For more information on how to pursue your graduate studies with us, please visit the School of Kinesiology and Health Science's graduate program webpage. Here are some of our current students.
Valerie Bhupaul (she/her) is a PhD student in Kinesiology and Health Science under the supervision of Dr. Amanda De Lisio and Dr. Hala Tamim. She is interested in qualitative methodologies, maternal theory and reproductive justice. Her research focuses on anti-Black racism in maternal health in Canada, with consideration of future possibilities for anti-racist care.
Co-supervised by Drs. Karl Erickson and Parissa Safai, Samantha Burelle (she/her) is a PhD Candidate with research interest in safeguarding, safety in sport, risk/risk-taking, sport policy, and applied sport psychology. Prior to York, she received a BKin at Acadia University and a thesis-based MKin at Wilfrid Laurier University focusing on injury rehabilitation psychology.
Danny Carrillo (she/her) is a second-year Master's student working under the supervision of Dr. Amanda De Lisio. She is especially interested in how Sport Mega-Event development leads to change, and in finding ways to ensure youth have access to the resources needed to live long and healthy lives.
Photo credit: Jason S. Cipparrone
Calum Doherty (he/him) is a second year Master’s student exploring the culture of risk and pain tolerance in sport. Supervised by Prof. Parissa Safai, his work bridges critical sociology and his athletic experience to examine issues that threaten safe and healthy sport.
Julia Ferreira Gomes (she/her) is a PhD student in Kinesiology and Health Science, studying under Julia is a PhD student in Kinesiology and Health Science interested in sport for development, gender equity, and sexual and reproductive health promotion. Under the guidance of Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst, her research revolves around trauma-and violence-informed sport for development and physical activity for gender diverse youth.
Lensa Hassan is a Master's student supervised by Dr. De Lisio. Her thesis is situated at the nexus of Black feminist geographies, law, and harm-reduction. She explores how drug use by Black women and gender-diverse people (BWGDP) exists as an opening to experience their bodies in pleasurable and life-affirming ways, and how BWDGP create spaces beyond organized state and gendered violence.
Photo credit: Jason S. Cipparone
Isra Iqbal is a Master's student in Kinesiology and Health Science who is working under the supervision of Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst. Her research interests include examining Sport for Development (SFD) initiatives and public policy interventions to target social inequities within sport. In addition, Isra hopes to explore the dimensions and perspectives of sport and physical activity in women and children on a local and international scale.
Natan Levi (he/they) is currently a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst and Prof. Parissa Safai. Natan's research interests include anti-colonialism, sport for development, and livelihoods.
Jess Nachman (she/they) is a PhD student at York University, studying under the supervision of Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst. Jess’ research interests include decolonial methodologies, arts-based methods, physical culture, and mobility. Jess completed their undergraduate degree of Kinesiology at the University of Toronto, and their MA degree of Kinesiology and Health Science at York. Jess’ MA research involved collaborating with a non-profit mutual aid bicycle organization to support racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ cyclists.
Benton J. Oliver (he/him)is a Master of Arts student in Kinesiology and Health Science under the supervision of Dr. Amanda De Lisio. His work unpacks patterns of policing/security through critical feminist geographies in host cities. In collaboration with a local community health group, The Sidewalk Project LA, he critically examines the politics and practices of event urbanism in the Figueroa Corridor, Los Angeles, as the city prepares for the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Superbowl, and 2028 Olympics. He is a Graduate Diploma Student with the Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC) and Graduate Member of the CITY Institute at York University.
Photo credit: Jason S. Cipparone
Wajeeha Rasul (she/her) is currently pursuing her Master’s under the supervision of Prof. Parissa Safai. Her current research focuses on examining the range of impression management techniques racialized and/or female high-performance sport coaches often employ in their respective workplaces in an attempt to navigate the challenges they face in their sport work.
Given her research interests in sport, postcolonialism, gender, diaspora and equity, Gobi Sriranganathan's doctoral research, under the supervision of Dr. Yuka Nakamura, investigates sport leadership in the Greater Toronto Area Tamil diaspora. Before coming to York University, Gobi completed a BSc in Medical Sciences at Western University and a MSc in Health Studies and Gerontology at the University of Waterloo. Gobi has been awarded the N. Sivalingam Award in Tamil Studies from the York Centre for Asian Research and a Seed Grant from E-Alliance: The Canadian Gender+ Equity in Sport Research Hub.
Marika Wildeboer (she/her) is a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Parissa Safai and Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst. Her research explores feminist theory and sexual violence prevention in high-performance sport. She focuses on gender, power dynamics, and the development of strategies to create safer, more equitable environments in sport.