Meet Ryan. Ryan is a third-year undergraduate student currently in the Sustainable Environmental Management program at York University's Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change — the smallest but mightiest faculty at Canada's fourth-largest university.

As a co-lead for the Peer Mentor program and student advisor on York's YUStart program for new students, Ryan is guiding the next generation of changemakers to achieve their highest potential. He's supporting the transition to university life, sharing guidance on core courses, study habits and note taking, and making referrals to the vast academic and personal support services available for all students at York University.

"As upper-year students, we have been through much of the stress and worries that first-year students experience," says Ryan. "It helps for a student to talk to someone else who knows how they feel."

Coming from previous studies in horticulture, Ryan joined the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change because he wanted to diversify his knowledge about environmental systems to make his own mark in the fight against climate change. It was York's diverse student body that attracted Ryan to study at York.

Ryan proudly represented his program and the Faculty as a student advisor at the recent 2022 Ontario Universities Fair. Ryan's favourite thing about the program is its interdisciplinary focus, and the fact that it's delivered more than what he expected.

"I quickly discovered how interdisciplinary my program truly was, and to this day I boast this as being one of the best qualities of it," says Ryan. "It has delivered more than I expected in terms of depth of information and the faculty does a great job of supporting students at every step along the way."

Outside of school, Ryan is a father to a 2-year-old, who keeps him on his toes and provides even more advice for other students juggling school, work and family responsibilities.

The Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change was created as a call to action — responding not only to the environmental and urbanization challenges of our time but also to advance post-secondary student services for the 21st century. Committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable community, the Faculty is also committed to providing all students with personal and consistent student support throughout their program. With a team of subject matter experts in the classroom, dedicated staff, and the Peer Mentor team, students coming into the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change will receive direct support from their home Faculty.