Our graduate program alumni are making important contributions to the field of sustainability science, and we are honoured to have been part of their academic journeys.
Alumni Profiles
Kamran Abbasov
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Income Inequality, Distributive Justice, and Sustainable Development: Implications for Niagara Peninsula Aspiring Global Geopark
Supervisor: Dr. David Fennell
Thesis Defence Date: January 24, 2023
Kelly Bute-Seaton
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title:An Assessment of Best Practices of Corporate Sustainability Strategies in Canadian SMEs
Supervisor: Dr. Todd Green
Alexandra Cotrufo
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: The Risk of Greenwashing in Corporate Social Responsibility Communications
Supervisor: Dr. Todd Green
Co-op: Sustainability Coordinator – Sustainability at Brock
Tasha Gunasinghe
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Exploring Collaborative Frameworks to Assess and Monitor Conservation Outcomes of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs)
Supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Co-op: Research Assistant, Plenty Canada
Kristin Palilionis
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Assessment of Water Resilience Principles in Water Policies and Plans: Niagara Region
Supervisor: Dr. Julia Baird
Co-op: Sustainability Student – Regional Municipality of Halton
Current Job Title: Climate Change Coordinator – Town of Whitby
Lauren Patterson
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Evaluating Public Participation in Canadian Municipal Climate Change Adaptation Plans
Supervisor: Dr. Jessica Blythe
Co-op: Summer Sustainability Student – Town of Lincoln
Shannon Ruzgys
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Gen Z and Sustainable Diets: A Holistic Perspective. Understanding Perceptions of and Engagement with the Social, Economic and Environmental Dimensions of a Sustainable Diet
Supervisor: Dr. Gary Pickering
Thesis Defence Date: October 24, 2022
Tannaz Sattar
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Examining Types and Performance of Urban Green Space: Case Studies of Toronto, Milan, and Isfahan
Supervisor: Dr. Ryan Plummer
Co-op: Drafter/Designer – Agile Construction Inc.
Savannah Stuart
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Exploring people-place relationships through place attachment and wellbeing in the context of the abrupt social and ecological change associated with the COVID-19 pandemic
Supervisor: Dr. Ryan Plummer
Thesis Defence Date: August 31, 2022
Tyler Thomson
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Urban forest management planning: A case study of municipalities in Southern Ontario
Supervisor: Dr. Marilyne Carrey
Co-op: Summer Student – Niagara Region
Edward Anyan
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: “More Than a Green Roof: An Analysis of Low Impact Development Policies and Practices”
Supervisor: Dr. Marilyne Jollineau
Co-op: Student, Community Recreation and Culture Services, City of St. Catharines
Jillian Booth
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: “A Holistic Approach to Mapping Priority Sites for Low Impact Development”
Supervisor: Dr. Julia Baird
Co-op: Research Technician, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre
Lyndsay Bott
Degree: Master of Sustainability
MRP Title: Analyzing the Relationships between Peer-Reviewed Literature and Ontario Best Practice Guides to aid the Understanding of Invasive Phragmites Control Methods
Supervisor: Dr. Julia Baird
Gavin Esdale
Degree: Master of Sustainability
MRP Title: “The Forest and its Trees: A Critical Inquiry into the Use of Nature-based Solutions in Canada’s A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy Plan”
Supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Brooke Kapeller
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: “Exploring Environmental Stewardship in the Niagara Region of Canada: How Do Elements of Environmental Stewardship Relate to Success?”
Supervisor: Dr. Ryan Plummer
Date of Thesis Defence: October 1st, 2021
Bridget McGlynn
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: “An Examination of Collaborative Governance for Complex Adaptive Systems in the St. John River Basin”
Supervisor: Dr. Ryan Plummer
Date of Thesis Defence: October 15th, 2021
Mikellena Nettos
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: “Environmental racism: proximity of environmental hazards and benefits to visible minority communities in Ontario, Canada”
Supervisor: Dr. Jessica Blythe
Co-op: Summer student, Real Estate, Environment and Sustainability, Canada Post Corporation
Baharak Razaghirad
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: “Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Using Geospatial Technologies: A Case Study of the Town of Lincoln, Ontario”
Supervisor: Dr. Marilyne Jollineau
Date of Thesis Defence: November 30th, 2021
Nic Bruno
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Sustainability Through Accessibility: Evaluating the Accessibility of Toronto’s Public Transportation
Supervisor: Dr. Jessica Blythe
Co-op: Flood aversion research assistant in the Faculty of Social Science, Brock University
Current Job Title: Sustainability Analyst, Corporate Real Estate
Abbey Faris
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Differential vulnerability to climate change in the Niagara Region
Supervisor: Dr. Jessica Blythe
Co-op: Assistant Logistics Coordinator, NASCAR
Pulkit Garg
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Reviewing the Options for the Agricultural Sector to Adapt to Climate Change: Case Study of the Niagara Region, ON
Supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Co-op: Project Manager, RBC
Current Job Title: Manager, Strategy and Initiatives – Royal Bank of Canada
Sam Gauthier
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Applying Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Protect Biodiversity of Avian Species in Coastal Communities in the Greater Niagara Region
Supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Co-op: Student inspector, Canada Food Inspection Agency
Erica Harper
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Sustainability-Related Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Communications in the Canadian Grocery Industry
Supervisor: Dr. Todd Green
Co-op: Communications assistant, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
Current Job Title: B2C Marketing Manager, Too Good To Go
Michaela Jennings
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Creating Sustainable Communities Through Environmental Sustainability Education: A Case Study of Transition Town Peterborough
Supervisor: Dr. Xavier Fazio
Co-op: Research assistant with the Cool Climate Oenology Viticulture Institute, Brock University
Nolan Kelly
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: The role of sport in advancing environmental sustainability: A case study of community-level hockey facilities in Ontario, Canada
Supervisor: Dr. Jessica Blythe
Co-op: Sales and marketing account manager, LightenCo
Bani Maini
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Advancing Marine Conservation through Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs): Expert Perspectives from a Delphi Study
Supervisor: Dr. Jessica Blythe
Co-op: Climate Change Coordinator, Town of Pelham
Shelby McFadden
Degree: Master of Sustainability
MRP Title: Influential Factors and Interventions to Increase Recycling Behaviours: A Program Evaluation of the Niagara Region’s Residential Curbside Recycling Program
Supervisor: Dr. Ryan Plummer
Doren Otung
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Can Farmer Networks Foster A Resilient Agriculture?
Supervisor: Dr. Julia Baird
Co-op: Technical Content Developer, Faculty of Social Science at Brock University
April Sorenson
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: What are the qualities of a sustainable city? An analysis of current sustainable urban scale rating systems
Supervisor: Dr. Marilyne Jollineau
Co-op: Urban Forestry and Green Infrastructure Intern, City of Reno NV
Samantha Witkowski
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: An Examination of Stakeholder Perceptions in Conventional and Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of Environmental Management
Supervisor: Dr. Ryan Plummer
Date of Thesis Defence: November 24th, 2020
Jessica Zugic
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Assessing the Impacts of Variable Retention Harvesting (VRH) and Climate Change on Carbon Sequestration and Growth in a Red Pine (Pinus Resinosa) Plantation, Southern Ontario, Canada
Supervisor: Dr. Michael Pisaric
Date of Thesis Defence: April 12th, 2021
Emma Baker
Scheme A: MRP and Co-op
Supervisor: Dr. Julia Baird
Research: Water resilience, in respect to public perception, framing analysis and water policy
Co-op: Camp Director, Royal Botanical Gardens Discovery Camp
Previous degree and institution attended: BA (Honours) Environmental Governance and Geography, University of Guelph, ON
Hometown: Waterdown, ON
Jocelyn Baker
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Exploring Governance in Canadian Ramsar Sites to Ensure their Sustainability
Supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Co-op: Project Manager, Niagara River Ramsar Designation, Niagara Restoration Council
Meredith Caspell
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Visualizing climatic and non-climatic drivers of coastline change in the Town of Lincoln, Ontario, Canada
Supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Date of Thesis Defence: June 9th, 2020
Seyi Obasi
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Determining Individual Endorsement Levels for Water Resilience Principles – A Case Study of the Town of Lincoln, Ontario
Supervisor: Dr. Julia Baird
Date of Thesis Defence: May 26th, 2020
Quratulain Shahzad
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Assessing the Relationship of Degrowth Economy and Happiness: Cross Country Comparisons Based on Degrowth and Happiness Ranking
Supervisor: Dr. Marcel Oestreich
Co-op: Student, Niagara Region
Connor Thompson
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Thinking outside the grid: Motivations and barriers to leading a quasi-urban off-grid lifestyle
Supervisor: Dr. Todd Green
Co-op: Educator, Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
Current Job Title: Project Manager, GlobeScan
Tasnuva Afreen
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Branding and Promoting Public Transit to Increase Ridership
Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Fullerton
Leaya Amey
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Website Communications for Campus Sustainability: An Analysis of Canadian Universities’ Sustainability Websites and Sustainability Plans
Supervisor: Dr. Ryan Plummer
Lyn Brown
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: An Analysis of Invasive Species Management in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada: Establishment of a Database to Improve Knowledge Sharing
Supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Date of Thesis Defence: May 24th, 2019
Alison Feist
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Dissecting Collaboration in Environmental Management and Governance: Examining Qualities, Outcomes, and Relationships
Supervisor: Dr. Ryan Plummer
Date of Thesis Defence: December 6th, 2018
Ben House
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: The Influence of Watershed Management on Rural Tourism and Recreation Planning: A Case Study of the Grand River Watershed
Supervisor: Dr. Chris Fullerton
Co-op: Student, Town of Lincoln
Sylvia Hussein
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Factors Impacting the Success of Remedial Action Plans in Lake Erie: Application to Remediating Water Quality in Ghana
Supervisor: Dr. Diane Dupont & Dr. Francine McCarthy
Emilie Jobin-Poirier
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Understanding Canadian winegrowers’ perceptions of climate change and their implications for adaptation behaviours
Supervisors: Dr. Gary Pickering and Dr. Ryan Plummer
Date of Thesis Defence: May 8th, 2019
Yuka Kataoka
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Detecting Water Resilience in the Niagara River Remedial Action Plan: How and To What Extent is Resilience Thinking Evident Over Time?
Supervisor: Dr. Julia Baird
Co-op: NAV Canada
Zach MacMillan
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Are official plans becoming more “sustainable”? Analyzing the evolution of planning policies in St. Catharines and Niagara Falls
Supervisor: Dr. Chris Fullerton
Co-op: Student, Town of Lincoln
Angela Mallette
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Understanding perceptions of the state of the environment in relation to ecological measures: Intergroup differences and the influences of an interpretive program
Supervisor: Dr. Ryan Plummer
Date of Thesis Defence: August 12th, 2019
Salima Medouar
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Ecosystem governance and planning at the urban rural fringe: A Case study on the Town of Lincoln
Supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Co-op: Research Associate, Fisherwick Collaborations Inc.
Current Job Title: Climate Change and Strategic Action, Province of Nova Scotia
Jessica Williams
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Defining Vulnerability of the Mussel Fishery in PEI in the Face of Climate Change
Supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Co-op: Research Assistant, Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Charlottetown, PEI
Meghan Birbeck
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: An exploration of factors that influence flood hazard risk perceptions of urban residents: a case study of Toronto and Calgary
Supervisor: Dr. Danuta de Grosbois
Co-op: Jr. Communications Officer, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Lydia Collas
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Decision Making in Agriculture: Why do Farmers Decide to Adopt a New Practice?
Brock supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Date of Thesis Defence: May 23rd, 2018
Nicholas Fischer
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Assessing the Impacts of the Ontario Greenbelt Plan on the Agricultural Community and Support Network within the Niagara Region
Supervisor: Dr. Tim Heinmiller
Co-op: Assistant Policy Analyst, Ministry of Transportation
Caitlin Garner
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: The Impacts of Recent Wildfires on Stream Water Quality and Macro-invertebrate Assemblages in Southern Northwest Territories, Canada
Supervisor: Dr. Michael Pisaric
Date of Thesis Defence: January 18th, 2018
Ashton Govan
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Methods of increasing ridership on public transport while reducing carbon dioxide emissions
Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Fullerton
Gala Muñoz-Carrier
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Efficacy, Trust and Emotional Impact of Climate Change Messaging
Supervisor: Dr. Gary Pickering
Tyler Prince
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Postglacial Reconstruction of Fire History From a Small Lake in Southwest Yukon Using Sedimentary Charcoal and Pollen
Supervisor: Dr. Michael Pisaric
Date of Thesis Defence: December 19th, 2017
Brittany Friesman
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Food Security from a Policy Perspective in Canada, Ontario and Niagara Region: A Case for Food Sovereignty and Food Sustainability
Supervisor: Dr. Wendee Kubik
Co-op: Assistant Policy Analyst, Ministry of Transportation’s Environmental Policy Office
Kelly Gibson
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Mitigating Phosphorus Runoff from Agriculture: A Stakeholder Perspective
Supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Co-op: Employment Inventory Data Specialist, Niagara Region, Planning and Development
Natalie Gillis
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Talking the talk: How Social Media can be used to Foster Stakeholder Engagement
Supervisor: Dr. Danuta de Grosbois
Co-op: Jr. Communications Officer, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Amanda Palumbo
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Food Sustainability and Security in a Luxury Touristic Eco-Resort in Nicaragua
Supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Co-op: Sustainability Intern, Aqua Wellness Resort, Emerald Coast, Nicaragua
Katie Perrin
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Finding the Moral Light: A Comparative Analysis of Structural Factors Shaping GHG Emissions Across Six Nations
Supervisor: Dr. Diane Dupont
Co-op: Regulations Policy Coordinator, North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority
Kelsey Scarfone
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Corporate Water Stewardship in Water Scarce Weak Governance Zones: A Conceptual Framework and Case Study
Brock supervisor: Dr. Danuta de Grosbois
Co-op: Program Coordinator, Water First
Rebecca White
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Environmental Reporting in Accommodation: An Analysis of 10 Reports of Large Hotel Groups
Brock supervisor: Dr. Danuta de Grosbois
Erin Duffy
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Understanding the Impacts of Small Corporate Community Investment in the Retail Industry
Brock supervisor: Dr. Danuta de Grosbois
Co-op: Public Affairs Coordinator, ArcelorMittal DoFasco
Brodie Hague
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Research: The Use of Remote Sensing to Map and Monitor Coastal Dune Vegetation Change at Southampton, Ontario, Canada
Brock supervisor: Dr. Marilyne Jollineau
Date of Thesis Defence: April 27th, 2016
Sarah Holmes
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: The Use of Participatory GIS in Enhancing Community Engagement in the Planning of Wind Energy Developments
Brock supervisor: Dr. Marilyne Jollineau
Co-op: Sustainability Position, Niagara Region
Christine Janzen
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Sustainability education in Ontario high schools: perspectives from science and geography teachers
Supervisor: Dr. Liette Vasseur
Co-op: Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Katrina Krievins
Degree: Master of Sustainability
Thesis Title: Pushing the Boundaries of Freshwater Ecosystem Restoration: Evaluating a Conservation Initiative in Terms of Social-Ecological Resilience
Supervisor: Dr. Ryan Plummer
Date of Thesis Defence: September 30th, 2016
Current Job Title: Aquatic Conservation Programs Manager, Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere.
Samantha Morris
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Ice Ice Maybe? Visual Representations of Climate Change in Canada
Supervisor: Dr. Gary Pickering
Co-op: Communications Assistant, Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Samantha Stea
Degree: Master of Sustainability, Co-op
MRP Title: Optimal Message Framing to Elicit Intent to Reduce Red Meat Consumption in Canada
Supervisor: Dr. Gary Pickering
Co-op: Government of the Northwest Territories
Testimonials
Read what our alumni have to say about our programs!
Right from the first term, there is a strong focus on conducting high quality and relevant research by collecting and analyzing data, and then learning to communicate our research findings with a multitude of stakeholders, both academic and non-academic. All of this coupled with generous funding packages, and the option to gain a term of industry experience through Co-op makes the entire SSAS experience very unique and rewarding.
– Pulkit Garg, Class of 2021
I knew SSAS was right for me because it offered me a balanced education with coursework, hands-on experience, and research
– Samantha Stea, Class of 2016
Coming from the Maritimes, I was nervous about coming to a bigger school, but the SSAS program is so close knit and immediately offered me many opportunities both academically and personally. The people I have met have become my fast friends, and I’ve enjoyed all of the opportunities for personal and professional development through the program
– Natalie Gillis, Class of 2017
Alumni News
December 21, 2022: Sustainability Science and Society grads rely on connections, training to tackle global problems
November 23, 2022: VIDEO: Career Paths in Sustainability: Brock University Co-op, Careers, and Experiential Education
November 22, 2022: Charting the value and limits of other effective conservation measures (OECMs) for marine conservation: A Delphi study (co-authored by Bani Maini, MS Co-op ’21)
November 7, 2022: Careers in Sustainability Panel – Featuring SSAS Alumni Pulkit Garg (MS Co-op, ’21), Erica Harper (MS Co-op, ’21), and Mikellena Nettos (MS Co-op, ’22)
October 12, 2022: Congratulations to Fall 2022 Master of Sustainability Graduate, Lyndsay Bott!
July 26, 2022: Bridget McGlynn (MS ’22) and Julia Baird Present at PECS Project Webinar focused on Collaboration in River Basin Governance
June 20, 2022: Grads reflect on being set up for success by Brock
June 14, 2022: Congratulations to the Spring Class of 2022!
January 22, 2021: VIDEO: Exploring Careers in Sustainability Panel
