Thomas Klassen, a professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration, has co-edited a new book that examines contemporary Korean popular culture over the past quarter century. The book, titled Contemporary Korean culture from the edge: transgression, innovation, and intimacy (Bloomsbury, 2026) was edited by Hong Kal, Thomas R. Klassen and Jooyeon Rhee.  

This book��seeks��to��provide new perspectives��on��contemporary��Korea, exploring topics like fashion, food, music, art, literature, architecture��and more, looking at how culture has shaped the country.����

Thomas Klassen holds a PhD from the University of Toronto. His research specializes in employment and labour, public administration, comparative labour market policies, income security policies, retirement and pensions, Korea and East Asia.  

Learn more about the book on .  

Wasi Syed Babar��
Senior Program Manager, City of Toronto & Chief Operating Officer, Muslim Youth Revival��
BA ’20,��MPPAL ’25, Interdisciplinary Social Science and Public Policy, Administration & Law��

LA&PS��alumnus, Wasi Syed Babar��was named one of 91��ɫ’s 2026��Top 30 Alumni Under 30, recognized among a distinguished group of young leaders making a meaningful impact around the world. In recognition of his achievement, we connected with��Wasi��to better understand how his experience as an Interdisciplinary Social Science and Public Policy, Administration & Law��graduate contributed to where he��is today. ��

1. How did your degrees in Interdisciplinary Social Science and Public Policy, Administration and Law help get you where you are today?��
   My undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Social Science helped me understand complex social issues from different perspectives. It taught me how to think critically, ask better��questions��and look at problems through a broader social,��political��and organizational lens. That foundation has been��very useful��in my career, especially when working on public sector projects that��impact��residents,��staff��and communities.��
   The Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law helped me build on that foundation in a more practical way. It strengthened my understanding of governance, public administration, policy development,��accountability��and decision making in government. Today, as a Sr.PM at the City of Toronto, I��regularly work��at the intersection of technology, policy, service��delivery��and public value. Both degrees helped me develop the judgement and perspective needed to lead projects that are not just technically successful, but also meaningful for the public.��
2. What career did you dream of pursuing in��undergrad, and where did your professional path��actually take��you after graduation?��
   During��undergrad, I was interested in public service and wanted to do work that had a real impact on people’s lives. I did not have one fixed job title in mind, but I knew I wanted a career where I could help solve problems, improve��systems��and contribute to the community.��
   My path took me into project and program management, especially in the public and��non-profit��sectors. I have had the opportunity to work on major initiatives with the federal government, Médecins Sans Frontières Canada and now the City of Toronto. My��work has included digital transformation, service delivery improvements, governance, procurement, stakeholder��engagement��and leading cross functional teams. In many ways, my career ended up combining my interest in public service with technology,��strategy��and organizational change.��
3. What skills or knowledge from the Interdisciplinary Social Science and Public Policy, Administration and Law program have been most beneficial in your career?��
   The most beneficial skills have been critical thinking, policy analysis,��communication��and the ability to understand issues from multiple viewpoints. In public sector work, challenges are rarely simple. A technology project is never��just about the��technology. It is also about people, governance, risk, accessibility, privacy, service��delivery��and public trust.��
   My studies helped me become more comfortable working through ambiguity, understanding stakeholder needs and connecting day-to-day decisions to broader institutional goals. The ability to write clearly, brief senior leaders, assess��trade-offs��and think about long term public impact has been especially valuable in my career.��
4. In what ways have the network and connections you made during your studies helped you in your career?��
   The network I built at 91��ɫ has been incredibly valuable. I met classmates, professors and mentors who were passionate about public service, leadership and creating positive change. Those connections helped me learn from different career paths and gave me a stronger sense of what was possible after graduation.��
   91��ɫ also gave me access to a broader community of alumni and professionals who are doing meaningful work across government,��non-profit��organizations��and the private sector. Staying connected to that community has been helpful not only professionally, but personally as well. It reminds me that career growth is not something you do alone. It is shaped by mentorship, encouragement and the people who challenge you to keep growing.��
5. What advice do you have for first year students entering either degree?��
   My advice would be to stay curious and do not worry if your path is not perfectly clear in first year. University is a time to��explore,��ask questions and figure out what kind of impact you want to have. Take the time to build relationships with your classmates and professors, because those connections can stay with you well beyond graduation.��
   I would also encourage students to develop strong writing,��communication��and analytical skills. These skills are useful in��almost every��career, especially in public service and leadership roles. Most importantly, say yes to opportunities that stretch��you. Some of the most important parts of my career came from taking on challenges before I felt completely ready.��

Read the full article to explore all LA&PS Top 30 Under 30 alumni recipients.��

91��ɫ student��Nebiyou Timotewos��(BA '26) is one of 20 Canadians selected to join the sixth cohort of McCall MacBain Scholars at McGill University.

Zachary Spicer, associate professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration (SPPA), has edited a new book titled Inside Public-Sector Innovation. The book features local administrators in Canada who have successfully moved innovations from conception to reality. The administrators share their expertise and experiences, including strategies taken, lessons learned and challenges faced across projects in policy domains such as public health, service delivery and more.

The book has received positive reviews. Jason Reynar of Lerners LLP said, “Every Canadian municipal leader should have a copy of this work. The case studies provide excellent frameworks, as they move from ideation to implementation through the innovation journey.”

Spicer holds a PhD in political science from the University of Western Ontario. He previously served as an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Brock University and completed post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Municipal Finance and Governance and the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy at Wilfrid Laurier University.

In addition to his academic career, Spicer has worked as a senior policy advisor with the Ontario Public Service and as director of research and outreach with the Institute of Public Administration of Canada. He is the recipient of both the Susan Clarke Young Scholars’ Award and the Norton Long Young Scholars’ Award from the Urban Politics Section of the American Political Science Association.

Learn more about the book on .��

As part of a recently received major grant to enhance the university’s leadership in Korean studies, the Korean Office for Research and Education (KORE) held the 2025 Korean Studies Conference titled “Borders, Boundaries, and Displacement.” The conference was combined with a regional meeting for 14 scholars in the fields of Korean studies and diaspora from across Canada.

The on November 7 and 8 was hosted by St. Mary’s University in Halifax and included an evening screening of the film Past Lives to which the local community was invited. The conference program included talks by prominent international experts, Professor Changzoo Song from the University of Auckland in New Zealand and Professor Jerome de Wit from the University of Vienna in Austria, as well as by researchers, a postdoctoral fellow and graduate students from across Canada.

Professor Ann Kim (Department of Sociology), Director of KORE, notes that the conference “truly showcased research on a global Korean diaspora that has a long and interesting history and complex ties to Korea. The conference highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of Korean studies as one of its major strengths, while holding it in-person in Halifax helped to foster closer connections among many researchers with shared interests but few opportunities to meet."

In addition to Professor Kim, Professor Mihyon Jeon (Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics) and Professor Thomas Klassen (School of Public Policy and Administration) also attended the conference. The conference and the regional meeting were the first of a series of events that KORE will be organizing on the Korean diaspora and Korea politics, and to advance Korean studies across Canada.

Tesh Dagne, associate professor at the School of Public Policy & Administration, is the co-principal investigator on a new research project titled,��“Catalyzing AI’s potential in Africa through intellectual property innovation.” The project aims to make innovation systems in Africa more inclusive, particularly for women and youth. It will also strengthen intellectual property frameworks to help guide the use of AI in Africa.��

The project received a $743,000 grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and will be led by the University of Pretoria and supported by the����network. The project will be based mainly at the University of Ottawa and the University of Cape Town, and 91��ɫ will also be granted $167,000 to collaborate on the project.��

Learn more about the project in YFile.

Ten 91��ɫ professors have received $700,000 in funding from the Academy of Korean Studies, an agency of the South Korean Ministry of Education, with eight recipients based in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS). The funding will support Korea in the World: Connecting Korea and Korean Diasporic Legacies, a new project which will focus on Korea and the Korean diaspora.

Leading the project is Associate Professor��Ann Kim��(Department of Sociology, LA&PS), alongside Associate Professor��Laam Hae��(Department of Politics, LA&PS), Associate Professor��Theresa Hyun��(Department of Humanities, LA&PS), Associate Professor��Mihyon Jeon��(Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, LA&PS), Associate Professor��Hong Kal��(Department of Visual Art and Art History, ), Associate Professor��Janice Kim��(Department of History, LA&PS), Professor��Thomas Klassen��(School of Public Policy & Administration, LA&PS), Associate Professor��Ahrong Lee��(Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, LA&PS), Professor��Regina Lee��(Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering, ) and Professor��Hyun Ok Park��(Department of Sociology, LA&PS).

Read the full article in YFile.

James Simeon, professor in the School of Public Policy & Administration, has written and co-edited new articles for the journal Frontiers as part of the research topic, “War and Asylum.” The articles include (with Simeon co-editing with Professor Sorpong Peou from Toronto Metropolitan University) and (with Simeon as the sole author.) His research looks at the ongoing refugee crisis, including how civilians can be weaponized during wars, and how this is connected to other issues such as human trafficking, smuggling, forced migration, and drugs and arms dealing, which must be resolved in order to achieve sustainable world peace. He examines conflicts in Bosnia, Rwanda and Syria as examples.

James Simeon received his PhD from 91��ɫ. His research interests include public administration, public policy, forced migration, law and justice, international human rights law, international refugee law, international criminal law, and international humanitarian law.

Read the articles in journal.

The 12th cohort of research chairs have been appointed at 91��ɫ by the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation. 91��ɫ Research Chairs represent a diverse range of disciplines and are appointed for a five-year term designed to foster a robust research culture. They receive research funding, contribute to new and innovative projects, and gain opportunities to collaborate and hire graduate students.

The two professors appointed as 91��ɫ Research Chairs within LA&PS were Department of Humanities assistant professor Ola Mohammed and the School of Public Policy & Administration professor Ian Stedman. Mohammed’s work looks at Black culture and the sonic dimension of anti-Blackness in Canada. Stedman’s research looks at how technologies like artificial intelligence and policies are driving greater personalization in health care.��

Read the full story in YFile.