Sofia Melendez Ron (MA from Toronto Metropolitan University; MEd from Queen’s University; BScH from Queen’s University) is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University. Sofia hails from Western Mexico, a land shared by the Wixárika, Coca, and Tecuexe Pueblos Originarios.

For almost a decade, Sofia has facilitated projects that support culturally and racially diverse queer, trans, and nonbinary people. Their SSHRC-funded research aims to build better lives for trans and nonbinary people by transforming training for mental health clinicians. She is collaborating with other genderqueer, trans, and nonbinary people to create case studies for mental health clinicians to learn about gender inclusivity and gender affirmation through an intersectional lens.

Sofia is a Vanier Scholar and a recipient of various scholarships including the Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Master’s Award, the Joseph Armand Bombardier Master’s Canada Graduate Scholarship, and the Jean Royce Fellowship. Outside of school and clinic, Sofia can be found dancing to traditional Mexican music, learning to sow, and spending time with her familia.