Bios and Contact Information

The 1st Annual Sociology Undergraduate Student Conference
Sharing Voices / Building Communities
Contemporary Reflections on Canadian & Global Issues

Asic, Sandra
Sandra Asic is a 4th year General Studies student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her research interests include: cultural education studies, social and environmental justice issues and sociology of families. Sandra can be reached at: sandra.asic@kwantlen.net  

Bates, Faith
2nd year Criminology student.

Badesha, Sim
Sim Badesha is currently enrolled at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and majoring in Psychology. Sim's areas of interest include anti-racism, women's sexuality and gender, and feminist theories. She can be reached at: simranpreet.badesha@kwantlen.net.

Beard, Karrie
I am in my second to last semester at Kwantlen, at which time I will graduate with a BA in Sociology. I am very excited to be in a class looking at the sociological issues of global inequalities, how globalization touches us every day, and what kind of impact we can have on our global community. The idea of connecting with students in Ghana will be a truly unique experience, communicating literature with the real world and hands-on learning about globalization. One of my great passions is travelling and learning about other cultures, experiences new things and getting out of my comfort zone to see how other people live. I don’t necessarily identify myself as “Canadian”, yes I was born here and it is the passport I carry, however for me we are all of the same making and live together on Earth. Our world is becoming “smaller” all the time, globalization is moving faster than we can keep up with, there needs to be recognition of our similarities while embracing our difference without fear or judgement. This of course is easier said than done, and I am by no means perfect when it comes to this, I do have my own biases and stereotypes about other people and nations. To me globalization is a technical detached term that encompasses all aspects of the world’s relationships moving to one “united nation”: including economics, political affiliations, cultural relations, human impact on the environment, technology, etc. We are living in a global community whether we like it or not, it’s here to stay and we need to understand its strength and weaknesses so we can create a peaceful homogeneous world for every living thing.
Email: kl_beard@yahoo.com

Bhatti, Raj
My name is Raj Bhatti; I am student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. My research interest is street prostitution in relation to the sex trade in general.
Email: rajbir_bhatti@kwantlen.ca

Bhupal, Navjeet
My name is Navjeet Bhupal and I am a third year criminology student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. My research interests include reasons for criminal divergence, the effect of globalization on culture and the attitudes and political structures responsible for gender and ethnic inequalities. 
Email: JeetiBhupal@hotmail.com, or Navjeet.Bhupal@kwantlen.ca

Botten, Eva
Eva Botten is a Criminology student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the WISH Drop-In Centre Coordinator for women in the sex survival industry. 
Email: evamarie.botten@gmail.com

Byrne, Jessica
Jessica Byrne just completed her first year at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
She is currently working towards a degree in Psychiatric Nursing. Her
interests include psychology, sociology, youth counseling, dance, and
writing. Feel free to contact her at Jbyrne33@gmail.com.

Cheong, Amanda
Amanda Cheong is currently a third year Sociology major at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests center around themes of transnationalism, ethnic identity, cultural flows, and applying ethnographic research methods.
Email: amanda.r.cheong@gmail.com

Chern, Faith
2nd year Sociology student.

Curry, Robin
Robin Curry is a third year general studies student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her research interests are culture, race, sexism, patriarchy and sociology of education. Robin can be reached at robin.curry@kwantlen.net.

Doyle, Gregory
My name is Gregory Doyle; I am a student of Criminology in his fourth year at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, enrolled in a BA.  My research interests are in Theories of Justice and what creates the most just society and how socio-economic status is becomes of factor of the definition of justice.
Emial: Gregory.doyle@kwantlen.net

Farhadi, Shima
BA major, sociology, 2nd year.

Ghahremanian, Iman
My name is Iman Ghahremani; I am a student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, enrolled in the BA; Major in Criminology. My research interests are:  corporate financial crime and misconduct; corporate regulations; elite deviance; environmental crime; social justice/injustice; social regulation.
Email: Iman.Ghahremani@Kwantlen.net

Goodwin, Charles Michael
My name is Charles Michael Goodwin and I go by Michael. It was ‘me Irish mother’s choice.’  I am a mature student (54) who comes from the halls of addiction.  At first, my goal was to see if I had the ‘right stuff’ to attempt higher education.  I started off slowly, attending a Kwantlen satellite office in the treatment center called ‘The Phoenix,” where I resided.  I branched into Kwantlen Surrey and continued to take preparatory courses.  Then, I decided to try the ‘real thing.’  Again, I started slowly, taking one, then two, and eventually full-time at 3 courses. My goal was to take four courses this spring but couldn’t arrange the funding. I cannot express in words the gift of learning, connecting, and empowerment.
I made the Dean’s Honour list and am within reach (12 credits) of receiving my Associate degree.  My next step is to take a Bachelor’s program.  I’m definitely thinking about humanities or social sciences and have challenged myself with a range of disciplines: sociology, psychology, philosophy, archaeology, english, and creative writing (history, is next).  I did not let age stand in the way, and involved my heart in my quest to expand my thirst for knowledge.  For what is university, if not, to uncover one’s passion?  University enlightens the mind and gives permission to be fully human. Having lived on the street (twice), I am very grateful for the opportunity to be lifted up (the professors and students) and ‘’stand on the shoulders of giants.”
Email: goodwinmichael619@gmail.com

Guraya, Deepak
My name is Deepak Guraya, and I returned to post-secondary during the fall of 2009 after a two year break.  During my break I was married and decided to spend eight months in India with my husband.  So my one term break from school and work turned into a two year break.  My time off and out of the country was truly significant and cherished.  The break was an opportunity of a life time.  As it is very rare to have the opportunity to give up full-time employment, put school as well as your current life on hold to go and experience life with a new perspective and in a new part of the world.  Returning to school was difficult not only because of my lengthy break, but also because I had changed majors and thus felt nervous about my new start.  My first term back allowed me to develop a particular interest in Sociology, and since then I have taken numerous Sociology classes which have focused on globalization from various perspectives.  On the whole and simply put globalization attempts to interpret the interaction of individuals and communities locally, internationally, and the impact of each on one another, so globalization is the study of how people, individuals, communities, societies, and businesses network, support, and function together on an international and global platform.  I am currently enrolled in my final semester at Kwantlen as a Bachelor of Arts student with a major in Sociology.  Upon completion of my degree I am hoping to apply my experience and myself in the field of Adult Probation.
Email: dvguraya@gmail.com

Hayre, Saira
Saira Hayre received her Bachelors of Journalism from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and is now enrolled in the Associate of Arts-Asian Studies program. Her research interests are journalism, culture, racism, education, and race and gender studies. Saira can be reached at saira.hayre@kwantlen.net.

Han, Chu Yi (Cherrie)
Chu Yi (Cherrie) Han is a student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, majoring in marketing. Email: cherrie1026@yahoo.ca

Harvey, Andrea
On September 4th, 2007, Andrea returned to Kwantlen after 8 years.  The journey of getting her B.A. in General Studies had begun yet again.  As she entered her third year of university, she had to complete 18 credits in one specific course to meet the requirements to transfer to The University of British Columbia (UBC).  Since she had taken two political science classes directly after graduating high school, the decision was made to continue along this path. After taking Nationalism 3125, Andrea became addicted to political science, and it has now become her passion.  Once completing the 18 required credits to transfer to UBC, Andrea discovered that her ultimate goal is to be a political science professor.  She is currently in the process of switching her B.A. to a double minor in Political Science and Sociology.  During her time at Kwantlen, she has been an active member of the Kwantlen Political Science Society, and has just recently become the President of the club.  Andrea’s experiences at Kwantlen are invaluable, and have taught her that Plato could not have said it any better: “and is not the love of learning the love of wisdom...?” Plato.
Andrea lives with her best friend in Surrey.  Together they enjoy cooking, although the best friend has an everlasting and deeper passion for it than she does.
Email: andrea.harvey@kwantlen.net

Hnatiak, Brian
Brian Hnatiak is an undergraduate student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Sociology. His research interests include the structural causes of inequality, economic class, political economy, and social justice issues.
Email: brian.cloutierfan02@gmail.com or brian.hnatiak@kwantlen.net

Iggulden, Alana
Alanna Iggulden is a third year sociology major student. Her interests are social policy and gender studies. Alanna can be reached at 604.250.3830 or at alanna.iggulden@kwantlen.net.

Jedrzejewska, Ania
Ania Jedrzejewska is a second year general studies student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her current research focuses on the interrelationship between sociological and psychological issues. Ania can be reached by email at: annie-j_92@hotmail.com.

Jeet, Jenis
My name is Jenis Jeet; I am a student of Criminology in my fourth year at Kwantlen Polytechnic University enrolled in a BA program. My research interests are youth offending and mental illness.
Email: Jenis.jeet@kwantlen.net

Job, Jennifer
3rd year Sociology student.

Kalam, Arafat
My name is Arafat Kalam. I am a student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, enrolled in the BA; major in Criminology. My research interests are: community policing; policing youth gangs; social justice.
Email: Arafat.kalam@kwantlen.net

Li, Wing Hon Richie
Email: rwh.li2@gmail.com

Malapitan, Raechel
My name is Raechel Malapitan and I am a first year Associate General Arts Student. My interests include Creative Writing, English, and Criminology. I can be reached at: rose_lyn-05@hotmail.com.

Mansoory, Umme
My name is Umme Mansoory. I am a first year student at Simon Fraser University in the Faculty of Social Sciences: Psychology. I am interested in further researching how Canada claims to be an advocate for equality but how its policies continues to devalue members of its society based on gender, age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
Email: umansoor@sfu.ca

Mossallaie, Nasim
I am 27 a year old Iranian-Canadian psychology major. Currently I am in my fourth year and last semester here at Kwantlen and hoping to graduate in June 2011. I want to go on to graduate school for my masters in Counselling and therapy or possibly social work. In the future I want to work with the youth and young adults with family and addiction issues. I'm interested in this course because Globalization is a current reality and therefore I would like to have more knowledge about this topic. My current Idea about globalization is that it is Neo-Colonization and so the powerful nations are taking over the least powerful nations and slowly taking over the world through raping them of their culture, food, economy, schooling, policies, etc.
Email: nasim.mosallaei@kwantlen.net

Mountain, Jonathan
Jonathan Mountain, Student, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Bachelor of Arts Psychology major, E-mail address: jonmtn@hotmail.com

Panesar, Anjneet
I am a second year psychology student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. The main idea of my paper lays in the misconceptions of beauty which underline society’s standard of beauty.
Email: angie_panesar@hotmail.com

Petersen, Christina
My name is Christina Petersen.  I am a mature student studying Criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.  My research interests include criminology and anything I can relate to my life experience. I can be reached at: christinapetersen@shaw.ca.

Yang, Meliza

Yasan, Sara
Sara is a graduate student in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia. She completed her BA at Simon Fraser University in Psychology and Sociology. She works with Battered Women’s Support Services where she develops and delivers Violence Prevention and Intervention Training programs grounded in anti-oppression and feminist theories. Her scholarly interests include anti-oppression and anti-racism education, critical theory and critical Pedagogy, discourse and critical discourse analysis. 
Email: sarayasan@gmail.com