Meet Our Students: Celebrating Success Stories | Karina Kurindin

Kurindin’s journey began with a passion for mathematics and a curiosity about how economies and societies interact on a global scale. “I’ve always been a student who really enjoyed math, and I found that economics would be an interesting and unique way to connect quantitative thinking to the real world,” she says. Her interest in international business and global perspectives led her to the Global Economics program, where she found the perfect balance between analytical thinking and interdisciplinary learning.

“What attracted me to the program was its interdisciplinary nature, particularly the requirement to take a language course of your choosing,” Kurindin explains. “I thought it was a valuable way to complement my economics studies and gain a broader international perspective.”

One of the most meaningful experiences of her degree was completing an honours thesis in her final year. Working closely with faculty mentors, Kurindin explored a policy-focused research topic inspired by her co-op experiences. “We got to understand what truly goes into research, with ideas being reworked and adapted as challenges arose,” she says. The experience strengthened her passion for economic research and inspired her decision to pursue graduate studies.

Throughout her time at Western, Kurindin embraced opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. She gained valuable professional experience through multiple co-op placements, served as an editor for the Western Undergraduate Economics Review, and held leadership roles within the Western Economics Society. Beginning as a first-year representative and later serving as Vice-President of Events, she helped organize social and academic programming that connected students across the department. “Having this club is a great opportunity to meet other individuals in economics and build a community,” she says. Through planning events ranging from game nights to graduate school information sessions, Kurindin developed strong leadership, communication, and teamwork skills while helping create meaningful experiences for fellow students.

The supportive culture within the Department of Economics also left a lasting impression. One of Kurindin’s most memorable experiences was attending Career Night, organized by Professor Cociuba, where economics alumni shared insights into their professional journeys and career paths. “This event really put into perspective the range of opportunities that an economics degree can provide and how openly it can be applied to different fields,” she reflects. In her fourth year, Kurindin also served as a supervisor at the Economics Drop-In Centre, a student-run academic resource that supports students enrolled in economics courses. Helping younger students navigate course material while sharing her own academic and professional experiences was a rewarding way to give back to the community that had supported her throughout her undergraduate journey.

Faculty mentorship also played a pivotal role in her success. As the first person in her family to graduate from a Canadian university, Kurindin relied on guidance from professors as she considered her future academic options. Their encouragement gave her the confidence to apply to highly competitive graduate programs.

Among her many accomplishments, Kurindin is especially proud of graduating as a Gold Medalist, a recognition of her academic excellence and dedication throughout her undergraduate career.

For future students, her advice is simple: “Engage as much as possible in opportunities that come your way. Join clubs, ask questions, step outside of your comfort zone, and make the best of your undergraduate experience.”

Celebrate Karina Kurindin’s inspiring journey with us and discover how the Global Economics program empowers students to combine research, experiential learning, and leadership to achieve their goals. Stay tuned for more success stories in our series and follow our social media channels to learn how our students are making their mark in the world.