Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) Spec. Honours (Law, Justice and Public Policy Stream) and Director of External Affairs for the Public Policy and Administration Student Association (PPASA)

My name is Irene Danchie and I am a 2nd year Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) Honours student specializing in Law, Justice and Public Policy. I have always had a passion for helping others as I am moving from the hospitality industry into the law and justice field. After completing a year in Criminology at York, I discovered Public Administration through the student clubs and organizations fair. I fell in love with the program and how it offered various outlets of support for professional development and academic growth. After thorough research and speaking to academic advisors, I knew that Public Administration was the journey I wanted to take. The program offers a variety of career paths and many opportunities to discover these careers through professional networking events. What really attracted me to this program, was the hands-on experience in government and administration offered through the practicum course AP/PPAS 4995 6.0 available in the fourth year. I look forward to combining my academic achievements and my administrative skills with this invaluable experiential learning experience.

In August 2018 I attended the program orientation hosted by Professor Kimakova, where detailed information was provided about the program and great extracurricular opportunities to engage in, including the Public Policy and Administration Student Association (PPASA). After meeting a fellow PPASA executive, Vinita Kalia, who encouraged me to apply to join the association, I became an Ambassador. I have truly enjoyed collaborating with the PPASA team organizing networking events and making connections with York students. I am excited to return to the association in September as the Director of External Affairs!

I highly encourage students to take full advantage of the many benefits of joining a student association with their respective program to access all that York University has to offer. This opens doors to new possibilities and meaningful relationships. Being involved has definitely boosted my confidence within the program and helped me to set realistic goals for my future. My advice is to take the next step in your student to professional transition, by making the best out of the time we have here at York University. - Irene Danchie