Sandra Osazuwa-Ugbene
MA, Doctoral Candidate
VANIER SCHOLAR (2021)
Work Experience
I have been casually employed as a Research Coordinator at Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work for several years, working on projects focused on the experiences of migrants within the social work and child welfare systems. The current project I am involved in -- the Border(ing) Practices Project-- explores how immigration policies and systemic racism shape decision-making and services for immigrant families within the child welfare system in Ontario and British Columbia.
Clinical Experience
My clinical and work training has been in mental health and addictions. I served as a practicum student for the Mental Health and Addictions Research Lab at CAMH, providing assessments and therapy to patients with concurrent disorders. I am currently a practicum student for the Young Adult Substance Use Program at St. Joseph's Hamilton Healthcare, where I provide similar services to youth and emerging adults (ages 17-25) managing challenges with mental health and addictions.
Community Advocacy
Much of my volunteer and advocacy work has been with minority communities and sexual assault victims. I have held several executive positions for the Black student advocacy groups at the campuses I attended. Most notably, I formerly served as the President of the Black Association for Student Expression at the University of Waterloo (2016) and the Black Graduate Student Association at the University of Toronto (2020). In 2021, I received the Vanier Graduate scholarship due to my academic record and extensive volunteer experience.