Yousef El Zohiry
Graduated from UTM: June 2019
Degree: Honours Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction
Program(s): Criminology, Law and Society major, Political Science major, Sociology minor
Awards & Accolades: Dean’s List Scholar
Current Role: Joint JD/MBA student at UofT, Faculty of Law and Rotman School of Management
What have you been doing since graduating from UTM?
Yousef: The summer after graduating from UTM in 2019 was incredibly exciting. I worked as a Junior Accountant for an international roofing contracting firm, assisted Professor Steve Hoffman with the preliminary stages of a research project, and led a 10-member team consisting of Toronto health-care providers, accountants, a UofT associate professor, biomedical toxicologists, and others to provide medical assessments and community services in Mwanza, Tanzania. Since then, I started my JD/MBA degree at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law and Rotman School of Management.
What are you studying now/what is your research focus?
Yousef: Going into the 2021 school year, I will be entering my third year of the four-year JD/MBA program. I currently serve as one of the Vice-Presidents for the JD/MBA Association, and I am a 2021-2022 JD/MBA Student Fellow at the Capital Markets Institute. In that role, I will be conducting research on critical challenges targeting Canadian capital markets in the areas of regulatory reform, enforcement, mergers & acquisitions, and private equity transactions. However, I also employed a substantial amount of my research skills developed at UTM in my Research Assistant position with Pro Bono Students Canada at the York Centre for Public Policy and Law where I reviewed judicial decisions to trace potential patterns of racial discrimination. Additionally, in my role as an Articles Editor with the University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review (Volume 79), I conducted research with the Constitutional law, Environmental law, and Tax law divisions.
What was your favourite Sociology course taken at UTM?
Yousef: This is a difficult question to answer because the Sociology department at UTM has many excellent classes with exceptional professors and lecturers. Nevertheless, one of my favourite SOC/CRIM courses was Youth Justice with Professor Abigail Salole. I thoroughly enjoyed this class because while it provided a great overview of the development of youth justice legislation, it did not shy away from addressing many of the legislative and structural issues currently facing youth involved in the Criminal Justice System. One of the class deliverables also challenges its students to disseminate complex information into layman terms to make it accessible to non-experts, a skill that I have found important in my post-graduate education and work. Truly an amazing course!
Were you involved in any clubs/teams/extra-curricular activities while at UTM?
Yousef: I was involved in several extra-curricular activities while at UTM. Beyond my research with Professor Hoffman, I played intramural soccer, volunteered with UTMAC, co-captained the UTM Rugby team during my second and third year of my studies, and I served as the primary point of contact for the OUT@UTM club on campus. Although I greatly enjoyed my athletic involvement at the school, I was proud to be part of an organization that aimed to create a positive and welcoming campus environment for all students.
What tip or suggestion would you like to pass along to current students?
Yousef: One tip that I could pass on to current students is to find upper-year students, alumni, and/or professors who you can connect with, who inspire you, and who you would like to emulate in their career path or skills. I believe that one of the reasons I have been successful is that I developed a close network of people who have stood in my position before and offered me trusted guidance as I navigated the various complexities of undergraduate education and beyond. I am exceedingly thankful to have left UTM with a first-class education and lasting relationships, and I believe others can find greater value in their time at UTM if they actively seek to build these relationships as well.
What’s next for you?
Yousef: I have several goals lined up. While I’m earning my combined degree, I am building the required skills for leading complex legal transitions and helping corporate clients achieve their goals. Simultaneously, I look to continue giving back to my community, assisting local and international organizations, using whatever resources I have available and the new legal/business skills that I am building.
Thanks Yousef, we wish you all the best!