Alyssa Haskell is a graduate candidate in the Master of Arts in Global Governance program at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. In 2022, she graduated from the University of Windsor with an  Honours Bachelor of Arts in International Relations & Development Studies with Thesis and Great Distinction. In addition to her major, Alyssa completed specializations In Globalization and Sociology and a minor in Women and Gender Studies.

Her undergraduate thesis explored youth cultural exchange trips as an approach for democratizing post-secondary study abroad participation among equity-deserving groups. For this thesis, Alyssa conducted primary, participant-based research and used an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) lens in her sociological framework. Alyssa also worked as a Research Assistant with Dr. Jamey Essex at the University of Windsor, in which they conducted a gender-based historical analysis to explore the role of Foreign Service Wives in the 20th century.

Alyssa held numerous leadership positions throughout her undergraduate degree, including as an elected student representative, a peer mentor, and a student recruitment ambassador. Outside of academics, she volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters and is a founding member of Next Generation Women, an organization that provides support and resources for women and gender-diverse individuals aspiring to work in male-dominated careers. International education is a passion of Alyssa’s, and she has worked for or volunteered with international student programs in some capacity for over 10 years.

In addition to multiple research and teaching assistantships, Alyssa has worked as a Student Clerk in the Greater Essex County District School Board’s International Students Program. Currently, Alyssa works as an Evaluation Officer for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, where she conducts critical research and evaluation on Canada’s immigration programs.

Alyssa’s academics, community involvement, and work experience has informed her research interests, which include international youth and student mobility, food studies, and political geography. She also has particular interest in epistemology and knowledge production, especially as it relates to developing more equitable research tools. While studying at the BSIA, Alyssa hopes to focus her research on immigration and refugee studies with a gender and sexuality lens.