Artsci alumni committed to supporting the next generation

Arts & Science students have opportunities to connect with graduates from the program in a variety of ways throughout the academic year. Alumni remain invested in supporting the next generation of graduates by giving back as in-class guest speakers, speaking at and attending New World of Work Series events, and participating as mentors through the Artsci Alumni Mentorship Program.

Connecting with and learning from remarkable Artsci alumni is an incredible aspect of the Artsci student experience. During the Fall 2025 term, nearly 90 alumni, whose knowledge and experiences span a wide range of career and life paths, participated in the mentorship program. We are deeply grateful to all the graduates who continue to be a wonderful source of guidance and support for current students in the program. “The [Artsci] alumni mentorship network is a testament to the strong sense of community and scholarly inquiry emphasized throughout the Arts & Science Program,” says Nathan Cupido (Artsci, 2016), who has generously volunteered to mentor students since the launch of the Artsci Alumni Mentorship Program in 2023. For Katie Reszitnyk (Artsci, 2013), pictured above, participating in the mentorship program is “like coming home.” “I always love coming back, meeting current Artscis, and helping to guide them just like I was mentored when I was in their shoes.”

Since the launch of the Alumni Mentorship Program in 2023, Artsci student Elise Farmar has connected with several Artsci graduates both over coffee and virtually. “It has been inspiring to see the diverse and successful paths alumni who were once in my position have taken,” Elise says. This year, she is especially grateful for one alumni mentor who not only met with her but also connected her to another Artsci graduate who works in the field – genetic counselling — Elise is planning to pursue. This connection “made me [Elise] truly appreciate being part of such a supportive Artsci network.”

A few student mentees and alumni mentors reflected on their experience connecting through the Artsci Alumni Mentorship Program this year. Here’s what they said:

Mentor: Isabelle Cardos (Artsci, 2024), Pharmacy student at the University of Toronto
“I really enjoyed the opportunity to serve as an Artsci alumni mentor and connect with a student interested in pursuing pharmacy. Now in my second year of pharmacy school at the University of Toronto, it was meaningful to reflect on my own path and share insights from my Artsci experience. The program does a wonderful job of fostering genuine, supportive connections across the Artsci community.”

Mentor: Nathan Cupido (Artsci, 2016), PhD candidate in Health Professions Education Research at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto
“For the past few years, I have had the opportunity to participate as an Alumni Mentor in the Arts & Science program, and it has been a truly enriching experience. It’s always inspiring to connect with current Arts & Science students, and the mentorship network reminds me of how grateful I am for the Arts & Science community. The students are consistently engaged, inquisitive, and thoughtful in our conversations about personal and professional journeys, and these conversations have helped me reflect on the value of my undergraduate education in my current work. … I can’t wait to see what the future may hold for the next generation of Arts & Science students!”

Mentor: Resham Ejaz (Artsci, 2010), Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics at McMaster Children’s Hospital
“One thing that has particularly stood with me since my time in Artsci is its sense of community and with that the longstanding connections that you develop and the meaningful conversations that you have. The mentorship program allowed me to experience that again and it was such a pleasure meeting the mentees who shared their own perspectives and experiences and asked such insightful questions about my journey since graduating from the program. Their maturity and reflection on their future academic goals were evident and we had a wonderful discussion about different career opportunities in health care and in genetics. I also left with a better understanding of the challenges that current undergraduate students face which is incredibly useful for me when I teach learners. This is a great initiative connecting Artscis and I am grateful to have been a part of it!”

Mentee: Elise Farmar
“Over the past three years, I have had the opportunity to take part in the Artsci Alumni Mentorship Program, where I have connected with Artsci graduates both over coffee and virtually. It has been inspiring to see the diverse and successful paths alumni who were once in my position have taken. This year, I met with Paige Guyatt and enjoyed reflecting on our shared Artsci experiences, learning about her post-graduation journey and goals, and discussing my own aspirations. My greatest takeaway from this program has been the strength of the Artsci community, especially how connected everyone feels and how willing alumni are to support fellow Artscis. I’m especially grateful to Paige not only for meeting with me, but also for connecting me with another graduate from her class with a similar career path, which made me truly appreciate being part of such a supportive Artsci network.”

Mentor: Emily Groot (Artsci, 2007), Public Health Physician
“I am so grateful for the education I received through the Arts & Science Program. Mentoring current Artsci students has provided a wonderful opportunity to learn how the program has grown, and to share how the program has impacted my life.”

Mentor: Kristina Han (Artsci, 2007), Amgen Biotech Experience Canada Program Coordinator/Technician
“I’m thankful for any opportunity to speak to students either as a one-on-one mentor or as a speaker in ARTSSCI 3CU3 / Alumni Experience Inquiry. There isn’t another program with such strong connections between current and former students. Each visit and each conversation reminds me of how brilliant and curious these young minds are. I hope that, by sharing some of my own experiences, I can do a small part in helping current students navigate their future adventures, wherever that takes them!”

Mentor: Larry Innes (Artsci, 1992), Partner at Olthuis, Kleer, Townshend LLP
“It was such a pleasure to meet with Noor & Zainab to discuss the intersectionality of law, Indigenous rights and the environment. I offered a few examples of how I’ve tried to integrate professional ambition, personal passion, and lot of optimism into my work as a lawyer, but much of our conversation focused on the ever-present Artsci challenge of how to best make meaningful change in a very quickly changing world. I’m very confident that Noor and Zainab are coming out of the Program well equipped to answer those questions for themselves.”

Mentee: Tatiana K.
“My experience in the Artsci Alumni Mentorship Program was not only informative, but also very interactive and personalized. I am sincerely grateful for my wonderful mentors who welcomed me and made me feel seen, especially by sharing their all too familiar stories. As such, one piece of incredible advice that I received in terms of my post-secondary pursuit was to avoid working towards a certain title, but rather to figure out what kind of lifestyle I am seeking for the future. I’ll be keeping that in mind!”

Mentor: Henry Krahn (Artsci, 2018), Postdoctoral Fellow in Philosophy at the Justitia Center for Advanced Studies, Goethe University Frankfurt
“I’ve truly enjoyed participating in the Artsci mentorship program over the past two years. The students are exceptionally bright, with thoughtful questions that have led me to reflect on my own experience in Artsci, and the program has also allowed me to contribute to a community that has been meaningful and formative for me and so many others. I’m so grateful that the program gave me the latitude to find my interest in philosophy, as well as the resources to prepare for graduate study in the Humanities. It has been a pleasure to talk with Artscis who are discovering their interests and considering a similar path. I look forward to continuing to contribute to the program.”

Mentee: Graeme L.
“I’ve participated in the alumni mentorship program for three years now and every year I get something new out of it. It’s been really helpful to envision my pathway after Artsci and things I can get involved in while in the program to make that happen. Everything I’ve gotten out of the mentorship program has been extremely helpful, ranging from practicalities for applying to graduate school, to day-to-day advice about different professions, or more philosophical concerns about maintaining a social justice awareness and interdisciplinary lens in the post-Artsci professional world.”

Mentor: Effie Lin (Artsci, 2016), Master of Global Affairs Candidate at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy
“I have really valued being part of the Artsci Alumni Mentorship Program for the past few years. Meeting current students has helped me look back fondly on my journey through the Arts & Science Program and in the years since finishing my undergraduate studies. Every student I have had the pleasure of speaking with has asked interesting and thoughtful questions that have also prompted some important reflections of my own as I navigate a career pivot. Arts & Science students are always bright and passionate about making a difference in the world and I have truly appreciated engaging with them through the Mentorship Program. I have also enjoyed staying updated about changes in Arts & Science overall as I speak with each new generation of students. I am very thankful to be part of the Alumni network!”

Mentee: Safiyya H.
“I think that the Artsci Mentorship Program is a unique opportunity that is extremely beneficial for all those who take part. I had the pleasure of meeting with Effie Lin, who shared her experience with me, allowing me to catch a glimpse into where the Arts & Science program may lead me in the future. Learning about her journey and experiences helped me understand that the Program allows us to explore many paths and provides us with an abundance of resources. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to meet with alumni and am looking forward to partaking in the program again in the future!”

Mentor: Srikripa Krishna Prasad (Artsci, 2020), Occupational Therapist
“Participating as a mentor in the Artsci Mentorship Program has been a wonderful way to stay connected to the program and the Artsci community! I really enjoy talking to students about my journey since graduating and providing them with (hopefully useful!) insights, and it’s been fun learning about how the program has changed since I graduated. I look forward to more such conversations in the future!”

Mentor: Katie Reszitnyk (Artsci, 2013), Content Lawyer
“To this day I consider Artsci a big part of what made me who I am. Part of what makes Artsci so unique is that it’s more than just a program— it’s a community, and a family. So of course, I always love coming back, meeting current Artscis, and helping to guide them just like I was mentored when I was in their shoes. It’s like coming home.”

Mentee: Hal W.
“It has been very eye-opening to hear about the career and journey of my alumni mentor, who is practicing in the current world and dealing with presently pressing subjects, such as AI, in relation to her field. Hearing about how she has continued to apply skills and perspectives she learned in Artsci has helped me find a more realistic and grounded idea of what life after graduating from this program may be like. I am also deeply grateful for the advice and distilled guidance about pathways within Artsci, from the many diverse directions available, to pursue my personally preferred future.”

Mentor: Gillian Young (Artsci 2021), PhD candidate in the department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University
“It was lovely to reconnect with the Arts & Science program and to return to McMaster, which I remember fondly. I enjoyed hearing about my mentee’s time in the program so far, and sharing my experience since graduating.”

Mentor: Frank Zhu (Artsci, 2025), MCIT student at the University of Pennsylvania
“Artsci has become such an indelible part of my life, and I am excited to see where the next cohorts of Artsci are headed. Being a mentor was an excellent way to give back to the Artsci community. I loved exchanging ideas with my mentee and broadening our perspectives together. The two of us are pursuing markedly different paths — as all Artscis are — and our conversation was a testament to the open-minded, inquisitive character that this program cultivates. I look forward to returning as a mentor and hearing about all the remarkable things that Artscis are up to!”

To learn more about this year’s mentors, check out the “Mentor Mondays” posts on the Artsci Instagram account – @ macartsci.