Archives

nic headshot

Nic Weststrate

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBSc 2007 UTM

Inside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

In the Media

“Every day, try to talk to someone who is very different from you. Ask open questions and listen to understand, not just to hear. You will learn much more from people’s stories than any textbook. (But also read your textbook… before class).”

Darren Abramson

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 1998 Innis College
Inside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

In the Media

“I would tell myself that it’s OK not to have everything figured out, and that study/research skills, personal development, and cultivation of hard work and curiosity are all more important than the details of my program and course choices. Also, I would have told my younger self that success at any endeavour is just the tip of a large iceberg, the remainder of which almost no one will ever see.

 

Hannah Fleisher

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2011 Innis College
Inside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Worked as a consultant and project manager in community development, affordable housing, and community healthcare for both public sector and non profits
In the Media

Remi Monaco

Remi Monaco

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2017 Woodsworth College
Inside the Classroom

Alongside the Classroom

  • Summer abroad course in China. Was able to study in class and on site in different environments learning about the development of the Chinese economy.
Outside the Classroom

Career Accomplishments

  • Worked part time at Apple throughout school career.
  • Later got a role at a tech startup in marketing and business development.
  • Recently accepted a job at RBC Capital Markets as an analyst in equity derivative operations.

“Get involved as much as you can. School is the time to learn, but not only in the classroom. There is so much opportunity on campus, it is important to find your passions and develop yourself. Once you get out of your comfort zone, you realize that things aren’t so scary.”

Rachel Murray

Rachel Murray

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 1999 Innis College
Inside the Classroom

Alongside the Classroom

  • Work-study program conducting research on Women’s Studies and the Internet
Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

In the Media

“Build up your network and take advantage of cheaper rates for everything.”

Sydney Lang

Sydney Lang

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2016 Woodsworth College
Inside the Classroom

Switched programs from: Philosophy, Political Science

Alongside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Currently a law student and am involved in work around labour law, corporate accountability, and environmental justice.

“Don’t be too focused on what you want to do after U of T – enjoy your time there and learn as much as you can. What comes next will come together naturally, and will be informed by your academic interests, peers, and community involvement. Do work that matters.”

Pamela Uppal

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2012 Woodsworth College
Inside the Classroom

Switched programs from: History, Spanish

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Over the past 10 years, Pamela has been connecting theory with practice, engaging on three fronts: research initiatives, front-line work, and policy dialogues. She led a nonprofit organization at UofT, was a frontline worker in family services, built diversity, equity and inclusion capacity in Peel region, and undertook multiple research projects exploring gender issues in the South Asian community. Currently, she is leading a project at The Ontario Nonprofit Network exploring women’s employment experiences in the nonprofit sector. Pamela is also a group facilitator and a board member of Laadliyan.

“Network more with professors and be involved in a variety of extra-curriculars.

 

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 .

 

Navi Dhanota

Navi Dhanota

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2003 Innis College
Inside the Classroom

Switched programs from: Psychology

Outside the Classroom

  • Registered with Accessibility Services and developed the lived experience of being a student receiving accommodations while struggling with mental health. These became useful credentials.
Further Education

Career Description

  • Accessibility consultant, George Brown College
  • Accessibility consultant (varying roles, incl. institutional policy review)
  • Successful in personal activism, which involved changing the requirements to disclose a diagnosis when registering with post-secondary accommodation offices.
In the Media

“My advice, for current students, would be to stop trying to find your calling/passion. I realize this may sound counter-intuitive— I used my lived experience to identify small projects I wanted to work on and things I wanted to change. I used these small initiatives as a platform to springboard my career.

Follow what interest you (this could be a class you are good at, subject matter that is easy to read, or even the the issues that you find most difficult). With that, will come passion. Showing genuine motivation in your field is what will distinguish you from the pack.

 

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.