S4 Board Members
Meet the Board of Directors who help guide S4's mission and long-term vision. Their leadership and commitment play an important role in supporting equitable access to post-secondary education.
Vernetta Avril - Chair (She/Her)
Vernetta is a Sanctuary Student who is currently completing a BA in Cognitive Neuropsychology at York University Glendon campus as well as a BEd at York's Keele Campus. She holds certificates in Counselling, Community Mental Health and Crisis Intervention and Prevention. Vernetta is an experienced mentor in the York community as a Peer Mentor for first year students and Youth group Counsellor/Mentor in the community at large. She is passionate and enthusiastic about working with and helping individuals with precarious immigration status and effecting meaningful change in their lives. During her spare time, she enjoys reading and exploring nature.
Tanya Aberman (She/Her)
Tanya is the coordinator of the Sanctuary Scholars programs at York University and Toronto Metropolitan University, programs that provide access and support for students who hold precarious immigration status. She has also developed, coordinated and taught community and university-based education programs for newcomer and migrant students. Tanya holds a PhD in Gender Feminist and Women’s Studies from York University.
Destin Bujang (He/Him)
With political unrest in Cameroon, Destin came to Canada in 2012 after graduating in the fields of
Journalism and Communications. He was a Volunteer at FCJ Refugee Centre where he eventually got hired as Special Events Coordinator and Resource Development Worker. He also worked as the Youth and Arts Program Coordinator of the Centre, creating and developing Community Action Projects for youth with precarious status, most significant, “The Art Between Us” and a collection of Refugee stories in a book Titled “Seeds of Hope: Creating a Future in the Shadows” Also working as the Youth Ambassador for the Canadian Council for refugees, he grew the passion for community work and leadership. He is now a student at York University, majoring in Human Rights and Equity Studies. Destin is the founder of a group in one of Toronto’s priotized neighborhoods called the Black Creek Youth Initiative in the Black Creek - Thrithewe neighborhood. This group engages young people of all ages to be involved in their community, while building connections as well as leadership skills.
Janaina Fernandez (She/Her)
Janaina is a passionate advocate for empowering youth, drawing from personal experience as an immigrant to challenge systemic barriers for all young people with precarious immigration status. Committed to access, equity, and inclusion, Janaina strives to create opportunities for every youth to thrive, amplifying marginalized voices and driving meaningful change for all communities.
Stefan Enrique Joseph Kallikaden (Any Pronoun)
Stefan Enrique Joseph Kallikaden is a dedicated community worker and human rights advocate, having worked in various capacities across the sector in Canada and India since 2018. They are a graduate from the Community Worker Program at George Brown College and presently work as the Youth & Access To Education Coordinator at FCJ Refugee Centre in Toronto, Ontario. In 2024, they were the recipient of the Ontario Human Rights Commission Daniel G. Hill Human Rights Award as a Young Leader, having demonstrated a strong passion in 2SLGBTQIA+ issues, youth rights and access to education. As a queer newcomer, former International Student from Bangalore, India, and former precarious migrant themselves, a huge portion of the advocacy and empowerment they take a part in, holds a personal story and journey.
Andrea Corral Rodríguez (She/Her)
Andrea Corral Rodríguez is an immigrant from Guadalajara, Jalisco, México & a Ph.D. Candidate at the School of Social Work at McGill University. Andrea has lived with different types of precarious status for the past 20 years in North America, resulting in a deep desire to dedicate her life to the well-being of immigrants, in particular within the domain of post-secondary education. Andrea brings over a decade of professional experience in post-secondary education settings (e.g., supporting the Undocumented Student Program). She is excited for this new role to continue advocating for education access for Sanctuary Students in Canada.