Celebrating the Arts & Science Class of 2025!

“Artsci as a whole has this special way of becoming a part of who you are; I am an Artsci insofar as I am curious, empathetic, open-minded, passionate, and ambitious. By pushing me to consider all sides of a pluralistic world with grace and generosity, the Artsci program and community have helped transform my goals, career trajectory, passions, and self into what they are today—for which I am so, so grateful!” – Ishmeet Johal, Artsci 2025

“[Artsci taught me] to think deeply, speak freely, and stay curious. I’m leaving more articulate, bold, and grateful – for the ideas, opportunities, and people that shaped me. Thank you, Artsci!” Monica Yeom, Artsci 2025

“I’m very grateful for the wonderful, inclusive, tight-knit community that I’ve found in Artsci. I love that at any given time, if I walk into LRW 3038 [the Arts & Science Program Office], I’ll probably run into several friends and find good conversation.” – Olly Griesbach, Artsci 2025

“I would like to give a huge thank you to all of the amazing professors, students, and staff that have made my experience in Artsci an unforgettable four years.” – Luna Quail, Artsci 2025

“My Artsci housemates became a second family to me – and the Artsci cohort is like an extended family!” – Yao MacLean, Artsci 2025

“What stands out the most to me as the highlight of my time as an Arts & Science student is the outstanding people and professors I had the privilege of learning alongside. From planning Welcome Week 2024, to challenging myself intellectually in interdisciplinary coursework, each part of the Arts & Science journey has been a pleasure beyond what I anticipated from my undergraduate education. I am grateful to have learned and grown in this community!” – Athena Warren, Artsci 2025

“Every moment with my fellow Artscis was special.” – Frank Zhu, Artsci 2025

“I have had some of the happiest moments of my life within the Arts & Science program. I cannot choose a favourite memory, but I would like to thank my peers and friends for their immense kindness, and my professors for pushing me to be the best version of myself.” – Ella Jeffery, Artsci 2025

“I have too many things I’d love to say about my time in Artsci—it’s truly been transformative. … I chose this program because I didn’t want to be boxed in—and now, as I move forward, I want to stay that way: curious, open, and guided by the questions that I am truly passionate about.” – Hanna Rao, Artsci 2025

“I’m so thankful for this program!” – Shir-El Kline, Artsci 2025

These are just a few of the heartfelt messages shared by the students who make up the Arts & Science class of 2025. On 16 June 2025, Artsci faculty and staff gathered with graduating students and their loved ones to celebrate this cohort of graduates at the Arts & Science and Humanities convocation ceremony. As always, convocation offered a wonderful opportunity to recognize everything Arts & Science students have learned and accomplished over their time in the program, and to honour all of the ways in which they’ve contributed to its unique community of learning. Congratulations to this remarkable group of people.

The Arts & Science program offers an educational environment that supports students and their interests to grow and develop as they move through the program. It encourages students to be curious and open-minded, offering them the flexibility to discover their passions, goals, and paths forward. Artsci graduates go on to excel in a wide range of fields and interesting careers, reflecting the broad interests among Artsci students.

Here is what some students from the graduating class of 2025 said about what’s next for them:

• Eve Adams: “I will be pursuing a Master’s in Biochemistry at McMaster!”
• Michelle Bromberg: “Still somewhere between ‘applying to medical schools’ and future Dr. Bromberg, paging you now.’ Short-term? Volunteer, travel, survive the MCAT. Long-term? Hopefully trade my Artsci hoodie for a white coat.”
• Natalie Chu: “Starting medical school here at McMaster in August!”
• Zachary Gan: “MA in Human Geography at the University of Toronto.”
• Sarah Gibbons: “Master’s of Science in Planning (MScPl) at the University of Toronto.”
• Olly Griesbach: “I’m doing a one-year Master’s in Political Science (Political Theory) at the University of Toronto starting this coming Fall.”
• Anna Harris: “I’m starting a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology this Fall at the University of Western Ontario!”
• Ben Hemsworth: “I plan to work and volunteer abroad while applying to law schools for next September.”
• Emabelle Hsu: “I’m planning on working for now!”
• Ella Jeffery: “I am delighted to be returning to McMaster University to obtain my Master’s in Statistics, with the intention of focusing specifically on bio and medical stats. This summer, I will be working on converting my fourth-year Arts & Science thesis into a manuscript so that I can hopefully publish it in a medical journal by the Fall.”
• Ishmeet Johal: “Attending law school at the University of Toronto!”
• Priya John: “I’ll be at Mac next year to pursue a Master’s in Global Health”
• Harmil Kalia: “I will join the inaugural class of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Medicine, earning my MD while expanding my work with marginalized communities, pursuing aerospace medicine, and maintaining a focus on continuous growth.”
• Zara Khan: “Math Research!”
• Jessica Kim: “Medical school at the University of Toronto!”
• Shir-El Kline-Hart: “Continue to grow my wedding photography business, maybe find a part-time job for the year, and apply for some Master’s programs.”
• Ali Kubba: “Spending the summer working and travelling with friends.”
• David Landry: “This September, I will be joining the 50th cohort of the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP). This is a 10-month, non-partisan internship at Queen’s Park where I will be working for a government MPP for half of the term and an opposition MPP for the other half. I will also have the opportunity to travel to other legislatures in Canada. Interns also have the opportunity to arrange meetings with prominent Ontarians and Canadians throughout our term at Queen’s Park.”
• Soraya Lee Wo: “I will continue teaching dance and dancing myself. I’m returning to McMaster for my Master’s in Occupational Therapy.”
• Anna Lise: “Attending the Monk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto for my Master’s degree in Global Affairs for the next two years!”
• Camille Lisser: “I am heading to the University of Toronto to start law school!”
• Yao MacLean: “This summer I am applying to clinical psych grad school, as well as preparing to start a Master’s of Education (MEd) in Developmental Psychology and Education (DPE) at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) – University of Toronto in the Fall. … I’m interested in qualitative developmental psychology research on how early traumas impact socioemotional development, approached using multiple paradigms, including attachment.”
• Akash Mehta: “Will be continuing my studies at McMaster University, completing a Master’s in Public Health, investigating how to best implement effective and equitable healthcare systems and healthcare delivery.”
• Lauren Misiaszek: “I’m likely going to attend law school in the near future, but for now I’m taking some time off [from school].”
• Emilio Naidu: “This summer I’ll be spending some time with my family back home in Vancouver! In the Fall, I’ll be starting an apprenticeship as an elevator mechanic.”
• Noor Natheir: “In true Arts & Science fashion, to be determined!”
• Arthy Pansanathan: “After graduating, I’ll be travelling with my family!”
• Luna Quail: “This summer I am excited to be doing a mix of travel, work, and volunteering! Looking further ahead, I am working on applying to grad schools for next Fall.”
• Hanna Rao: “My post-grad plans are still taking shape. I’m currently waiting to hear back from New York University’s (NYU) XE: Experimental Humanities & Social Engagement MA program. In the meantime, I’m beginning a summer contract at the University of Toronto with an English language learning camp. If I don’t end up pursuing graduate studies this year, I’m planning to relocate to London, England in the Fall to work in the startup sector. Either path feels like a natural extension of my interdisciplinary background and interest in creative, people-focused work.”
• Kristen Rasmussen: I plan “to apply to grad schools for something biology-related. I am hoping to try WWOOF-ing somewhere in South America where I can practice my very mediocre Spanish and hike the Andes.”
• Olive Thomas: “I will be heading into a Master’s of Earth and Environmental Science here at McMaster, under Dr. Elli Papangelakis in her Fluvial Geomorphology lab. I will likely be researching ice formation and behavior on Ancaster Creek. My plan is to continue working towards a PGO certificate while growing my research and experience in hydrology. I aim to further real-world applications of urban sustainable water management through my career.”
• Athena Warren: “After Artsci, I will be continuing my studies in graduate school to pursue psychology research. I am excited to take what I learned in Artsci and my combination in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour to the next level!”
• Riley Wilson: “After spending the summer working for the Bay Area Climate Change Council, I’ll be off to pursue a Master’s in Communications and Culture in a joint program between Toronto Metropolitan University and York University.”
• Zoë Wind: “Working and travelling for this year and applying to grad school in the Fall. My goal is to work in public policy.”
• Monica Yeom: “Working as the MSU Communications Officer!”
• Frank Zhu: “Philly will be my home for the next two years. I’ll be doing a Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Pennsylvania.”

Thank you, class of 2025, for sharing these incredible memories and exciting plans with the Artsci community. Congratulations and welcome to the Arts & Science alumni community!