“I am committed to advancing inclusive, creative, and relevant educational opportunities to assist students achieve success in their academic and professional pursuits.”

As Vice-Dean of Programs and Innovation, I have the pleasure of working with others to provide graduate students with exceptional educational experiences through innovative program development across the three campuses of U of T. I have been at the University of Toronto for over 30 wonderful years, as a former graduate student and then as a faculty member. During my graduate studies, I benefitted in valuable ways from a multidisciplinary academic program that emphasized community engagement and knowledge mobilization – experiences that still inform my work with graduate students and my role as Vice-Dean, Programs and Innovation.

Over the years, I have seen extraordinary developments in the nature of graduate education. Today’s graduate students are seeking educational preparation and experiences that are very different from those sought by their predecessors. They have more diverse backgrounds and experiences and are increasingly looking at graduate education to advance professional as well as academic interests. They are also looking to engage in meaningful research and scholarship that contributes purposefully to the public good by addressing critical social problems. The substantial growth in experiential education and professional development opportunities as well as research-informed professional degrees reflect these changing interests.

Success for tomorrow’s graduates will depend on abilities to mobilize knowledge in creative and collaborative ways with those in academe, communities, and external organizations. Together, with graduate students, faculty and staff members, I am committed to advancing inclusive, creative, and relevant educational opportunities to assist students achieve success in their academic and professional pursuits.