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APUF Funded Initiatives

On this page you can explore previous and current APUF funded Access initiatives. Some of the great Access programs that have received APUF funding have been featured below. There is also a complete list of APUF recipients organized by whether the initiative is ‘New’ or ‘Builds’ on an existing program.

APUF Funded Initiatives (2019 – 2024)

Year Funding ApprovedInitiative TitleDivisionProject Leads & Program ContactsWebsite & Articles
2024ISAP Enhancement ProjectFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social WorkMai King, Assistant Dean, Student Services and Registrar; Eunjung Lee, Associate Dean, Academic; Mike Shier, MSW Program Director, Charmaine Williams, Deanhttps://socialwork.utoronto.ca/admissions/msw/
2024Future Sound 6Faculty of MusicReshma Dhrodia, Director – Equity, Diversity, Inclusionhttps://www.utoronto.ca/news/anything-possible-future-sound-6ix-music-workshops-draw-youth-across-toronto
2024Increasing Access through Learning Communities for First-year Students at A&S and FASEFaculty of Arts & Science; Faculty of Applied Science & EngineeringCori Hanson, Associate Faculty Registrar & Director, Student Affairs, FAS; Akua Joseph, Student Success Programs Officer, FAS; Scott Clarke, Associate Director, Student Success Programs, FAS; Julie Kang, First Year Advisor, Access & Inclusion, First Year Office, FASE; Leslie Grife, Director, First Year Office, FASEhttps://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/future/academic-opportunities/first-year-learning-communities

https://undergrad.engineering.utoronto.ca/first-year-office-2/first-year-updates-deadlines/guided-engineering-academic-review-sessions/
2024Summer Psychology Research Initiative (SPRINT)Faculty of Arts & Science, Department of PsychologyBryan Hong, Postdoctoral Researcher, and the 2023-24 SPRINT Executive Teamhttps://www.psych.utoronto.ca/event-series/summer-psychology-research-initiative-sprint
2024MedLinxTemerty Faculty of MedicineIke Okafor, Strategic Lead, Access and Outreachhttps://temertymedicine.utoronto.ca/office-access-and-outreach
2024Indigenous Access DaysUniversity of Toronto MississaugaJessica Silver, Director, Centre for Student Engagementhttps://www.utm.utoronto.ca/utm-engage/
2023Access Pathways for Black and Indigenous Educators in Teacher Education (Pathways)Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Department of Curriculum, Teaching and LearningSandra Styres, Canada Research Chair and Associate Professor, Director of the Indigenous Educational Research Centre

David Montemurro, Associate Professor, Coordinator, Admissions, Policy & Governance, Special Projects Co-coordinator – Black Future Educators’ Pathway
https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/ctl/black-future-educators-pathway-bfep
2023SEE U of T UTSCUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughKyomi Hastings, Associate Registrar and Director of Admissions & Student Recruitment

Kathy Liddle, Associate Professor, Sociology, Special Advisor to the Dean on Access; Director, TYP-UTSC

Kimberley Tull, Director, Community and Learning Partnerships and Access Pathways
https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/partnerships/see-u-t-scarborough
2023UpSurge Mentorship ProgramTemerty Faculty of Medicine, Department of SurgeryAdom Bondzi-Simpson, MD, MSc
Betty Yibrehu, MD
Sav Brar, MD, MSc, FRCSC
https://surgery.utoronto.ca/mentorship
2023Reach Ahead to Kinesiology: Indigenous Youth ProgramFaculty of Kinesiology & Physical EducationWendy Pais, Registrar and Director of Student Serviceshttps://kpe.utoronto.ca/reach-ahead-kinesiology-indigenous-youth-outreach
2023DLSPH Outreach & Access ProgramDalla Lana School of Public HealthRyan Hinds, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusionhttps://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/outreach-access-program/
2023Expanding Access Initiatives Across TemertyTemerty Faculty of Medicine, Office of Access and OutreachIke Okafor, Senior Officer, Service Learning and Diversity Outreachhttps://temertymedicine.utoronto.ca/office-access-and-outreach
2022Modern Day GriotUniversity of Toronto Scarborough, Department of Arts, Culture and Media Nadia Rosemond, Assistant Dean, Co-curricular Programs and Student Leadership 
 
Project Lead: 
Shellene Drakes-Tull, Founder, Sweetlime Communications
https://griot.digital.utsc.utoronto.ca/
2022100 Strong AcademyUniversity of Toronto Scarborough, Community Partnership & Engagement and Office of Student Experience & WellbeingMelanie Blackman, Team Lead, Community Partnerships & Engagement 
 
Jessica Rayne, Community Partnerships Coordinator
https://utsc.utoronto.ca/news-events/our-community/u-t-scarborough-hosts-100-strong-academy-summer-mentorship-program-black-boys
2022100 Strong Academy University of Toronto Mississauga, Centre for Student Engagement Alysha Ferguson, Assistant Director, Campus and Community Engagement 
 
Jessica Silver, Director, Student Engagement, Centre for Student Engagement 
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/utm-engage/volunteering/community-youth-mentorship/strong-academy-utm
2022Transitional Year Programme (TYP) – Alumni & Student Engagement Transitional Year ProgrammeDr. Lance T. McCready, Associate Professor and Director, TYP 
 
Helen Berhane, Assistant Director, TYP
http://sites.utoronto.ca/typ/
2022Diversity and Inclusion in Cardiology Education (DICE)Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Cardiology Dr. Mena Gewarges, MD 
 
Dr. Tahira Redwood, MD
https://www.diceuoft.com/
2022Expanding Black Student Success in Engineering Faculty of Applied Science and EngineeringCassandra Abraham, Engineering Outreach Coordinator 
 
Dawn Britton, Associate Director of Engineering Outreach
2022Building Black Success through DesignDaniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and DesignPetros Babasikas, Program Director, Honours Bachelor of Arts, Architectural Studies https://www.daniels.utoronto.ca/outreach/building-black-success-through-design
2022Engage-Design-Build Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design Michael Piper, Director, Master of Urban Design, Assistant Professor, Teaching Streamhttps://tuflab.ca/Engage-Design-Build 
2021Expanding and Creating Access Pathways for Black Educators in Teacher Education Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), Curriculum, Teaching and Learning (CTL) David Montemurro, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream – Master of Teaching Program 
 
Andrew Campbell, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream – Master of Teaching Program 
https://play.library.utoronto.ca/watch/7d60244273a42e26f811801d6011c0c2
2021PharmPath: Your Journey to PharmacyLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Sandra Bjelajac Mejia, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream https://www.pharmacy.utoronto.ca/programs/doctor-pharmacy-pharmd/pharmpath-your-journey-pharmacy
2021Indigenous Access to Law (IALP) ProgramFaculty of Law Ada Maxwell-Alleyne, Assistant Dean, EDI  https://www.law.utoronto.ca/programs-centres/programs/indigenous-initiatives-office
2021Reach Ahead to Kinesiology: Black Youth March Break Program Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education Wendy Pais, Registrar and Director of Student Serviceshttps://kpe.utoronto.ca/reach-ahead-kinesiology 
2021Academic Bridging Program (Millie Rotman Shime) 
– Science Option – Instructor stipend support 
Faculty of Arts and Science, Woodsworth CollegeW. Brock MacDonald, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream and Vice-Principal; Director of the Academic Writing Centrehttps://wdw.utoronto.ca/academic-bridging
2021Pursue STEM Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Physics David Bailey, Associate Professor 
 
Program contact: 
outreach@physics.utoronto.ca
https://www.physics.utoronto.ca/physics-at-uoft/outreach/pursue-stem/
2020Transitional Year Program-University of Toronto, Scarborough (TYP-UTSC) Expansion Project Transitional Year Program, University of Toronto Scarborough Kathy Liddle, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream; Special Advisor to the Dean on Access; and Director of the Transitional Year Program at U of T Scarborough 
 
Dr. Lance T. McCready, Associate Professor and Director, TYP 
https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/typ-utsc/ 
2020Expanding Access Initiatives in the Faculty of MedicineTemerty Faculty of MedicineIke Okafor, Senior Officer, Service Learning and Diversity OutreachCommunity of Support | Temerty Faculty of Medicine (utoronto.ca) 
2020Discovery: An innovative educational partnership to bridge the gap between secondary and post-secondary learningFaculty of Applied Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME)Dr. Dawn Kilkenny, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, IBME & ISTEP https://www.uoftdiscovery.ca/
2020LAWS (Law in Action Within Schools) 
Core LAWS Program
Faculty of LawStephanie Nilausen, Acting Director, LAWS Program 
 
Eleonora Dimitrova 
Interim Assistant Dean, JD Program
https://www.lawinaction.ca/programs/core-program/
2020Enhancing Post-Secondary Access for Black, Indigenous and other Marginalized Youth through Embodied, Cultural and Community-Engaged LearningFaculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education and Hart HouseJanelle Joseph, Assistant Professor, Critical Studies of Race & Indigeneity 
Founder and Director, IDEAS (Indigeneity, Diaspora, Equity and Anti-Racism in Sport) Research Lab
https://kpe.utoronto.ca/research-centre/indigeneity-diaspora-equity-and-anti-racism-sport-ideas-research-lab 
 
https://janellejoseph.com/
2020Dalla Lana School of Public Health Outreach and Access ProgramDalla Lana School of Public HealthRyan Hinds, Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 
 
Adalsteinn Brown, Dean and Professor
https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/programs/outreach-access-program/
2019Imani Black Academic MentorshipUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughNadia Rosemond, Assistant Dean, Co-curricular Programs and Student Leadership 
 
Elvis Ibrahimovic, Coordinator, Community Engagement
https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/studentlife/imani
2019Recruitment and Community Engaged Learning Access ProgramsUniversity of Toronto MississaugaAlysha Ferguson, Assistant Director, Campus and Community Engagementhttps://www.utm.utoronto.ca/utm-engage/volunteering
2019Law in Action Within Schools Website DevelopmentFaculty of LawEleonora Dimitrova 
Interim Assistant Dean, JD Program
https://www.lawinaction.ca/programs/core-program/
2019Black Future Lawyers (BFL)Faculty of LawAda Maxwell-Alleyne, Assistant Dean, JD Program 
 
Janice Asiimwe, Program Manager
https://bfl.law.utoronto.ca/ 
2019Academic Bridging Program (Millie Rotman Shime) 
– Science Option
Faculty of Arts and Science, Woodsworth CollegeW. Brock MacDonald, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream and Vice-Principal; Director of the Academic Writing Centre 
 
Cheryl Shook, Assistant Principal & Registrar (retired)
https://wdw.utoronto.ca/academic-bridging
2019Activating, Actioning, Archiving: Tkaronto Urban Restor(y)ation Facilitating Indigenous Student Recruitment & RetentionFaculty of Arts & Science, Centre of Indigenous Studies and Woodsworth CollegeJon Johnson, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Woodsworth College 
 
Susan Hill, Director, Associate Professor, Centre for Indigenous Studies 
 
Jill Carter, Assistant Professor, Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies; TYP
https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/news/sharing-knowledge-and-experiences-u-of-t-students-to-lead-campus-tours-of-indigenous-history/
2019Blueprint Faculty of Applied Science and EngineeringDawn Britton, Associate Director of Engineering Outreach 
 
Cori Hanson, Assistant Director, Student Experience & Teaching Development 
 
Stephen Johns, Senior Recruitment Officer 
 
Micah Stickel, Vice-Dean, First Year; Associate Professor, Teaching Stream
https://outreach.engineering.utoronto.ca/pre-university-programs/blueprint
2019Nikibii Dawadinna Giigwag – Indigenous Youth Employment Opportunities ProgramsDaniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and DesignLiat Margolis, Associate Professor; Director, Green Roof Innovation Testing LaboratoryUniversity of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health. What if the trees stopped breathing?: How U of T faculty are spreading seeds of knowledge for environmental repair and reconciliation. Bonnie O’Sullivan. Sept 30, 2022. 
 
Cohen & Master Blog. Planting the way for the next generation. Nov 18. 
 
Spacing Toronto. Indigenous youth help redefine landscape architecture by Joseph Wilson, September 17. 
 
Connecting to the land, Indigenous youth participate in land stewardship program at Evergreen Brick Works, September 15.
Year Funding ApprovedInitiative TitleDivisionProject Leads & Program ContactsWebsite & Articles
2022Exploring Medicinal Chemistry: Experiential Learning Opportunities for Underrepresented 
Black Community High School Students at the University of Toronto Mississauga
 
University of Toronto Mississauga, Chemical & Physical Sciences Dr. Mulu Geletu-Heye, Senior Research Associate, Gunning Lab 
 
Dr. Elvin de Araujo, PhD, Research Manager, Gunning Group 
https://www.utoronto.ca/news/confident-and-resilient-u-t-researcher-mulu-geletu-heye-builds-community-lab-and-beyond 
2022PRiME Outreach and Mentorship Program for Tomorrow (PROMPT) Leslie Dan Faculty of PharmacyKeith Pardee, Assistant Professor 
2022Building on Strengths: SOAR Community Review Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical EducationDr. debra Kriger, Assistant Manager, Co-curricular Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
2021Modern Day Griot University of Toronto Scarborough, Department of Arts, Culture and Media Nadia Rosemond, Assistant Dean, Co-curricular Programs and Student Leadership 
 
Project Leads: 
Barry Freeman, Chair, ACM 
 
Shellene Drakes-Tull, Founder, Sweetlime Communications 
https://griot.digital.utsc.utoronto.ca/
2021Online Tutors During COVID-19: pilot programOntario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), Leadership, Higher and Adult Education (LHAE) Carly (Caroline) Manion, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, LHAE-OISE 
2021Student Liaisons for Part-Time Academic Bridging CoursesFaculty of Arts and Science, Woodsworth CollegeW. Brock MacDonald, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream and Vice-Principal; Director of the Academic Writing Centre, Woodsworth College https://wdw.utoronto.ca/academic-bridging
2021Proofs ClubFaculty of Arts & Science, Department of Mathematics Ila Varma, Assistant Professor 
2021Black Students in Design Mentorship ProgramDaniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and DesignClara James, Founder and President of BSDhttps://www.instagram.com/blackstudentsindesign/
2021Engage-Design-BuildDaniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and DesignMichael Piper, Director, Master of Urban Design, Assistant Professor, Teaching Streamhttps://tuflab.ca/Engage-Design-Build 
20207th Generation Mentorship ProgramUniversity of Toronto Scarborough Varsha Patel, Assistant Dean Student Success, Office of Student Affairs and Services
2019Support, Engage, Experience – University of Toronto (SEE U of T) Mentorship Program Faculty of Arts and Science, Woodsworth CollegeNatasha Jesenak, Director, Access Programs and Registrarial Services, Woodsworth College 
 
Dr. Ann Lopez, Provostial Advisor on Access Programs, Professor, LHAE-OISE
https://wdw.utoronto.ca/seeuoft 
2019VILLAGE: Valuing Indigenous Learning, Leadership, & Academic Growth in Education University of Toronto Scarborough Romeo Fournier, Indigenous Academic Advisor & Career Strategist, Academic Advising & Career Centre