Our Team

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    Sarah Merghani

    CO-FOUNDER

    Sarah Merghani is a co-lead of The Nest and a third-year BSc Specialized Honours Global Health student at York University, specializing in health promotion and disease prevention. Her interests sit at the intersection of climate change, emotional well-being, and community-based approaches to care. At The Nest, Sarah supports facilitation, program design, and community engagement, helping create spaces where students can slow down, reflect, and build supportive connections around climate emotions. Her work is grounded in equity, collective care, and the belief that sustainable climate action begins with listening, shared ownership, and community resilience.

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    Sophia Bryan-Carbonell

    CO-FOUNDER

    Sophia Bryan-Carbonell is one of the co-leads of The Nest. She is a fourth-year Specialized Honours Psychology student at York University, specializing in Neuropsychology and Applied Methods & Analysis. At The Nest, Sophia helps lead program development, training, and community partnerships, with a focus on creating safe spaces where students can explore climate emotions, reconnect with themselves, and cultivate resilience. She is especially interested in how nature shapes psychological well-being, and how our emotional inner worlds influence the care we extend back to the Earth.

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    Mahnoosh Jalilzadeh

    FACILITATOR

    Mahnoosh Jalilzadeh (she/they) is a psychology student and artist whose work lives at the intersection of nature, creativity, and healing. Passionate about eco-psychology and trauma-informed somatic practices, she explores how our inner ecosystems reflect the rhythms of the Earth. When she’s not reading nature-centered books like Braiding Sweetgrassor sketching new artistic ideas, she’s often out in green spaces, hiking, meditating, and reconnecting to the land. Mahnoosh believes in the profound interconnectedness between people and the planet, that healing ourselves is a way of healing the Earth and she hopes to help create spaces where people and nature can thrive together.

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    Tiana

    FACILITATOR

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    Nishtha

    FACILITATOR

    I am a final-year Honours Biomedical Science student with a strong interest in student well-being and community engagement, particularly by addressing the emotional and lived impacts of climate change. With The Nest Initiative, I help facilitate reflective spaces where students can pause, share, process their feelings, and connect them to thoughtful action. I am hopeful about fostering understanding, care, and meaningful participation through collective reflection to inspire grounded change. 

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    Aryan

    FACILITATOR

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    Sahaana

    OUTREACH COORDINATOR

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    Lorena

    OUTREACH COORDINATOR

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    Awais

    OUTREACH COORDINATOR

  • Amina

    OUTREACH COORDINATOR

    Amina Boucenna is a first-year BSc Honours Psychology student at York University and is joining the The Nest Initiative this year as an Outreach Coordinator! She was drawn to The Nest due to their unique mission of addressing the impacts that climate emotions have on students and the younger generation as a whole. As Outreach Coordinator, one of her main duties is to connect with students and clubs/organizations on and off campus in order to expand the Initiative and facilitate developing and running events. In her free time, Amina enjoys long-distance running and reading (current favorite novel: Honor by Thrity Umrigar) and in the future she aims to specialize in Child and Family Psychology. Creating a place where students can better understand and process their ecological stressors has intrigued her and she is committed to helping the Nest Initiative grow with the help of fellow students!

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    Tisa

    PHOTO/VIDEOGRAPHER

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    Szireh

    SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

    Szireh George is a 1st year Honours Social Work student. By being apart of the Nest Initiative as a social media coordinator she hopes to spread awareness about climate change which intersects with her interest in addressing the importance of mental health.

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    Lauren

    DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA

    Lauren Corridore is a fourth-year Honours Psychology student at York University, specializing in Psychology & Law. At The Nest, Lauren contributes to promotional content creation and social media outreach. Her interests focus on the intersections of climate wellness and mental health, with a particular emphasis on improving climate literacy among youth.

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    Shreya

    SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

    Hello, my name is Shreya Pandrala and I'm a 5th year psychology major! I am also a student at the York-Seneca Rehabilitation Services Certificate program and mainly work within disability counselling. My aim in life is to eventually become a psychotherapist or psychological associate and help meet the mental health needs of others. As someone who cares deeply about mental health, I was drawn to The Nest because I'm well-aware that the growing climate crisis can have a large, negative impact on youth populations. My role at The Nest involves creating social media content to help engage our followers and extend our reach to the student body at large. By doing so, I hope to serve our students at York by uplifting and inspiring them to take steps towards climate action!" 

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    Ghazal Haghgozar

    DIGITAL MEDIA & PROGRAM EVALUATION


    Mikhak (Ghazal) Haghgozar is a Biomedical Science student at York University and a Digital Media & Program Evaluation Assistant with The Nest. She supports the team through website development, digital content creation, and program evaluation, including data entry and analysis to help assess the impact of Nest initiatives. Mikhak is especially interested in the intersection of health, communication, and community engagement, and is passionate about using digital tools to support meaningful, accessible climate-wellbeing work.

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    Sujana

    TREASURER

    As the treasurer of the Nest, I am responsible for budgeting the club's funds and ensuring that the finances are up to date. Working alongside The Nest Initiative team has been a wonderful experience, allowing me to connect with like-minded people who are passionate about the ongoing climate crisis.

Community Partners 

York University

Wellness Impact Lab is a research and community-engagement lab that connects mental well-being, climate resilience, and collective action to foster healthier people and a more sustainable planet.

York University

The Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research works at the intersection of research, policy, and practice to promote equity, wellbeing, and meaningful global health impact.

York University

Agents of Change brings students, campus groups, and local partners together to create meaningful community-based initiatives rooted in leadership and civic engagement.

York University

Maloca Community Garden connects campus and community through urban agriculture, promoting food security, sustainability, and hands-on learning while fostering community connection and environmental stewardship.

University of Toronto

Innis College is a close-knit and inclusive college at the University of Toronto that fosters student leadership, shared governance, and a supportive community for learning and growth.

Sierra Club Canada works to protect nature, advance climate solutions, and promote environmental and social justice through community action and advocacy.

Focusing practice is an evidence-based, embodied approach that helps individuals process stress, build resilience, and access inner insight through mindful attention to body-felt experience, offered through workshops and community practice.