Cheryl Regehr

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Toronto Academic Health Science Network

Pediatrics

Hospital for Sick Children

Institute of Medical Science

Subheadline

A clinician-scientist and paediatric nephrologist, Robinson has also been appointed vice-provost, relations with health-care institutions

Lisa Robinson, a clinician-scientist and paediatric nephrologist who seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms behind kidney disease and transform care for children living with complex illnesses, has been appointed dean of the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

Currently Temerty Medicine’s vice-dean, strategy and operations and co-chair of its finance committee, Robinson will assume her new role on July 1, 2024 for a five-year term.

She was also appointed vice-provost, relations with health-care institutions for the same term.

“I’m very biased, but the faculty, the university and the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) structure are incredible – so I’m very excited,” said Robinson, a professor in Temerty Medicine’s department of paediatrics and the Institute of Medical Science.

Robinson, who earned her MD at the university, is a staff physician and former head of the division of nephrology at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), where she specializes in caring for children with kidney disease, including a focus on renal transplantation.

A senior scientist in the cell biology program at the SickKids Research Institute, Robinson has led a research program – both fundamental and translational – over more than two decades that has encouraged collaboration between scientists, clinicians and learners at all levels. Her work draws on biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, advanced microscopy and disease models to explore immune responses in the context of kidney injury and progression of kidney disease. She is also investigating ways to expand the pool of viable donor kidneys available to patients who need kidney transplants.

“What I really want to do is use the new knowledge we generate from this research to transform the way we care for children and adults with kidney disease,” said Robinson, who holds a tier-one Canada Research Chair in vascular inflammation and kidney injury.

Robinson is a dedicated mentor and educator who has supervised many undergraduate and graduate students as well as post-doctoral fellows. She founded the SickKids Research Institute’s Kids Science program, which gives middle and high school students from under-served communities the opportunity to learn about careers in science and technology.

“Professor Robinson’s commitment to inclusive excellence, her advocacy for the sector and her vision for the future will be key to the success of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine in the years ahead,” said Cheryl Regehr, U of T’s vice-president and provost.

Robinson will succeed Professor Trevor Young in the roles after he was appointed U of T’s next vice-president and provost earlier this year, with his term beginning Jan. 1, 2024. Professor Patricia Houston will serve as interim dean of Temerty Medicine until Robinson assumes the role in July.

Robinson said Young made “enormous” contributions to the faculty.

“Dean Young was the catalyst behind our Academic Strategic Plan, in which so many members of our community see themselves reflected,” Robinson said. “His approach, vision and relational leadership also helped set the stage for the Temerty family’s historic gift to the faculty, which has been transformational.”

As dean, Robinson said she is keen to explore ways to further grow supports and opportunities for Temerty Medicine students.

“I want to renew our emphasis on a student-centric approach that addresses financial challenges, wellness, mental health and mentorship – and use the collective expertise we have across TAHSN to give our students a competitive advantage,” she said, adding that her priorities also include strengthening the recruitment, development and support of faculty and staff.

“We have to renew our focus and make sure that we create an environment in which every member of the community feels valued because that’s the only way in which every person can flourish.”

Robinson also wants to leverage TAHSN – which comprises U of T and partner hospitals – to maximize research potential, accelerate translation of research and foster a renewed emphasis on commercialization and industry collaboration. “Our people flow back and forth across U of T and partner health-care institutions, so we’re uniquely positioned to take advantage of this unique ecosystem,” she said.

To advance inter-disciplinary research, Robinson intends to strengthen Temerty Medicine’s ties with partners across U of T’s three campuses, including the Mississauga Academy of Medicine, Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH), the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“It’s a matter of thinking broadly about the broader environment and making sure we have opportunities to bring together people who wouldn’t normally work with one another.”

U of T researcher explores reparations for forgotten victims of Uganda’s war

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 14:08:38 +0000

U of T researcher explores reparations for forgotten victims of Uganda’s war

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 10/31/2023 - 10:08

Cutline

Ketty Anyeko’s research is focused on children born of wartime sexual violence in northern Uganda (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Global Lens

Diversity and Inclusion

Black

Faculty of Arts & Science

Global

Indigenous

Research & Innovation

Subheadline

Ketty Anyeko is undertaking her research with the support of U of T’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Ketty Anyeko experienced first-hand the turmoil of the war in northern Uganda between the government and Lord’s Resistance Army rebels – and is now dedicating her scholarly efforts to supporting post-conflict resolution and pursuing justice for victims.

A postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto, Anyeko is examining how children born of wartime sexual violence view the legal prosecutions of their fathers – often former rebel commanders – for sexual- and gender-based crimes.

These children, now in their late teens and early 20s, often face stigma and blame for the conflict.

“They're rejected, they struggle to make ends meet,” says Anyeko, who was born and raised in northern Uganda and adds that she feels a personal connection to her research work.

“I want to contribute knowledge about this specific category of victims who are often overlooked when it comes to post-conflict justice and reparation programs.”

Anyeko’s research is supported by U of T’s Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program, which provides funding to hire postdoctoral researchers from underrepresented groups – specifically Black and Indigenous researchers. The program – introduced in 2018 – helps researchers grow their scholarly profiles, undertake critical academic work and strengthen the research environment at the university by bringing diverse perspectives.

Every year, seven Black or Indigenous researchers are selected for the two-year fellowship.

Cheryl Regehr, U of T’s vice-president and provost, says the program helps U of T attract top researchers and scholars across a wide range of fields.

“This program is one of the many ways in which the University of Toronto is supporting underrepresented researchers – in particular, Black and Indigenous researchers – across the three campuses so that they can grow their careers and focus on their important work,” Regehr says. “It also underscores the university’s longstanding recognition that diversity and representation are core elements of world-class scholarship, research and teaching.”

In Anyeko’s case, she began her fellowship at U of T in January 2023 under the guidance of supervisor Kamari Clarke, a distinguished professor of transnational justice and sociolegal studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

Having previously researched the experiences of women who survived wartime sexual violence and forced marriages, Anyeko is now turning her attention to the children born out of forced pregnancies. That includes a focus on the role of former rebel commander Dominic Ongwen, who, in 2021, was found guilty by the International Criminal Court of 61 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity that were committed in northern Uganda between 2002 and 2005.

Anyeko says her work has helped her forge a bond with women in her hometown.

“They trust me. They call me their sister,” she says. “In some of the storytelling sessions, they tell me things they have never told anyone.

“It’s a privilege to have that trust within the community.”

To date, a total of 36 researchers have been admitted to the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program – more than 80 per cent of whom had not previously held a postdoctoral research position.

Many have gone on to work in faculty positions at U of T and at institutions across North America.

Nadège Compaoré (supplied image)

They include Nadège Compaoré, who is now an assistant professor in the political science department at U of T Mississauga. A provost’s postdoctoral fellow in 2019, Compaoré’s work focuses on international relations, African politics, global resource and environmental politics, as well as gender and race in global politics.

She says the fellowship provided her with an opportunity to strengthen her research portfolio, receive mentorship and develop an academic network in Canada and beyond. She also had the opportunity to travel and present her work at various conferences in North America, Africa and Europe.

“When I talk about the time and resources offered through the fellowship, I don’t just mean the time actually spent diving into various scholarship, reading and writing – which is key of course,” she says. “But I also mean the time and funding to really test out important aspects of my work and bounce ideas off folks that I wouldn’t necessarily have come across otherwise.”

Compaoré says the program helped her frame her first book project – which focuses on natural resources and African sovereignty claims – and has given her the freedom to develop a second major research project on the links between pan-Africanism, Black female internationalism and American foreign policy.

“I am thankful for the people, spaces, networks and opportunities that have nurtured my time as a fellow, and which continue to be part of my growth as an academic.”

Joshua Barker, vice-provost, graduate research and education and dean of the School of Graduate Studies, says the contributions made by current and former Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship researchers, including Compaoré, are invaluable.

“We are dedicated to the ongoing success and expansion of the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program, which has contributed to a more inclusive and innovative research environment at the university,” he says.

As for Anyeko, she plans to collaborate with two-community based organizations to organise consultative workshops with northern Ugandan children who were born of sexual violence during the war – ultimately translating her research into policy recommendations for the programs and initiatives meant to support them.

U of T to cover tuition for students from nine First Nations communities

lanthierj — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 18:15:02 +0000

U of T to cover tuition for students from nine First Nations communities

lanthierj Fri, 09/22/2023 - 14:15

Cutline

The ceremonial Eagle Feather and U of T's ceremonial mace at a 2023 convocation ceremony. The Eagle Feather was gifted to the Office of the President by Elders at the 2017 entrustment ceremony for the University of Toronto Truth and Reconciliation Steering Committee’s Report, “Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin” (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Indigenous Initiatives

The University of Toronto will cover the cost of tuition for students from nine First Nations as part of its efforts to make the university more accessible and inclusive for Indigenous students – and strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities.

The initiative, which launches Oct. 11, will support members of First Nations communities whose territories include or are adjacent to U of T’s campuses. They are: Alderville First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, Nation Huronne-Wendat/Huron-Wendat First Nation, Mississauga First Nation, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (Tyendinaga Mohawk) and Six Nations of the Grand River.

In addition, Indigenous or Native American students from the continental United States will be charged the domestic Ontario tuition rate in recognition of the Jay Treaty of 1794, which acknowledges the colonial nature of the border between the U.S. and Canada.

In May of 2022, U of T began applying the domestic Ontario tuition rate to Indigenous students living elsewhere in Canada.

The initiatives apply to current and future Indigenous students enrolled in most undergraduate, graduate and professional credit-based programs across the three campuses – part of a suite of programs available to Indigenous students as part of U of T’s commitment to increasing access and support services.

Shannon Simpson (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Shannon Simpson, senior director in the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, says the changes aim to make U of T more accessible to Indigenous students in keeping with the 34 calls to action outlined in Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin, the final report of the Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

“I’m proud that U of T is reducing barriers to education for these nine First Nations,” says Simpson. “I think it’s really going to help strengthen our relationships with our neighbouring communities, which is so important to building those pathways to U of T that will increase recruitment.”

Simpson says each of the nine First Nations was engaged in consultations and is supportive of the initiative. Each community will verify their students’ eligibility and communicate that information back to the university.

Throughout its development, the initiative has benefited from the “full and complete buy-in” of U of T’s senior leadership, Simpson adds. “I'm proud to work for a university that is committed to investing in meaningful action to work towards Truth and Reconciliation.”

U of T President Meric Gertler called the tuition initiatives an important step on the university’s journey to reconciliation and thanked Indigenous leaders for providing guidance and support.

“The University of Toronto is committed to strengthening the recruitment and inclusion of Indigenous students while building strong and lasting relationships with our neighbouring Indigenous communities," President Gertler says. "We know much more remains to be done. We’re grateful to Indigenous community members for their engagement as we learn from them and work to redress historical injustices and create a better future.”

He added that the tuition changes complement other efforts led by the U of T steering committee on Truth and Reconciliation, including: incorporating Indigenous content into curricula; supporting Indigenous research programs; creating physical spaces to honour and acknowledge Indigenous Peoples, traditions and histories; and expanding the presence of Indigenous students, staff, faculty and librarians across U of T’s three campuses.

Elder Andrew Wesley, left, presents U of T’s Truth and Reconciliation steering committee's report to Provost Cheryl Regehr and President Meric Gertler in 2017 (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Cheryl Regehr, U of T’s vice-president and provost, says the tuition programs aim to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, culture and experiences that is at the core of U of T’s mission.

“We are dedicated to making U of T a place where Indigenous knowledge, traditions and perspectives are not only valued but tightly woven throughout our academic community,” Regehr says. “We hope Indigenous students accept this invitation to come to U of T, share their insights and make new discoveries that benefit us all.”

Simpson says she hopes to see more universities create similar programs to give Indigenous students as many academic options as possible.

“I’m excited for U of T, and I’m excited for what will happen beyond U of T,” she says. “I want to see this for so many other institutions, so that we’re really increasing access to education across the board.”

Details about the program and application process will be shared with prospective and current students on Oct. 11 via the website of the University Registrar’s Office.

On-line toolbox shares ideas and adaptations from U of T community members

ksoobria — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 15:36:42 +0000

On-line toolbox shares ideas and adaptations from U of T community members ksoobria Mon, 08/14/2023 - 11:36

The events of the pandemic underlined the need for the university to consolidate and share knowledge regarding operations, and to continue to update and improve its processes. It was a time that brought into sharp focus U of T’s core mission of teaching and research. It also demonstrated the value of cross-functional teams working across campuses toward common goals, and the role of these teams in enabling an agile response to changing circumstances.

The University Resilience Project Team, initiated by Vice-President & Provost Cheryl Regehr in spring 2022, has completed its work in partnering with campuses and divisions to launch nine initiatives in response to feedback it collected from the community. One of these initiatives is an on-line toolbox, now part of the ��Ƶ website. The toolbox is a source of examples and advice contributed by U of T staff and faculty developed in response to the pandemic.

“The goal of the toolbox is to inspire further thinking and problem-solving in the post-pandemic era,” said Professor Nick Rule, Vice-Principal (Academic) & Dean, U of T Mississauga and who led the RPT as Provostial Advisor on University Resilience.

“The RPT’s work illuminated the community’s need to discuss and acknowledge the significance of the pandemic. Compiling the innovative work of our faculty and staff through this resource is an important part of our path forward.”

The RPT was initiated by the Provost as a way for members of the university community to reflect on their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to consolidate and retain the knowledge gained during that period.

From April to September of 2022, RPT members conducted extensive consultations with the U of T community, focusing on the following key questions: lessons learned, identifying obstacles, things to change and innovations and practices to keep.

The RPT spoke with 300+ academic, administrative and student leaders from every division and campus in small sessions; received 224 responses in a web-based survey advertised to the entire U of T community; and gave 43 presentations to operational units, senior leadership and members of Governing Council.

Having heard from the community, the RPT worked in partnership with campuses and divisions to implement nine initiatives in response to the feedback received in their consultations. These initiatives fall into three categories: navigation, engagement and future proofing. The work of sustaining these initiatives is continuing in the hands of the RPT’s collaborative partners.

More details about the work on the RPT are available on the Provost’s website.

On-line toolbox shares ideas and adaptations from U of T community members

(photo by Watchara Piriyaputtanapun/Getty Images)

Communications Staff

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Trevor Young appointed U of T’s vice-president and provost

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 20:19:58 +0000

Trevor Young appointed U of T’s vice-president and provost

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 06/27/2023 - 16:19

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(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Topic

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Toronto Academic Health Science Network

Meric Gertler

Provost

Trevor Young, dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and an internationally recognized scholar on bipolar disorder and the molecular basis of mood disorders, has been appointed the University of Toronto’s new vice-president and provost.

Approved Tuesday by U of T’s Governing Council, Young’s appointment is for a five-year term, effective Jan. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2028.

Currently also serving as U of T’s vice-provost, relations with health-care institutions, Young is a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s departments of psychiatry, and pharmacology and toxicology, and a senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

He previously served as U of T’s acting provost from July to December 2021.

“As dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Professor Trevor Young has demonstrated exceptional leadership on many fronts, from launching transformational academic programs to developing important initiatives around equity, diversity and inclusion,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “He also played a key role overseeing the university’s relationship with its health-care partners – and, as the university’s acting provost, helped lead the University of Toronto through a challenging period during the pandemic.

“I look forward to having Professor Young join the vice-presidential team and to continue working closely with him on advancing the university’s mission.”

Young, who will succeed current Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr, said his time as acting provost spurred his interest in taking on the role on a longer-term basis.

“It means a lot to me to be able to give back to the university, which has been like a second home for me in many ways,” he said. “The fact that I can contribute by making an impact as provost is really significant to me.”

Since being appointed dean at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine in January 2015, Young launched a new foundational curriculum for MD students, introduced several interdisciplinary education and research programs, advanced system-wide equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives with partner hospitals and other health sciences faculties, and led the renewal of medical sciences laboratory space.

He also advanced the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s position as the lead contributor to Ontario’s regulated health professional workforce and made significant progress in areas of equity, diversity and inclusion through his support of curricular innovation and new initiatives such as the Diversity Mentorship Program and the Black Student Application Program.

As vice-provost, Young has overseen the university’s relationships across the Toronto Academic Health Science Network, a thriving research enterprise comprised of nine fully affiliated teaching hospitals and four associate member hospitals.

“Temerty is a big, multi-departmental faculty, which has helped prepare me to take on a leadership role of this scale and complexity,” Young said. “During my time as dean, I learned how important it is to make sure that you include a lot of voices and listen closely to seek out opportunities for solutions.”

The recipient of numerous awards, Young has led several large clinical programs, including the mood disorders program at Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital, which received the American Psychiatric Services Gold Achievement Award. In 2009, he was made a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Young received his MD from the University of Manitoba and his PhD at the Institute of Medical Science at U of T, where he completed his residency training. He was a research fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and has been a professor of psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences at McMaster University; professor and head of the department of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia; and professor and chair of U of T's department of psychiatry.

“I've had the experience of being a U of T student, a faculty member and in leadership,” Young said. “I've had a chance to see lots of different sides of the university and hear perspectives from the community – and that will serve me well for this role as provost, which has oversight over so many areas.”

In January, President Gertler shared that Regehr, a professor and former dean of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, planned to step down as vice-president and provost at the end of the year. First appointed to the role in 2013, her many accomplishments include improving U of T’s equity and outreach programs, supporting faculty diversity, excellence and leadership, securing enhanced supports for graduate students and advancing student mental health.

“I want to thank Professor Regehr for her exceptional leadership and dedication to student success and academic excellence,” President Gertler said. “Her achievements in this integral role will continue to resonate at the university for many years to come.”

As provost, Young said he plans to build on Regehr’s work while drawing on his background in mental health and his role as chair of the Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health.

“I really want to continue to work on student mental health and accessibility – I think we’ve done a remarkable job of improving that, but I think we have to do even more,” he said.

“I also want to look at how we approach AI in all the work we do in teaching and research, especially given the fact that we’ve had such a remarkable impact on the field coming from Geoffrey Hinton and others here. And finally, I’d like to look at how the three campuses can work even better together.”

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Trevor Young

U of T marks entrustment of Anti-Asian Racism Working Group Report

lanthierj — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 20:25:35 +0000

U of T marks entrustment of Anti-Asian Racism Working Group Report

lanthierj Thu, 06/08/2023 - 16:25

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Vikram Chadalawada, left, co-chair of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group, hands the group's final report to U of T President Meric Gertler (all photos by Polina Teif)

Anti-Asian Racism Working Group

Alumni

President Meric Gertler

The University of Toronto held a ceremony this week to mark the entrustment of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group’s (AARWG) final report, which includes 40 recommendations to address the often invisible nature of anti-Asian racism and build a more equitable community across U of T’s three campuses.

The ceremony, held in Governing Council Chamber, marked the official handover of the report to U of T’s senior leaders, who have accepted all of the report’s recommendations.

U of T President Meric Gertler accepted the report on behalf of the university.

“I accept and embrace all its recommendations,” he said. “We will proceed as quickly as possible to implement the recommendations fully, with transparency and accountability. And we encourage all members of the university community to join in combatting anti-Asian racism, in society and on our three campuses.”

The report’s recommendations comprise eight key areas: institutional accountability, data and transparency; communications; hiring, reviews and career development; education, training and mentorship; teaching, curriculum and research; community and belonging; health, wellness and support; and resources (funding, staffing and research).

“As leaders of the university, we acknowledge that anti-Asian racism is often ignored or even unnoticed,” President Gertler said. “We recognize that the richness, complexity and diversity of Asian experience are not as well understood and appreciated as they ought to be. And we see that all too often, the remarkable contributions made by members of the Asian community are taken for granted.

“We also see a tremendous commitment among members of the U of T community to help lead the way in meeting these challenges. Moreover, we feel very hopeful that the implementation of the working group’s recommendations will lead to significant progress in doing so.”

The ceremony began with welcoming remarks and a land acknowledgement by Heather Boon, acting vice-president, people strategy, equity and culture. She also thanked the working group and co-chairs Carol Chin and Vikram Chadalawada for their work on the report.

“The final report entrusted to the university today provides important guidance for our collective efforts to combat anti-Asian racism – something that many Asian-identifying members of our community have experienced on a personal and structural level,” Boon said.

(L-R) Heather Boon, Cheryl Regehr, President Meric Gertler, Chancellor Rose Patten, Carol Chin and Vikram Chadalawada

The AARWG was launched in April 2022 as part of the university’s commitment to addressing discrimination and growing anti-Asian racism in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted members of the U of T community. The 39-member AARWG worked over the course of a year to consult with stakeholders and learn more about the experiences and perspectives of students, faculty, librarians and staff.

“All those consultations produced numerous suggestions from members of the community, and we felt the great responsibility of translating those ideas and wishes into concrete, manageable actions that the university could implement and that would actually make a difference,” said Chin, who is also principal of Woodsworth College and an associate professor in the department of history in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“We are delighted that the university is accepting all our recommendations and committing to their implementation. And we hope that the diverse members of the Asian-identifying community at U of T feel well represented by the report and feel as hopeful as we do about the outcome.”

Chadalawada, assistant director of student information systems, enterprise applications and solutions integration, thanked those who participated in the AARWG’s university-wide survey, focus groups and consultations, and noted visibility was a theme that surfaced throughout the working group’s engagement with the U of T community.

“It is our hope that the report of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group gives voice to the diverse members of U of T’s Asian community and its various diasporas – or, put another way, that it makes ‘invisible’ experiences of the U of T Asian community become visible,” Chadalawada said.

“And, by making these experiences more visible, it will ensure that addressing anti-Asian racism and supporting members of the U of T Asian community are ongoing priorities across our campuses.”

In its response to the report, U of T’s administration said it is implementing proposed actions as a result of the AARWG’s work and other ongoing equity-related initiatives, and pledged to take meaningful action on creating a more supportive environment for members of U of T’s diverse Asian community.

Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr thanked the working group for shedding light “on the pervasive existence and effects of anti-Asian racism” and for offering tangible solutions and charting pathways for change.

“It takes courage to speak up to ask to be seen, understood and valued in ways that historically have been withheld from Asians in Canada,” Regehr said. “It takes courage to ask for change and to inspire an entire community to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of Asian students and colleagues.”

The entrustment ceremony concluded with remarks by Chancellor Rose Patten, who thanked the working group for its leadership in addressing the challenge of anti-Asian racism and noted U of T’s institutional commitment to the ideals of an open and just society.

“The phrase ‘inclusive excellence’ really does reflect what we strive to achieve and to exemplify. But of course, that does not mean that we won’t sometimes fall short, or that we cannot do better,” Patten said.

“In fact, it is precisely because of the principles we stand for and the mission we have set for ourselves that we must always seek to do better. The resurgence of anti-Asian racism is a challenge for all of us – we must rise to the occasion, and must always prevent complacency.”

Javed Mostafa named dean of U of T’s Faculty of Information

lanthierj — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 17:17:24 +0000

Javed Mostafa named dean of U of T’s Faculty of Information

lanthierj Fri, 06/02/2023 - 13:17

Cutline

(supplied image)

Topic

Faculty of Information

Javed Mostafa, an expert in information science, particularly information retrieval problems, has been named dean of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information for a five-year term from Sept. 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2028.

He will also join the faculty as a full professor.

Mostafa comes to U of T from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), where he served as a professor and the leader of an interdisciplinary informatics training program called the Carolina Health Informatics Program (CHIP) that oversaw collaboration among seven UNC academic units.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity. I’ve known some colleagues at U of T for years and know the quality of their work and the passion they display – I’m excited to build something with them,” Mostafa said.

“Information studies has much growth potential – for every challenge, I see an opportunity to grow and expand our field.”

Mostafa’s work focuses on multimedia information retrieval, personalization and user modeling as well as cyberinfrastructure for research and learning. He began his teaching career at Indiana University-Bloomington in 2000, where he also served as an associate dean of research and associate dean of academics. He joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007, where he was twice named as the Frances McColl Distinguished Term Professor and is jointly appointed at the School of Information and Library Science (iSchool) and the Biomedical Research Imaging Center (School of Medicine).

He currently directs a research laboratory and a training program with approximately 25 research faculty, staff and students and has active projects that focus on developing novel applications of machine learning, data visualization and equitable information services.

A strong proponent of diversity and inclusion, Mostafa led the creation of summer programs at CHIP to expand the participation of students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBUCs), online programs to support engagement of non-traditional students and high-school pipeline programs.

“Professor Mostafa’s academic leadership experience, research excellence, commitment to diversity and access in higher education, and his vision for the future of the field will be key to the continued success of the Faculty of Information in the years ahead,” said U of T Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr.

“I’m thrilled to welcome him to the University of Toronto.”

With more than 105 peer-reviewed publications of his own, Mostafa has served in editorial roles for several prestigious journals in the field. He was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, an associate editor for the journal ACM Transactions on Information Systems and currently serves as an associate editor for the journal ACM Transactions on Internet Technology.

He is also the co-founder of two U.S.-based companies: KeonaHealth and Cymantix.

Mostafa was born in Bangladesh and spent his childhood years in Libya. Upon completing his O levels at a Catholic boarding school in Malta, he moved to the U.S. to attend university. He describes his exposure to many cultures and countries as his most influential life experience – one that shaped his career-long focus on expanding educational opportunities, independent of the ethnic and social backgrounds of individuals.

“I’m inclined toward a global view because I grew up like that,” he said.

“I’m keen about opportunities for people around the world to attain higher education and advance – and I see Toronto as a perfect place to represent those different ethnicities and backgrounds, attracting people from all over. I’m looking forward to doing that with a world-class institution.”

Mostafa will succeed current Faculty of Information Dean Wendy Duff, who will stay on until Aug. 31 to support the transition. Duff, whose teaching and research focus on archival access and social justice, including the emotional impact of archival work, was first appointed dean of the Faculty of Information in 2016.

As he prepares to move to Toronto and start in his new role, Mostafa says he looks forward to learning from his new colleagues and students.

“I’m going to strive to be a good facilitator – coming in to learn and grow together and be a catalyzer,” he said. “One thing I am very excited about is the fact that U of T has three campuses, and they all have different characters and dimensions.

“As a team, we can help and complement each other, and I’m looking forward to getting to know all the campuses and bring people together.”

U of T accepts all recommendations of Anti-Asian Racism Working Group’s final report

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 29 May 2023 12:51:58 +0000

U of T accepts all recommendations of Anti-Asian Racism Working Group’s final report

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 05/29/2023 - 08:51

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(photo by Daria Perevezentsev)

Topic