 | Jessica Arcand (MA Sociology, 2020)
"Between my undergrad and grad school, I spent 6 years of my life at Carleton and after all this time, I can honestly say that choosing Carleton was one of the best decisions I ever made! I spent my time going to class, studying, eating at the food court, studying, falling in love, and yes, even more time studying. I will be forever grateful for Carleton since this is where I met my now-fiancé, Adam, 6 years ago. His support and encouragement throughout school (along with that of my family) helped me get through all the stressors of university life.
During my first-year at Carleton, I switched into the Sociology program and that was another great decision! I loved the field, the classes, and the SOAN department. I also had the opportunity to complete the co-op option in my undergrad, where I was able to get real life work experience at two government departments and one private firm. I am still in touch with many of the people I worked with at these places. Near the end of my undergraduate degree, I was encouraged by Xiaobei Chen to continue my education by completing the Master’s degree program in Sociology (thank you, Xiaobei!). That was another great decision! Here, I was able to focus my studying on a particular area of interest, do independent research, and work as a Teaching Assistant.I’d like to thank the entire SOAN department (faculty, staff, and fellow classmates) for helping me along the way. I’d especially like to thank Rania Tfaily for being my supervisor and working with me for two-years while I completed my M.A. and my major research paper. I would also like to thank Leslie-Anne Keown for being the second reader for my MRP.
In my short 25 years, my 6 years at Carleton makes up a big chapter of my life and I will never forget my time here. So, CHEERS to Carleton and all my fellow graduates!" |
 | Amelia Curran (PhD Sociololgy, 2020)
It is an honour to graduate with a PhD in Sociology from Carleton University. This department offers such a range of incredible scholarship that even as I changed the idea for my dissertation, and changed it again, I never lost my footing. Indeed, the warm welcome I received on my first days (Thank you Paula!) to the support with crossing the finish line (Thank you Patricia!) characterized my years in this department. Thank you Aaron Doyle, William Walters, Bruce Curtis, and Michael Mopas for making this an incredible experience for me. |
 | Maria Dabboussy (MA Sociology, 2020)
"When I first came to Carleton, It was with few expectations of completing a degree. Only through the kindness and care from countless administrators, friends, and Faculty, did I complete my undergraduate studies, and even dream of pursuing an MA in Sociology. Through the compassion and joy of those around me, I learned to love learning.
While studies in the Arts and Social Sciences have left me with the transferable skills that equip us for the workplace, these are not what I value most from my education. Through my experience at Carleton, I have become curious, I want to see things differently, and embrace multiplicity. Graduate studies left me feeling more capable in embracing myself, in supporting meaningful relationships, in mothering, and in handling adversity.
Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to support my studies. I think about all of you often." |
 | Saira Gokal (BA Honours Sociology: Social Justice Stream, 2020)
"It feels like not that long ago that I stepped onto campus for my first year of university. I remember the day my acceptance letter arrived in the mail and my heart filled with excitement and fear. When one of my high school teachers, Mr. Pressey, told me getting into university was the easy part and staying was the hardest, I did not quite believe him. Of course, it was until I realized Architecture was not for me and instead, at 18, I cherished being a mentor and academic advisor to my 60 undergraduate students during my second year as a Residence Fellow. This was when I saw the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive community structured on strong relationships by simultaneously acting as a leader and a friend. I immediately decided to switch programs to Sociology: Social Justice Stream and this will forever remain one of the best decisions I have ever made. Studying at Carleton has also showed me how to engage with my community by dedicating time outside of school to volunteer with the Paul Menton Centre over the years supporting others.
Throughout my degree, I grew closer to staff and peers by conducting community engaged research and gaining valuable field experience. Some opportunities I treasure to this day are: CO-OP for IRCC, working alongside Aaron Doyle with CPEP (Criminalization and Punishment Education Project) to support those affected by criminalization, assisting The Herongate Tenant Coalition to support visible minorities being displaced and focusing my fourth year research paper on how racialized and gendered inequalities – as social determinants of health – contribute to mental health challenges for racialized women in the service industry. Despite the various health complications, I experienced over the years, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology supported me through my highs and lows. Sociology is without a doubt an outstanding program that not only offers a diverse academic experience but also strengthens your ability to make your own social impact on the world.
Overall, I want to thank Carleton and the Sociology and Anthropology Department for enabling me to be the first in my family to complete a degree and I hope I made my immigrant parents proud. I could not have done it without my father who taught me the value of knowledge and how to be compassionate and my mother who always showed me the value of perseverance and being a hard worker #TheFutureIsFemale. To my Aunts and Uncles for showing me how to strive for anything imaginable with their words of encouragement, and their emotional and financial support. I also want to thank the staff from the department for their endless courage, kindness, and support. Lastly, my partner, Jack, who I met at Carleton 6 years ago – thank you for being my #1 Fan and cheering me on all the way through!" |
 | Mary Jessome (MA Sociology, 2020)
"They say it takes a community to raise a child. I’m convinced it also takes a village to complete a thesis. That said, I want to take a moment to thank the community who helped me get to the end of my Master’s degree.
Of course, a warm and special thank you must be given to Daiva Stasiulis and Kelly Fritsch for believing in my research and mentoring me on how to make it the best project it could be. You two are formidable scholars and to learn from you was a true blessing.
I also want to thank Justin Paulson for a truly engaging course. Your pedagogical approach and commitment to your students creates an educational experience like no other! So much of what I learned about being challenged by/challenging different perspectives happened during Modern Marxism.
Finally, I would be amiss if I did not say thank you to the SOAN administrative staff. Your endless dedication to the department and its students is an enormous part of what made my time at Carleton so special." |
 | Deirdre McDonald (PhD Sociology, 2020)
"Pursuing a doctoral degree at Carleton University was a deeply rewarding experience. The Department of Sociology and Anthropology was welcoming and, alongside my SSHRC funding that I entered the program with, I was provided a funding package that included various teaching assistant positions. On top of my scholarly training, additional opportunities were offered by Carleton University including ongoing development for teaching and academic writing. These opportunities created a productive space for me to access applied knowledge and resources transferable to the labour market. Throughout my tenure at Carleton University, I embraced opportunities to present my original work at many conferences, participate in residencies and workshops, and, from this, I received several awards. Through these experiences, paired with a diverse range of courses, field work, doctoral supervision, and interactions with faculty across the campus, I was exposed to a range of unique perspectives that enhanced my scholarly experience. This overall journey prepared me well for publishing and academic writing and has greatly contributed to my commitment to professional development and achievements following the successful completion of my doctoral degree in January 2020. Through the mentorship of invested and supportive faculty and staff, I completed my doctoral degree efficiently and successfully." |
 | Hanna Stewart (MA Sociology, 2020)
"Carleton has been my second home since 2014. Having completed both my undergraduate degree (BA Canadian Studies and French, 2018) and now successfully defending my MA thesis in Sociology, I can say that the last 6 years at Carleton have been very memorable.
I have so many people to thank for helping me in my journey. First, to my former undergraduate supervisor and life long mentor, Dr. Peter Thompson. I am beyond grateful I was accepted into such a wonderful department with the School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies. Your generosity, patience and outstanding leadership skills have played such an integral role in helping me become a stronger academic and young professional. Second, to my wonderful thesis supervisor, Dr. Alexis Shotwell. Thank you for never giving up on me. There were numerous days when I wanted to throw in the towel and leave the MA behind, but you consistently had my back and helped me see my potential and worth. To my thesis committee and outstanding admin team in SOAN, thank you for helping me every step of the way for my MA. Despite this pandemic, I was able to complete my degree and never doubted that I had a supportive group of individuals I could turn to for assistance. And finally, to my amazing friends and family- your support and encouragement as I have pursued these two degrees have been appreciated. I hope to have made you proud.
Warmest congratulations to my fellow graduates in the Class of 2020! All the best to you in your future endeavours."
Click here to read about how Hanna created long-lasting community connections during her time at Carleton University. |
 | Abbey Wright (MA Sociology, 2020)
"My time at Carleton has been an incredibly important period of my life. The Master's programme was a period characterized by self-discovery, academic exploration, struggle, and the development of long lasting friendships and professional relationships. I became a more critical thinker and more confident in my academic capabilities because of the support I received from the staff and faculty. I owe a huge thanks to the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies for shaping my academic development through conferences, events, and opportunities like the European Study Tour. I could not have succeeded in this program without the incredible support of my supervisor Dr. Daiva Stasiulis, who pushed me to improve my critical analytic skills and guided me through my first experience with qualitative field research abroad. I am also grateful for my second reader Dr. Augustine Park for her support throughout my research journey, Dr. Aaron Doyle for introducing me to the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project, and Dr. Deborah Conners for being an amazing T.A supervisor. Her mentorship was instrumental in helping me navigate the challenges of being a teaching assistant and in developing my confidence in the role. There are so many more people to whom I owe my thanks which is really a testament to the program and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. The program was challenging and at times overwhelming but overall an incredible experience and one that I would highly recommend to others." |