• Home
• meetourstarts
• Meet Our Students: Celebrating Success Stories – Christina Lee

Meet Our Students: Celebrating Success Stories – Christina Lee

By Diana Corredor
In our Meet Our Students: Celebrating Success Stories series, we highlight students whose academic journeys showcase the diverse opportunities within the Faculty of Social Science. This edition features Christina Lee, a third-year Criminology undergraduate student whose passion for understanding crime, governance, and justice systems has shaped her path at Western University.

Lee's journey at Western began in Political Science before she discovered her true calling in Criminology. "I have a strong interest in understanding human behaviour, crime, governance, justice systems, and the social factors that influence them," she shares. "This program has helped me think critically about social issues and apply research methods to investigate them." Her decision to pivot to Criminology has opened doors to research opportunities and practical experiences that have deepened her academic and professional development.

One of the defining moments of her academic career was taking SOC 3307: Qualitative Research with Dr. Kaitlynn Mendes. "This course helped me develop qualitative skills such as in-depth interviewing, ethnographic observation, and content analysis," says Lee. "It refined my ability to analyze social issues in greater detail." She highly recommends this course to students interested in research or considering graduate studies.

Beyond the classroom, Lee has spent the past two years actively engaged in research. Since October 2023, she has worked as a research assistant at Western’s Centre for Urban Policy and Local Governance. She contributed to the Canadian Municipal Attributes Portal (CMAP) project, an interactive data portal that standardizes municipal governance information across Canada. As a 2024 USRI recipient, she analyzed municipal finance data with Professor Zack Taylor, studying revenue and expenditure trends across provinces to support the Metropolitan Power Diffusion Index (MPDI). More recently, she has been contributing to the Local Democracy Project, which examines municipal election rules and their impact on election outcomes. "These experiences have strengthened my skills in data analysis, organization, research theory, and time management—valuable and transferable abilities for my future career," she reflects.

Support systems and career development opportunities have also played a crucial role in Lee’s success. "The Social Science live chat and help portal was an amazing resource when I needed support for academic inquiries," she says. She also credits Western Connect and the Social Science Internship Program for helping her explore career pathways and secure a Summer 2025 co-op position with Allstate Insurance Company of Canada.

Outside of academics, Lee is actively involved in Western’s student community. She is a member of the Gender, Equity, Media, and Society (GEMS) Research Lab, a Student Ambassador for the Social Science Students' Council (SSSC), and the Third-Year Representative for the Criminology Students’ Society (CSS). "These roles have allowed me to meet friends, advocate for students, organize events, and build connections within the academic and social community," she says. "Getting involved in clubs and extracurriculars has enriched my university experience and helped me grow personally and professionally."

For future students considering Social Science, Lee has one piece of advice: "Take advantage of the many courses, clubs, and leadership opportunities that Western offers. Don’t be afraid to get involved! Network with your peers and professors, and always say yes to new opportunities—you won’t regret it."

Christina Lee’s journey exemplifies the wealth of opportunities available in the Faculty of Social Science. Stay tuned for more inspiring student stories in our series, and follow our social media channels to see how our students are making their mark in the world.

If you want to share your own story or know someone who should be featured, please reach out to us!