Convocation 2023: Meet Martin Iyahen

Last week, Woodsworth College celebrated Fall Convocation! Read more about one of our recent grads, Martin, below!

Coming to U of T

Martin entered U of T through the Diploma to Degree program at Woodsworth College through the partnership with Humber College’s General Arts & Science diploma program.

Although his transition to UofT was during the pandemic, Martin recalls it fondly. Going into degree studies, he already knew that he was interested in history, political science, and political theory. Naturally, Martin majored in political science with a double minor in classics and history. He recalls having a lot of very good professors throughout his degree. In particular, he really enjoyed his Introduction to International Relations course, where his professor, Louis Pauly, brought in excellent guest speakers each week.

Outside of the Classroom

Once the university re-opened to in-person activities, Martin got as involved as he could on campus by working as a Porter at the Woodsworth College Residence and getting involved in a mentorship program through the Political Science department. As a Porter, he connected with the Woodsworth College community and made a lot of friends.

One of Martin’s favourite experiences at UofT was participating in the Political Science department mentorship program. He was matched with an alumnus working in his field of interest, who was greatly supportive in helping him explore career opportunities, while assisting him in developing a pathway to get there. While participating in this program, Martin also had the opportunity to attend events around the city with other program participants, which was a memorable part of the experience.  

The Next Chapter

Since completing his degree, Martin has worked as a Policy Intern with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. However, on the day of his convocation, he was offered a permanent role as a Research Policy Analyst at the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, in the Workforce Policy and Innovation Division.

His advice for current students is: “Participate in the mentorship programs and ask questions to find out more about what people are doing. Find out how they got there and keep collecting answers! Each time you will walk away with more information and idea what will work best for you. And finally,” Martin says, “enjoy the experience. Looking back, it was a great time.”

Congratulations, Martin!