Woodsworth College

Alumni

Subheadline

Choi credits the Academic Bridging Program at Woodsworth College with setting him on the path to higher education and professional success

Eugene Choi was in high school when his mother contracted SARS and his father was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Amid a challenging time for his family, Choi made the difficult decision to drop out of school and began working various part-time jobs, from flipping burgers to ringing up sales.

While he did what he had to do to support himself and his family, Choi felt he had more potential but wasn't sure how to resume and further his education. Then, one day, his father showed him a newspaper ad for the Academic Bridging Program at the ��Ƶ's Woodsworth College. The program offers prospective students who don't meet admission requirements a path to qualifying for degree programs in U of T's Faculty of Arts & Science.

Today, Choi is managing partner of Blue-Mark Management Consultants, a leading Toronto consultancy firm – and he credits the Academic Bridging Program for setting him on the path to higher education and professional success.

“All the people who managed Woodsworth’s Academic Bridging Program were very pleasant to work with and very caring about everyone who went through the program,” says Choi, who completed the program before going on to earn an honours bachelor of arts with a double major in philosophy and the ethics of law. “They support you through the whole process and they know there's a number of reasons why people need this type of program. They just want you to succeed.”

Eugene Choi participating in the Rotman Design Challenge in 2018 (supplied image)

Choi’s education was derailed after his mother, a nurse at Scarborough Grace Hospital, caught SARS while caring for a patient amid the early days of the SARS outbreak in Toronto in 2003. When his father began to show symptoms, he got tested as well – while the SARS test came back negative, he was diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer.

"My mom catching SARS was a blessing in disguise because we were able to find that lung cancer,” says Choi, noting that lung cancer often isn’t detected until it’s too late. “They're both fully recovered now, but as you can imagine that was a pretty difficult time. So, I dropped out of high school and started working at whatever part-time gigs I could get.”

The Academic Bridging Program at Woodsworth enabled Choi to further his studies by bridging the gap between his prior education and the skills required for first-year university courses – allowing him to transition into an undergraduate program.

Eugene Choi at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand (supplied image)

After graduating, Choi started with his own projects until he eventually secured a role as a business analyst with Travelers Canada.

Over time, however, Choi began to see the need to advance his education further. “I realized – as I started to manage projects and took on more of a strategic role – that I didn't have the financial language to speak with the leaders in the company,” he says.

That realization prompted him to return to U of T, this time to pursue a master of business administration (MBA) at the Rotman School of Management. “[Rotman] is the top program in the country, and it was the one I could most easily do part-time while continuing my career,” he says. “Having the familiarity of home and the ability to keep working as I did was quite beneficial.”

Today, Choi works with medium-to-large sized firms at Blue-Mark, advising them on organizational design and effectiveness, strategy and planning, operating models and complex change implementation.

“We help with organizational effectiveness issues. So, mostly things to do with people in the organization,” says Choi. "We help our clients figure out when the interaction is not working right or why they're not getting the results they're looking for. Is there something around how their teams are working together, or how their people are being trained?”

Choi says his undergraduate education in philosophy has served him well in management consultancy. “Philosophy, in simple terms, is breaking down arguments. That thought process of taking a problem and breaking it down and analyzing its component parts – and then putting it back together again to come up with the new solution – is the basic thought process that you need in every single engagement you have with a client,” says Choi.

“It's basic problem solving and critical thinking types of competencies. I use it every single day with every single problem I come across.”

As Choi has advanced in his own career, he has also made sure to give back and help others. He has served on numerous non-profit boards, including at Kennedy House, which provides youth services in the Toronto area, and Mackenzie Health Volunteer Association. He is currently serving on the board of directors for the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto.

“Most of my non-profits have been involved with at-risk youth,” he says. “I understood the feeling of being lost after dropping out of high school, so I wanted to do my best to give back to those who are facing tough situations.”

Choi is also a dedicated mentor at U of T. He volunteered for the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Backpack-to-Briefcase (b2B) program, which connects recent grads with experienced alumni, and is a mentor for the Alumni-Students Mentorship Program at Woodsworth College. He also became a member of the U of T Alumni Association in 2023.

“The aspiration is to get to a point in my career where I can take a step back from the day-to-day running of the business and bring my talents to other causes, so I can have an impact on our world,” he says.

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Andrea Smitko

A former esthetician, U of T grad looks forward to pursuing a new career as a lawyer

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 15:15:26 +0000

A former esthetician, U of T grad looks forward to pursuing a new career as a lawyer

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 06/27/2024 - 11:15

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Kavery Bedar quit her job as an esthetician to further her education at U of T – and is now looking forward to starting law school in the fall (supplied image)

Coby Zucker

Topic

Convocation 2024

Subheadline

Kavery Bedar went through the Academic Bridging Program at Woodsworth College as a mature student before earning her honours bachelor of arts degree

For Kavery Bedar, convocation marked the next step in a major career change from esthetician to future lawyer.

Bedar, who completed the Academic Bridging Program at Woodsworth College prior to starting her undergraduate degree, graduated with her honours bachelor of arts with a major in history and minors in sociology and critical studies in equity and solidarity.

Her accomplishments include her work on the hidden homelessness research and outreach project at Sistering, a non-profit organization and women's shelter, which was carried out in partnership with U of T’s Multidisciplinary Urban Capstone Project. The project led to the creation of a tool to assist women and gender-diverse people experiencing hidden homelessness in Toronto.

Bedar recently received her admission to Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. She spoke to Faculty of Arts & Science writer Coby Zucker about her decision to come to U of T, her experiences as a mature student and her ambitions for the future.

What made you decide to pursue your degree as a mature student?

After high school, I jumped into work. I worked as a makeup artist for about seven years, and then I transitioned to being an esthetician. I quit in February and although it was a fulfilling career, I couldn't see myself in it for another 20 years.

I felt like if I didn’t ever try, I would regret it. I don't mind trying and failing, but I think the biggest regret would have been not trying. Ultimately, it was about following my heart and then laying out a step-by-step action plan on how to achieve my dream.

How was your experience at the Academic Bridging Program at Woodsworth?

Coming in, I was really nervous. Would I be able to succeed? It's been a long time since I wrote an essay or did academic reading. I also was not a very strong student in high school. So even though I had the determination and the passion, I didn't know if I had the skills. The Academic Bridging Program really instilled those fundamental skills, like how to read an academic paper. They made me feel like there is no stupid question.

Can you tell us about Sistering and your work there as a community liaison?

Sistering is a 24-hour women's drop-in shelter. We serve women and gender diverse folks experiencing homelessness, poverty, social isolation and food insecurity. It's an amazing organization. My interest in the position also came from the social advocacy piece. After my undergrad, I’m going to law school – and the goal was always to do some type of human rights law or some type of social advocacy in my work. Hence why I quit the salon and now work full-time at Sistering. It aligns well with my career-change goal.

Were there any professors or courses that stood out to you as you reflect on your degree?

There are two professors specifically that I will carry in my heart forever. One is Jon Johnson. He was my professor in the Academic Bridging Program. He's been a great role model on how to think about social justice issues, how to talk about social justice issues and how to do it in a human, empathetic way.

Another professor who is just such a joy to be around is Nakanyike Musisi, who specializes in African history. When I got into law school, she actually got me a cake saying ‘Congratulations.’ She celebrated our achievements and our successes. In her fourth-year seminar, she challenged us to think deeper. And she just created this warm, fuzzy community in this massive institution.

Do you have any advice for others considering earning a degree as a mature student?

I would say just go for it. Just do it. It might not work for everyone but for me, the fear of trying something new is worth the risk because the payoff can be so amazing. The fact that I am actually going to go to law school is amazing to me. Nobody thought I could do it.

And really advocate for yourself. If there's one thing I've learned in my life, it's that although folks want what's best for you, sometimes they don't know what's best for you. You are the expert of your life. Advocate for yourself, especially for women, who are sometimes socialized to not talk as loud or be as open.

'Incredible gratitude': U of T grad on his journey from spinal cord injury to convocation

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:15:50 +0000

'Incredible gratitude': U of T grad on his journey from spinal cord injury to convocation

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 06/04/2024 - 11:15

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Six years on from sustaining a life-altering injury, Beau Hayward is graduating with an honours bachelor of arts degree – and looking forward to beginning his master's at U of T in the fall (photo by Matthew Volpe)

Sean McNeely

Topic

Convocation 2024

Facilities and Services

Accessibility

Athletic Centre

KPE

Subheadline

"My time at the university has been completely intertwined with my recovery, and what I’ve learned is that it really wasn’t as much about regaining anything as it was about building something completely new."

In the summer of 2018, Beau Hayward dived off the dock of a friend’s cottage in Sudbury, Ont., and unexpectedly struck the bottom. Face down in the water and unable to turn over, he was luckily found by a friend who was able to revive him on shore.

Beau Hayward (photo by Matthew Volpe)

But the accident changed Hayward's life. He sustained a spinal cord injury that caused him to become an incomplete quadriplegic, which means he has limited function in his upper body.

A period of profound adjustment followed that involved tirelessly working towards regaining his independence and developing a mindset to focus on what was truly important and worthy of his time and energy – which, he decided, was studying history and archaeology at the ��Ƶ.

Hayward is graduating this spring with an honours bachelor of arts degree as a member of Woodsworth College. He spoke to Faculty of Arts & Science writer Sean McNeely about his experiences at U of T and pursuing what he loved:

What did you enjoy most about the history and archaeology programs?

When I began, my interest in history was very broad, albeit somewhat focused on North American and European history. The way the undergrad program is designed, you’re exposed to historical research from across the world, but there was always something about American history that held a grip on me.

The professors and TAs made all the difference throughout my undergraduate degree. I had the opportunity to take several courses taught by Assistant Professor Max Mishler who has been an inspiration and supported me throughout the past four years.

The archaeology undergraduate major is an incredible program that has so many avenues for growth. There are field schools around the world, field schools in Toronto, and opportunities to get hands-on experience inside laboratories at the university. As a student with a physical disability, there are a lot of challenges in pursuing archaeological research, but that never stopped my U of T professors and TAs who always worked with me to make sure that I was getting the most out of my experience.

Professor Michael Chazan and Hilary Duke, a postdoctoral fellow, worked with me to build my experience working with archaeological materials in the lab – that was a highlight of my university experience.

Throughout my undergrad, I’ve had the opportunity to take several courses with Hilary Duke focusing on stone tools. From early on, I felt an attachment to these artifacts. There is something special about them; they are such a tremendous part of human history and can tell us so much.

Can you share your experiences with accessibility at U of T?

When I decided to go to U of T, some friends were concerned that an old university would not be accessible. As it turns out, it’s incredibly accessible. Over my four years, I can think of only two instances where classrooms proved difficult for accessibility, and those issues were resolved quickly.

Additionally, the Office of Facilities & Services has a deep commitment to accessibility. I had the pleasure of providing consultations for upcoming construction projects involving accessibility.

Outside of the physical aspects of accessibility on campus, I’ve had incredible support from the university’s Accessibility Services team. Michelle Morgani has been my accessibility adviser since the beginning at Woodsworth and has been critical in my success at the university.

Everything from accommodated formats for research materials to accommodated testing services made my experience as a student with a disability seamless.

Looking back, what advice would you give your first-year self?

Spinal cord injuries take everything from you, and the journey of recovery is about regaining as much as possible. My time at the university has been completely intertwined with my recovery, and what I’ve learned is that it really wasn’t as much about regaining anything [as] it was about building something completely new.

My advice to my first-year self would be to trust the process and enjoy every minute because it really does fly by.

What have been some of your most memorable experiences at U of T?

As I reflect on the past five years, I cannot help but feel incredible gratitude towards the massive group of people who have helped me along the way.

I will be forever grateful for all the students and staff who work at the Athletic Centre. With their incredible support, I have been able to regain so much physical strength that has shaped my independence.

I also had the pleasure of working on the [Faculty of] Kinesiology & Physical Education’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging team and developed a few programs for students with disabilities. These programs were both big and small, and created some incredible experiences that I will cherish.

What’s next for you after graduation?

I will be beginning my master’s in history [at U of T] this September which I’m thrilled about. My research will be focused on the United States. I’ll be researching early 20th-century labour history, with my project specifically focused on Appalachia.

What would you say to someone considering U of T and Woodsworth College?

The staff and faculty at Woodsworth College are incredible. They are committed to their students’ success. The Academic Bridging Program was my ticket into the university and to a new life. It sounds dramatic, but it’s absolutely true. I cannot emphasize enough how fantastic the community at the college really is.

Not only are the staff and faculty members amazing and driven to provide every opportunity for success, but there is tremendous peer support and community at Woodsworth. To someone considering U of T, and especially the Academic Bridging Program at Woodsworth College, there is a life-changing opportunity available here. Don’t let it pass you by.

Building a better world: Three Pearson Scholars – and soon-to-be grads – reflect on their U of T experience

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 20:13:25 +0000

Building a better world: Three Pearson Scholars – and soon-to-be grads – reflect on their U of T experience

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 06/03/2024 - 16:13

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Left to right: Niha Burugapalli, Daniel Corredor Llorente and Ana Laura Noda González (supplied images)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Convocation 2024

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

Subheadline

“An unsurpassable opportunity to study at one of the world's leading institutions, on a full ride, while joining a cohort of bright, passionate and driven changemakers”

An aspiring clinician-scientist who is reducing food waste across Toronto. A global health student who launched an NGO that connects students with seniors through art. And an international relations specialist who worked on an array of human rights projects.

Ana Laura Noda González, Niha Burugapalli and Daniel Corredor Llorente came to the ��Ƶ from different regions of the world, with unique career aspirations and a wide assortment of volunteering causes.

But the three Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship recipients all share one trait: a commitment to making a difference. And all three are graduating from their respective programs this June.

Here's how they plan to use their U of T educations to help make the world a better place:

Ana Laura Noda González

(photo supplied)

González, who is graduating with an honours bachelor of science in psychology with minors in immunology and Buddhist psychology and mental health in the Faculty of Arts & Science, says Canada wasn’t on her list of destinations for post-secondary studies – until she heard about the Pearson Scholarship.

“I ran into my school principal’s office and told her that she had to nominate me,” says González, who was born in Cuba and grew up in Mexico.

Upon arriving in Toronto, González says she was taken aback by rampant food waste – particularly given her family’s origins in Cuba, a country with widespread food insecurity. So she co-founded MealCare Toronto, a student-run non-profit that diverts surplus food from cafeterias and restaurants to shelters and food banks.

The Woodsworth College student says her academic interests evolved considerably while at U of T, and that she now plans to pursue graduate and doctoral research in psychiatry and mental health. “Psychiatry is a relatively new field of medicine – there are a lot of unknowns so I’d like to do something in that,” says González, who is currently working as a research assistant at SickKids Hospital.

Looking back on her time at U of T, González says she was pleasantly surprised by the ease at which she was able to forge connections.

“Even during the COVID times, I was able to find a community online … and I still have some of my best friends now from that time,” she says. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have done my undergrad here.”

Niha Burugapalli

(photo supplied)

Burugapalli, who was born in India and raised in Connecticut, is graduating with a bachelor of science in global health and peace, conflict and justice studies.

While at U of T, the Victoria College student engaged in diverse experiential learning opportunities that ranged from working on the UN Sustainable Development Goals with the Reach Alliance to conducting neuroscience research in Sweden as part of a summer exchange program and spending a semester abroad in Granada, Spain.

Burugapalli is a co-founder of the EmpowART Foundation, an NGO that gives undergraduate students the opportunity to lead art workshops in nursing homes and hospitals – promoting healing through art while encouraging intergenerational connections.

“The goal was to empower the seniors as they engage in a new skill … while bridging the gap between students searching for opportunities to make an impact and the isolation experienced by many seniors,” she says.

Burugapalli says she’s grateful for the sense of community that U of T had to offer. “The college system and being part of Vic was really nice to be able to make great friends easily and find a community and support in such a large student body,” she says.

“Overall, I have really enjoyed my time at U of T and have been enriched by all the amazing opportunities like research and studying abroad and all the inspiring people I have had the privilege of meeting along the way.”

Daniel Corredor Llorente

(photo supplied)

Corredor Llorente, who is originally from Colombia, says he didn’t think twice about accepting U of T’s offer.

“No other university I applied to offered anything as promising – much less so in a country as welcoming as Canada and a cosmopolitan city like Toronto,” says Corredor Llorente, who is both a Pearson Scholar and Laidlaw Scholar at Trinity College, and is graduating with an international relations specialist with minors in economics and political science.

“My academic experience at U of T was timely and top-tier, though not without its challenges considering the extremely complex – and often painful – issues of the day,” Corredor says, noting his undergraduate years coincided with global challenges from the pandemic to armed conflict and growing human rights concerns around the world.

Corredor Llorente credits his U of T professors, coursework and research opportunities with helping him access hands-on experience in the field – including internships with the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights for internally displaced persons, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Compaz Foundation, an NGO founded by former Colombian president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Juan Manuel Santos.

Corredor Llorente, who is currently working to advance human rights in the Americas via an Orlando Sierra Fellowship in Washington, D.C., says he’s grateful to the Pearson Scholars program for providing “an unsurpassable opportunity to study at one of the world's leading institutions, on a full ride, while joining a cohort of bright, passionate and driven changemakers committed to tackling society's polycrisis.”

U of T students, learners awarded prestigious Rhodes Scholarships

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 15:04:48 +0000

U of T students, learners awarded prestigious Rhodes Scholarships

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 11/28/2023 - 10:04

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From left to right: 2024 Rhodes Scholars Sapolnach Prompiengchai, Leighton Schreyer, Adam Martínez, Tierrai Tull and Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen (supplied images, photo of Tull by Tysen Harvey Photography Bermuda)

Topic

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science Staff

Subheadline

Four U of T students and one medical resident are among the members of the 2024 cohort of Rhodes Scholars

For the first time in more than three quarters of a century, four ��Ƶ students have been selected for a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship in a single year.

With interests that span mental health, narrative health, gender and discovering next-gen materials, Sapolnach Prompiengchai, Tierrai Tull, Leighton Schreyer and Adam Martínez are headed to Oxford University with the support of the coveted scholarship, which identifies and supports exceptional young people with the potential to make a positive impact on the world.

Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen (supplied image)

A fifth member of the U of T community, Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen, an ophthalmology and vision sciences resident in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, also received a Rhodes Scholarship via her alma mater, McGill University.

“The ��Ƶ is delighted to see so many of our exceptional students and learners join the world-renowned community of Rhodes Scholars,” says U of T President Meric Gertler.

“We wish them continued success as they enter the next chapter of their academic journeys. And we look forward to seeing their accomplishments and contributions to society in the years to come.”

Here are the four U of T students – two Canadian students, two international students – who recently joined an elite group of more than 100 new Rhodes Scholars from across the globe as part of the 2024 cohort:

Sapolnach Prompiengchai

U of T Scarborough

(supplied image)

Prompiengchai, who grew up in Thailand and attended school in India, is one of two Rhodes Global Scholars this year – making him the first recipient selected from Thailand through the Global Rhodes program, which is open to candidates from parts of the world that aren’t covered by one of the 25 Rhodes constituencies.

He says the news took a toll on his vocal cords.

“I probably lost my voice from talking to so many incredible people at the University of Oxford and then calling everyone I know,” says Prompiengchai, a fourth-year neuroscience student at U of T Scarborough.

A 2020 recipient of U of T’s Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, Prompiengchai earned recognition for his interdisciplinary mental health research and advocacy. That includes receiving undergraduate research prizes for several of his papers.

A member of the student advisory committee for Inlight, one of U of T’s institutional strategic initiatives, Prompiengchai has worked in five research labs specializing in disciplines including clinical neuroscience, memory and educational psychology.

He is currently working in Professor Andy Lee’s cognitive neuroscience lab at U of T Scarborough where he is doing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments to discover how the brain encodes time when memories are formed.

“I think to properly tackle mental health you need to become a multidisciplinary scientist, so I hope to learn more about genetics and chemistry,” he says.

“I hope to one day be a scientist who can work with diverse stakeholders – including politicians, clinicians, scientists and community groups from diverse backgrounds – in order to translate research into real-world solutions.”

Tierrai Tull

Faculty of Arts & Science

(photo by Tysen Harvey Photography Bermuda)

Tull, a fourth-year student in Woodsworth College studying political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science, says she was on her evening walk overlooking the waters of Bermuda when she got the call.

“I screamed, and I had to mute myself because I didn’t want to blow [the national secretary’s] eardrums out,” says Tull, an international student who is representing the Rhodes constituency of Bermuda. “I was just so overcome with joy that I ran for 15 minutes straight home.”

A recipient of the Dean’s Excellence Award and the Frank Peers Award for International Study, Tull says her studies have focused on gender in the Caribbean, pursuing research ranging from appropriation in the health and wellness industry to the case for reparations under John Locke’s theory of labour.

Her time at U of T has been a “global experience” spanning five countries, Tull says.

Starting her studies in fall 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Tull took courses virtually in Armenia during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. She continued her remote studies from Bermuda and the U.S. before arriving at U of T in her second year. After studying abroad at University College London, she returned to the St. George campus to finish her degree.

Tull says she’s looking forward to continuing her studies at Oxford, where she’s interested in exploring the social sciences and women’s studies.

A first-generation student on full scholarship, Tull says she hopes her success will inspire students in similar circumstances to shoot for prestigious programs like Rhodes.

“I would encourage anyone who is struggling but has big goals to dare to dream and dare to achieve,” she says. “Don’t tell yourself no before anyone else does.”

Leighton Schreyer

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Leighton Schreyer (supplied image)

Schreyer, one of two U of T students among the 11 Rhodes Scholars selected from Canada, says receiving the call from Rhodes organizers quickly turned into an impromptu celebration.

“I had to turn the stove burner off, so I wasn’t going to burn down my building,” they say. “I think I did a bit of a party dance.”

An activist, writer and poet, Schreyer says their emphasis on the human side of medicine was informed by interactions with the health system – a theme explored in works that have been published in leading medical journals, literary magazines and news outlets. They have also held research positions at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Unity Health Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children.

Schreyer plans on fusing passions for storytelling and medicine by pursuing a DPhil in anthropology at Oxford, specializing in medical anthropology. Their interests lie in the field of narrative medicine, which honours the fundamental role that story plays in health care and caregiving – and explores how narrative can help bridge the gap between the biological manifestation of disease and the patient’s lived experience of illness. They credit U of T’s health, arts and humanities program with formally introducing them to the field.

“My story – the narrative of my life – is far from complete and, in many ways, I hope it never will be; I want to be continuously challenged to rethink, rework and refine my story,” Schreyer says. “I hope that, through Rhodes, I will have the opportunity to gain perspective and participate in experiences that will allow me to walk away from Oxford with a bigger, more complete and comprehensive story of the world.”

Adam Martínez

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

(supplied image)

Martínez, who was also named a Rhodes Scholar from Canada, says receiving the scholarship was a life-altering event.

“I was walking across campus when I got the call,” he says. “All I really heard were the words ‘Welcome to the Rhodes community,’ and after that it was kind of hard to focus. I could really sense a shift in the trajectory of my future.”

A recipient of U of T’s National Scholarship, Martínez is majoring in engineering physics and has taken on internships and fellowships at leading-edge labs in Ontario and around the world. A key theme of his research is the potential of new materials to solve complex challenges in different domains, from biomedicine to sustainability.

“One example I think about a lot is catalytic materials that can convert captured carbon dioxide into products that we already need, such as methanol and ethanol,” he says. “This could help us close the carbon loop and develop a low-carbon economy.”

However, synthesizing and testing the millions of potential catalytic materials in a lab is too slow, Martinez says, with emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing holding the potential to dramatically speed up the process.

As a thesis student at the Vector Institute, he is using generative AI models to simulate quantum circuits and bring such systems closer to reality.

He plans to pursue similar research at Oxford, saying the scholarship will help him make new connections and find new problems to solve.

“The Rhodes community includes a lot of different people coming from different areas of the world and different disciplines,” he says. “It’s an opportunity to open dialogues, to think about the implications of my field on theirs, and to use that space to try to do good in the world.”

Prompiengchai, Schreyer, Martínez and Tull were all supported by U of T’s internal selection process for the scholarship.

A cancer survivor, U of T grad Malia Robinson strives to support others on their healing journeys

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 18:29:41 +0000

A cancer survivor, U of T grad Malia Robinson strives to support others on their healing journeys

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 11/08/2023 - 13:29

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Malia Robinson came to U of T as a mature student via the Transitional Year Programme (supplied image)

Topic

Transitional Year Programme

Convocation 2023

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Women and Gender Studies

Malia Robinson had to overcome an array of challenges to become a ��Ƶ graduate. Arriving as a mature student amid a period of uncertainty and self-doubt, Robinson went on to complete an honours bachelor of arts degree in women and gender studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science, with minors in Buddhism, psychology and mental health, and contemporary Asian studies.

Along the way, she traveled to Central America for an experiential learning opportunity that altered the trajectory of her studies, volunteered at Women's College Hospital – having previously undergone surgery to treat cancer there – and won Woodsworth College's prestigious Brookfield Bronfman Gold Scholarship.

Now starting graduate studies in U of T's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, Robinson recently spoke about her journey.

You came to U of T through the Transitional Year Programme as a mature student – what made you want to study here?

I learned about U of T’s Transitional Year Programme at a difficult point in my life where I felt like I had hit rock-bottom and had zero prospects for the future. Seeing post-secondary as an opportunity to start over and build a brighter future, I swallowed my fear and made the decision to apply. Looking back, I can honestly say it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Why did you choose women and gender studies?

I wanted to learn as much as I could about the histories, systems and policies that contributed to the pain and dysfunction I was seeing in the world.

As I studied about the social determinants of health, gendered biases in medicine, colonialism in the Canadian context, systemic violence, and the social, cultural, physiological and mental impacts of intergenerational trauma, I felt overwhelmed by the depth of suffering in the world and was compelled to use my lived experiences and education to alleviate that suffering in some way.

I also realized that I needed to broaden my understanding of the world to be able to meet people where they are at. To do so, I enrolled in contemporary Asian studies and took courses in Latin American studies, which helped me understand colonialism and neoliberalism in different regional contexts. This introduced me to the different ways diverse cultures have reclaimed their languages and spaces, and decolonized their food systems, educational systems and healing practices.

In turn, these courses compelled me to deepen my understanding of healing trauma on an individual and societal level. To facilitate this, I enrolled in Buddhism, psychology & mental health, which gave me the skills needed to care for my own embodied trauma and inspired me to train in somatic therapies.

What personal challenges have you overcome during your studies?

The biggest challenge I faced was my limiting beliefs about what I was capable of achieving. With the immense support I received from the Transitional Year Programme, Woodsworth College, Accessibility Services, First Nations House, my professors, peers and partner, I was able to step outside of my comfort zone, make mistakes, learn from my failures and challenge myself in new and exciting ways.

Looking back, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow. And I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to make my Uncle Yogi proud and honour my Métis roots.

How did your studies take you to Central America?

In the summer of 2019, I participated in an experiential learning opportunity via the Dean's International & Indigenous Initiatives Fund, where I studied issues pertaining to Indigeneity and food sovereignty in Belize. This experience was one of the highlights of my undergraduate experience and was so impactful it changed the trajectory of my studies.

During this trip, I was inspired by the painstaking work that Indigenous Belizians undertook to revitalize the physical, emotional and generational health of their communities, and I came to the realization that I wanted to spend my life working in a similar capacity.

I really appreciated the guided tour of a local farm and getting the chance to learn about Mayan land rights, food systems and development initiatives. I believe that food is a powerful medicine and remember feeling inspired and humbled by the efforts locals undertook to protect their lands and traditional crops, and transmit their knowledge to the younger generations.

How did you become connected with Women’s College Hospital?

At the beginning of the pandemic, I underwent surgery at Women’s College Hospital to stop cervical cancer in its tracks. When I was in recovery, I was looking for a virtual opportunity to support folks during the crisis when I stumbled across New College’s Community Engaged Learning Program, which was looking for volunteers to help the Centre for Wise Practices in Indigenous Health draft a proposal to build a medicine garden at Women’s College Hospital.

At the time, I was struggling with the existential crisis that comes with anything cancer-related and felt like this was an incredible opportunity to channel my energy into building something meaningful that would support others who are at different stages of their healing journeys. I learned a lot during my placement and was excited to see the efforts of everyone involved give rise to a rooftop garden which officially opened this summer.

You started a master of social work at U of T – what would you like to do in the future?

Once I’m qualified to offer counseling and work with trauma, I want to help people resolve their complex trauma issues and reconnect to their body’s inherent capacity for restorative sleep, health and wellness.

Given my incredibly positive personal experiences with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE), I wholeheartedly believe that somatic therapies – therapy that aims to treat PTSD and other mental and emotional health issues through the connection of mind and body – are the future of trauma therapy.

Because these therapies are still prohibitively expensive, I strive to provide accessible and affordable therapy to the people who need it most – and want to dedicate my life to supporting people on their healing journeys.

U of T 'Horror Film' course keeps students on the edge of their seats

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 15:20:29 +0000

U of T 'Horror Film' course keeps students on the edge of their seats

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 10/31/2023 - 11:20

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The "Horror Film" class offered through U of T’s Cinema Studies Institute examines movies spanning several decades, including early horror pictures (photos by LMPC via Getty Images, Movie Poster Image Art/Getty Images)

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Subheadline

“Horror provides a structured, formal space to explore experiences like death, decay and monstrosity that may otherwise be dangerous, hidden or off-limits"

When Carrie Reese turned 10, she invited friends to her house for a sleep-over birthday party and chose a special film to mark the occasion.

Equipped with plenty of pillows to clutch and hide behind, she and her friends nervously pressed play and began watching Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic 1963 horror film, The Birds.

Carrie Reese (supplied image)

It was the beginning of a lifelong interest in scary movies that she is now sharing through her course, Horror Film, at the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Cinema Studies Institute (See a list of Reese’s picks for Halloween viewing below).

The course examines horror films through a critical thinking lens, exploring key elements such as gender and genre as well as notions of space, the home and ownership. That extends to discussing ways that horror connects to emotion and experience, and how emotions like fear and dread can be visualized.

“It's about getting students to learn through images and to understand the value in studying images,” says Reese, a sessional instructor who holds a PhD in cinema studies from U of T. “Rather than talking about whether a film is good or bad, we’re critically investigating it and seeing how it helps us to understand different modes of being.”

The class studies movies spanning several decades including modern films such as Us (2019) and Candyman (1992), to classics such as Jaws (1975), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and early horror pictures such at Cat People (1942) and the original Frankenstein (1931).

(Photo by Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images)

Reese says she loves the fact that every student’s approach, interest and reaction to horror movies is unique, and she feeds off this wide spectrum of experiences and perspectives.

“I encourage students to come to horror movies in different ways and through their own interests,” she says. “It's been rewarding to see students who maybe have never taken a cinema studies class before and are able to have their first experience with the discipline through horror.”

Part of the course requires a deep dive into the films’ stories, and the techniques and methods used to evoke a fearful response.

“One of my favorite things to look at in horror is editing,” says Reese. “If there's something that's edited in like a jump scare, why are we responding to that? Because it's put in at a time that’s not expected. So we’re breaking those things down and talking about our reactions, but also examining how this is created on screen – how there are patterns in horror that we come to expect, but nevertheless continually surprise us.”

When it comes to fearful responses, Reese sees them first-hand during her in-class screenings of the course’s movies as the crowd of students hold their breath together or sigh in relief.

“It’s absolutely delightful to engage in screenings as a community and I think it's such an important experience,” says Reese, adding that the screenings are paired with reflective discussions that follow.

“We’re looking at how these things are presented visually and stylistically, and I’m seeing firsthand the way these images have shifted ways of critically thinking about media, about emotion, and about politics.”

But why do we subject ourselves to being frightened?

(Photo by Movie Poster Image Art/Getty Images)

“This paradox, enjoying horror, has been studied in some of the canonical horror literature and it’s one of the things I had students explore in the first few weeks of the course,” says Reese.

“Horror provides a structured, formal space to explore experiences like death, decay and monstrosity that may otherwise be dangerous, hidden or off-limits. Part of the thrill is in seeing things we’re typically not supposed to see or experience. This is articulated in the ‘paradox of horror,’ or why we seek out and derive pleasure from frightening, horrific experiences, as articulated through the cinematic medium.”

Eric Kim, a second-year student and member of Woodsworth College with a double major in cinema studies and East Asian studies, says he is enjoying the class but admits he isn't a fan of horror films.

“I never really liked them growing up,” he says. “But over the past few years, I've really appreciated what directors like Jordan Peele (Nope, Us, Get Out) were doing with horror, and it made me realize what a strange blind spot it was in my understanding.

“What is it about a film that makes you want to scream in fear? I just wanted to dive into that question and confront that. And it's led to how I can start discussing my own anxieties through what I want to research in my other courses or what I create with my own stories and comics. Unknotting these emotions and finding a new creative perspective inside has been a delightful discovery.”

Addisa O’Brien Thompson, a member of Trinity College and a second-year student with a double major in cinema studies and international relations, says she adores horror films and being scared.

“I’m a fan of scary things,” she says. “Through this course, I’ve gained the ability to better analyze the variety of methods in which terror and disquiet are portrayed through film and instilled into the spectator. What I enjoy most about this course is how I have opportunities to explore the horror genre through these practical means.”

All of this analysis has inspired O’Brien Thompson to make a short film of her own for the course’s final assignment.

Similarly, Kim says he's inspired to create his own story. “It's forced me to reconsider everything I thought I understood about horror and encouraged me to start think about making one."

Six films Carrie Reese recommends for Halloween:

Ringu (dir. Hideo Nakata, 1998)

“A notorious Japanese horror film that I love for its take on the monstrosity of media. You may have seen the American remake, but the original provides a texture to its treatment of video and technology that I think is lost in the Hollywood version.”

Rec (dir. Paco Plaza, Jaume Balagueró, 2007)

“A scary, fun found-footage horror film that is a gruesome and increasingly relevant commentary on illness and quarantine.”

Raw (dir. Julia Ducournau, 2016)

“This film is known for its audience response to gore, but I promise it’s not as bad as the press makes it out to be. A coming-of-age cannibal story.”

Goodnight Mommy (dir. Veronika Franz, 2014)

“This is a film that has stuck with me for both its style and unique treatment of themes in the horror genre, including doubles, imposters, and cosmetic surgery. Worth a watch for the opening alone.”

Blood Quantum (dir. Jeff Barnaby, 2019)

“Another brilliant take on the zombie film that uses the genre to explore Indigenous heritage. The title refers to laws used to determine indigeneity. Shot in Quebec and New Brunswick.”

Nanny (dir. Nikyatu Jusu, 2022)

“This is a surrealist horror take that I have been thinking about because of the ways it so seriously and beautifully grapples with migration, work and care.”

U of T Faculty of Law hosts screening of film celebrating 'the supreme life of Rosalie Abella'

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 13:56:10 +0000

U of T Faculty of Law hosts screening of film celebrating 'the supreme life of Rosalie Abella'

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 09/27/2023 - 09:56

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A U of T alumna, Rosalie Abella was the first pregnant woman appointed to the judiciary in Canada, the first refugee appointed to the bench in Canada and the first Jewish woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada (photo by Polina Teif)

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"Rosie has been motivated by the pursuit of justice and a steadfast, infectious belief in the power of individuals, institutions and the law to be forces for the good"

Equal rights champion. Innovator. Icon.

For her many accomplishments, retired Supreme Court of Canada justice Rosalie Silberman Abella, a dual graduate of the ��Ƶ’s University College and the Faculty of Law, is the focus of a new documentary about her life, Without Precedent: The Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella.

U of T Law will host a special screening of the film Thursday, which had its debut premier at Hot Docs International Film Festival this spring. The event will be held at the Jackman Law Building in the room that honours Abella: The Rosalie Silberman Abella Moot Court Room.

“Rosie has been motivated by the pursuit of justice and a steadfast, infectious belief in the power of individuals, institutions and the law to be forces for the good,” says University Professor Jutta Brunnée, dean of the Faculty of Law and James Marshall Tory Dean’s Chair. “She's inspired generations of students and young lawyers.”

Abella’s is an especially storied legal career.

Her father graduated with master’s degree in law from Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, but war broke out before he was ever able to practise. Her parents were married on Sept. 3, 1939 – the day Britain declared war on Germany following the invasion of Poland – and both survived several years in different concentration camps during the Holocaust.

Abella was born after the war on July 1, 1946 in a displaced persons camp in Stuttgart, Germany. The family came to Canada as Jewish refugees in 1950. But as a non-citizen, her father could not practise law.

“It's one of my earliest memories in Canada, of his coming home and saying, 'I can't be a lawyer here’. I remember saying – ‘Then I'm going to be a lawyer’ – I had no idea what it meant. But I was four years old and could see how disappointed he was,” she told a U of T audience in 2019 when she received U of T’s Rose Wolfe Distinguished Alumni Award.

“I just stayed on that course. I was going to be what he couldn't be. What was amazing was that he never complained. Neither of my parents or grandmother ever complained. They thought that this is a country of opportunities, but you have to make them happen.”

True to her vow, Abella graduated from U of T Law in 1970. She was one of only seven women in a class of 150 law students.

She became the first pregnant woman appointed to the judiciary in Canada at age 29. She was also the first refugee appointed to the bench in Canada, as well the first Jewish woman appointed to Canada’s Supreme Court.

Among her many contributions to legal thought and jurisprudence, Abella created the term and concept of employment equity when she was the sole commissioner of the 1984 federal Royal Commission on Equality in Employment. Her definition of equality was adopted by the Supreme Court of Canada in its first decision under Section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“Our generation revolutionized how the law worked for people,” says Abella in Without Precedent.

Rosalie Abella with her late husband Irving Abella in a still from the film (image courtesy of Melbar Entertainment Group)

Following the screening, Abella, the distinguished jurist-in-residence at U of T Law who received an honorary degree from the university in 1990, will be joined in conversation with the award-winning filmmakers of Melbar Entertainment Group.

"In a long career of documenting the famous and the infamous, the rare opportunity to focus on an individual with the insight, humanity and power to change history and lives was one of the great highlights of my career," says director and producer, Barry Avrich, a graduate of Woodsworth College whose previous credits include Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz and David Foster: Off the Record.

"This film is a testament of an infinitely inspiring journey that will be remembered for generations."

Producer Mark Selby, a graduate of the cinema studies program in the Faculty of Arts & Science, says he's thrilled to have the documentary screened at U of T.

“Canada does not make celebrities out of its Supreme Court justices, but if ever there was someone who should be renowned across the country for her incomparable achievements and devotion to helping people, it’s Rosalie Abella,” Selby said.

From soldier to scribe: PhD student Zak Jones explores veterans' narratives in literature

siddiq22 — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 13:49:52 +0000

From soldier to scribe: PhD student Zak Jones explores veterans' narratives in literature

siddiq22 Tue, 08/08/2023 - 09:49

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Zak Jones is being recognized for his writing, including recently winning the 2023 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award (supplied image)

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When Zak Jones was young, his mother encouraged him to carry around a notebook and write down any interesting observations.

“I've kept that practice going throughout my adult life,” Jones says.

Capturing those thoughts has paid off for the ��Ƶ PhD candidate. It’s led to two previous degrees at U of T, a poetry collection, a book of short stories and several writing awards – including the 2023 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for short fiction for his short story “So Much More to Say.” The award celebrates emerging Canadian writers in the fields of poetry and short fiction.

Zak Jones in his “dressed greens” military uniform
in 2010 (supplied image)

“Winning this award was a vote of confidence,” says Jones, whose story is set in a flooding South Carolina cemetery and delves into the thoughts of a young gravedigger who has the gruesome task of reburying the bloated bodies that have risen to the surface after heavy rains.

“I'm feeling much more secure in my self-conception as an artist. Now, when I tell people I'm a writer, I'm not half-joking.”

Jones also recently received the Norma Epstein Foundation Award in Creative Writing – part of University College’s writing awards – for another short story titled “Love Handles.”

For Jones, these are satisfying accomplishments – especially considering there was a time when he wasn’t sure if he would even finish high school.

Jones’ path to U of T was unconventional – before coming to university, he served in the U.S military.

“My grandfather, my dad and all of his brothers were in the army,” Jones says. “It was one of those things that was on the table for my brother and I since we were little boys.”

The brothers enlisted soon after they both completed high school. They trained together to become army medics at bases around the U.S. – but in a strange twist, were never sent overseas because they happened to be in the same unit as Chelsea Manning, who made international headlines in 2013 for violations of the U.S Espionage Act after sharing military and diplomatic documents on WikiLeaks.

“Thanks to Chelsea, my brother and I were spared a deployment,” Jones says.

While they trained, the brothers also took college classes online and Jones earned the equivalent of an associate’s degree from Columbia College in Missouri.

“From there, I learned how to write a paper and read for academic purposes,” he says.

Jones left the army and moved to Toronto in 2013 with hopes of attending U of T – but he didn’t get accepted on his first try. Determined to get in, he enrolled in Woodsworth College’s Academic Bridging Program, where he took a lone English course.

“I fell in love with English,” he says. “I fell in love with Robarts Library and the archives and just reading, so I ended up doing pretty well.”

Well enough, in fact, that he was accepted to U of T as a full-time student.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Jones then set his sights on a masters in creative writing, writing Fancy Gap – a novel about a family separated by illness and addiction in southern Appalachia – as his thesis project.

Outside of his studies, Jones also worked on a collection of poems, I Come Up From The Earth. Written from 2009 to 2021, the poems cover subjects such as his ethical concerns about serving in the army, the mental anguish surrounding his mother’s second bout with breast cancer and the intense nostalgia experienced upon returning to his home in the South to visit her. Tinderbox, a cycle of poetry from that book, was selected as a finalist for the 2023 Vallum Chapbook Poetry Award from the Montreal-based Vallum Society for Education in Arts & Letters.

When he decided to pursue a PhD and it came time to pick a program a year ago, the choice was easy, Jones says.

“Nothing was as attractive to me as U of T,” he says. “I even got into Oxford, but decided I wanted to be here.”

Jones’ doctoral research examines veteran narratives in American literature post-World War II, digging into the lives and surrounding literature of what he calls “bad veterans” who return home deeply affected from conflict.

“Veterans in American literature – especially in good novels, plays, movies, television shows – are not portrayed in the way that I want them to be, which is as complex and full characters,” he says.

The real-life stories of veterans are so powerful that they can have a profound effect in shifting perceptions of American identity and culture, Jones says.

He notes he’s keen to examine the life of notable veterans such as Lee Harvey Oswald – the former veteran who later assassinated U.S. president John F. Kennedy – in his writing, as well as whistleblowers such as Manning, Edward Snowden and Daniel Hale.

After completing his PhD, Jones hopes to divide his time equally between creative writing and academic teaching.

“Hopefully I can find a job like that – ideally in Toronto. I love the ��Ƶ. If I could stay here forever, I would.”

For new U of T grad Medha Arora Wadhwa, public speaking is key to creating change

siddiq22 — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 14:29:36 +0000

For new U of T grad Medha Arora Wadhwa, public speaking is key to creating change

siddiq22 Fri, 06/23/2023 - 10:29

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Medha Arora Wadhwa developed a passion for public speaking while earning her bachelor's degree in commerce (supplied photo)

Coby Zucker

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Convocation 2023

Student Leadership Award

Graduate Stories

Rotman Commerce

Summer Abroad