4th year Political Science Hons. major, Human Rights and Equity Studies minor with a Professional Certificate in Public Administration and Law

My name is Leslie Quintanilla and I am a fourth-year student studying Political Science, Human Rights and finishing requirements to complete the Professional Certificate in Public Administration and Law. York University for me has truly been a home away from home. It has been a place where I have been able to grow both in my personal and academic life in ways I do not think I would have in any other University. It has fostered a place where I can learn and grow by allowing me to ask questions and having wonderful staff and faculty that have been patient enough to see me through. I am forever grateful that I chose York University as my home institution.

Public Administration for me has been very eye-opening and has been a great complement to my Political Science and Human Rights Degree. In Political Science I have taken courses that are more theory-driven to help me develop skills to think through about how to solve some of our political issues both domestically and abroad. Human Rights has been able to tailor to my interests of tackling some of these issues through a human rights lens. What the Public Administration and Law Certificate is doing for me is solidifying all these components and honing them in by explaining the structures that underlie some of these political decisions and how they work together to make a policy successful. It has operated as a foundation from which I can better understand the other theories I currently study. It is the key component that I needed to truly grapple with my academics in a more holistic manner.

Additionally, my extra-curricular involvement has also been an area where I have been able to grow exponentially. It pushed me to grow beyond my abilities and develop new skills and grow in areas I had once been weak in. In essence, York University has been the most supportive place I could have studied at, and the School of Public Policy and Administration has only contributed to that experience. York has opened up a world of opportunities for me which has truly enriched my academic experience. - Leslie Quintanilla