DeGroote School of Business
A hijab-clad woman converses with another woman while holding a notebook.

DeGroote Doctoral Students Association

A hijab-clad woman converses with another woman while holding a notebook.

Our mission

The DDSA is the Doctoral Student Association of the DeGroote School of Business. The purpose of this association is to create a community and provide a forum of discussion for doctoral students at DeGroote. The DDSA works to address student concerns, thereby enhancing the experiences of doctoral students and encouraging valuable academic research activities.

2024-2025 DDSA officers

Headshot of Rehan Khan, a smiling Middle Eastern man, with dark hair and a faint beard, wearing a dark brown zippered sweater.

Rehan Khan

President

khanr137@mcmaster.ca

Headshot of Ismat Jahan, a smiling South Asian woman, wearing a light yellow hijab and a white underscarf.

Ismat Jahan

Vice-President

jahani4@mcmaster.ca

Headshot of Hesam Nojavan, a smiling Middle Eastern man, with dark hair, wearing a dark suit and light blue shirt with a dark tie.

Hesam Nojavan

Financial Director

nojavanh@mcmaster.ca

Headshot of Toli Amare, a smiling Black man with short dark hair and a goatee, wearing a purple collared shirt.

Toli Amare

Administrative Director

amaret1@mcmaster.ca

Headshot of Saba Khorasani, a smiling White woman with long, dark hair, wearing a black turtleneck and blazer.

Saba Khorasani

Social Director

sabaakhr@mcmaster.ca

Headshot of Olakunle Oluwakorede Ologun, a smiling Black man with a full beard, Afro, and glasses, wearing a grey turtleneck and a pinstriped suit jacket.

Oluwakorede Ologun

Communications Director

ologuno@mcmaster.ca

DDSA research day

The DDSA hosted their annual DDSA Research Day on March 4, 2024. This year’s theme was commercialization of research, with a focus on entrepreneurship for academics.

The flagship event was the Student Business Challenge (SBC), a business pitch competition specifically designed for PhD students. Our PhD Students showcased their entrepreneurial skills and competed for a total prize pool of $1,800.

Headshot of Nicole Rakowski, a smiling woman with long, wavy brown hair and blue eyes wearing black blazer over a white top.

Student business challenge 1st place winner

Nicole Rakowski – 1st winner – $1,000  

Headshot of Mahdi Abouei, a smiling Middle Eastern man, with dark hair and a beard, wearing a blue suit, light blue shirt, and striped tie.

Student business challenge 2nd place winner

Mahdi Abouei – 2nd winner – $500

Headshot of Fatemeh Navazi, a smiling Persian woman with long, wavy dark hair, wearing a light pink blazer and top with a gold necklace and earrings.

Student business challenge 3rd place winner

Fatemeh Navazi – 3rd winner – $300

Headshot of Hesam Nojavan, a smiling Middle Eastern man, with dark hair, wearing a dark suit and light blue shirt with a dark tie.

Popular choice prize winner

Hesam Nojavan – $500