Interested in the Arts & Science Program at McMaster? Attend the Virtual Meet and Greet!

High school students interested in the unique interdisciplinary Arts & Science Program are invited to attend this special event to meet the Arts & Science Program Director, Dr. Beth Marquis, and current Artsci students.

This event will take place on Tuesday 14 April 2026 from 6PM – 7PM ET on Zoom. Register here.

Learn about the unique ARTSSCI curriculum, the Artsci student experience, and the special community of students, instructors, and staff who inspire, support, and challenge one another to learn and grow. Plus, get your questions answered!

Who should attend?

• Students who applied to the Arts & Science program for Fall 2026 start
• Students thinking of applying to the program in the future
• Students who are curious to learn more

Who will you meet?

• Dr. Beth Marquis, Arts & Science Program Director
• Freda Osayande, first-year Arts & Science student
• Siya Lakra, second-year Arts & Science student
• David Harris, third-year Arts & Science student
• Safiya Sivjee, third-year Arts & Science student
• Claire Crawford, fourth-year Arts & Science student
• Sam Potts, fourth-year Arts & Science student

Get to know the Arts & Science students you will connect with at the meet and greet event:

Freda Osayande is a first-year student who is interested in psychology, sociology, and neuroscience. She hopes to minor in the Impact of Infectious Diseases on Individuals and Society, and Africa and Black Diaspora Studies. Within Arts & Science, Freda contributes poetry to The Melange, the Arts & Science student-run literary magazine. She is also involved with the Black Student Success Centre as an Ambassador, is an editor for The Muse, and a research coordinator for the Cam’s Kids Chapter at McMaster. Freda is excited to share her experience in Arts & Science as a first year student!

Siya Lakra is a second-year Arts & Science student who is super excited to talk about the program and her experience at McMaster! In terms of academics, she is passionate about neuroscience and kinesiology, but also loves arts courses that broaden her perspective of the world. Outside of school, Siya is the Director of the Arts & Science Musical, a Student Field Therapist with McMaster Sports Medicine, a Pilates instructor, and has been part of the Society of Arts & Science Students (SASS) for the past two years. She is also looking forward to her first Welcome Week Rep experience this fall. On the personal front, Siya is an out-of-province student from Calgary who loves baking, reading, watching and playing sports, and hanging out with her amazing Artsci friends!

David Harris is a third-year Arts & Science student, combined with Philosophy. He recently presented at the Being and Its Technology: Philosophical Perspectives conference where he spoke about the state of Levinasian ethics in a post-AI world. David is also a student athlete on the McMaster Nordic Ski team. Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, he knows first-hand how it can feel overwhelming when applying to university and is delighted to answer any questions about the program/university life that you may have. David is looking forward to hearing from you and hopefully getting the chance to meet you next year!

Safiya Sivjee is a third-year Arts & Science student with a passion for political science, psychology, and healthcare ethics. She loves exploring how people, systems, and laws intersect. On campus, Safiya is involved with the Society of Arts and Science Students (SASS) and works with the McMaster Students Union and Student Representative Assembly, where she helps shape and update university bylaws and other governing documents. She is also active in several of McMaster’s pre-law societies, reflecting her interest in pursuing law in the future. One of Safiya’s favourite roles is helping to organize the Piraeus Conference, the Arts & Science undergraduate research conference, where Arts & Science students have the chance to showcase their academic work. Outside of all that, you’ll probably find Safiya unwinding at the McMaster gym—usually in a yoga class!

Claire Crawford is a fourth-year student whose research interests fall broadly within the social sciences and humanities. She is interested in exploring the relationship between power structures in society and individual outcomes — particularly in relation to mental health. Her senior thesis explores the relationship between psychiatric labels, self-esteem, and mental health outcomes. This year, Claire founded and led the Piraeus Conference. This is an interdisciplinary undergraduate research conference that brings together Arts & Science students and faculty from across the university to share knowledge and develop research skills. Outside of academics, Claire performed in this year’s Artsci Musical and is a peer support volunteer and promotions executive with McMaster’s Women and Gender Equity Network. The Arts & Science program and community have been instrumental to Claire’s personal and professional development, and she can’t wait to share more about her experience over the past 4 years!

Sam Potts is a fourth-year student combined in Molecular Biology and Genetics. She is currently completing her thesis in the Evans Lab, where she studies the molecular history of the sex chromosomes of African clawed frogs. The Arts & Science program has allowed her to combine her passion for genomics and evolution with her broad interests in the humanities and social sciences. She is ecstatic to be attending the Molecular Genetics MSc program at the University of Toronto next year. Sam is also a scriptwriter for this year’s Arts & Science musical, Return of the Artsci, as well as an editor for the Arts & Science magazine The Melange. She is excited to share her experiences from her time at Mac: Arts & Science classes, research in the Biology department, joining extracurriculars, and preparing for grad school!

Register now as spots are limited, and registration is mandatory.

Questions?
Contact Jen Clarke, Arts & Science Recruitment, Outreach & Alumni Coordinator
at clarkj91@mcmaster.ca