’s departments, including Cognitive Science, English, Global Humanities, History, and Psychology. As a research assistant with the Phonological Processing Lab, she applies her learning to research within the field, being involved with the sCIP project since Spring 2024. Kayla is also proud to have received the 2024 Becker Essay Prize, the Chung Family Undergraduate Scholarship in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences for Summer 2024, and the Paul McFetridge Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship in Linguistics for Fall 2024.

Outside of SFU, she volunteers with a stroke recovery group and enjoys reading, writing, and learning new languages. Kayla is honoured to represent the Department of Linguistics as a FASS Dean's Undergraduate Fellow and looks forward to learning from this opportunity.

Kelton is currently an honours student under the supervision of Dr. Lara Aknin, working on research exploring the impacts of different types of gratitude on subsequent prosocial behaviour. He is also a volunteer research assistant in Dr. Aknin’s Helping and Happiness Lab, where he is developing his interest in social psychology. His broader research interests include clinical psychology and quantitative methods. After completing his undergraduate degree, he plans to pursue graduate studies with the goal of becoming an educator and expanding research in prosociality and positive psychology. 

Outside of his studies, he works as a Client Care Worker at a treatment centre for individuals with substance use disorders. On his days off, he can be found reading existentialist philosophy or playing hockey. He feels very honoured to be part of the FASS Dean’s Undergraduate Fellowship. 

Marnie is in her final year at SFU, pursuing a major in criminology. She is enrolled in the School of Criminology’s Honours program and is set to defend her thesis in April 2025. Inspired by the work of her mentor, Dr. Shannon Linning, Marnie’s thesis explores the role residents play in police problem-solving. She aspires to publish her work one day, hoping that her research will inform more effective community-oriented policing strategies.

Marnie’s academic journey has been enriched by hands-on learning through a Work Experience position at Somers Poulin Hall. This opportunity provided her with valuable insights into the legal field. She values this experience as it solidified her passion for law and motivated her to pursue law school after graduation. Her knowledge spans both criminal and civil law, reflecting her dual interests. Passionate about advocacy, she aspires to support individuals in navigating the legal system.

A fourth-year student enrolled in the Department of French, Mina plans on joining the Professional Development Program and becoming a teacher after her graduation. Her dream is to become a French language teacher in the elementary level and pass along the skill of bilingualism.

She is currently employed as an Activity Leader at BGC South Coast BC among an amazing team of passionate people who always ensure the best for their members. She loves working with children and enjoys volunteering in classrooms, aiding teachers and furthering her experience in helping children succeed. She is very honoured for the nomination to the FASS Dean’s Undergraduate Fellowship.

Natalia currently works as a co-op student with the BC Ministry of Health as a Compensation Analyst where she interacts directly with different stakeholders in the healthcare sector and contributes to the development of alternative compensation policies. She is enthusiastic about economics research, public policy, wealth and income inequality, and the role of societal institutions. She is also deeply interested in data analysis and visualization using various analytical tools, particularly R, STATA and PowerBI.

Natalia sits on the executive team of the Economics Student Society as Co-Director of Finance and Funding, which she uses as an opportunity to give back to the SFU economics community. Her long-term goals are to continue broadening her knowledge and working towards the resolution of societal issues. In her free time, Natalia enjoys watching reality tv shows and dancing to Latin tunes.

Nava is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying English and Philosophy at SFU. In philosophy, her interests lie primarily in epistemology, specifically, social epistemology, but she is also drawn to topics in aesthetics, meta-ethics, and the philosophy of language. Outside of academics, Nava enjoys being involved on campus and engaging with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds. She is the president of the Philosophy Student Union and an executive of the English Student Union, both of which have allowed her to contribute to creating a strong sense of community with the students in her departments. She also volunteers as a peer mentor in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and as a Writing and Learning Peer at the SFU library’s Student Learning Commons, where she appreciates the chance to provide support to her fellow students.

Aside from school, Nava works as a barista and spends her free time reading, especially poetry, philosophy, and critical theory. She also takes pleasure in writing and learning, which she hopes she will never stop doing.

Olivia is in her final year at SFU, hoping to pursue a career in library and information science after she graduates. She has a passion for all kinds of artistic expression, from knitting and crocheting to drawing and painting, and hopes to one day master every kind of artistic hobby there is!

Olivia's passion for art has led her to many Humanities classes involving art and literature, and her time studying these has been an incredibly rewarding experience. SFU has provided her with so many memories, amazing classes, and new friends, and she looks forward to her future, continuing to learn every step of the way!

Inspired by her incredible professors, Olivia is particularly interested in creative organizing strategies, labour law, labour policy, and transnational labour movements. She feels extremely grateful to her instructors at SFU’s Labour Studies program and the practical, interdisciplinary education they provide. As Vice-President of the newly restarted Labour Studies Student Union (LSSU), she feels honoured to network with on-campus student unions and pro-worker organizations, including the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) and Contract Workers Justice (CWJ). Beyond simply being a student union, LSSU aims to provide students with meaningful experiential opportunities, collectively creating a more equitable and inclusive community.

Outside of university, Olivia continues developing her professional experience by working with the Union Cooperative Initiative (UCI) and BC NDP. After graduation, she plans to work with labour unions in Canada and the United States.

Rini is very passionate about meeting people, the Canadian government and public policy. Currently working at the Simon Fraser Student Society in the Policy, Research, and Community Affairs Department, she writes and analyzes policy that reflects the issues of the student body. Rini is also enrolled in the FASS Co-op program, which landed her a summer job at Employment and Social Development Canada in her first year. Her team developed programs to help youth with barriers to employment gain the skills needed to transition to the labour market. She currently volunteers with the SFU Women's Center, the Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Office, and ReclaimTech SFU.

When she is not at the university, you can find her painting watercolours, watching the geese at Trout Lake, or working out at the gym. She values community above all else, and her favourite activity is listening to people talk in detail about their passions, regardless of the topic. Please do share yours with her! 

Tallisen has lived in Vancouver her entire life, proudly identifying as both a fifth-generation Chinese Canadian and a second-generation British Canadian. Since transferring to SFU, her last three years have been some of the most engaging, insightful, expansive, and impactful times of her academic career. As a neurodivergent person living also with learning disabilities, her professors and the supportive accessibility department and community at SFU gave her the space and confidence to explore, flourish and succeed her academic passions and personal growth.

Tallisen has volunteered with VanDusen Botanical Garden and attended many seminars in relation to gender equality and women’s studies, all of which align with her passions for social justice, ecology, and community. Studying new perspectives and unique topics within her chosen field of humanities, coupled with a semester on exchange in Glasgow, Scotland, she has amplified her passion for history, architecture and knowledge. Her creative skills and passion for anthropology, social justice, and public speaking has pushed Tallisen to pursue sharing her lived experiences with ADHD and Dyslexia, with a desire to offer coaching and support to parents, children, and fellow students, so invisible disabilities can be better understood.

Being an undergraduate student at SFU, the university’s extensive support system was the reason she was able to achieve her goals. She is so proud and excited to continue engaging with respected thought leaders through this honoured fellowship.

Taylor’s primary interest is the history of philosophy, specifically the history and philosophy of science with a focus on the early modern period and alchemy. She is currently working on a paper titled "The Transmutation of 'Elements' in Chemical Language" which investigates the gradual disappearance of alchemy from the domain of science leading up to the eighteenth century. She argues that paradigm-shifting language changes—specifically Lavoisier's operational definition of the "element"—are at the root of the apparent disappearance, rather than alchemy's own scientific failings. 

Outside of academia, Taylor is also a painter and aspiring comic book author. Her latest work-in-progress is a science fiction comic called "Astrophe." Centered around the life of a young human girl named Po in a world populated almost entirely by robots, she incorporates concepts from the philosophy of language and mind to explore the perspective of a child unable to communicate linguistically with her robotic peers.

Yassmeen has been actively involved in the FASS community through roles like the FASS Peer Mentorship Program and as President of the International Studies Student Association. In these positions, she helped organize events and initiatives focused on community-building and networking at SFU.

Yassmeen also worked as a Junior Analyst with the BC Specific Claims Branch, where she gained experience in Canada’s reconciliation efforts, and she continues to seek out opportunities to deepen her studies on improving the social and economic conditions of Indigenous communities in Canada and the Global South.

Her academic and professional interests center on sustainable development in the Middle East and peacebuilding efforts in the region. Yassmeen is committed to advancing solutions that promote long-term stability and equity through interdisciplinary methods.

Zoe Stanley is a Cognitive Science student at Simon Fraser University, focusing on philosophy, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence. With a deep interest in neuropsychology and emotional states, Zoe is passionate about exploring frameworks and technologies that foster emotional well-being. Through Zoe’s software company that she cofounded, Betterwise, she is working to expand access to life skills education, empowering individuals to thrive in diverse environments. Zoe’s current research involves developing advanced emotion recognition systems designed to reduce bias, bridging gaps in human-computer interaction.

Outside of her academic and entrepreneurial pursuits, Zoe enjoys hiking, Pilates, and exploring current research in medicine and health science. She strives to bring creativity and curiosity to her long-term goal of integrating cognitive science frameworks and technologies.