Meet our current students in the Master of Arts in Geography program, and learn more about our alumni who have gone onto fulfilling careers and further education across the globe.
Current Students
Lina Adeetuk
Thesis stream
Hometown: Sandema, Upper East Region, Ghana
Degree held: Bachelor of Arts in Geography
Supervisor: David Butz
Thesis title: Rural Youth’s Perspectives on the Significance and Impacts of New Roads: The Case of Kaasa- Zogsa Road, Builsa North District, Ghana
Research interests: My research interested is situated broadly on ‘Geographies of Development.’ Specifically, I am interested in investigating the politics of mobility, food security, and rural development with a regional focus on Africa.
Why did you choose the MA in GEOG program at Brock? I was attracted to the MA Geography program at Brock due to the rigorous training and small nature of the program which is very useful for my career path.
Daniel Anane
Supervisor: David Telfer
Research interests: Sustainable rural tourism development
Jared Bala
Supervisor: Phillip Mackintosh
Joshua Boadi
Supervisor: Atsuko Hashimoto
Research interests: Sustainable tourism in Ghana, gender-based dynamics, rural participation
Rebekah Casey (Kraulis)
Thesis stream
Hometown: Grimsby, Ontario
Degree held: Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Tourism and Environment, Tourism Management Stream, Brock University
Supervisor: Chris Fullerton
Thesis title: There’s No Place Like (Rural) Home: Why People Choose Rural Despite Decline
Research interests: My research is focused on rural communities across Canada that are facing decline and/or hardship, and why residents choose to stay in the community despite decline. I am also interested in how this attachment and commitment to place impacts sustainable, community-based development in rural communities.
Why did you choose the MA in GEOG program at Brock? I chose the MA in Geography program at Brock because I felt that after my four years in the department during my undergraduate degree that I wasn’t done! I love the staff and faculty in our department so much, and knew I still had so much to learn from them. I also discovered my love for all things rural late in my degree, and wanted a chance to really explore that passion.
Aaron Geraghty
Supervisor: Mike Ripmeester
Research interests: Designing urban spaces for people with cognitive disabilities
Jennica Giesbrecht
Supervisor: Ebru Ustundag
About: “I have lived most of my life in St. Catharines and have been involved in various communities and networks here. I have just completed my undergraduate degree in Women’s and Gender Studies at Brock. I am interested in the application of critical intersectional feminist thought to all subjects, and am excited to consider human geography through this lens. I am interested in lots of different research areas, but I am particularly interested in investigating the relationship between emotional and health geographies. I would like to consider how various institutions impact individuals’ experiences and understandings of their bodies, health, and subjectivities. I am excited to get started and to meet you all!”
Julia Hamill
Thesis stream
Degree Held: Bachelor of Arts & Science in Cognitive Science and Linguistics, McGill University
Background: Julia received her undergraduate degree in Cognitive Science and Linguistics from McGill University, where she studied multilingual signage in the linguistic landscape of Montreal. After graduating, she spent several years cycling across Europe and parts of Asia, working in remote backcountry mountain lodges, and working in Tajikistan as a grant writing and reporting consultant for local NGOs. These experiences have led her to confront questions surrounding mobility, modernization, social change, and the role of development actors in mountain communities of northern Pakistan and Central Asia, which she plans to investigate through Brock’s Master of Arts in Geography.
Supervisor: David Butz
Research Interests:
- Mobility (including infrastructure development, educational/labour migration, and tourism) and social change
- Perceptions of and relationships between INGOs and local communities
- Geographic focus: Central Asia and northern Pakistan
Abigail Mensah
Supervisor: David Fennell
Nikki McIntyre (She/Her)
Major research paper stream
Hometown: Clachan, Ontario
Degrees held: Bachelor of Arts, Geography and Sociology Double Major, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Supervisor: Chris Fullerton
MRP working title: Assessing elements of rural community planning with a focus on sustainability and participatory action
Research interests: I am interested in planning for sustainable futures in rural areas or regions with fluctuating seasonal populations, for example communities surrounding provincial and national parks. I seek to explore questions like how can we get communities involved in processes, achieve environmental and human goals, and do things differently? I am also interested in parks planning and human dimensions of resource management.
Why did you choose the MA in GEOG program at Brock? The Geography faculty at Brock drew me in and I was very interested in working with Dr. Chris Fullerton due to his experience on rural planning issues.
Anthony Montagano
Thesis stream
Hometown: Niagara Falls, Ontario
Degree held: BA Tourism and Environment (Management Stream) with a Minor in Geography, Brock University
Supervisor: David Brown
Thesis title: Navigating Digital Heritage Landscapes: “Wander and Wonder”, Versus Linear Narratives
Research interests:
-
- Mobility
- Tourism consumption
- Heritage Interpretation
Why did you choose the MA in GEOG program at Brock? After finishing my undergraduate studies in 2020, returning to a department like Geography and Tourism was very comfortable for me. I enjoyed my experience as an undergraduate student thanks to the opportunities I participated in. These opportunities included field courses in Canada, and in Europe which developed my confidence as both a student, and as an individual. The MA program was never part of my initial plan when starting my undergrad four years ago, but adapting my “life plan” to answer opportunities like this MA program is something I have learned is necessary to succeed. I enjoy learning, and the faculty in this department fulfill my desire to keep learning as I develop as an adult.
Lisa Mercier
Thesis stream
Degrees held: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) History, University of Saskatchewan; Certificate in Collections Management, University of Victoria
Research interests: Lisa has spent 10 years in the public-heritage sector working for a variety of institutions gaining a host of skills, while also identifying gaps in historical understanding. It comes as no surprise that Lisa’s keen interest lies in the notions of memory and forgetting relative to material culture. Diving into the interdisciplinary notions of what it means to remember and forget, Lisa finds great fulfillment in understanding the selective methods by which history has been understood. In turn, applying theoretical concepts and philosophic understandings to tasks associated with historic acquisitions, object preservation, and the construction of monuments.
Lauren Peddle
Thesis stream
Degree held: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Economic Analysis, Brock University
Supervisor: Jeff Boggs
Research interests: Over the course of my undergraduate degree so much of my work involved different aspects of geography, whether it be in the expansion of railroads in a history of economics course, or the role of natural resources in economic development. I felt to do the discipline justice I needed to seek formal education on the subject. My work will focus on economic geography, particularly the study of industrial clustering and the videogame industry in Canada.
Alex Perna
Degree held: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Language and Literature with Minor in Geography, Brock University
Supervisor: Ebru Ustundag
Research interests: Interested in feminist and queer geographies, as well as the intersections of race, marginalization and privilege. Hoping to explore the relationship between these concepts within the confines of virtual and/or imaginative space(s).
Ishwinder Saraan
Supervisor: Chris Fullerton
Research interests: rural planning/development, focusing on South Asia
Kate Stewart
Major research paper stream
Hometown: Mooretown, Ontario
Degree held: Bachelor of Health and Physical Education, Mount Royal University
Supervisor: David Fennell
Thesis title: Creating Sustainable tourism Within the Niagara Peninsula Global Geopark: A case study focusing on Indigenous Knowledge
Research interests:
- Sustainable Tourism with Parks and Protected Areas
- Ecotourism
- The relationship between tourism and technology
Why did you choose the MA in GEOG program at Brock? My undergraduate degree focused on the exploration of ecotourism and sustainable tourism within the contexts of recreation. I was attracted to the Geography and Tourism department at Brock University since it combines Human Geography application with tourism theory. I was also interested in working with Dr. David Fennell to explore sustainable tourism within Parks and Protected Areas.
Hannah Willms
Thesis stream
Hometown: Niagara Falls, Ontario
Degree held: Bachelor of Arts in Geography, Brock University
Supervisor: Mike Ripmeester
Thesis title: Is Airbnb affordable?: A critical analysis of the relationship between Airbnb and affordable housing in Niagara Falls, Ontario
Research interests:
- urban/community development
- housing
- local community life
Iris Yap
Major research paper stream
Degrees held: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Geography, Brock University; Bachelor of Education Teacher Education – Intermediate/Senior, Brock University; Diploma in Culinary Management, George Brown College
Research interests: I want to research how technology is shaping social relationships, in particular monogamy. I want to investigate whether monogamy is a social discourse our culture has created and deemed morally correct. More specifically, I want to look at how dating apps and all social media platforms have allowed communication between individuals to go beyond borders, and across oceans. I want to explore how our current generation’s fascination with online dating has affected monogamist relationships and in doing so determine if technology has created a culture in which individuals are more willing to be unfaithful to their partner.
Alumni
MA in Geography alumni
Philemon Coffie
Major research paper stream
Supervisor: David Brown
MRP title:
Strategies to Manage Plastic Waste in the Niagara Region
Philip Dwomoh
Major research paper stream
Supervisor: Jeff Boggs
Degree held: Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana
MRP title:
Geography of Food Deserts in the Niagara Region
Research interests:
- Water resources and water quality management
- Environmental management and Disaster risk reduction
- International student mobility and integration
About Philip
“Philip Ampofo Dwomoh is a native of Ejura in the Ashanti region of Ghana and has lived in Accra, since 1991. Currently, Philip Ampofo Dwomoh is a community volunteer providing educational assistance to students at the secondary and tertiary level. His cultural background and focus on community collaboration has led him to a number of volunteer opportunities and community leadership roles. Philip Ampofo Dwomoh received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and Resource Development with Dance Studies at University of Ghana, Legon.”
Chelsea Fields
Major research paper stream
Supervisor: Michael Ripmeester
MRP title:
Detroit: Motor City or Creative City? The Alternative Media and the Politics of Citizenship
Jackie Gervais
Thesis stream
Degree held: BA (Honours), Community Health, Brock University
Supervisor: Chris Fullerton
Thesis title:
Understanding Post-secondary Student Mobility and its Impact on Wellbeing
Research summary: Numerous studies have identified the impact of transportation on one’s personal wellbeing (e.g., Stanley, Hensher, Stanley, and Vella-Brodrock, 2011), but fewer studies have addressed this topic as it pertains specifically to post-secondary students. The overarching goal of this research is to build our understanding of the roles that transportation plays in shaping the perceived wellbeing of post-secondary students. Through this case study of students at Brock University and Niagara College, located in Canada’s Niagara region, we aim to identify those aspects of transportation infrastructure and services that enable these students to achieve a personal sense of wellness and those that present obstacles or barriers to achieving wellness.
Background: “Jackie Gervais is a health promoter for Niagara Region Public Health in Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention. Her work entails supporting policy change as it pertains to active transportation and the built environment though citizen and stakeholder engagement and partnership. Jackie’s experience in community mobilization has contributed to the development of numerous citizens’ groups in the Niagara region who have advocated and made changes within their own municipalities.
At the Regional level, Jackie is involved in numerous policy projects including the Niagara Region Transportation Plan, the Niagara GO Hub and Transit Study and the Brock District Plan. Jackie also provides input into Municipal Class Environmental Assessments and was instrumental in acquiring the Ontario Municipal Cycling Infrastructure Grant for the development of a multi-use trail along Merrittville Highway, from Decew Road to Sir Isaac Brock Way, which will contribute to improved safety for Brock students. At a Provincial level, Jackie was on the Minister’s Panel for the #CycleON: Ontario’s Cycling Strategy and regularly provides comment on provincial level documents. She also participates in the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) Health and the Built Environment Workgroup where she supported changes to the driver handbook and the driver test questions to include examples of how motorists and cyclist should share the road. In Jackie’s spare time she is an avid outdoor enthusiast. Jackie can be found in her kayak, cycling, snowshoeing her favorite trails and camping in the back woods.”
Danielle Martineau
Major research paper stream
Degree held: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Geography with a Minor in Political Science, Brock University
Supervisors: Jeff Boggs and Catherine Nash
MRP title:
The Systematic Examination of Significant Thematic Overlap between Digital Geographies Literature and Digital Educational Literature when Considering the ‘Smart Classroom’
Research interests: My research interest predominantly focuses on how the introduction of technologies within spaces can influence and change the dynamics and relations of such spaces. More specifically, I am exploring how the implementation of mass online courses in higher learning institutions are fundamentally changing how we understand both, learning and technology.
Nicholas Mindorff
Major research paper stream
Degree held: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Geography, Brock University
Supervisor: Phillip Mackintosh
MRP title:
The Fearful Class: Depictions of Urban and Suburban Housing as an Indicator of Fear in Neoliberal Society
Dean Mizzi
Major research paper stream
Supervisors: Catherine Nash and Jeff Boggs
MRP title:
Conceptualizing queer online spaces as similar to privately-owned public spaces: Opportunities for geographers
Aaron Nartey
Major research paper stream
Supervisor: David Butz
MRP title:
Return Migration of Ghanaian Immigrants: Drivers & Reintegration Challenges
Katelyn Pierce
Thesis stream
Supervisor: Ebru Ustundag
Thesis title:
Detached from Our Bodies:Representing Women’s Health and Wellbeing with Graphic Memoirs
Khuram Farrukh
Senanu Kutor
Stephanie Murray
Allie Rizzie
Daniel Amoak
Adam Fischer
Connor Dingle
Benjamin Kwao
Andrew McCartan
Alexandru Raileanu
Maame Achiaa Agyemang
Razu Ahmed
Michael Ayerh K. Ayerteh
Rick Epp
Denyelle Huellemann
Diana Owusaa
Paul Tayler
Cody Vinnai
Edna Abanga
Towfika Islam
Warren Jenkinson
Myda Khatcherian
Emmanuel Kyeremeh
Paolo Russumanno
David Szymanski
Micheal Boateng
Pushpa Hamal
Oscar Asiedu Kuffour
Tomasz Wierzba
Lisa Arblaster
Mert Coskan
Sara Epp
Kerrie Pickering
Heather Whipple
Jess Barber
Natalie Currie-Patterson
Richard Lagani
Meithili Mitchell
Raphael Atanga
Lisa Combe
Kayla Rell
Pius Siakwah
Victoria (Vickie) Tasker
Ian Wood
Ayure-Inaga Mark Anthony Agana
Katie Hemsworth
Anokye Owusu Kwarteng
Kirby Calvert
