A&S grad Malek Abdel-Shehid passionate about 'Black sense of place, African diaspora and urban planning'

November 20, 2020 by Sean McNeely - A&S News

Malek Abdel-Shehid’s path to graduation had plenty of twists and turns, including changing colleges and programs as well as a trip to Africa.

“My university experience was kind of unconventional,” he says. “I’ve made some amazing friends, met some incredible staff and faculty and learned so much about the world.”

That unconventional road, his involvement in student organizations and his passion for helping marginalized groups has all led to a keen focus on urban design and planning, community outreach and education.

The Victoria College member will graduate tomorrow with an honours bachelor of arts in human geography and diaspora and transnational studies that includes a minor in African Studies.  

“While it’s a mouthful, they worked so well together,” he says. “I’m pretty passionate about Black sense of place, the African diaspora and urban planning.”

That passion led him to one of his undergrad high points — a summer trip to Ghana between his third and fourth year where he took part in a month-long research project.

“The research trip was as an experiential learning opportunity,” he says. “We traveled across the country visiting a couple of universities where we met students and faculty, visited the Manhyia Palace and Cape Coast slave dungeon, and learned about the chieftain legal system.”

Through his journeys — both close to home and abroad — Abdel-Shehid also discovered a passion for helping other students find their path as they transition to university life. He helped organize a conference in his second year for Black high school students from across the GTA to visit campus and get a feel for university life.

And as a transition mentor, Abdel-Shehid also welcomed first-year students into Victoria College, providing guidance and resources to help them pursue the many opportunities within the college. That led to his winning a University of Toronto Student Leadership Award (UTSLA) which recognizes graduating students for their exemplary contributions and significant impact on U of T and on the university experience of their peers.

Though I loved my programs, it took some time for me to find the right ones. In high school, I thought I wanted to study political science and economics. Only through trial and error with courses and speaking with my registrar and friends was I able to find what worked for me.

Having helped and supported so many students, Abdel-Shehid has sage advice for anyone considering U of T and Victoria College.

“First and foremost, research all of your options prior to making such a big decision,” he says. “Undergrad only happens once, so choose carefully where you think would work best for you.”

However, once you’re in your first year, there’s still time to make changes.

“Though I loved my programs, it took some time for me to find the right ones,” he says. “In high school, I thought I wanted to study political science and economics. Only through trial and error with courses and speaking with my registrar and friends was I able to find what worked for me.

If something isn’t working for you, first year is the time to make mistakes and learn from them,” he says. “Believe it or not, I failed two courses in my first year. Though that was a pretty tough time for me, I was able to figure out what I excelled in and take those types of courses.”

And when you find courses that fit, get to know your professors and TAs. “Visit their office hours if you have any questions about course content, build a rapport with them, and don’t be afraid to ask for references,” says Abdel-Shehid.

He also highly recommends exploring non-academic opportunities available on campus like orientation and student groups.

For Abdel-Shehid, he found the community and connection he was seeking in student groups such as the Black Students’ Association, the African Studies Course Union and the Caribbean Studies Student Union.

“When considering U of T, I would suggest thinking of how you can strive to make the campus a welcoming place for marginalized groups,” he says. “As a Black student, we have to deal with certain issues that negatively impact and disproportionately affect our educational experiences.”

He hopes the University will take steps to address current issues such as the need to boost the presence of Black students, staff, and faculty, support a better understanding of oppression and equity, and increase the funding of programs related to Black people.

Currently, Abdel-Shehid is pursuing a geographic information systems (GIS) certificate at Ryerson University. He also has his sights set on completing a Master’s in Urban Planning in the next few years.

“Another one of my goals is to do social planning and advocacy work with community organizations towards supporting marginalized communities.”

Congratulations to U of T's Class of 2020!

Celebrate Convocation 2020 with us and on social media by using the hashtag #UofTGrad20 and tagging @UofTArtSci in your posts.

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