Learn about what others have chosen to study and do through this innovative program.
PhD, York University (2013)
Assistant Professor
Odette School of Business
University of Windsor
Faculty members in this program are committed to seeing students do well. They were very flexible in allowing me to explore the research topics and questions that I was interested in. I believe that the encouragement I received to get exposed to the publication process played a meaningful role in helping me prepare for a career as a scholar.
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), BDO Canada
Graduate Program in Human Resource Management, Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) 2008
Alicia DeFreitas is BDO Canada's Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Alicia focuses on human resources practices that attract, engage and encourage learning and growth. Alicia has led innovative human resources solutions and has proven experience managing through complex change.
After graduating from the Master of Human Resources (MHRM) program at York University, she became a board member as a programs officer for the MHRM Alumni Committee. Alicia helped establish a vital network for MHRM alumni to stay connected and organized learning sessions for graduates by liaising with academic researchers and HR professionals.
PhD, York University (2016)
MHRM, York University
Current University Position: Grenoble Ecole de Management, France
Amanda Peticca-Harris is now an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Grenoble Ecole de Management in Grenoble, France. She did her Masters and PhD in Human Resource Management at York University in Toronto, Canada. Her research explores how people experience work with a particular emphasis on the body, identity, and power relations within new and emerging forms of work. Her work has been published in Organizational Research Methods, Organization, Journal of Business Ethics, and Journal of Management Development.
Research Area: Careers, precarious work & marginalized workers, employee health & wellbeing, qualitative research methodologies
Journal Papers:
Peticca-Harris, A., deGama, N., & Ravishankar, M. N. (2020). Postcapitalist precarious work and those in the ‘drivers’ seat: Exploring the motivations and lived experiences of Uber drivers in Canada. Organization, 27(1), 36-59.
Peticca-Harris, A. (2019). Managing compassionately? Managerial narratives about grief and compassion. Human Relations, 72(3), 588-612.
Peticca-Harris, A., deGama, N., & Elias, S. (2016). A Dynamic Process Model for Finding Informants and Gaining Access in Qualitative Research. Organizational Research Methods, 19(3), 376-401.
Peticca-Harris, A., Weststar, J., & McKenna, S. (2015). The perils of project-based work: Attempting resistance to extreme work practices in video game development. Organization, 22 (4) 570-587.
York University (2016)
Current University Position: Trent University
Research Area: The role of social media in the recruitment and selection of employees, the impact of Covid-19 on HR practices, and talent management
Journal Papers:
Malik, A. R., & Singh, P. (2019). The role of employee attributions in burnout of “talented” employees. Personnel Review, 49(1), 19-42.
Malik, A., Manroop, L., & Patel, P. C. (2016). An Empirical Examination of the Relationship between HPWS and Firm Performance. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2016, No. 1, p. 10536). Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of Management.
Shantz, A., Wang, J., & Malik, A. (2018). Disability status, individual variable pay, and pay satisfaction: Does relational and institutional trust make a difference? Human Resource Management, 57(1), 365-380.
Malik, A., & Manroop, L. (2017). Recent immigrant newcomers’ socialization in the workplace: Roles of organizational socialization tactics and newcomer strategies. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 36(5), 382-400.
Malik, A. R., Manroop, L., & Singh, P. (2017). Self-initiated international career transition: a qualitative case study of Pakistani immigrants to Canada. European Business Review, 29(5), 584-602.
PhD, York University, Canada (2019)
MSc International Business, University of Vaasa, Finland
MA Intercultural Studies in Communication and Administration, University of Vaasa, Finland
BA (Honours) Communication, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA
Current University Position: Wilfrid Laurier University
Anita completed her undergraduate degree (BA Honors) from the State University of New York at Buffalo (USA), with a major in Communication and a minor in International Business. Anita continued her studies at the University of Vaasa, in Finland where she completed two Masters Degrees and went on an exchange semester at Stockholm University in Sweden. Her first Masters degree (MSc) was in International Business while her second (MA) was in Intercultural Studies in Communication and Administration. Anita studied Swedish media and film during her exchange semester in Sweden at Stockholm University. Anita’s interest in Communication and International Business Management serves as a strong foundation for her PhD studies in Human Resource Management, where she researches human interactions and communication at the work place. The multi-disciplinary focus of York’s PhD program allows Anita to bring interdisciplinary theories and research methods into her research.
Research Area: Knowledge sharing and learning from the failure of high-tech firms
Conference Papers:
Boey, A. (2014). Cultural relevant pedagogy: A university students' perspective. Conference proceedings, Administrative Sciences Association of Canada, Muskoka, Canada, May 2014.
Huang, E. & Boey, A. (2021). Using a 360-degree performance appraisal method to cultivate a high-performance learning culture. Academy of Management, Teaching & Learning Conference, August 2021.
Boey, A. & Huang, E. (2021). Creating a friendly, supportive, inclusive, and engaging remote learning environment. Academy of Management, Teaching & Learning Conference, August 2021.
Boey, A. & Huang, E. (2021). The Art Gallery Classroom: Using Art for Experiential Learning. Academy of Management, Teaching & Learning Conference, August 2021.
Good, J., Frawley, S. & Boey, A. (2019). Encouraging Creativity in Higher Education. Administrative Sciences Association of Canada, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, May 2019. (Won the Best Student Paper Award for the Management Education Division of ASAC at the 2019 ASAC Conference.)
Good, J., Boey, A., Chuang, Y-T., & Hu, C. (2018). The roles of emotional regulation and contextual factors in learning from failure behavior. In Zakaryan, A (Chair), Learning and forgetting from success and failures. Symposium conducted at the Academy of Management, Chicago, Illinois, USA, August 2018.
Boey, A., Latham, S. D., & Ezzedeen, S. R. (2018). Learning to become a teacher and researcher: A graduate student’s creative journey. Annual Mid-Atlantic Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, March 2018.
Boey, A., & Chuang, Y.T. (2016). Sharing failure experiences at work. In A. Boey, & Chuang, Y.T. (Chairs), Learning from organizational errors and failures. Symposium conducted at the Academy of Management, Anaheim, California, USA, August 2016.
Boey, A. (2016). Radical creative performance: A citizenship image enhancer. Administrative Sciences Association of Canada, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, June 2016.
Good, J., Boey, A., & Chuang, Y.T. (2016). Incentives (competition), feedback, and innovation performance: Evidence from an experimental study. DRUID, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 2016.
MHRM, York University (2012)
Human Capital Consultant
Deloitte
Pursuing an MHRM over an MBA is a decision I wouldn’t change. An MHRM provided me with a unique skill set, gave me sought-after credentials, and set me apart from my peers graduating from other programs. I learned from a remarkable faculty, who continue to support me. The MHRM fortified my expertise in the workplace, and connected me with a strong network that led to my most recent career opportunity.
Chief Administrative Officer, Pet Retail Brands
Graduate Program in Human Resource Management, Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) 2010
Christine Martin Bevilacqua is the chief administrative officer at Pet Retail Brands. She is responsible for franchise sales & administration, human resources, real estate, compliance and risk management for over 1,100 locations with over 7,000 associates in Canada and USA, under the banners: Pet Valu, Pet Supermarket, Bosleys, Tisol, and Paulmac's. Bevilacqua has previous held positions of vice president, corporate services (HR & IT) at HB Group Insurance Management Ltd. and regional director human resources – Ontario at Delta Hotel & Resorts. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Windsor and Masters in Human Resource Management from York University.
MD, Talent Analytics & Rewards, CPP Investments
Graduate Program in Human Resource Management, Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) 2014
Dario leads a team responsible for the development, governance and administration of compensation, benefits and retirement programs, as well as the overall talent analytics for CPP Investments’ employees around the world.
Prior to joining CPP Investments in 2015, Dario was with Sun Life Financial, where he held various roles, including heading total rewards and mobility for Sun Life Asia in Hong Kong, and leading the sales compensation practice in Toronto. He also worked as a compensation consultant with Willis Towers Watson in Philadelphia and Toronto, supporting clients on competitive pay analyses, job leveling, and M&A integration initiatives.
Dario holds a Masters of Human Resources Management from York University, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Vice President Human Resources, Sherwin Williams
Graduate Program in Human Resource Management, Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) 2011
Edina Ramic is the vice president of human resources for Sherwin Williams and leads an HR team that is responsible for creating and implementing HR policies that support the business of 250 paint retail stores across Canada. Prior to her role at SW, Ramic was an HR manager for Home Depot, and prior to that has spent about 5 years in HR for other fields, including medicine and insurance. She is passionate about creating value and HR structures that promote employee engagement and retention.
MHRM, York University (2010)
Vice President, Human Resources
Kinross Gold Corporation
My experience in the MHRM program gave me great confidence in designing fact-based, practical solutions to important real-world business challenges, which has helped me advance my career. I highly recommend making this investment in yourself, which will help enhance HR’s reputation as a vital business imperative.
MHRM, York University (2011)
Chief People Officer
Randstad Canada
I’ve enjoyed four promotions since completing my master’s and can certainly attribute some of that success to the emphasis on strategic and factual thinking learned during the program. I thoroughly enjoyed learning from a mix of professors with real work experiences as well as pure researchers. This allowed me to decipher what could and couldn’t work within the organizations I served, as well as allowed me to draw upon the skills and knowledge I obtained.
PhD, York University
MIRHR, University of Toronto
BBA Honours, Brock University
Fola-Kemi (Kemi) completed a Bachelor of Business Administration at Brock University with a major in Human Resource Management and a minor in French studies. She then went on to complete a Masters of Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management at University of Toronto. During her undergraduate degree, Kemi participated in an exchange program in Normandy, France. She also worked for several organizations including not-for-profit membership-based associations as well as a crown corporation. Within these organizations, Kemi gained experience in human resource management and business administration. Throughout her master's degree Kemi worked as a teaching assistant in several universities, leading tutorials and assisting with courses such as: human resource management, organizational behaviour and business communications. Through her studies and work experience, Kemi realised the exceptional impact that human resource management can have in the workplace which lead her to discover a passion for teaching as well as a desire to contribute to research in human resource management. Throughout her academic career Kemi looks forward to the opportunity to contribute to bridging the gap between HR practice and academia. Kemi was attracted to York University's PhD in Human Resource Management because of the opportunity to work with the esteemed and diverse faculty at York University which offer and welcome different perspectives. She also enjoys the positive and collaborative environment and the unique emphasis on pedagogical training that will enable her to produce cutting-edge research and become an influential teacher in HRM.
Head, Talent, Benelux Western Europe, Willis Towers Watson
Graduate Program in Human Resource Management, Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) 2017
Kelly Mawhinney has been a banker, a management consultant and an adjunct professor at York University, where she developed and taught a Human Resources Certificate Program to graduate students. Mawhinney’s area of specialization is in organization design and behavior about which she has written several articles. Currently with Willis Towers Watson based in Netherlands, Mawhinney heads up a management consulting team focused on developing and delivering services regarding talent management, organization alignment and transformation, HR compensation, and employee insights. Mawhinney began her career as a corporate banker at Scotiabank and has spent much of her career in financial services; most recently several years at the Royal Bank of Canada where she held a senior role in global consulting services. In addition to banking roles, Mawhinney has been engaged with IBM, Accenture and Deloitte in leadership roles within their consulting practices. Mawhinney holds a Masters of Human Resource Management from York University, recently voted the top HRM School in Canada, and an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University’s Business School.
Chief People Officer, Top Hat
Graduate Program in Human Resource Management, Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) 2017
Larry Indovina has more than 20 years of experience pioneering people strategies at high-growth companies, leading global teams and supporting mergers and acquisitions — all while maintaining a relentless focus on employee development and workplace culture. In September 2020, Indovina joined Top Hat’s executive leadership team as their chief people officer. Prior to Top Hat, Indovina was the executive vice president, human resources at Fleet Complete, a Toronto-based technology company. During his tenure, Indovina helped Fleet scale from 80 people in Canada to 800+ employees across 16 countries, integrating several international acquisitions. Prior to that, Indovina held various leadership roles in Consulting, M&A, Recruiting and HR Operations. Indovina holds an MHRM from York University.
Senior Director, Talent Acquisition, McKesson
Graduate Program in Human Resource Management, Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) 2021
Laura Alfano Victoria is a seasoned Talent Acquisition and HR professional with over 20 years of progressive experience. She has an extensive international talent attraction & acquisition background spanning several industries including software, pharmaceuticals, insurance and consulting with companies including McKesson, OpenText & Willis Towers Watson. Through her career she has built and scaled global talent organizations and has focused extensively on DEI through the recruitment process, process optimization, talent analytics, employer brand evolution and early careers attraction and development strategies.
Laura resides in Nobleton, Ontario (just north of Toronto) with her spouse and 3 karate kids. Outside of work you’ll find Laura at her local yoga studio practicing her arm balances and handstands.
Laura graduated from York University’s Master of Human Resources Management program in October 2021.
MHRM, York University (2011)
Senior Vice President Human Resources and Organizational Development YMCA
The program equipped me with valuable knowledge of HR’s role in strategy, which enabled me as a senior executive to contribute to the strategic direction of our organization.
PhD, York University
MHRM, York University
BACS, University of Western Ontario
Nadia deGama completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario, with a major in Human Resources and a minor in Sociology. Nadia continued her studies and pursued her Masters in Human Resource Management from York University, where she won the Top Graduating Student award in 2007. During her Masters, Nadia worked in a financial services firm, acting as a strategic business partner for client groups across Canada. During the three years working as an “HR Practitioner”, Nadia felt that there was an incessant need to fill the deep chasm between HR practice and academia. With a high regard for research and a strong desire to teach, Nadia’s primary purpose for applying to the Ph.D program at York University was to bridge this gap. Nadia’s decision to pursue her Ph.D in HRM at York University stems from the fact that she was very impressed by the quality of the faculty and their research interests. Additionally, she states that, "York’s Ph.D program in HRM places a heavy emphasis on pedagogical training...through a provision of such training, I will be better equipped not only to be a better researcher, but a better teacher in HRM". Nadia’s research interests are varied and are borrowed from other disciplines such as sociology. The multi-disciplinary focus of York’s Ph.D program was yet another reason why she chose York, especially because it places an equal emphasis on quantitative and qualitative research.
Sr. HR Business Partner, Amazon
Graduate Program in Human Resource Management, Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) 2013
Qasim Chaudhry has recently joined Amazon as a senior human resources business partner. He joined Amazon from the YMCA where he worked as a human resources leader leading all human resources tasks in Halton, Peel and York Region. Prior to this, Chaudhry held the role of a human resources manager for over 5 years at Martinrea International Inc. an automotive supplier to the Big 3 in North America. During his time at Martinrea, Chaudhry played a key role in launching a new program for General Motors and launching a new paint coating facility. He was a key member during Martinrea’s transition into a Lean Manufacturing facility and trained leadership and associates on Lean initiatives such as 5S. He also invented a new activity-based training program at the facility which was later implemented in sister divisions. He graduated from York University with a Masters of Human Resources Management and Bachelors of Human Resources Management. He is a Certified Human Resources Leader (C.H.R.L). Chaudhry has a passion for building trustworthy relationships and developing those around him.
Research Director, People & Leadership, Info-Tech Research Group
Graduate Program in Human Resource Management, Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) 2015
Tracy-Lynn Reid is a research director for the CIO advisory practice, covering key topics related to people & leadership within an information technology context. Her consulting experience includes several engagements directly related to supporting corporate IT management teams in operational and strategic HR management. Reid’s expertise covers a breadth of HR topics including strategy development, leadership guidance and development, organizational change management, organizational design, succession planning, employee and labor relations, and all other areas of talent management. In addition to her consulting experience, Reid completed her undergraduate degree at Carleton University, and earned a post-graduate certificate as well as a masters degree in Human Resources Management from Humber College and York University respectively. She is also a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) under the Ontario Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA). The combination of her education and experience has assisted Reid in furthering her analytical, critical thinking, interpersonal, and communication skills; ultimately, contributing to her professional success when supporting leadership.
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The Graduate Program in Human Resource Management at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.