I work in federal public service, at the Department of Canadian Heritage. I am currently on a year-long assignment working as a Policy & Program Project Leader; my previous role was as a Senior Program Advisor on the cultural infrastructure and the multiculturalism & anti-racism teams. I also teach yoga, and enjoy taking pictures and skiing when I can!

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME TO SFU?

I had done my undergrad at SFU (in Humanities); the fact that the Urban Studies program was offered in the evenings and at the downtown campus made it doable for me to attend while continuing to work. Two friends and colleagues of mine were at different points in the program when I was considering applying, so I was able to chat with them about their experience. The interdisciplinary nature of the program was appealing to me, as were the theoretical and research-oriented aspects of it, and the flexible non-cohort structure that allowed me to pursue my studies part-time.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RESEARCH OR YOUR PROGRAM TO A FAMILY MEMBER?

My research is focused on collaborative governance (formal collective decision-making mechanisms and management arrangements between inter, intra, and extra-governmental stakeholders in order to tackle complex social issues), and on looking at the ways in which municipal reasons for choosing to initiate a collaborative process influence the process design.

WHAT ARE YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOYING ABOUT YOUR STUDIES/RESEARCH AT SFU?

It's been great getting to know other students in the program over the semesters, as well as hearing from alumni that have come in to chat with us in various classes

HAVE YOU BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF ANY MAJOR OR DONOR-FUNDED AWARDS? IF SO, PLEASE TELL US WHICH ONES AND A LITTLE ABOUT HOW THE AWARDS HAVE IMPACTED YOUR STUDIES AND/OR RESEARCH.

SSHRC CGS-M: Joseph Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship-Master’s

Contact Amanda: agutmani@sfu.ca