Alyssia Nahar

Alyssia Nahar | Class of 2022
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Communication and Digital Media Studies (CDMS)

As a transfer student, I was afraid that my opportunities were limited and doubtful that I could end up in the job of my dreams. However, a wise practicum coordinator once told me "The possibilities are endless and your dream job probably hasn't even been invented yet...but give it 10 years and you'll end up in a role that was better than you could've ever imagined."

In my final year of undergraduate studies, I completed my practicum placement at the Durham Rape Crisis Centre. I built a strong foundation with experience in social work, workshop curation and facilitation that led to my employment as the Assistant Manager and Temporary Program Facilitator at The LivingRoom Community Art Studio. I then moved onto Neighbourlink North York, to create wellness programming for marginalized youth and seniors in North York. Moving from non-profit work to academia, I worked at George Brown College in their Accessible Learning Services and Counselling Department, where I supported various student populations including BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+ and students living with disabilities. Ontario Tech University and the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH) has not only played a pivotal role in providing me with a strong foundation for employment across many different careers, but it has also welcomed me back to provide a pathway to post-secondary studies for BIPOC and First Generation students as an Outreach & Community Engagement Coordinator.I love connecting with the students I’ve served across the Durham Region, and creating culturally relevant and engaging material that many find invaluable.

I’m forever indebted to the professors of the FSSH; they bring life to the program through their mentorship and passion for teaching. As long as you show initiative, they're always willing to support in any way possible and help you achieve success by the time you graduate. Thank you to the professors that made time to support me, that encouraged me to pursue my passions and that made my remaining years of undergraduate studies at Ontario Tech University memorable.