Our team

Dr. Vadim Besprozvany has scholarly interests in cultural studies, semiotics, and communications theory, focusing on design systems, emotional design, and visual rhetorics. His research also examines travelogues and migration narratives, analyzing their cultural significance and rhetorical strategies.

Master student at the University of Michigan School of Information, Isha is a UX designer and researcher who crafts user-friendly and beautiful digital products. She is passionate about making technology accessible and enjoyable for all.

Influenced by personal experience, she is passionate about exploring the historical, social, and legal issues surrounding immigrants. She holds a degree in Sociology and has worked with the Centre in various roles, primarily writing about barriers and facilitators to integration.

Angela is a mixed methods researcher based in Calgary, specializing in issues impacting newcomers and immigrants to Canada. Her work aims to address the unique challenges faced by these communities, also including research engaged at an intersection of digital technologies and humanitarianism.

Patricia Gomez, BA, is a dedicated Research Assistant at TIES. She showcases her qualitative research skills and multicultural experience while her bilingual abilities enrich engagement with marginalized communities. Currently, she is working on the Voices In the Arts project to research the experience of 2SLGBTQIA+ immigrant youth in Calgary.

Dr. Kassan’s scholarly interests are informed by her own bi-cultural identity, and include presently includes two major foci. First, she is studying immigration experiences across different groups (i.e., newcomer youth, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ peoples). Second, she is researching teaching and learning, investigating cultural and social justice responsiveness in professional psychology.

Fatemeh is an expert in research methodology and data analysis at The Immigrant Education Society. She implements data-driven strategies to support evidence-based decision-making, enhancing the quality of life for immigrant communities through community-based research.

Rochelle Deloria (she/her) is a second-generation Filipino Canadian settler on Treaty 7 Territory, and Metis District of Alberta, 5 and 6. As a passionate and driven community member, advocate and a Master of Social Work Thesis student at UCalgary Faculty of Social Work, her work and passions are centred on social justice, cross-cultural mental health and transnational experiences for newcomer and racialized youth.

Kreisha, an immigrant shaped by her experiences, is a leader dedicated to rooting herself in her new country and championing social justice. Committed to her advocacy, she empowers communities and uplifts individuals through research and innovative program development.

Jenalyn's (she/her) interests stem from her desire to understand others and promote social justice using an intersectional lens. With knowledge in psychology and women's and gender studies, Jenalyn assists with various immigrant-related research projects and program evaluations at TIES.

Dr. Odessa Gonzalez Benson is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Her research focuses on the intersection of immigration, service provision, and social justice, striving to understand and address disparities in access and quality of services for marginalized populations.

Gurleen is an experienced researcher dedicated to understanding complex social issues through qualitative research. She has worked on program evaluations, environmental scans, and systems mappings. As of 2023, she is leading an arts-based study exploring newcomer 2SLGBTQIA+ youth’s intersecting identities and their experiences with gender-based violence.

Thomas is heading into his final year of his Bachelor of Social Work with minors in Global Development Studies and Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Calgary. He is passionate about the nexus of migration, gender, and sexuality.

Geneca, also known as Gen, has a strong dedication to research in the settlement sector and academic studies focusing on community development and improvement. At The Immigrant Education Society, she has worked on various projects addressing diverse newcomer experiences, aiming to positively impact their integration and lives in Calgary, creating a more supportive and inclusive community.

Katerina leverages program management expertise to champion social good. Passionate about equity, climate action, and sustainability, she leads initiatives at The Immigrant Education Society and seeks impactful opportunities to make a positive global difference.