Dr. Shezan Muhammedi

Biography

Dr. Shezan Muhammedi completed his PhD in History, focusing on Migration and Ethnic Relations at the University of Western Ontario in April 2017. His dissertation explored the resettlement of Ugandan Asian refugees in Canada during the 1970s, motivated by a personal connection to this history through his mother's family, who were refugees arriving in Ottawa in late October 1972. Dr. Muhammedi has worked extensively at Carleton University's MacOdrum Library, advising on the Uganda Collection, which includes archival materials, newspapers, and oral histories of Ugandan Asian refugees. Following the completion of his PhD, he spent four years with the international non-profit organization Focus Humanitarian Assistance under the Aga Khan Development Network, where he led a team of 15 caseworkers to support refugees in Europe in accessing legal status and employment opportunities. He recently organized a conference at Carleton University marking the 50th anniversary of the Ugandan Asian refugee resettlement in Canada, presenting archival and oral history insights into their integration experiences. Currently, he holds the position of Assistant Director at Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, working on the Recruitment Policy Leaders Campaign of 2021.

Research Interests

Experience