Justin completed his Honours BA in History and Political Science at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2010. During this time he developed an interest in European politics, focused especially on the rise of populist parties on both extremes of the political spectrum. After graduation, he worked as a licensed heavy truck operator in Brisbane, Australia. There he unexpectedly gained experience in disaster relief when Queensland experienced some of the worst flooding in Australian history and he volunteered to deliver sandbags, evacuate personal belongings, and clear post-disaster debris for those affected by the flooding.
Shortly after, Justin returned to Canada and enrolled in the MA program at the University of Windsor. He was especially drawn to the school by the joint MA-MPP program offered with the University of Michigan-Dearborn. This allowed him to earn both degrees within three years. During his MA program, Justin specialized in International Relations, and served as a Graduate Assistant for a number of IR courses. In addition, the MA degree enabled him to hone his research skills, which he used to expand beyond his undergrad work on European populism. He eventually completed his major research project, which focused on using Anthony Downs' "Economic Theory of Democracy" to analyze the ideological movement of the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV).
Justin found the MA program extremely valuable, as it allowed him to develop solid research skills. The MPP program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn complemented this perfectly, as it aided him in developing sound analytical skills guided by economic principles. Prior to graduating, Justin also worked for the McGill Institute for the Study of International Development (ISID), and eventually graduated with his MA and MPP degrees in spring 2014. Justin's career has excelled and he is now a Policy Advisor, Government Relations with the Canadian Electricity Association in Ottawas, Ontario. In this role, Justin is responsible for advising and assisting in the development of relationships and the identification of opportunities for the advancement of key CEA priorities, primarily as they relate to the Federal Government. Justin also assists in structuring and executing CEA's advocacy initiatives. Altogether Justin feels that the MA-MPP program gave him a strong edge in the job market, and he looks back fondly on his time in Windsor.