Course Developers | Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law

Excellence in Program Design

Hailing from across the country and a range of backgrounds including academia, private practice and the government and non-profit sectors, these experts have brought insight, passion and knowledge to the courses that make up our program.

Sharry Aiken

Sharry Aiken is an Associate Professor, former Associate Dean (Graduate Studies and Research) and Academic Director of the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law at Queen’s Law.

Michael Battista

Michael Battista is an immigration lawyer with over 26 years of experience. The breadth of Michael's expertise includes sponsorships based on same-sex relationships, HIV and medical inadmissibility and Express Entry applications by people seeking permanent residence for them and their same-sex partners.

Joshua Blum

Joshua Blum practices immigration and refugee law in Toronto. He has appeared at all levels of court and is counsel in a number of cases about the scope of Canada's constitutional and international obligations to refugees.

Christa Bracci (Legal Skills)

Christa Bracci is an adjunct professor at Queen's Law where she has taught legal research, legal writing and legal practice skills for over ten years. She has worked and practiced in a range of environments including government, small boutique firm and large national firm.

Tiffany Chi

Tiffany Chi graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Political Science and English. She is an ICCRC member and has been working in the immigration field since 2008. Prior to becoming an Immigration Consultant, she was a CBSA Border Services Officer.

Laoura Christodoulides

Laoura Christodoulides has been a litigation lawyer in the National Litigation Sector of the Department of Justice since 2008. During that time she has represented the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Minister of Public Safety on a variety of applications before the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal.

A ris Daghighian

Aris Daghighian is legislative policy advisor for the Government of Canada. While working in the private sector, Aris’ practice focused on appeals and litigation, as well as economic immigration applications, refugee claims, and issues surrounding citizenship. In 2019, Aris was recognised by Who’s Who Legal (WWL) as a “Future Leader” under 45.

C hantal Desloges

Chantal Desloges is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in both Citizenship/Immigration law and Refugee law. She leads her own law firm in downtown Toronto. In 2013, Chantal was appointed by the Minister of Justice to serve on the Federal Court Rules Committee.

Colin Grey

Colin Grey joined the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University in 2019. Professor Grey teaches and writes about immigration law, refugee law, and administrative law. He has taught courses in legal theory, international migration law, and an interdisciplinary methods course for doctoral students.

K ristin Marshall

Kristin Marshall has assumed many roles working with immigrants and refugees over 25 years. In private practice, she implemented Legal Aid Ontario’s immigration detention practice at the Refugee Law Office, and was clinical instructor at Downtown Legal Services at University of Toronto, Faculty of Law.

Dupé Oluyomi

Dupé has been a litigation lawyer in the Immigration Law Division of the Department of Justice since 2006. During that time she has represented the Minister of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada and the Minister of Public Safety on a variety of appeals and applications before the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, and the Ontario Courts.

Rafeena Rashid

Rafeena Rashid is co-founder of Rashid Urosevic LLP, a boutique immigration and citizenship law firm. Rafeena completed her law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School in 2007. Prior to this, she explored migration-related issues while obtaining her Master’s degree in Legal Studies.

Cathryn Sawicki

Cathryn is a Canadian Immigration Lawyer and has been certified as a Specialist in Citizenship and Immigration by the Law Society of Ontario. She has particular expertise in the area of compliance, inadmissibility and corporate strategic immigration solutions.

M aureen Silcoff

Maureen Silcoff graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1986. She is a partner at Silcoff Shacter and has been in private practice as an immigration and refugee lawyer since 1988, spending 5 years as a Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Adrienne Smith

Adrienne Smith is a practicing immigration and refugee lawyer and a Partner with Battista Smith Migration Law Group based in Toronto, Canada. Adrienne has appeared at every level of court including the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Jelena Urosevic

Jelena Urosevic is the co-founder of Rashid Urosevic LLP, a boutique immigration and citizenship law firm in Toronto, Ontario. Jelena completed her law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School in 2007 and was called to the bar in Ontario in 2008. She handles all types of Canadian immigration and citizenship matters, including litigation.

J ared Will

Jared Will is a member of the bar in Ontario, Quebec and New York State. He’s been practicing Canadian immigration and refugee law since 2006. He specializes in complex immigration and refugee matters involving constitutional law, international criminal law, exclusion, inadmissibility and national security issues.

R honda Williams

Rhonda Williams has a Master of Arts from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University and a BA (Hons.) from Queen’s University. She is a member of the ICCRC who served on the Board of Directors from February 2011 until November 2017.