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, smiling.

Rehan Khan

President

khanr137@mcmaster.ca

Headshot of Ismat Jahan, smiling.

Ismat Jahan

Vice-President

jahani4@mcmaster.ca

Headshot of Hesam Nojavan, smiling.

Hesam Nojavan

Financial Director

nojavanh@mcmaster.ca

Headshot of Toli Amare, smiling.

Toli Amare

Administrative Director

amaret1@mcmaster.ca

Headshot of Saba Khorasani, smiling.

Saba Khorasani

Social Director

sabaakhr@mcmaster.ca

Headshot of Olakunle Oluwakorede Ologun, smiling.

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, smiling.

Student business challenge 1st place winner

Nicole Rakowski – 1st winner – $1,000  

Headshot of Mahdi Abouei, smiling.

Student business challenge 2nd place winner

Mahdi Abouei – 2nd winner – $500

Headshot of Fatemeh Navazi, smiling.

Student business challenge 3rd place winner

Fatemeh Navazi – 3rd winner – $300

Headshot of Hesam Nojavan, smiling.

Popular choice prize winner

Hesam Nojavan – $500