Student initiatives at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy are a central part of the undergraduate experience, offering students the opportunity to actively shape their academic and community life beyond the classroom. Through program-specific societies, student-led journals, conferences, mentorship programs, and professional development events, students engage directly with peers, faculty, and practitioners working across global affairs and public policy. These initiatives foster collaboration, leadership, and intellectual curiosity, creating spaces where students can explore ideas, share research, and build meaningful connections.
Student Leadership
Student leadership at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy is organized through program-based societies that represent undergraduate students and help build vibrant academic and community engagement within each area of study. These student-led groups coordinate events, foster peer connection, and create opportunities for leadership, mentorship, and professional development across the Munk School undergraduate community.
- Undergraduate Society of American Studies (USAS) – President: Emmanuel Pasternak
- Contemporary Asian Studies Student Union (CASSU) – Co-Presidents: Calleigh Pan and Rie Aiyama
- European Studies Students’ Association (ESSA) – President: Christine Huang
- Peace, Conflict and Justice Society (PCJ) – Co-Presidents: Mahika Varma and Lauren Thomas
- Undergraduate Public Policy Students’ Association (UPPSA) – Co-Presidents: Amelia Hui and Natalie Oulikhanian
Together, these student leadership groups form the backbone of undergraduate engagement at the Munk School, supporting academic programming, student initiatives, and community-building activities across all programs.
Student Journals
Each year, student associations across the Munk School publish peer-reviewed journals showcasing original research from their undergraduate community. These publications give students the opportunity to share their scholarly work with a broader academic audience, and to develop the writing, editing, and research skills that define a Munk education.
The Rapoport Journal is dedicated to celebrating the exemplary work of students whose scholarly interests are within related fields of peace, conflict, and justice (PCJ). The journal is an exploration of how governance acts not just through law, but also through bodies and features the work of many undergraduate students on subjects as diverse as gender clinics in Casablanca to the foreign policy apparatus of Washington.
Messages in the Media is the European Studies Students' Association's (ESSA) annual journal, now in its 12th edition. Published since 2012, it features country reports and analyses of major political and socioeconomic developments across Europe and Eurasia, with a focus on media portrayal.
Vox Civitas is the official research journal of the Undergraduate Public Policy Students Association (UPPSA). It showcases the innovative research of Public Policy & Governance (PPG) students at the University of Toronto. Each annual issue is centered around a policy-driven theme, providing a platform for student scholarship that informs and inspires conversations about pressing policy challenges.
Synergy is an undergraduate journal founded at the Asian Institute that explores East, Southeast and South Asia through student writing and original photography. It features academic articles, book reviews, op-eds and current affairs reporting on the region’s political, social and economic developments, while also hosting events that reflect Asia’s growing global importance.
The Undergraduate Journal of American Studies, published annually, provides the opportunity for undergraduate students to present some of their high-quality independent research to a broader audience.