Our Admissions Experts

Dr. Behrouz Moemeni is the founder and CEO here at BeMo. He is compelled by a vision to change the education system. He believes everyone deserves access to higher education. Specifically, he is determined to create and provide admissions and educational training programs that reduce the social barriers at professional programs. He is also driven by a mission to create the next generation of admissions/candidate screening tools that are more fair, while technologically and scientifically light years ahead of current admissions screening tools out there. 

Dr. Moemeni is meticulous about scientifically proven programs, services and products created here at BeMo. He blames this on his training as a scientist and he holds a Ph.D. in the field of Immunology from the University of Toronto. He is the recipient of 19 awards for his work during his undergraduate and graduate years, including the Prize in Biology. He has delivered several presentations at international scientific conferences and his scientific work in the areas of cancer biology and immunology, has culminated in several discoveries and the publication of 3 peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Moemeni has also taught a course at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and an undergraduate level course at the University of Toronto.

He is one of the world’s most expensive and sought-after admissions screening experts and is hired by institutions around the world for his expertise. His motivation-based admissions screening strategy has appeared in Diverse Issues in Higher Education, University World News, CMAJ News, and Nature Jobs. He regularly presents thought-provoking presentations to an international audience including appearances at TEDx WLUBrantford and Beyond Sciences Initiative. Click here to watch his TEDx talk. 

Dr. Moemeni continues to make time to directly interact with our students here at BeMo and he takes their success personally and advocates on their behalf.

Follow Dr. Moemeni:

Follow Dr. Moemeni on LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, & Instagram.

Select Publications & Presentations:

Behrouz Moemeni, 14 Rules for Admissions Screening in Higher Ed: An Antidote to Bias. Pick up a copy on Amazon.ca or Amazon.com.

Behrouz Moemeni, Intrinsic Motivation: The key to revolutionize education, work and life. TEDx WLUBrantford. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjC7cM8a5zU

Behrouz Moemeni, Why I became an advocate for change in university admissions & employee selection (and why you should too). BSI International Conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irDvhC7CE_k

Behrouz Moemeni, etc. Ultimate Guide to CASPer Test Prep. Available on Amazon. 

Behrouz Moemeni, et al. Ultimate Guide To Med School Admissions. Available on Amazon. 

Behrouz Moemeni, Vacaresse, N. , Vainder, M. , Wortzman, M. , Watts, T. , Veillette, A. , Gajewski, T. and Julius, M. Fyn Expression Predicates Both Protective Immunity and Onset of Autoimmunity. Open Journal of Immunology, 5, 244-259. doi: 10.4236/oji.2015.55020.

Behrouz Moemeni. Unique and interdependent roles of Lck and Fyn in TcR Signalling. PhD Thesis. University of Toronto.

Behrouz Moemeni*, D.F.*, et al. Lck-dependent Fyn activation requires C-terminus-dependent targeting of kinase-active Lck to lipid rafts. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 238(39): 26409-26422. (*Equal contributions)

P.Y.B.A., N.M., H.C., Behrouz Moemeni, et al. The oncogene PDGF-B provides a key switch from cell death to survival induced by TNF. Oncogene, 24(19): 3196-3205.

Guest Posts and Contributions:

"Top 8 Strategies to Prepare for and Ace your Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)", The Student Doctor Network, https://www.studentdoctor.net/2017/08/30/multiple-mini-interview-mmi/

"How to Ace CASPer Without Reading a Single Book on Ethics or Improving Your Typing Speed", The Student Doctor Network, https://www.studentdoctor.net/2017/08/15/casper-scenario/

"Anatomy of a Successful Medical School Resume" USA News & World Report, https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/articles/2017-05-25/anatomy-of-a-successful-medical-school-resume

Dr. Elissar Sayyed Kassem completed her Bachelor of Law degree in her home country Lebanon, followed by an LLM at the University of Aberdeen in the UK. Striving to combine legal research with the fast-paced growth of online commerce, she completed her PhD in Law at the University of Liverpool, with her thesis tackling the complexities of online contractual relations and internet governance. 

Dr. Sayyed Kassem worked as a consultant for a parliamentary committee in Lebanon, contributing to drafting a law on information technology and e-commerce. She then took an academic position as an assistant professor at the American University of the Middle East. Moving to Canada, Dr. Sayyed Kassem made Halifax in Nova Scotia her home. She now focuses on legal writing and editing. As an academic consultant at BeMo, she is armed with her strong belief in the importance of education, alongside her experience in advising university students. 

Outside work, she is a dedicated mom and a very active volunteer in her community.

After being the lead prosecutor in a mock trial in grade 7, Kelvin became very interested in criminal law. He pursued this passion by taking Criminology at York and completing law school at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. 

Kelvin has been with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada since 2015, starting as a summer and articling student, and now a member of the Anti-Organized Crime team in the Ontario Regional Office in Toronto. His practice focuses on high complexity wiretap cases involving conspiracies, large-scale drug trafficking and importing, organized crime, search warrants and emerging Charter issues. Kelvin has appeared before the Ontario Court of Appeal on a number of occasions and has conducted several jury trials. He is also member of the PPSC Student Committee and mentor to prospective and current law students.

Phoebe A. Gilmore is a Pittsburgh-based lawyer whose practice is focused on the intersection of medicine, public policy, and the law.

Phoebe earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Writing from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018. Following her undergraduate career, Phoebe earned a full-tuition scholarship to attend Penn State Law, where she graduated with her Juris Doctor in 2021. 

While in law school, Phoebe was an advocate for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court team, served indigent clients as a clinical student for Penn State Law’s Family Law Clinic, and worked as a health law research assistant, specifically focusing on the regulation of state-funded methadone clinics. During law school, Phoebe also completed internships with Elliott Group and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, where she primarily focused on regulatory compliance and corporate affairs.

Phoebe advocates for the demystification of the graduate law school admissions process to promote equity in higher education and help more students recognize and reach their full potential. In her free time, Phoebe enjoys painting and spending time with her loved ones (and cats).

Bianca Orlan holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Law and Business from Ryerson University, Ted Rogers School of Management in Toronto. It was during her undergraduate studies that she discovered her passion for the legal field and creating greater access to justice. She went on to obtain her Juris Doctor from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law.

Throughout Bianca’s undergraduate and graduate studies, she took on various work and volunteer opportunities that allowed her to develop her legal knowledge and critical skills, as well as pursue her passion for helping others. These opportunities involved working both for the private and public sector, assisting various members of the public, including underprivileged individuals, children, and adults who are mentally and/or physically incapable. Bianca was selected to participate in her law school’s Externship Program. As part of the program, she worked at a government-funded Community Legal Clinic in Toronto that provides legal advice and representation to clients in financial need. Additionally, one summer she worked in the legal services division of a provincial government office that is committed to protecting the rights and interests of adults who are mentally incapable.

Bianca is extremely passionate about helping others achieve their academic success and professional goals. She thoroughly enjoys reviewing documents and providing feedback, whether it be from her work experience or simply lending a helping hand to her fellow classmates during her studies. She knows firsthand how overwhelming the law school application process can be and is dedicated towards mentoring and helping other applicants navigate through it as seamlessly as possible.

Alice Wang is a PhD/JD Candidate at Stanford University and Yale Law School, where her primary research agenda concerns executive control over U.S. immigration policy. After graduating from Smith College with degrees in Philosophy and Government, she studied for her MA in Political and Legal Theory at the University of Warwick on a U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Scholarship. Alice brings more than five years of experience tutoring students—ranging from those at the elementary to the undergraduate levels—and was recognized by Stanford University for “tremendous service and dedication in providing excellent classroom instruction.” In her free time, she enjoys running, painting, and baking/eating bread.

Aaron Schulze is a practicing attorney in Los Angeles, CA where he primarily works on talent agreements, employment contracts, and all things related to the entertainment industry. 

Aaron earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Texas in Psychology, and Theater & Dance. He then attended the University of Texas School of Law. While in law school, Aaron took part in an International Entertainment Program in London that focused on Negotiating and Drafting International Entertainment Contracts. In Austin, Texas, he represented indigent clients charged with misdemeanour offences in the Texas Law Criminal Defense Clinic. 

Aaron understands what it's like to have a non-traditional career path. He has used his love of the arts to help guide him in his legal career by offering a unique perspective. He loves sharing his passion with others, whether it be through music, film, or the law. 

Duaa Syed is a 2021 JD Graduate from Osgoode Hall Law School. During her time at Osgoode, Duaa worked as an Anti-Discriminatory Intensive Program (ADIP) student at the Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC) and advised over 150 clients on legal and procedural human rights issues. Through her work at the HRLSC, She has developed a deep and functional understanding of the Ontario Human Rights Code and learned how to deal with emotionally complex clients.

Duaa strongly believes in volunteerism and spent her time volunteering at the Toronto Small Claims Court, Toronto SSP, and the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. Duaa also has a keen interest in ADR and actively seeks out opportunities to hone her mediation skills.

Duaa aims to infuse her legal career with her emotional intelligence and make law a more compassionate field for clients and practitioners. As an immigrant with a diverse background, Duaa aims to bring meaningful insight as a future lawyer in the Canadian Law society. Duaa's drive to help people and keen intuition makes her an asset for clients.

Before law school, Duaa lived in Saudi Arabia up until high school and moved to India to pursue Bachelors in Journalism. After completing her Bachelor’s, Duaa decided to pursue her law degree in Canada to develop and hone legal skills.

Being an international student who moved to Toronto for law school, Duaa appreciates and understands the challenges that come with moving to a new country and navigating the unfamiliar terrain of law school.

In her free time, Duaa likes to learn languages and spend time learning about mental health and wellness.

Raminder K. Hayre is a Vancouver-based lawyer that currently runs a consulting company which is focused on life purpose and mentoring individuals through life and/or career changes. Prior to that, she practiced in leading firms where she litigated insurance defence files ranging from arson and theft, to personal injury. Raminder held several positions including director and chair roles for equity and inclusivity among the Canadian Bar Association, and the South Asian Bar Association.

She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at UBC, and did her MBA and J.D. in Australia. 

Outside of work, Raminder enjoys watching movies, cooking, reading, and getting exercise. She is a strong believer in personability, and is passionate about morphing institutions to be more empathetic, and approachable for people of all backgrounds. She is active on her blog where she gives free information on law, and policy, and has become an activist for human rights and accessible information. Raminder is a spiritual healer, and brings her healing modalities into coaching to ensure that clients and engagers are fulfilling their highest potential, while not burning out in the process. 

Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Megan received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Western Ontario in 2019, and her Juris Doctor degree from Queen’s University in 2023. Megan was an active member of the Queen’s Law community, working as a caseworker for the Queen’s Prison Law Clinic, a teaching assistant for an undergraduate international law course, and an editor for the Queen’s Law Journal and Legal Style Guide. Megan also volunteered for Pro Bono Students Canada and competed as an oralist in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot. 

Megan is now pursuing her passion of criminal justice and correctional reform while articling for a non-profit organization that promotes policy change to ensure fair treatment of incarcerated people and rehabilitation to support individual and community needs. Her other areas of interest in law include international law and real estate law. 

In her spare time, Megan enjoys painting, reading, and travelling. Having spent a few years as a barista, she is also a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur. 

Fatima earned her Bachelor of Applied Sciences with a specialization in Justice Studies from the University of Guelph. She also received a Diploma in Community Service at Humber College before receiving her law degree from the University of Windsor in 2021.

Fatima worked as a peer mentor, researcher and intake coordinator for Community Legal Aid in Windsor. She also volunteered for Pro Bono Students Canada, completed a practicum in Dispute Resolution, and earned a certificate in Domestic Violence Training from the S.T.A.R. Program with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Before and during law school, Fatima worked as a law clerk at Ruso & Associates. She completed her articles with the firm and was called to the Bar in 2022.

In her spare time, Fatima enjoys exercising, travelling, and spending time with her friends and family.

Tyler was born in Halifax and grew up in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. He obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration with a Major in Marketing from Cape Breton University in 2016.

Tyler attended the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University from 2017-2020 and was one of only four students in his incoming class to receive the prestigious Law Foundation of Nova Scotia entrance scholarship. While in law school, he volunteered as part of the Tenant’s Rights Program at Dalhousie’s Legal Aid Clinic and participated in the inaugural Canadian Animal Law Conference. 

After graduating with his law degree in 2020, Tyler articled with a boutique immigration and real estate law firm in Halifax before returning home to Cape Breton. Tyler was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in June 2021 and began his practice at a small firm in his hometown of Glace Bay soon after. Tyler’s main areas of practice include wills and estates, real estate, and family law.

In his free time, Tyler enjoys photography, birdwatching, nature walks with his dog and video gaming.

Tyler has always had a passion for mentoring, advising, and using his knowledge to help guide others. Prior to attending law school, Tyler worked as a driving instructor in a small business, teaching new drivers the rules of the road. In his role at the law firm, Tyler has played an instrumental role in training new staff and mentoring paralegals and junior lawyers.

Tyler is a patient and thorough advisor who can relate to the stress students experience during the grad school application process, and strives to make his clients’ experiences as satisfying as possible as they pursue their academic and professional goals.

Dr. David Schulze is a recent graduate of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. Currently he is doing his internal medicine intern year in Weatherford, Texas and will be moving to Los Angeles, California for his Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency. Before entering medical school David was an actor, an EMT, a tutor, a lab manager, a cartoonist, and an English major. He knows what it’s like to have a different career before medicine!

In 2014, David attended the medical science master’s program at the University of Texas Health Science Center and was elected president of his class. After graduating he would become an advisor and mentor to the multiple classes that came after him. He helped them navigate the difficult waters of applying to medical school, dental school, podiatry school, graduate school, nursing school, and PA programs.

As a medical student David was proactive and severed as the class president all four years. During that time he got to see behind the scenes and learned what faculty, administration, and admissions directors are looking for in future students. He also continued to mentor the upcoming classes and was always available to answer a question or read over an essay. Now as a resident David continues to help advise those applying to residency.

David is happiest when the people he’s helped have achieved their goals. He has been on all sides of the application process and has gained many helpful insights. Let him use those insights to help you get the career of your dreams!  

Dr. Meng Yang is a recent PhD graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she received her PhD in Linguistics. Her research focused on how we, humans, use the many acoustic dimensions of speech sounds to understand the words we hear, as well as how the perceptual biases we bring to this process ultimately affect the course of language change. She has published on this topic and others in peer-reviewed journals and has presented her research at numerous international conferences. Her research was funded by the National Science Foundation among other funding agencies.

Meng is an experienced teacher and academic mentor. During her time at UCLA, she taught both general-education introductory courses and advanced courses in linguistics, and has a passion for pedagogical innovation in the classroom. As a graduate mentor, Meng was an advocate for undergraduate participation in research and created many such opportunities for her students. She is also well-versed in the ins and outs of admissions to competitive programs and has helped numerous mentees successfully navigate the process. As an academic consultant at BeMo, she is excited to share her experience and knowledge with you!

Nyasha Gondora has a PhD in neuropharmacology from the University of Waterloo. During the course of her graduate career she won several national and university-level scholarships and awards for her research, research presentations and community involvement, including being a two time recipient of the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR-DSECT) scholarship. Over the past few years, Nyasha has worked closely with a total of >950 students in her capacity as a course instructor, teaching assistant and research mentor. Alongside teaching and mentorship, Nyasha enjoys public speaking and in 2016 was selected to deliver the official video pitch for a 100 million dollar grant application to the MacArthur Foundation on behalf of The Council of Scientific Society Presidents (Washington, DC).

Nyasha completed her Bachelor's in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas where she studied on scholarship. During her undergraduate studies, Nyasha pursued a broad range of experiences from interning in a public health organization in Washington, DC, doing ecology research and working in a top-tier HIV research lab. Through these experiences she earned a competitive undergraduate research fellowship and two prestigious awards. Texas is where Nyasha first discovered her love for science (and Mexican food!). In her free time Nyasha enjoys reading, jogging and is always ready for the next episode of Grey's Anatomy!

Nyasha believes in the power of effective mentorship and is a strong advocate for student success. She looks forward to channeling her wealth of experiences to help YOU achieve your dreams! 

Dr. Ashley Grimaldi completed her undergraduate work at University of Colorado, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. She completed her graduate work at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine where she joined their Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences. She earned her Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology from Vanderbilt where she studied the role of microtubule plus-end tracking proteins in the regulation of cellular architecture and physiology. While at Vanderbilt, Dr. Grimaldi wrote funding proposals and secured an American Heart Association predoctoral fellowship for her study of microtubule-dependent regulation of cardiovascular disease. She has six peer-reviewed publications from her time at Vanderbilt where she also gained invaluable teaching and mentoring experience.

After several years in science research, Dr. Grimaldi pursued her passion for helping students and has now been teaching full-time for six years. Dr. Grimaldi’s diverse research and teaching experiences allow her to provide valuable advice to a wide variety of students. As a BeMo team member, she is passionate about bringing her skills and expertise to students as she supports them in achieving their academic and professional goals.

Outside of consulting, Dr. Grimaldi enjoys working on puzzles, taking her dog to the park, and eating tacos with her husband.

Ms. Ronza Nissan holds a Bachelors of Arts in criminology (Honours) and a minor in Political Science and holds an MA in Political Science,International Affairs.  Ronza has several years of experience within the recruitment industry, giving her a unique real-life perspective in candidate screening and is one of our highly ranked admissions experts here at BeMo.

As an immigrant with a strong passion for outreach programs and children’s rights, Ronza remains active within the community. Working as a catalyst for War Child, Ronza created a committee, One Army that brings awareness through various organized events, in hopes of raising funds for children afflicted by war. Ronza is passionate about utilizing her voice and platform to advocate for families displaced, and strives to be at the forefront of international affairs.

In her spare time, Ronza studies other languages and aims to be fluent in 5 languages within the next few years, and currently speaks 3 languages fluently; Assyrian, Arabic and English. 

Dr. Charlene Hoi earned her PhD in Genetics from the University of Chicago in 2016, and is currently a Research Scientist at a biotech based in Richmond, BC. Before her doctorate, Charlene attended Cornell University, where she double majored in Biology and Animal Sciences. She spent much of her time either in the lab, studying the role of tissue stem cells in cancer, or out exploring gorges. After graduating from Cornell with summa cum laude honors, Charlene went on to matriculate at the University of Chicago, where she investigated modalities for tissue-specific signalling pathways. During her doctorate, Charlene was a recipient of the NIH-funded Genetics and Regulations Training Grant; attended multiple, international conferences; and published two articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Charlene is ever-curious and revels in hypothesis-driven research, but, more importantly for you, she has a long-standing passion for helping others achieve their goals and become their ideal versions of themselves. Charlene has always involved herself with tutoring and mentoring, whether it be in science-y settings, dancing, or video games. She looks forward to getting to know you and to helping you pursue the next step in your life!

Gurmeet Lall completed her Bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Waterloo. During her undergraduate studies, Gurmeet pursued a broad range of experiences from volunteering and teaching in various science outreach programs, and working as a research assistant in wet-labs. Through these experiences, she discovered her passion for research, teaching and mentoring and is now completing her PhD at the University of Waterloo, School of Pharmacy. Gurmeet’s research focuses on gene delivery and nanomedicine. In addition, as a recipient of the MITACS Accelerate award, she is also collaboratively working on the research and development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Over the past few years, she has worked closely with over 500 students in her capacity as a teaching assistant and research mentor. She was recently awarded the ‘Best Mentor as a Graduate Student Teaching Assistant’ from the University of Waterloo. She believes that one of the most important elements in a strong mentor-mentee relationship is trust, and this is something she strives to build with every one of her mentees. Gurmeet is passionate about bringing her teaching and mentoring experience to BeMo, and is dedicated to help guide and shape the professional growth and learning of her students.

In her free time, Gurmeet enjoys running, working on puzzles, practicing yoga, dancing, or watching movies with her friends and family. 

Dr. Jacquelyn Paquet is a medical resident at the University of Alberta.

Jacquelyn grew up in rural Alberta and completed her undergraduate degrees in psychology and nursing both at the University of Alberta. While in undergraduate training, she was involved in career mentorship, crisis intervention and teaching, honing skills in teamwork and communication. She then completed her medical degree at the University of Alberta. During her medical training she was involved in a large research study on the impacts of mental health and substance use on academic performance, furthering her academic endeavours. She then successfully matched to the Psychiatry residency program at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Paquet is excited to help students achieve their professional aspirations as a consultant with BeMo. She understands the importance of structured and specific feedback and focused practice in developing confidence in interview settings. She aims to support student’s development of succinct writing skills to approach applications.

Outside of medicine, she can be found doing art, playing with her cats and spending time with her family. 

Samira Lavei was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario to Kurdish immigrants from Iran. She is fluent in four languages, English, Kurdish, Farsi, and Spanish, and hopes to master Arabic and French in the coming years. She has extensive and diverse experience in a wide range of job fields including, administration, retail, legal research, fitness coaching, and non-governmental organizations including the Spanish Red Cross and UNICEF. Samira holds both a Bachelor and Master degree in Political Science and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at York University. She currently specializes in Women and Politics and International Relations, and her dissertation focuses on gender within Latin America. She has experience participating in international conferences and plans on publishing her academic work soon. She is excited about applying many of her skills acquired from her experiences as a consultant here at BeMo!  

Outside of academia, Samira is a dedicated karate athlete and a two-time Canadian medalist. She has previously represented Team Canada at the 2019 Pan-American Championships in Panama. She has been featured on the York University Faculty of Graduate Studies website for her simultaneous dedication as a karate athlete and a Ph.D. candidate. Her photos have been featured on ShePowerSport, a platform dedicated to educating the public on the health rights of female athletes. When Samira is not training, she likes to give back her athletic knowledge to various communities in need. Examples of this would be, teaching female refugees self-defence in Spain and co-instructing an after-school karate program for kids in Colombia. 

When Samira is not studying, training, or working, she loves taking part in activities such as salsa dancing, creative writing, and cross-cultural observations. Samira has traveled to over 14 countries and is hoping to diversify her list within the coming years.

Joseph David Narusis is currently finishing his doctorate in Applied Psychology with a specialization in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Southern Illinois University (SIU) in Carbondale, Illinois. Additionally, he works as an academic consultant at BeMo Academic Consulting and teaches advanced statistics and methods at SIU. As a teacher, he firmly believes that every student has the ability to succeed with the right instructions and motivation. One of his favorite sayings is, “It’s only a mistake if you do not learn from it.” He takes this approach when working with his students and focuses on using mistakes as opportunities to improve and develop. There are few things he enjoys more than watching that “lightbulb” click in a student’s head or watching them progress over time.

Joseph grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, southern Wisconsin, and central Florida. He has counts himself lucky to be able to spend extensive time overseas with his extended family in Lithuania. He loves to travel, play sports, and spend time outdoors in Southern Illinois. 

Dr. Deepa Bhat was born in India and subsequently grew up in Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor for her undergraduate studies, and double-majored in Spanish as well as Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science. She then completed her medical school training at Rush University in Chicago, IL. During residency, she completed a one-year basic science research fellowship in the Tissue Engineering lab at Johns Hopkins University. She is currently an integrated plastic surgery resident in upstate New York.  

Deepa is passionate about mentorship and promoting diversity in medicine and surgery. She genuinely believes that anyone can become successful with the right tools, and has benefited from strong mentors in her own career. In her free time, she enjoys reading for pleasure, traveling to new places, and spending time with her friends and family. 

Dr. Marianne Mugabo holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology of Organisms from University Paris 11, a Master of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Sorbonne University (former University Pierre et Marie Curie) and a Ph.D. in Ecology from École Normale Supérieure de Paris.

After completing her Ph.D., she joined the School of Biology at the University of Leeds in the UK for 6 years as a postdoctoral researcher. In her research work, she has focused on understanding the effects of environmental variation (e.g.: food availability, habitat degradation, climate change) on individual traits in animal species such as survival rate, body size and reproductive performances and on identifying their consequences for the fate of populations (i.e.: population dynamics and risk of extinction). Her scientific achievements in the fields of evolutionary biology and population ecology have led to 13 publications in peer-reviewed journals. In recent years, Marianne has also worked as a freelance English-to-French technical translator and has specialized in software localization.

Throughout her academic training and career as a researcher, Marianne has mentored several undergraduate and graduate students. She has also taught lectures and practical classes in undergraduate and graduate programs, both as a teaching assistant and as a guest lecturer. She was also involved in multiple outreach and science communication events in France and in the UK. After enjoying a successful early career as an academic researcher, Marianne is delighted to help others achieve their own academic and career pursuits as an academic consultant at BeMo.

Dr. Africa earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Chemistry and a minor in Communication Studies from the University of Houston-Downton. These allowed her to apply her scientific skills in various industries—environmental, electrochemical, pharmaceutical, and petrochemical—as an Analytical Chemist. Her interest then evolved from using scientific skills to teaching others how to develop and apply them correctly. 

This budding passion was the catalyst that initiated her transition from industry into the classroom, where she taught undergraduate chemistry for four years and became increasingly fascinated by the learning process. Dr. Africa’s quest for a deeper understanding of learning, education, student evaluation and assessments, and academic achievement was fueled, leading her to pursue a master’s and then a doctoral degree in psychology, both with a specialization in educational psychology. Her doctoral degree culminated with a quantitative study titled, ‘Intelligence Mindsets, Psychological Needs Satisfaction, and Academic Achievement Among Dominican Secondary School Students.’ 

One of the theoretical tenets which have grounded her research is the growth mindset. Consequently, strengthening her belief that with the right resources and effort, everyone can excel, should have access to higher education, and the opportunity to achieve their goals. Thus, her interests deepened to include the publishing industry, where she has had extensive experience as an academic editor, working with researchers worldwide helping them achieve their dreams of becoming published authors in high-impact peer-reviewed scientific journals. 

Dr. Africa is intrinsically motivated, curious, and focused. She thrives in a learning environment and continuously identifies new opportunities to learn and grow within a specific context. She loves learning and embraces every aspect of the learning process: challenges, researching, making mistakes, getting feedback, unlearning, relearning, and disseminating knowledge. Dr. Africa pursues excellence.

Michela Insenga is currently completing her Ph.D. at the University of Leicester, in the UK. Her research investigates the different factors and emotions that have an influence in women’s choice to pursue a career and persist in the highly male-dominated engineering industry. Michela has a keen interest in social justice and equality of educational opportunities and she is passionate about challenging societal stereotypes and norms.

After earning her Master’s Degree in Politics and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education, she became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a lecturer in Education at Edge Hill University. She has designed, implemented and evaluated several modules in the teacher training program (PGCE), while mentoring students and assessing their final dissertations. She now acts as an academic reviewer for some of the most prominent international associations in the field of educational research, such as the American Educational Research Association (AERA).   

Having worked as a research assistant for several European Commission-funded programs at the University of Liverpool, she developed a lifetime commitment to widening access to Higher Education for all. Michela is devoted to (and slightly obsessed with) her never-ending personal and professional development. In her free time, she turns into an amateur writer, an animal rescuer and the world’s most passionate traveller. She is very excited to help student articulate their life stories and succeed in their academic career, and she is thrilled to join the BeMo team.  

Mohammadreza earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from York University in Toronto. His doctoral dissertation focused on how heat is conducted in nano-scale materials. During his Ph.D. studies, he received university-level and provincial scholarships in recognition of his excellent academic record and research contributions. He has more than 10 years of experience in conducting research as well as mentoring students as a teaching assistant in several topics. Mohammadreza was also the recipient of an honorable mention for the best graduate teaching assistant in the department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at York University. Prior to his Ph.D. studies, Mohammadreza received his M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Physics.

As a member of BeMo family, Mohammadreza is excited to use his experience to help students of all backgrounds achieve their academic goals. 

Dr. Rolando Gerena is a current medical resident at Indiana University. He will be attending the University of Colorado next summer to join their Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program.  His interest in education and mentoring stem from his upbringing in South Florida. His mother’s passion for teaching and his father’s love for agriculture motivated him to join the BeMo family. He aspires to mentor students who are interested in gaining acceptance into higher-learning programs. 

Dr. Gerena’s passion can be seen through his serving of others, including patients and colleagues. He was elected by his peers to serve as class president for his four years of medical school. Dr. Gerena also had the privilege of being selected as an ambassador to the admissions committee at his school. 

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Gerena worked with education leaders to develop a COVID-19 pandemic course for over 700 medical students. The creation of this course provided all third- and fourth-year students with a solid base of knowledge for reintegration into the clinical setting. 

In his free time, Dr. Gerena enjoys going to the gym and hanging out with his dog. He also loves to eat so you can likely find him trying out a new restaurant every weekend.   

Dr. Rhoda Ansah Quaigrain is a graduate of University of Manitoba, Canada where she received her PhD in Civil engineering. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Quantity Surveying and Construction Economics from Kwame University of Science and Technology, Ghana. She received the top award for academic excellence during her undergraduate, receiving the best student award in her graduating class, and the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) national award for academic excellence. She is also a recipient of numerous awards advancing her straight from undergraduate to a fully funded doctorate program. She has extensive research experience in performance benchmarking and optimization, sustainable construction, health and safety, and disability/injury management having led key provincial and national projects in advancing the construction industry. Evidence of her research excellence and communication skills is demonstrated by her numerous publications at various national and international conferences, and in reputable peer-reviewed journals. She has also acted as a consultant on occupational health and safety and performance benchmarking and optimization projects in Manitoba, Canada. Through her established networks with key institutions Manitoba, she was recommended to consult on research projects with four key safety institutions in the Province of Manitoba on standardizing workplace health and safety training policies in the province. Organizational partners on the project included the Manitoba Building Trades, Safe Work Manitoba, Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba, Construction Safety Association of Manitoba and the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology.

Rhoda also has nine plus years of teaching, research and project supervision and academic mentorship experience having worked with hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds to realize their full potential. She also has experience in the administrative and admissions side of academia, having served on the senate committee for curriculum changes. Rhoda is very passionate about women and girls in science, having volunteered at high schools and colleges to work with students to pursue their dreams of careers in the sciences. One of her life goals is to make academia and higher education accessible to all. As an academic mentor at BeMo she plans to bring her extensive experience and passion to help students get the upper hand, excel, and achieve their full potential.

Dr. Shiti Malhotra earned her PhD in Theoretical Linguistics from University of Maryland, with specialization in Syntax and minor in Psycholinguistics. In her doctoral thesis, she reviewed how human mind processes complexities of the verb structure; how it handles the grammatical features of the verbs and how the complexity affects the overall sentence structure. Dr. Malhotra has published her research in various peer-review journals and has also presented at various International conferences. Alongside, she has also served as a reviewer at well-established journals, in addition to working as an Editor at multiple publications. 

Dr. Malhotra is currently teaching Linguistics at Sant Mary’s University- Nova Scotia. She has moved to Canada recently after working at Northeastern University-Boston for over a decade. 

Dr. Malhotra has a long established career at University teaching, where she has extensively advised and supervised students. She has also helped many undergraduate students in their Graduate School Applications. Her students have been successful in getting into top-ranked graduate programs in the field of Linguistics, Psychology, Speech Pathology, Neuroscience, and Computer Science.

Dr. Malhotra is passionate about her work. She believes that mentoring helps her build a strong connection with the students. She loves to help students to achieve success in their career goals.

Dr. Jaspreet Jain earned her PhD in Virology and Immunology from Amity University and International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), India in 2018. Thereafter she worked as a Research and Development Scientist in the field of in vitro diagnostics, at a Biotechnology Startup.  Jain moved to Canada in 2019 and joined the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) as a Postdoctoral research fellow. Her recent research focusses on finding novel cure strategies in the field of HIV and SARS-CoV-2.

She published over 15 first author original peer-reviewed articles in mid to high impact factor journals and has presented her research at numerous National and International conferences. She is a recipient of some of the most prestigious awards, grants and fellowships that include Biotech Ignition grant from Govt. of India, Postdoctoral research fellowships from Canadian Institute of Health Research, Postdoctoral research fellowship from Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé, Young Investigator award from Canadian association of HIV research among many others.

Jain is an experienced academic mentor and an avid supporter of equality in education. She is also a member of CIHR and IRCM fellowship reviewer board. During her graduate studies, Jain was a member of the student association and mentored undergraduates in their admission and fellowship application and created multiple learning opportunities for her mentees. Jain understands the pressure of academic admissions and work towards supporting her students and mentees a 100% to navigate through the process seamlessly. In her free time Jain likes to write poetry, read fictional novels, learn about different cultures and travel to far away places. As an academic consultant at BeMo, she is excited to be a part of your academic journey and eager to share her experience and knowledge.

Dr. Benita Kapuku holds a double honours Bachelors of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry from Maynooth University, Ireland. She recently graduated from her doctoral studies in Chemistry at McGill University, Canada. Her research centred around discovering novel therapies for a tropical infectious disease. In her pursuit to gain laboratory experience during her undergraduate studies, Dr. Kapuku applied to 2 dozen internships with a low response rate. Having learnt from that experience, she was successfully accepted into several doctoral programs. These experiences fuel her passion for helping students in their pursuit of higher education.

Dr. Martin Poirier was born in Montreal, Quebec and subsequently grew up in Penetanguishene, Ontario, a small francophone community north of Toronto. To continue his bilingual education (fluent in both French and English), Martin then moved to Ottawa, Ontario, where he completed a BSc, MSc, and PhD in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa, both graduate degrees specializing in human integrative physiology. Dr. Poirier is also a certified Clinical Exercise PhysiologistTM with a High-Performance Specialization through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. 

Dr. Poirier is currently a Research Officer at the Human Performance Research and Development Laboratory at the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS). At present, his work is aimed at developing a modernized physical employment standard for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Police Fitness Test) and an applicant standard for the Canada Border Services Agency (Physical Abilities Test). He was also recently a consultant for the National Lifesaving Society of Canada regarding their physical standards. 

Dr. Poirier’s graduate research at the Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit (HEPRU; www.hepru.ca) was dedicated to understanding how various factors (aging, sex, chronic disease, fitness, others) influence physiological function and performance in adverse environments, with an interest in occupational heat stress. His work has been published in leading physiology and medical journals and he has presented his findings at several national and international conferences, all of which was funded through many scholarships including an Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Fellowship, a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholar in Science and Technology, an Ontario Graduate Scholarship, several Excellence Graduate Scholarships, and a Dean’s Scholarship. During this time, he also worked as a teaching assistant for many undergraduate level courses in Human Kinetics and mentored several undergraduate and graduate students at HEPRU. 

Apart from his research involvements, Dr. Poirier has extensive experience working in physical fitness and health as a consultant. He has worked with the RBC Training Ground for Paralympian’s, Nautilus Plus, as well as the Ottawa Mavericks Volleyball Club and the Region 6 (Eastern Ontario) Athlete Development Program, which is part of the Ontario Volleyball Association. He serves on the Boards of Directors of Diabète Outaouais (www.diabeteoutaouais.com), a not-for-profit organization that aims to educate the population on the prevention and management of diabetes. In his spare time, Martin enjoys spending time with family, traveling, training, playing hockey, and skiing! 

Tolu is passionate about improving health systems - an interest that developed growing up across different countries and witnessing disparities in health care services. She is currently pursuing her doctoral studies in Health Service Research at the University of Toronto and her research focuses on using systems thinking to understand access to medicines in low and middle-income countries.  She holds an MSc in Control of Infectious Diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and has worked with community, government, and international stakeholders to design, implement and evaluate health programs across several countries including Nigeria, Tanzania, Thailand, and the USA. 

Tolu values cultural diversity and is always looking to explore new cultures. She has lived in over ten countries to date, spanning every continent (except Antarctica and Australia) and has visited an additional twelve. At BeMo she hopes to bring her experiences and expertise to bear in supporting students from all backgrounds to achieve their academic and career goals. 

Dr. Roma Stephen is a Toronto resident who graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree (Double major in Neuroscience & Psychology) and later obtained a medical degree by completing medical school training in the Caribbean and the United States. She is currently in her hometown preparing for Canadian medical board exams. She has worked with United Nations Development Team in regards to mental health reforms in developing countries as well as been an active COVID-19 contact tracer during the pandemic in South Florida. Her goals are to serve people and educate them in any way possible. Through BeMo she plans on sharing some of her knowledge that she has acquired over the years and relieve stress for individuals who are seeking professional advice when it comes to admissions or enrollment.

Kedija Abdella is in her final year of medical school at the University of Toronto. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Trent University in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and was accepted to medical school after three years of undergraduate studies. Kedija has been involved in numerous mentorship and teaching initiatives throughout her undergraduate and medical studies. Her passion for advocacy, diversity, and inclusion has led her to obtain notable experience in supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds pursue careers in medicine. Kedija is thrilled to be able to use her experiences to help more students achieve their academic and professional goals. 

With a fundamental interest in science, Shahir started his academic studies in his hometown of Cairo, Egypt, where he studied pharmacy and biotechnology for 3 years at the German University in Cairo. In 2014, with 2 years left to complete his degree, Shahir transferred to York university in Toronto, ON, Canada, where he pursued an honours bachelor of science in Biotechnology. Upon completion of his undergraduate thesis project, under the supervision of Dr. Peter Cheung, he graduated first class with distinction in 2018. Shahir is currently pursuing his graduate studies at the university of Toronto, in the department of Molecular Genetics, where he is a 4th year PhD candidate under the supervision of Dr. Eric Campos. 

Shahir has amassed a breadth of knowledge thus far, both in the academic setting and in the admissions process. As an academic consultant at BeMo, Shahir is excited to share his experiences with you in support of your academic journey.

Dr. Abha Sood is a chemist with experience in biological sciences. She obtained her Ph.D. from University of Massachusetts Boston in 2012. Her area of research was in the synthesis, design and structure activity relationship studies of small molecules against multiple targets involved in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis. After completing her Ph.D. she went on to pursue her post doctorate from University of Texas Medical School. Her research work has been published in various peer reviewed journals. Sharing her knowledge with others has always been her priority therefore, her passion lies in teaching and mentoring students towards career advancement in the field of sciences. She has over 4 years of teaching experience at Georgia Southern University (GSU) as an assistant professor. During her stay at GSU she taught General Chemistry I and II course and laboratory, Advanced Organic chemistry laboratory and nursing chemistry. Along with teaching she has mentored undergraduate and graduate research students. As a teacher she was greatly admired for her availability, giving extra time to students struggling in some areas and listening to students’ needs. As an MCAT instructor here at BeMo, she is ready and excited to instruct, help and mentor students.

Dr. Fernando received her PhD in Biological Sciences (Plant Developmental Genetics) from the University of Manitoba, Canada in 2016. She has been teaching Biology and Genetics in the same University since 2013, transitioning to a full-time instructor position in 2018. Dr. Fernando has taught Genetics, Cell Biology and Introductory biology courses to thousands of undergraduate students including pre-med and honours students, in the past 8 years. She obtained Certification in Higher Education Teaching from the Centre for Advancement of Teaching and Learning, University of Manitoba, in 2014. In addition to teaching, she has also been involved in curriculum development and facilitating teaching labs. She worked as the lab coordinator for Genetics for two years where she was responsible in planning and supervising the teaching laboratory component. She has mentored undergraduate summer students and has briefly supervised two Masters students during her time as a PhD student.

Before moving to Canada, she completed her Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree at University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka with first-class honours, specializing in Botany and Molecular Biology. She has worked at two different universities and at the Department of Agriculture in Sri Lanka after her graduation. Dr. Fernando has received several awards and scholarships for academic excellence and many travel awards to attend local and international conferences. She has presented her PhD research in many conferences in the form of oral and poster presentations. She has 8 first author peer reviewed publications including 3 book chapters from her doctoral research which was focused on genetic interactions between genes involved in light and plant-stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) signalling and ABA mediated stress responses in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.

As a very energetic and talkative person from childhood she thought teaching and mentoring would be a great profession for her. She believes a good teacher/mentor is someone who inspires the students, sets a good example to them and makes a remarkable change in their lives. Any person can be a teacher, but not everyone can be a good teacher. Teaching is adynamic process and building up a strong yet professional relationship with the students is the best approach to help them succeed. In her spare time, she loves travelling, watching movies with her family and also playing the piano. She also enjoys dancing and has performed and choreographed traditional dances to showcase Sri Lankan dance styles, in Manitoba.

Shehnoor Khurram is a PhD candidate at the Department of Political Science at York University studying the contemporary intersections of religion and politics. Her doctoral research examines how militant Islamist movements respond to neoliberal globalization and its corrosive impact on the social life, ecology, politics, and economy of the Muslim world. She holds an (Hons.) B.A. in Political Science from the University of Toronto and an M.A. in Political Science from York University. Her writing has been published in the Huffington Post, Canadian Dimension, and Briarpatch Magazine. Shehnoor is also a passionate educator and community organizer working with social movements across the GTA, including the Peoples Pantry and $15 and Fairness. Outside of academia, Khurram is a lover of culture, movement, and the outdoors. She spends her time adventuring in the backcountry of Canada  - hiking, running, paddling, swimming, cycling, eating, and exploring wherever she can.

Naeha was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended Vanderbilt University where she graduated with Honors in Neuroscience and Medicine, Health and Society. Following undergraduate education, she matriculated to George Washington University, where she is currently a fourth-year medical student with career interests in Emergency Medicine and Health Policy. Naeha has tutoring experience with high school, college and medical school students in subjects including Math and English. She has also served as a medical student interviewer, and has experience advising students on medical school applications and personal statement writing. Naeha is excited to work with BeMo Consulting and help students on their path to testing and applying for graduate school! 

Chavonne was born and raised in NYC. Chavonne attended Eckerd College for undergrad where she majored in Biology. Chavonne was able to obtain her Master’s in Public Health and Medical degree from St George's University in a dual degree program. Chavonne was able to complete her pediatric residency and chief resident year at St Joseph's Regional Medical Center. Chavonne is now completing her Pediatric Gastroenterology fellowship.

Chavonne has a great interest in affordable, healthy nutrition for all. During fellowship she has joined and started various multidisciplinary teams working to improve access to healthcare for minority patients. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, trying new restaurants and cooking at home.

Steven is currently an Internal Medicine resident at the University of Toronto after having completed his medical school training at McMaster University. He is quite familiar with the pre-med journey having seen, mentored and taught thousands of students as they successfully entered medical school.

Having previously taught MCAT classes, Steven always found engaging with students’ career aspirations to be more rewarding than the content itself. He is very excited to take on this position with BeMo and support students in this manner going forward.

Dr. Michael Chung earned his medical degree from Albany Medical College in New York, and his Bachelor of Science degree from University of California Berkeley. He is currently a resident physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Chung has years of experience as a tutor and mentor for individuals applying to college and medical school.  In addition, he has successfully mentored medical students through the residency process.  He enjoys working with motivated students to empower them with the tools necessary to achieve their academic and professional goals. 

Eduard is a Ph.D. student in Media Studies at Western University and holds an M.A. in Linguistics from Western University. His current research interests include issues of propaganda and political disinformation.

He has written several publications and presented his research at numerous conferences. He brings years of experience supporting students at Western University, Columbia International College, and McMaster University.

Eduard is committed to academic excellence and student success and is passionate about working with students. He is excited to share his knowledge and experience to help them explore their academic potential and reach their personal and professional goals.

In his free time, Eduard enjoys composing music, cooking, reading, and travelling.

Simon Marmura is a SSHRC (CGS-D) funded Ph.D. candidate at Queen’s University in Kingston Ontario. There, he studies fascist and far-right political and social movements in Canada and abroad. As a Teaching Assistant, Teaching Fellow, and Graduate Mentor, Simon has taught or mentored hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students. He teaches courses on public debate, deliberation, and political discourse, as well as on theories of International Relations. Simon holds an (Hons.) B.A. from the University of New Brunswick and an M.A. from Queen’s University. He has studied and worked in Austria, Greece, the Netherlands, Ecuador, is a Junior Affiliate at the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security, and Society, has served on countless departmental and university committees and boards, and is the current President of the best student space in Kingston: The Queen’s Grad Club.

Outside of Academia, Simon is an exercise enthusiast: soccer, trail marathoning, and lifting. He spends an inordinate amount of time cooking and loves to play the guitar, which he has been teaching to students for a decade.

Vincent Athas is a resident physician in General Surgery in South Florida. A native Texan, Vincent grew up in the suburbs of Dallas as the proud older brother of seven younger siblings. He took his competitive drive to NJCAA Division III tennis at his local community college during which time he discovered the joys of teaching and began tutoring algebra, economics, and foreign languages. Vincent matriculated at the University of Dallas where he received his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with a concentration in Comparative Literary Traditions. After being awarded the Sister Clodovia Lockett Scholarship as the most promising premedical student among his peers he was accepted to the Joint Admission Medical Program where he was matched with Texas Tech Health Sciences Center for Medical School. Spending summers with college students as a mentor and gross anatomy lab assistant, he received the Dean’s Choice Award at the time of graduation. Vincent has given multiple oral presentations at American College of Surgery chapter meetings on clinical dilemmas in surgery and various outcomes research topics. He maintains a particular interest in Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery but is even more inspired when meeting and mentoring aspiring individuals who seek to refine their talents to serve the community around them.

Shreya (Sona) Nuguri is currently a medical student at OUHSC. Although born in India, she has spent every other living moment in OKC, Oklahoma. At the University of Oklahoma, she pursued a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Microbiology, graduating with Honors. During her undergraduate studies, she exclusively worked at OU Writing Center and thoroughly enjoys helping students with their academic goals. She also has a special interest in healthcare business consulting and was paired up with 5+ business companies to offer real-world solutions to drive organizations forward. Growing up, she was an avid dancer and still practices multiple forms today including teaching Zumba. Her current goals are to specialize in a surgical specialty at a well-known academic center and to serve on admission committees/ teaching faculty for medical students and residents.

Jonelle Ward is a PhD Candidate at McMaster University in the Department of Health, Aging and Society. Her research explores informal youth-based caregiving, specifically the experiences of young adults (ages 18-25) who provide care for older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease or a Related Dementia. Jonelle also holds a Master’s in Gerontology and Health Administration from the College of New Rochelle and a Bachelor of Arts from York University.

Jonelle is a dedicated to improving the social welfare of individuals across the life course through education, advocacy and community organizing. As a former program director at the Alzheimer’s Association, Hudson Valley Chapter, Jonelle directed and administered several grants to address diversity and disparities in dementia care as well as increasing access to services for caregivers. Jonelle developed the chapter’s first Alzheimer’s Association faith-based initiative in Westchester County, which is now a national signature event. 

Jonelle has been acknowledged for her community advocacy and leadership from the WestFair Business Journal, Westchester Business Council and she is also an Ontario Graduate Scholarship recipient. Currently she serves as Chair of the Gilbrea Student Group at McMaster University and is a member of the African Health and Ageing Research Centre.

Jonelle has a keen interest in teaching and learning pedagogies, as well as fostering opportunities for student research, engagement and skill building. She has taught courses in Social Work, Aging, Ethic Relations, Social Policy, Psychology, and Gerontology Field Practicum.

Jonelle has lived experience navigating the various pathways to higher education and is a proponent of equitable access to education for all students.  As such, she is excited to join the BeMo team and support students in reaching their academic and professional goals.

Outside of academia, Jonelle enjoys teaching creative writing to youth, basketball, salsa dance, yoga and spending time with her family.

“The teacher is of course an artist, but being an artist does not mean that he or she can make the profile, can shape the students. What the educator does in teaching is to make it possible for the students to become themselves.” Paulo Frier

Laura is passionate about policy, societal and private initiatives that build more inclusive and egalitarian societies. She is an economist and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in International Development at the University of Ottawa. She analyzes public policies that promote greater accessibility and use of financial services by people and businesses in vulnerable socio-economic situations. Her work focuses specifically on the case of Mexico, where she works episodically in collaboration with the Faculty of Economics at the University of Anáhuac.

Before emigrating to Canada, Laura obtained a Master's degree in Economics at the University of Toulon, France, studying niche markets that enhance fair remuneration for producers and entrepreneurs. Here in Canada, she has evolved between Quebec and Ontario through research contracts and has become a trilingual researcher specializing in qualitative and quantitative analysis.

She spent 4 years teaching and mentoring university students and worked as an academic supervisor for 2 years. She knows how to guide the work of others and how to actively listen to ensure that candidates bring out the best in themselves and achieve their goals.

Outside of the academic world, Laura is a circus arts aficionado. She specializes in the discipline of aerial silks and delights in the circus atmosphere of the city of Montreal. Her daily life is also punctuated by the study and practice of yoga.

Laura has obtained multiple scholarships and funding to achieve her dream of becoming the first female graduate in her lineage. She is determined to support future students, regardless of their cultural, racial or socio-economic background, to access the higher education programs they choose.

Gautham is currently a Psychiatry resident at Queen's University in Kingston. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Toronto and his medical school from the Caribbean along with a Masters level post graduate certification course from Harvard Medical School. Gautham is passionate about medical education and promoting health literacy. He was previously involved in medical education, including admissions and clinical affairs. He hopes to bring his experiences to BeMO and help facilitate students achieving their goals.

Francesco Zangari completed an Honours Bachelor of Science: Biomedical Stream at York University located in North York, Ontario. Currently, Francesco is a Ph.D. researcher at the University of Toronto. He studies the intersection between RNA/Protein biology by building new tools to survey their interactions. These mapping efforts will serve as an atlas that can be referred to in diseased states when often these interactions are altered. He’s received numerous awards for his work from agencies like the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

When not doing experiments, he has spent time making science accessible through writing covering an array of topics like the microbiome, COVID-19 and Canada’s biotechnology sector for outlets like the National Association of Science Writers, Signals Blog and Massive Science. Through writing, Francesco has also become involved with science outreach groups towards on fostering scientific literacy throughout the education system. He’s also mentored students throughout his mentees as they navigated coursework and applying for graduate school. As a leader within the science communication field, Francesco is excited to use his skills to mentor and guide students to reach their academic/career goals. 

Emily (she/her) is currently completing her PhD at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna, British Columbia. Her research focuses on supporting the development of authentic, equitable, and meaningful research partnerships between non-profit disability organizations and researchers, and has been funded through governmental and university grants and fellowships. Emily has also earned a Master of Science in Health and Exercise Sciences, for which she was awarded the UBC Okanagan Master's Student of the Year and the MITACS Award for Outstanding Innovation - Master's Category; and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree in Kinesiology from McMaster University.

During her time in post-secondary education, Emily has provided mentorship to a large number of students as a teaching assistant, practicum supervisor, and orientation leader. With her role at BeMo, she is excited to provide mentorship and support the professional growth of her student mentees.

In her spare time, Emily enjoys playing volleyball, hiking, gymnastics, and hanging out with friends. 

Dr. Jaafar Hachem graduated with a PhD in Chemistry from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo Michigan in December of 2021. His research was about understanding what happens to the insulin signalling effect on the metabolic pathways inside liver cells under type 2 diabetes.

To carry out his research, Dr. Hachem utilized many research lab techniques including non-survival rat surgeries, hepatocyte isolation and cell culture, RNA and protein isolation, RT-PCR and western blots. Dr. Hachem presented his research in various conferences such as the American Chemical Society National conference, and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. During his research career, Dr. Hachem supervised many undergraduate students and helped them learn critical and independent thinking skills which are a must to have a successful career.

Dr. Hachem has a very extensive teaching experience in various chemistry and biochemistry lab courses including chemistry for health profession courses where he interacted with many students with various career goals, particularly students that have career goals in the health field. As part of his teaching experience, Dr. Hachem was given the opportunity to be the MCAT Chemistry instructor for several prospective MCAT test taking students for one semester at Western Michigan University.

Outside of his professional career, Dr. Hachem loves watching sports and analyzing climate and weather models to do his own prediction of the weather and climate forecast. With being an Academic Consultant for BeMO, Dr. Hachem is ready to use his extensive experience to teach, help and mentor students to help them achieve their career goals.

An international citizen, student and engineer! Ahmed is currently pursuing his PhD degree at the Department of Civil Engineering at McGill University. His area of research and expertise is numerical modeling of geotechnical and hydraulic systems. Previously, Ahmed participated as a member of the river engineering and management laboratory at Kyoto University in Japan. Throughout his academic and professional career, he was closely involved in several water-related projects, ranging from designing water supply systems to arid regions to designing flood protection systems in flood-prone regions.

Ahmed served as an industry consultant for various civil engineering entities in the middle east, Japan and Canada. He is recognized as an outstanding professional engineer and academic. He was a recipient of the ABE initiative award for African professionals and the Honorable Urban Management Engineer (HUME) award from Kyoto University.   

Veronika Brejkaln completed her PhD in Hispanic Literatures and Cultures at the University of Toronto. Specializing in the area of Mexican revolutionary literature and culture, her research focuses on discursive constructions of individual and collective identities as seen through transdisciplinary readings of ideology and aesthetics. Veronika is a seasoned educator, with over 10 years of teaching experience in public institutions as well as the private sector.

Throughout her career she has coached students of all ages and backgrounds on subjects ranging from foreign languages and linguistics to academic writing, literature and public speaking. As a first-generation immigrant, Veronika is most passionate about working with non-native speakers and newcomers to Canada. Regardless of the subject she is teaching, Veronika is always dedicated to helping students overcome personal challenges in order to become better versions of themselves. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing yoga and martial arts, cooking up the best tacos in town, and experimenting with different pairings of wine and cheese.

Isaac was born in China and immigrated to Canada when he was 15 years old. He is currently a medical student at Dalhousie University with a career interest in Internal Medicine. Prior to medical school, he graduated from Dalhousie University with a University Medal in Pharmacy. Isaac has experience lecturing PharmD students on Critical appraisal and Evidence-based medicine. He also has experience advising students on medical school applications. Isaac is excited to be able to work with students to reach their career goals.

Ruth Martinez completed her PhD in Spanish and Portuguese Linguistics at the University of Toronto. Specialized in phonetics, her research focused on pronunciation difficulties encountered by second language learners of Spanish and Portuguese when acquiring nasal sounds. Ruth has also earned a Master’s degree from the Université de Montréal, a Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours from McGill University, and a Diploma of College Studies from Vanier College.

 During her academic journey, she was the recipient of numerous scholarships, she published research papers, presented at international conferences, and taught language and linguistics courses. Ruth has also worked in the Artificial Intelligence field, contributing to the development of voice recognition systems and building machine learning solutions for data analysis.  

Ruth is originally from Argentina and grew up in Montréal. She has also lived in Brazil, Uruguay, and Germany. In her spare time, she loves dancing, biking, practicing yoga, and traveling.

Shaheen is a materials science scientist currently working at the New York University (Abu Dhabi campus). She has been an active researcher in the areas of water treatment, desalination and electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. Shaheen completed her PhD. with a major in Materials Science and Engineering from Khalifa University of Science and Technology in 2018. Her research was focused on heterogeneous catalysis during which she developed novel hydrocracking fibers for petroleum cracking, and patented the work under US Patent 10,850,262. During her MSc. in Materials Science and Engineering, she controlled the swelling behavior of PVA polymer through Networked Cellulose, for which she was awarded the best thesis award in her department.

As a materials science enthusiast, Shaheen is constantly seeking to solve critical problems related to energy and water. Recently she has discovered a new application of novel inorganic nanoparticles for which the U.S patent application is under filing. During her course of research, Shaheen has presented her findings in several international and national conferences, and has published numerous scientific journal papers.

Apart from research, Shaheen also has a strong passion for teaching and mentorship. She has been a teaching assistant for various graduate and undergraduate subjects till date including mechanical properties of materials, thermodynamics and environmental engineering. She also had the opportunity to mentor Masters and PhD. Students with diversified backgrounds and cultures. Shaheen values and enjoys cultural diversity and always looks forward to work on tangible projects which can eventually have a significant impact on the scientific community globally.  

Victoria studied Biotechnology and Molecular Genetics in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Throughout this university degree, she also performed more than 200 hours of research in Applied Microbiology, culminating in a written thesis and 2 peer-reviewed scientific research articles published in high-impact journals. Her thesis and research articles are based on the study of media culture optimization for the wine-making process. Importantly, Victoria found that using food waste products like whey permeate (from the cheese industry) and apple pomace (from the juice and cider industry) could increase the production of wine-fermenting bacteria to similar values as commercial media, reducing 90% of the cost.

Recently, Victoria finished her Master’s in Biochemistry and Neurobiology in Montreal, Canada, where she studied the development of the nervous system using C. elegans as a model organism. Although most of the results are unpublished, Victoria has exciting results that might link certain routes of the metabolism of RNA to the correct and functional development of healthy neurons. Thus, these results might potentially help to understand neurodevelopmental diseases.

Throughout her high-school and university years, Victoria realized that her interpersonal skills and fluency in different languages (English, Spanish and French) were strong and thus she was always involved in mentoring, tutoring students, as well as volunteering in different non-profit organizations (both in Argentina and in Canada). She strongly believes that education should be accessible and inclusive, therefore she has always participated in education-related activities, science outreach, and science communication. Her life objective is to make science (and overall education) accessible and inclusive by sharing her knowledge and having a direct impact on society.

During her free time, she is a passionate Cuban Salsa dancer, as well as other Latino rhythms. She also loves to hang out with friends, watch movies and walk under the sun (during winter).

Dr. Alexandre Benoit was born in Montreal, Quebec. He completed an M.S. in Biochemistry at the Université de Montréal and completed his PhD in Experimental Medicine at the McGill University. His research focused on mutations enriched in relapse/refractory Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). He characterized how the mutations would affect the activity of the mutated proteins and investigated how it could promote resistance in DLBCL. He also collaborated on projects focused on Melanoma and Leukemia and has experience with Neuroblastoma and Diabetes. He had the opportunity to present his work at national and international conferences such as the Canadian Cancer Research Conference and the International Conference on New Concepts in Lymphoid Malignancies. He cofounded a sustainability committee called the Green Labs Initiative at the Lady Davis Institute (GLI@LDI). He also was part of the Lady Davis Institute Trainee Committee where he could contribute to the social environment and career path of graduate students.

In his free time, he enjoys hiking, traveling to new countries, cooking, listening to music, or watching movies with friends and family. He also enjoys learning new subjects and sharing his experience and knowledge with students, friends, and family.

Andy is committed to the advancement of the education sector, with a particular focus on increasing the quality of and equitable access to education. She has a range of experience in this realm having worked in the education sectors in Australia, Hong Kong, and South Africa.

She has worked on several projects to this end, most notably, in South Africa, leading a volunteer program tutoring high school mathematics and science students in Cape Town, being part of a public-private partnership supporting large-scale collaboration in the public sector, including managing the national scale up of a teacher development program, and building a large preschool and daycare where she was the school principal.

Throughout this work, Andy has thrived most when mentoring and supporting others, specifically those facing socio-economic barriers to their success.

Andy believes strongly in BeMo’s mission; everyone deserves access to high-quality higher education, regardless of their background.

Having originally studied Business Science, specialising in Economics, Andy moved into the education sector in Hong Kong, then completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and a Master of Science specialising in Education Leadership and Management, which she graduated with distinction.

Noah grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology from Michigan State University, where he worked on a variety of research projects and actively participated in journal clubs. Noah is currently a medical student at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and hopes to work in a surgical specialty back in his hometown of Marquette. He has experience volunteering as a mentor for high school students, helping them to achieve success in their academics and encouraging them to pursue careers that interest them. As a medical student, he holds group review sessions to cover high yield topics and strives to make sure his peers are comfortable with the material, answering any questions that arise.

 Outside of class, Noah loves watching movies (especially Star Wars), trying out new cooking recipes, and hiking with his fiancé and dog. Noah is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and believes everyone should have the opportunity to learn!

Aali completed his undergraduate and graduate studies from Concordia University, Montreal, QC. While completing his MBA from the John Molson School of Business he was an organizer for the John Molson MBA International Case Competition which is recognized as the largest and oldest case competition in the world. Aali maintains a keen interest in B-School literature and is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society. Having held management and leadership positions with the TD Bank Group, Canada, Aali has also worked internationally in operations and project management roles focused within the energy and healthcare sectors. Outside of professional activities, Aali enjoys speaking on wide-ranging business topics and networking with aspiring students to help them achieve their higher education goals. He also enjoys travelling and playing squash as well as tennis at every opportunity possible!

Haitham is completing his PhD at McGill University after winning the Canadian government’s prestigious Vanier Doctoral Scholarship from the CIHR for his research and work. Haitham earned his MBBcH from Ain Shams University, Cairo and then completed his internship. In parallel, he founded projects for the disabled community in Egypt winning awards from UN HABITAT and King Abdullah II Award from Jordan being recognized at the World Economic Forum. He got his Masters in Public Health from Imperial College London after being awarded the UK Government’s Prestigious Chevening Scholarship. His experience spans across health economics, orthopedics interventions effectiveness, health policy and strengthening health systems post-emergencies. He published more than 30 papers and co-authored books with the WHO and UNITAR. He worked for the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and WHO in Geneva and Regional Office in Cairo. He was a Paul Farmer Global Surgery Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School and worked on local and global health projects such as early diagnosis of surgical site infections using mHealth technologies and national surgical planning in Rwanda. He also worked in Pakistan through coordinating a technical working group on national surgical planning. Within Harvard, he won several awards, such as the Harvard Regional Scholars Award for the Program in Clinical Effectiveness, Rose Service-Learning Fellowship Award for his research work in Pakistan, Harvard Business School Venture Incubator Program hosted in the Harvard Innovation Lab, Professional Development Support Fund to present his research at the American Public Health Association and the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship for his Master of Science in Health Policy and Management at Harvard University. Haitham is a decision analysis scientist working extensively in global health policy. He was a research fellow at Cambridge University Hospitals, a research associate with Paris Descartes University – Laboratory of applied health economics research (LIRAES) – Sorbonne and a Global Burden of Diseases Collaborator. Haitham also completed a Graduated Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA) from the John Molson Business School at Concordia University.

Dr. Maimoona Altaf is a first year resident in family medicine at University of Toronto. She attended medical school at University of Toronto, and before this, Dr. Altaf completed her undergraduate degree at Trent University in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Outside of medicine, Maimoona is an avid foodie and enjoys trying out new cuisines and experimenting with new recipes. As a BeMo consultant, her goal is to work collaboratively with students in achieving their educational and professional goals. 

Dr. Joshua Osika is currently a resident in psychiatry at McMaster University.

Joshua was born and raised in Northern Ontario and completed his Bachelor of Science as well as a graduate diploma in Science Communication at Laurentian University. He then went on to study economics, completing his B.A. at Laurentian and his M.A. at the University of Waterloo. He completed medical school at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

Prior to medicine, Dr. Osika has many years of experience working with students as both an economics instructor at Laurentian University as well as a teaching assistant in both biochemistry and economics, and as a tutor from elementary to undergraduate levels.

Joshua has a passion for medicine and for teaching. He is bringing experience helping students from a variety of backgrounds to BeMO where he hopes to continue helping people to achieve their goals.

Dr. Shasta Webb is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame. In her position in Dr. Elizabeth Archie’s lab, she researches microbiota dynamics across the life course in wild baboons. She completed her PhD in biological anthropology at the University of Calgary in 2022. She earned a Master of Arts in biological anthropology the same department in 2017 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in biological anthropology from Macalester College in 2013. During her PhD, Shasta was awarded a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship from the National Science and Engineering Research Council from the Canadian federal government as well as an Alberta Innovates scholarship from the province of Alberta, in addition to a PEO Sisterhood Scholarship. During graduate school, Shasta served as co-chair for the Graduate Leader’s Circle, which provided peer mentoring for students applying to fellowships and scholarships.

Dr. Cameron Adams grew up in Seattle and attended University of Washington, completing a Biochemistry Bachelor of Science degree. He subsequently spent two years at the NIH Vaccine Research Center, working to improve HIV Vaccine design. After his time in DC, he joined the UNC MD/PhD program where he completed a PhD dissertation focused on Flavivirus vaccines. He is currently applying to Internal Medicine residency where he will build a career around global gastroenterology. 

A New York City native who currently resides in Boston, Sophia (she/her) completed her undergraduate degree at Cornell University in 2021. She earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences and minored in Nutrition and Developmental Sociology. Her favorite class at Cornell was called "Art of Teaching", where she grew to love working with others. She has experience working as a Teaching Assistant, private tutor, and a notetaker for her university's disability services. Sophia's hobbies include figure skating, fencing, and doing escape rooms with friends. 

Nirusan Rajakulendran is a Product Manager at Inkblot Labs. Prior to Inkblot, Nirusan was the Manager of New Ventures at Green Shield Canada, a not-for-profit health insurance company. At Green Shield, Nirusan drove partnerships and helped to build a pipeline of innovative digital health products. Nirusan has been active in the startup space, having spent over six years at MaRS Discovery District in both market research and venture capital. Nirusan has a Masters in Biotechnology and a Masters in Business Administration, both from the University of Toronto. 

Lekha Reddy is a medical student who is passionate about teaching and education. She was born and raised in New Jersey and earned her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in Medicine, Health & Society with a minor in Quantitative Methods. She is currently completing her final year at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School with interests in emergency medicine, narrative writing, and education. Lekha has had extensive experience with tutoring and mentoring learners of all levels. She also served as a writer and editor for an online medical literary magazine and genuinely enjoys helping individuals craft personal statements and professional application materials. Outside of medicine, Lekha enjoys dancing, traveling, exercising, and reading. She looks forward to helping aspiring students reach their professional goals with BeMo! 

Dr. Trevor Blanchard is currently a resident in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Western Ontario.

He was raised in Northern Ontario, where he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and a Masters in Human Kinetics. He subsequently attended the Northern Ontario School of Medicine before venturing to London, ON, for residency.

Dr. Blanchard has given several oral and poster presentations at national and internal conferences with current research interests in sports medicine, arthroplasty, and quality improvement.

Dr. Blanchard has helped mentor many students along their medical journey, whether getting into Medical School or preparing for the residency match. He looks forward to working with BeMo to help others reach their goals. 

Dr. Greg Shinaman is currently completing his intern year in internal medicine at the University of Rochester and is looking forward to completing a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the coming years. He is lucky to have been able to stay in his home town of Rochester NY for most of his education including his undergraduate studies, medical school, and now, residency. He completed his B.S. in Environmental Sciences at the University of Rochester in 2017 and recently graduated in May 2022 from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. While in medical school, he served as the Wellness Committee Chair of his class for three years and he was able to mentor and guide the classes below him as well as undergraduate students applying to medical school.

In his free time, Greg is an avid hiker and skier. He recently completed hiking the 46 highest peaks in the Adirondack Park! He also enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family and dog whenever he can. 

Greg's passion for equity in professional fields motivated him to join the BeMo team. Having completed the process of medical school and residency application so recently, Greg is well equipped to offer current advice for aspiring applicants. Greg looks forward to meeting you and helping guide you through your process of attaining higher education!

Alizeh is an MD candidate at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Prior to medical school, she obtained a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Spanish. This was followed by a research year in trauma surgery at the University of Michigan. She also has years of research experience spanning the fields of neurosurgery, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, genetics, interventional radiology, metabolomics, diversity & equity in medicine, and health disparities. She has authored several peer-reviewed manuscripts and has presented at multiple national and international research conferences. 

At Brown, she is the Director of Operations of the Brown Human Rights Asylum Clinic and serves on the school-wide committee dedicated to enhancing the learning environment. She has done years of volunteer work in Spanish-speaking communities to assist with immigrant-assimilation programs and decrease academic barriers among first-generation students. She has combined her interest in the Spanish language with her desire to address health disparities by volunteering as a patient translator at multiple clinical sites and has assisted with grant-writing and clinical research at the Latino Cancer Disparities Center. She volunteered as an EMT at Princeton EMS for five years and was promoted to a senior crew member, through which she led patient assessment and management during medical emergencies. She loves mentoring students and sharing her expertise in crafting competitive, unique applications with strong writing.

Anant completed his MBA at Georgia Tech in Atlanta in 2013. He is an experienced entrepreneur and has established and supported multiple successful ventures. He is currently the co-founder of a food startup in Vancouver. Before becoming an entrepreneur, he helped grow the adoption of many new technology products.  

 Anant started his career working at Pearson on the administration and adoption of the GMAT and LSAT tests. He has worked with many University Deans and Presidents on their admissions process. Anant also has extensive experience interviewing candidates for various positions across sectors and understands what the admissions committees look for in candidates. With his experience and insights into the admissions process, his goal is to help applicants succeed in their careers.  

He also volunteers as a mentor for small businesses and not-for-profits. While he has always been a prolific cook, Anant has taken up Latin dancing and skiing since moving to Vancouver, British Columbia. 

Obianuju C. Ikeaka is a PhD candidate at Brock University, her research analyzes how teachers at low-cost private schools in Lagos, Nigeria can increase student learning through the evidence-based practice of cooperative learning, student engagement and self-regulated learning. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Bethune-Cookman University and a Master’s of Higher Education from the University of North Florida. 

Obianuju worked with the University of Florida in conjunction with Bethune Cookman University on the high-risk delinquent child educational research project during her undergraduate degree. During her master’s degree, she supported the University of North Florida’s Center for Urban Education in implementing its first summer bridge program. She also assisted the University of Georgia with its TRIO program. She was recently awarded the Brock University’s Match of Minds grant (2022) and works with the University’s library to understand the usefulness of interactive digital notebooks in teaching non-programming students for student learning. 

Her most recent peer reviewed publication examines career development in developing countries through the CIP theory. 

Obianuju is passionate about international students and their inclusion in higher education in the United States and Canada. Obianuju enjoys collaborating with students and helping them stand out from the crowd. In her free time, Obianuju enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, friends and family

Dr. Manuel Medina graduated from Universidad Iberoamericana - UNIBE School of Dentistry in 2012 in the Dominican Republic. Shortly after graduation, he pursued a specialty program in Oral Surgery and Dental Implants at UNIBE. In 2016, he moved to the U.K. to pursue a Masters of Public Health at University of Wolverhampton. Upon his return to the Dominican Republic, Dr. Medina was involved in clinical didactic roles in two of the country’s most important dental schools, as well as a consultant position with the Pan American Health Organization. Dr. Medina is very passionate about his journey back into dental school. He is now based in Canada and the United States, and he has joined the University of Michigan School of Dentistry as part of the Internationally Trained Dentist Program Class of 2025. In his spare time, Dr. Medina enjoys learning French, working out, traveling and exploring different cuisines. 

Dr. Austin Hancock completed his undergraduate work at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York, receiving a bachelor’s degrees in International Affairs and French Studies. He then earned a master’s degree in French Studies from the University of New Mexico before completing his PhD in French Languages and Literatures at Princeton University, where his dissertation research focused on the relationship between sport and modernist art and literature. While at Princeton, he had the opportunity to teach and mentor undergraduate students as they applied for competitive graduate programs in the United States and abroad. The author of three peer-reviewed articles, Dr. Hancock was also the recipient of Princeton’s prestigious honorific fellowship for graduate research and has presented his work at international conferences in the U.S., the U.K. and France. He is currently pursuing his passions for teaching and research full-time.

As a linguist and as a scholar of the humanities, Dr. Hancock firmly believes in the power of human connection. As a BeMo team member, he is thus excited to use his expertise to help you communicate the best version of yourself as you forge your ideal path through the world of academia.

When he is not in the classroom or at his desk, Dr. Hancock pursues his passion for sport by doing and can usually be found working up a sweat on the basketball court or in the boxing ring.

John Atytalla was born in Egypt and grew up in London, England. He received his MA in philosophy from University College London and his Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Ottawa. From a young age, John was concerned with large scale questions about the origin of the universe, the place of human beings within it, and the foundations of our moral conduct. This curiosity has followed him throughout his life. During his high-school years, he found himself as interested in physics and biology as he was psychology and literature. When he took his first philosophy class, he realized that he could commit his resources to the investigation of this world without having to choose between the arts and sciences.

Specializing in the philosophy of mind, epistemology, and the philosophy of cognitive science, his research focuses on the complex relationship between biological, linguistic, and social dimensions of human knowledge. In an attempt to bridge the vast divide between the research programmes of cognitive scientists, social scientists, and those doing research in the humanities, his work focuses on developing interdisciplinary models of the mind in an attempt to integrate these distinct ways of understanding human nature. John has worked as a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa for the last five years and has worked as a tutor for more than a decade. During this time, he has mentored and tutored countless students in a wide range of disciplines including psychology, philosophy, anthropology, political science and English literature. He believes that learning is a collective process, and he is an exceptionally passionate and enthusiastic educator. Aware of the fact that his own success is indebted to those who encouraged, inspired, and mentored him, John seeks to commit his life to aid others in their own journey toward intellectual excellence.

Dr. Jennifer Lipiec received her Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Health Studies (Co-op option) from the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ontario, in 2007. While obtaining her degree, Dr. Lipiec was selected as a Teaching Assistant within the Faculty of Health Studies, as well as acting as a Mentor within the Health Mentorship Program. Completing the co-op option afforded Dr. Lipiec the benefit of exploring potential career opportunities during the course of her studies, which re-affirmed her desire to pursue a career in dentistry. 

In 2008, Dr. Lipiec relocated to New York City and obtained her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in 2012. While earning her degree, Dr. Lipiec participated in several mentorship programs including within the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity, the American Dental Association, and the Student National Dental Association. Subsequent to her studies at Columbia, Dr. Lipiec completed a General Practice Residency at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City in 2013. 

Following her residency, Dr. Lipiec began in private practice in 2013 in New York City, and was shortly thereafter offered a position of Assistant Professor at Columbia University within the College of Dental Medicine. She held this role of Assistant Professor through 2017 at which time she accepted a position as an Assistant Professor/Care Coordinator at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. She acted in this role until 2019 when she ultimately decided to return to Ontario and begin her tenure with the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario where she acts as a Dental Consultant within the department of Professional Conduct and Regulatory Affairs. After returning to Ontario in 2019, Dr. Lipiec has also been actively involved with the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR), the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB), the University of Waterloo Toronto Alumni Chapter Mentorship Program, and as a guest facilitator in respect of ethics and jurisprudence within the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry. 

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Lipiec is a sports and music enthusiast and remains very active. She also enjoys drawing, baking, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. 

Dr. Jennifer Leo

Jennifer Leo (she/ her) completed her PhD with the University of Alberta in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. Through her research and community-based experience, Jennifer focused on understanding experiences of access, inclusion, and participation in adapted physical activity settings. Jennifer prioritizes learning from those with lived experience of disability and she is committed to developing and supporting young people experiencing disability to become leaders and coaches in the community. As a graduate student, Jennifer was a SSHRC funded scholar and she continues to engage in research that is funded by a number of agencies, including SSHRC, the Government of Alberta, and the University of Alberta.

Jennifer is the Director of The Steadward Centre for Personal & Physical Achievement, a teaching and research centre housed within the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta. Additionally, Jennifer works extensively with undergraduate and graduate students as a part time instructor, developing and teaching a range of courses including qualitative research methods, evaluation, sport and recreation management, and adapted physical activity.

Jennifer loves to spend time in the outdoors, especially in the Edmonton River Valley, biking in the summer and hiking in the winter. She also enjoys reading mysterious and baking healthy treats for her family.

 Peter is currently completing his doctoral studies at Western University in London, Ontario. His research focuses on using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy (MRI and MRS) to investigate the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. His multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches have led to numerous peer-reviewed publications and awards.

Along with his Ph.D. candidacy, he is also currently being trained in a CAMPEP-stream (Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs) program, which allows him to apply for residency and, eventually, a career as a medical physicist. 

Having experienced both victories and defeats in his academic career, Peter is knowledgeable in leveraging personal experiences and narratives when communicating in a professional setting. He has a passion for helping the next generation achieve their fullest potential (and helping them enjoy the journey in the process)!

Eric Pecile is a born, raised, and educated-in Torontonian. He completed his Honours Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto specializing in History with minors in medieval studies and statistics. Following the conclusion of his undergraduate degree, he completed his Master of Arts in History there as well. His research was a comparative study of the business networks and technical practices of Florentine and Hanseatic merchants from 1400 to 1600. The MA thesis won a department award for most innovative and original graduate research piece. Currently, Eric is a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto. His SSHRC funded doctoral thesis, Private Wealth, Public Profits, analyzes the contributions of wealthy Italian patricians to the development of the early modern welfare state. He is completing his dissertation revisions and looking to graduate at the end of the 2022-23 academic year. Beyond his academic work, Eric works in communications and marketing, while enjoying archery on the weekends.

After working for several years in New York City's beauty industry, Sofia completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Creative Writing at Columbia University. During her undergraduate studies, she worked as a peer mentor, teaching assistant, and high school equivalency instructor for adults in continuing education. Sofia also conducted independent research concerning medical stigma and unequal access to medical care in the United States. While at Columbia University, she spent two years working as a student advocate for working, parent or otherwise nontraditional students by alleviating barriers, fostering diversity, and creating inclusive policy practices within the university. As a BeMo consultant, she is passionate about helping students of all backgrounds fulfill their academic potential.

Beyond the classroom, Sofia enjoys many hobbies, particularly home cooking, reading and young adult fiction writing. Recently, she has taken up learning how to code video games with her seven-year old son. 

Urmila completed her MBA from Schulich School of Business, Toronto. She also holds a Chartered Accountancy, and a Bachelor & Master of Commerce. During her MBA, Urmila was the winner of a market penetration case competition, received a scholarship that is awarded to one MBA student from Latin America or Asia, and was nominated for her school's executive presence award. She was also a research assistant for international negotiations during her MBA. 

She now works as a Management Consultant with Accenture and provides Finance Transformation consulting to global organizations. She has also had prior consulting experience with Deloitte and KPMG.

 Urmila has also tutored as an instructor and career coach at residential schools in rural and socio-economically backward communities. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking and has biked the 150 km stretch from Toronto to Niagara in support of the Ride for Cancer initiative 

Kashish is an insightful professional with an MBA from University of New Brunswick and a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering. Starting off as a Quality Assurance Engineer, he has a versatile career providing consultation to multiple companies in IT and Telecommunications industry while working in Canada, United States, India and China. He enjoys building relationships with businesses across the community. 

Voluntarily, he has worked with several Non-Governmental Organizations to promote sustainability initiatives at various sporting events including the Indian Premier League where he was the youth ambassador. 

Kashish believes that it becomes easier to achieve career goals when one can concentrate on the right things at the right time. He thrives most when mentoring students get accustomed to new study and work environments, simultaneously helping aspiring students navigate through to achieve their education goals. 

In his free time, Kashish loves to cook, travel, play cricket and spend time with his loved ones. 

Mr. Mehdi Khalfallah holds a Bachelor's in Finance and an MBA. Mehdi has several years of rich work experience. He was an International consultant in Haiti, Portugal and Brazil. Additionally, Mehdi had several years of experience across Canada within the Real-Estate, Finance and Consulting industries.

As a passionate person about outreach programs and human rights, he went on a humanitarian mission to Haiti and found himself at the age of 22 managing a hospital with 40 employees. Using his consulting and leadership skills, he managed to improve the entire hospital's recruitment and management processes and saved the hospital from closing its door due to its previous mismanagement of leadership. 

In his spare time, Mehdi likes to learn new languages and travel. He currently speaks 5 languages: Arabic, French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese. 

Dr. Arrash Allahyar obtained his MD at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He is currently at Oregon Health and Science University, where he works as psychiatry resident and teacher to third- and fourth-year medical students completing their psychiatry rotations. 

Arrash has led and been involved with many mentoring and tutoring programs since his undergraduate years. During medical school, he helped pioneer a project called the REV UP program, where he worked closely with a group of undergraduates that were preparing to apply to medical school. He provided them with interview practice, personal statement review, AMCAS preparation, and held monthly check-in meetings to help ensure all students were on track with their applications. He looks forward to bringing this experience with him to BeMo.

 Through his personal experience and experience in mentoring others, Arrash is aware that the path into medicine can be quite challenging if one doesn't have the appropriate guidance and resources available. He believes that any student who dreams to become a doctor should not be held back by the complexities of the admissions process. Thus, it has been one of his goals since medical school to ease the path for future doctors, and he is excited to continue working towards this goal as a BeMo admissions expert.  

Emily Tang is in her final year of PhD in biochemistry at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Her doctoral project focuses on investigating the regulation of cell behaviours during embryonic kidney development using mouse as model organism. This study led to a few publications in peer-reviewed, high impact journals in the field.

Emily also had extensive experience in teaching and mentoring. She was a teaching assistant for multiple biological courses spanning from the introductory to more advanced levels. During her graduate study, she’s led student associations where their goal was to help new students orient and succeed graduate school. She values diversity and inclusion and believes that everyone should have equal opportunities for education.   

With excitement, Emily can’t wait to share her experiences and help students succeed in their educational goals!

Dr. Anurag Agrawal received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2019 in Chemistry. His research was multidisciplinary combining analytical chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, and data analysis. He worked towards understanding the mechanism of action of an alternate class of antibiotics. He was awarded The Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy award for Communicating Ph.D. Research to the Public for including a thesis chapter to explain his scholarly research to non-science audiences (http://scifun.org/Thesis_Awards/agrawal.html). He also taught multiple courses as a teaching assistant during his PhD that includes Advanced Gen Chem and Advanced Physical Chemistry Lab. Anurag passionately believes in the importance of education and is excited to help students to the best of his capabilities.

Brittany is a working professional that was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Windsor, with a specialization in Law and Politics. She was the President of her Undergraduate Society in the final years of her undergrad. Additionally, she is passionate about mentorship and learning and was a peer mentor for all four years of her university tenure. Brittany is a Certified Customs Specialist in both Canada and the United States. In her current position, she recruits, interviews, and onboards new employees, which allows gives her an insight on the screening and interview process.

She is passionate about developing her community and has been an active member of United Way’s campaign for several years, assisting in growing their Cradle to Career initiatives. Brittany is currently the face of the volunteer website for her local United Way. She volunteers within her community whenever she can.

In her free time, Brittany loves to read, exercise, walk her dog, and eat sushi any chance she gets.