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Patricia Quan (she/her), MSW
Patricia is a PhD student in the School of Social Work at York University. Her doctoral research on high school international students is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship.
Patricia's Story
Patricia arrived in Canada alone at the age of 15 as a high school international student and navigated the homestay system herself. Like many young people, she encountered systemic barriers, discrimination, and isolation that at times made her question whether she could continue her education in Canada.
For the past eight years, Patricia has worked alongside migrant communities and international students on issues of migrant justice, anti-Asian racism, and community advocacy. Through this work, she came to realize that her experiences were not isolated incidents, but reflections of broader systems that continue to fail many young people today.
She co-founded Project Anchor because she believes no child should have to navigate these challenges alone and that the current homestay system must be changed.
Her research and community work focus on high school international students, homestay systems, and the policies and institutions that shape young people's experiences of migration, belonging, and care. Guided by both lived experience and community knowledge, Patricia is committed to producing research that not only documents inequities but also helps build safer, more accountable, and more compassionate systems of support.