Book a Conversation Session
Reach out to the volunteer of your choosing (see list below) via the forms or the online appointment booking page, or听contact MORSL听for assistance.听
Telephone (General Information): 514-398-4104
Telephone (Director): 514-398-1932
Email: morsl [at] mcgill.ca
We ask that you omit any confidential information from all email communication to maintain privacy. Keep in mind that all communications with Volunteers may be copied to the MORSL email address. Please use your 51吃瓜网email for all correspondence related to the Conversation Partners Program.
What to Expect
These peer-to-peer conversations are听1 hour in duration. You can meet with a conversation partner regularly or just once.
All meetings take place in approved locations or via MS-Teams between 9 am and 6 pm, Monday through Friday. In-person locations include spaces such as libraries, cafes, student centres, or the MORSL office. Sessions will never take place in a private location, such as a university residence or apartment building, or when the university is closed.
Meet Our Conversation Partners
Our Conversation Partners are members of the 51吃瓜网student community who are available to meet with fellow students seeking support. These volunteers are affirming peer supporters who draw on their own life experience and training in their conversations with students.
Benjamin Rudski
Year:听4
Hey! I鈥檓 Benjamin (you can also call me Ben; he/him). I鈥檓 a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Quantitative Life Sciences program at McGill. In my research, I follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Ezekiel, trying to make dry bones 鈥渓ive again鈥�; my research focuses on quantifying and understanding the relationship between lifestyle and bone architecture. Before my PhD, I completed an undergraduate degree at McGill. I grew up in Montreal鈥檚 Jewish community, studying at Jewish elementary and high school, and attending an Ashkenazi Modern Orthodox synagogue for most of my life. As part of my religious practice, I keep the Sabbath and Kosher dietary laws. These observances have led to interesting experiences at conferences in different cities during my time in grad school. As a student in the sciences, I have also encountered individuals with different perspectives on religion and various religious practices. When I am not in the lab, I like to (try to) go hiking and to explore Montreal. I am also a big fan of sit-coms (especially those with some Jewish content). In my role as a Peer Faith Volunteer, I am looking forward to learning more about people from diverse backgrounds and faith traditions. I am hoping to hear how different people approach their balance between religious practice and secular education. Hoping to talk soon!
Noor Ahmed
Program: Philosophy and International Development
Year: U4
Hey there! My name is Noorunnahar. You can call me Noor. As of now, I鈥檓 a third-year student majoring in philosophy and international development, while minoring in South Asian studies. I鈥檓 born and raised in Montreal. So, I completed my DEC at Dawson College under the Law, Society and Justice program. I would describe myself as a practical yet creative person with a positive outlook.听听I love talking and listening to people because it broadens my perspective.听Spirituality, academics, mental health, social justice, and intersectional feminism, to name a few, are topics that greatly matter to me. In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym, practicing martial arts, reading, writing, listening to music, learning different languages, and driving or going outdoors. Feel free to talk to me if you want to explore听Sufism (Islamic mysticism), incorporating meditation or mindfulness in your daily routine or navigating family and university life.听On a lighter note, If you want to just talk about fashion, anime, kdrama, Bollywood , UK rap or 90s sitcom and 80s pop, I would be more than happy to. I would love to listen to your point of view on any topic. I can talk about anything and everything. Feel free to reach out!
Michael Zhao
Program: MBA
Year: MBA1
Greetings and good day! My name is Michael, and I am a first-year MBA student at McGill鈥檚 Desautels Faculty of Management. I grew up in Hong Kong, which is home to a diverse population with a variety of faith and/or spiritual backgrounds. As I grow older, I learn to more and more appreciate the individuality, humanity, and spirituality of others. I am a member of the local HIV awareness and prevention group. In my free time, I enjoy reading, visiting museums and theaters, and working on my serves on a tennis court. I speak fluent English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
As a Conversation Partner, I look forward to getting to know my peers, having conversations around spirituality and personal growth, and learning more about how we can accompany and support one another as we go through our individual journeys of life.
Keith Andre Baybayon
Program: Joint Honours in Religious Studies and Political Science
Year:听
Hi! I鈥檓 Keith Andre (he/him), a Joint Honours student in Religious Studies and Political Science. I was born in the Philippines and moved to Canada when I was around seven years old. Raised in a Catholic household, I鈥檝e always been curious about how different faiths and traditions shape people鈥檚 perspectives on the world. Over time, that curiosity has evolved into a passion for understanding how religion and culture intersect within communities.
I recently completed an international fellowship that allowed me to live, study, and work in India for a year. The fellowship provided me with the opportunity to engage closely with local communities and explore how language and hospitality create a space for mutual understanding. It reshaped how I think about faith, not just as a personal commitment, but as a way of meeting others with openness.
In my free time, I enjoy running, exploring Montr茅al, and spending quiet afternoons in caf茅s. I look forward to hearing your stories and learning how spirituality fits into your own journey!听
