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Cedric Ludlow

Cedric Ludlow

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2017 Woodsworth College
Inside the Classroom

Switched programs from: Psychology, Statistics

Alongside the Classroom

  • Conducted fieldwork in Kapuskasing, Ontario on the Ontario Dialects Project conducting sociolinguistic interviews with the goal of documenting linguistic variation in English in the province
  • Fieldwork was also carried out in Kirkland Lake, North Bay, South Porcupine, New Liskeard, and Toronto on a related project
  • Research Assistant in VSLX Lab (Linguistics)
Outside the Classroom

Further Education

  • Master of Science, Applied Linguistics (focus on intonational success predictors in call centre customer-agent conversations), The University of Edinburgh
Career Accomplishments

  • Currently looking for positions in business analytics and speech analytics.

 

Jim Shedden

Jim Shedden

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 1986 Innis College
Inside the Classroom

Switched programs from: Specialist, Cinema Studies

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

  • M.A., Political Science, University of Toronto, 1990. Specialized in Political Theory.
Career Accomplishments

  • Coordinator, International Experimental Film Congress (1988/89)
    Film progammer/film curator, Art Gallery of Ontario, plus performing arts programmer and many other roles, 1989-1998.
  • Vice-President/Senior Creative Producer, Bruce Mau Design, 1998-2000 (ran the studio, developed business, produced the big “investment” projects for the studio, was managing editor of our own publications).
  • Curator and Publisher, Art Gallery of Ontario (2010-present): produce all exhibition catalogues, artists’ books, collection books. Curate film and visual culture-related exhibitions including Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters; Outsiders: American Film and Photography, 1950s-1980s; working on new exhibition centred around home movies.
In the Media

“I’m really glad I studied Hegel, Rousseau, Dostoevsky, Shakespeare, Camus, Marx, et al. However, I’m equally glad that I’ve done all the extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, and self-initiated projects that I have. I started making fanzines when I was 14, and I’m still in publishing today. I got very involved in my own film and music projects back in high school as well and they have led me to where I am today. Do the best you can on your course work, but keep in mind that for most of us life outside the classrooms is just as important .“

 

Vanessa Bart-Plange

Vanessa Bart-Plange

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FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2017 New College
Inside the Classroom

Alongside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

New College Impact

The minor in African Studies offered at New College complemented my International Relations and Political Science majors perfectly, thus allowing me to have the African focus that was absent in both of my majors. In retrospect, this has contributed to my interest in public policy and education in Africa during my master’s program.

The New College Writing Centre was also key in my academic development, as it helped me learn how to write academic essays, which led to A-grade averages throughout the four years.

Being a part of this multicultural college also allowed me to fit in and make friends from both home and other countries, thus allowing me to settle in better and faster in Toronto within my first year, and to create long-lasting relationships till today.

“Strive to be among the best, if not the best, in everything that you do. Do not compete with any other person but yourself. And while you are at it, make sure to enjoy yourself and your relationships, because time flies by.“

 

Nana Yaa Abrafi

Nana Yaa Abrafi Boa-Amponsem

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2017 New College
Inside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

  • Peer mentor, Economics
  • Peer mentor, New College Residence
  • Presented speech on behalf of the student body, Nelson Mandela Memorial Service, University of Toronto
  • Student panelist, University of Toronto yearbook redesign
  • Student representative and Gonfalon Bearer, Installation Ceremony of President Meric Gertler
  • Tutor and mentor for a secondary school female student living with a learning disability
  • Tutor, Math and English, Centre for Community Partnerships
Further Education

Career Accomplishments

New College Impact

New College played an instrumental role in my academic and leadership excellence. Firstly, my New College Registrars immensely supported me through course selection, deciding on my majors, and post-graduation plans. Moreover, the Equity Studies program of New College was the best option as a second major since it gave me a real-world perspective on Economics. Through this course, I was able to identify my interest in public policy and social justice. In my final year, New College awarded me with a scholarship for academic excellence, and also afforded me the opportunity to meet President Meric Gertler at a special New College Dinner.

Furthermore, New College organized various leadership training programs which were very essential to my success as a student leader at U of T. I partook in various floor and house activities that improved my teamwork skills. In my final year, I was given a priceless opportunity to serve as a Residence Peer Mentor where I provided assistance to residents in areas such as Academic Success, Career Preparedness, Mental Health and Wellness. I acquired a lot of great skills and knowledge in this position.

“Balance is extremely important. Get involved in the things you love. Take care of your mental health. Study hard but don’t forget to also learn. And keep God first in all you do.“

 

Chris Woodford

Chris Woodford

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2006 New College
Inside the Classroom

Switched programs from Computer Science and Math

Outside the Classroom

Career Description

  • Lead Software Developer, Web Development Agency, Toronto, ON
  • Professional Touring Musician
  • Software Consultant
  • Head of Engineering, Startup, Palo Alto, California

“Follow your passions and trust yourself. Don’t let other people’s expectations throw you off your path.“

 

Geeta Yadav

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FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBSc 2003 University College
Inside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Description

“Take advantage of every opportunity U of T has to offer – there are so many special corners of the university where you can meet people who have your same interests. It’s great to connect with them and to those places so you can develop even stronger support networks and bonds with people whom you may keep in your life for a long time. Take time to enjoy Toronto as well – we are lucky to live in the heart of this great city. Lastly, find good mentors. The university has tons of folks who are willing to give back to an eager learner. Ask lots of questions and figure out what it is you want to do with your life!”

 

Kenneth Godevenos

Kenneth B. Godevenos

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • BA 1969 University College
Inside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

  • BEd, 1971
  • MBA, 1981
  • Postgraduate education: Guidance and human resources
Career Description

  • Teacher, English, Journalism, Guidance Counseling (3 years)
  • Human Resources, Ontario Hydro: recruitment, labour relations, strategic planning, compensation and benefits, organization development, etc. at various structural levels
  • (first) Director, Policy & Research, Pay Equity Commission, Ontario Ministry of Labour (secondment)
  • Director, Compensation & Benefits, Rogers Communications Inc
“Join appropriate and relevant associations related to your choice of field(s). Become a member, volunteer, get on committees, work your way up the ladder as far as possible in those organizations. Take advantage of the opportunity to speak or present at their conferences, etc. Become well known. Write articles for their magazines. Teach their courses. Then when you’re ready, stop working for others and work for yourself.”

 

Charles Freedman

Charles Freedman

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FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • BCom 1963 University College
Inside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

  • PhD, MIT
  • MA, Oxford University
  • HBA, Oxford University
Career Description

  • Faculty member, Economics Department, University of Minnesota, 1969-74
  • Deputy Governor, Bank of Canada, 1974-2003
  • Consultant to central banks, primarily via the I.M.F., 2003-14
“Take your studies seriously but also get involved in interesting extracurricular activities.”

 

Cynthia Good

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FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • BA 1974 University College
Inside the Classroom

Alongside the Classroom

  • Research assistant for Professor
Outside the Classroom

  • Very involved in theatre at UC and Hart House
  • Worked at Robarts Library
Further Education

  • Masters – 1975
  • Incomplete PhD (all but dissertation)
Career Description

  • Interrupted Ph.D when employed by a small independent publishing house
  • 4 years later hired by Penguin Books Canada to start Canadian publishing program
  • Remained at Penguin for almost 21 years. Left after becoming President & Publisher
  • Hired by Humber College to set up a publishing program there, ran the program and taught for 10 years
  • Continued part time for 2 years at Humber, originating and organizing conferences and workshops for writers
  • Now continue with some workshops, facilitate book clubs, and do a variety of volunteer activities
“Learn widely and develop a disciplined mind.
Study philosophy.Learn and be able to use languages beyond English.
Despite the fact that I have had an extraordinarily satisfying career, I still wish I had completed my Ph.DEnjoy the friendship, the stimulation and the drama of university life.”

 

Justine Laboni

Justine Iaboni

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2008 St. Michael’s College
Inside the Classroom

Switched programs from:

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

  • MA, Cinema Studies, 2008-09, University of Toronto
Career Description

  • Launched a blog in 2009 and grew it into one of the top fashion, travel, beauty and lifestyle blogs in Canada.
  • Attended fashion weeks in Toronto and NYC writing for fashion publications.
  • Invited on press trips around the world working with tourism boards, hotels, local organizations, airlines, and many other brands.
  • Lectured at U of T and Ryerson on many occasions about her career.
  • Featured in magazines such as Toronto Life and Fashion.
  • Helped to forge the influencer industry in Canada by working with brands such as Unilever, American Express, PANDORA, Cadillac Fairview, Coach, Bayer, Nordstrom, etc.,
  • Mentored new bloggers starting out in the industry at Blogging Conferences
  • Volunteered with Filling the Gap TO
  • In 2017, left the blogging world to pursue her true passion: music and the arts.
  • Released an album in 2017
  • Writes a weekly spiritual newsletter based on the teachings of Wayne Dyer, Gabrielle Bernstein and Marianne Williamson targeted at women who are looking for guidance in their lives, and trying to find ways to work past limiting beliefs.
“I would tell myself that I CAN DO IT. That I am enough. I would tell myself that the world isn’t against me and that I am valuable. I would tell myself that you can have your cake and eat it to; that the limiting beliefs we’ve been passed down through our parents, social constructs, media, are not objective truth. We can choose the life we want to live. The how doesn’t matter. Sometimes having blind faith is the greatest gift you can give yourself, and you don’t have to “do it” the way that the mainstream does. I have always been a deep, feeling person and neglected that part of myself during undergrad. I repressed my inner dreamer for fear of not fitting in and fear of failure. The world has taught me so much, outside of school. I wish I had someone to impart real world knowledge onto me when I was in University. I wish I had someone to tell me that everything is going to be OK, that I CAN DO IT, whatever I dream of, no matter how silly or unconventional – I can achieve it.”