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Alumni of Influence

Alumni of Influence

When the COVID-19 pandemic led to a widespread shuttering of UC’s campus for the 2020-21 academic year, many were left wondering how our College could maintain its tight-knit atmosphere in an era of online classes and meetings. As quickly as those questions arose, however, they were answered by alumni who reached out to see how they could help. From offers of financial assistance to asking how they could get involved in mentoring current students, UC alumni stepped forward to help at a time when many people were, understandably, stepping back. 

In retrospect, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. For more than 150 years, UC alumni have maintained a unique and enduring connection with their alma mater. That’s why our Alumni of Influence (AOI) Awards have become such an important annual highlight for our college since being established in 2012. The awards provide an opportunity to recognize and express gratitude to our most distinguished graduates who have achieved excellence in their fields and, in the process, significantly enhanced UC’s international reputation. Though we’re again unable to meet in person for the awards gala this year, it has been a pleasure connecting with this year’s outstanding AOI recipients and celebrating them virtually. 


For full biographies of the 2021 AOI award winners, please visit our website, www.uc.utoronto.ca/aoi

Alvyn Austin  John Braithwaite  Thomas Fleming  Sheldon Godfrey  Joseph Halpern  Anne Innis Dagg  Sharona Kanofsky  Deirdre Kelly  Alfred Lafferty  Liviya Mendelsohn  Carol Nash  Peter Oliver  Ruth Richardson  Donna Young  Natalie J. Galant

Dr. Alvyn Austin

Photo of Dr. Alvyn Austin (BA 1968 UC)
Dr. Alvyn Austin
(BA 1968 UC)

WHO Alvyn Austin (BA 1968 UC) WHAT Longtime teacher and professor of Chinese history, most recently at Brock University (2002-07); currently retired. IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “Few Canadians have contributed as much to strengthen Canada-China relations.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS Amongst Austin’s many publications is the book Saving China: Canadian Missionaries in the Middle Kingdom 1888- 1959, which created a new field of scholarship and is required reading for Canadian diplomats to China. He is also credited with discovering the George Leslie Mackay collection of Taiwanese artifacts, which is currently displayed at the Royal Ontario Museum. In 1974, Austin was hired as interpretation planner for the Norman Bethune House in Gravenhurst, a project commissioned by the Canadian government to help restore diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. WHAT DOES RECEIVING THIS AWARD MEAN TO YOU? “As a quiet, retired scholar who has spent much of my life in archives and writing books, I never know when I cast my bread upon the waters where the tides will take it. This is a wonderful gift and recognition that I have made my contribution to Canada-China-Taiwan relations.”

John Braithwaite

Photo of John Braithwaite
John Braithwaite
(BA 1951 UC)

WHO John Braithwaite (BA 1951 UC) WHAT Former city councillor with the City of North Vancouver for more than two decades; former executive director of The North Shore Neighbourhood House, which focuses on enhancing the lives of vulnerable individuals; appointed to the Judicial Council of British Columbia for nine years; currently retired. IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “In 2004, the John Braithwaite Community Centre in North Vancouver opened its doors, honouring a man whose decades of social work helped the city's troubled youth and broke down barriers in the community.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS In addition to his BA, Braithwaite earned an MSW from U of T in 1956. His passion for human rights and social welfare made him a popular politician and won him various awards, including the National Black Award (1973), Canada 125 Medal (1992), and Freedom of the City award from the City of North Vancouver (2003). North Vancouver’s John Braithwaite Community Centre was named in his honour. WHAT LIFE LESSONS DID YOU DRAW FROM YOUR UC EXPERIENCE? “First – thoughtfulness. And second, be determined to do whatever has to be done, for whatever needs to be done.” 

Professor Thomas Fleming

Photo of Professor Thomas Fleming 
Professor Thomas Fleming
(BA 1974 UC)

WHO Thomas Fleming (BA 1974 UC) WHAT Professor of Criminology and Contemporary Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University Brantford (2003-present); previously taught at many other universities and colleges across Canada. IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “[Fleming] is a criminologist whose pioneering work in serial and mass murder has advanced research in this area for over 40 years.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS Fleming is a widely published author who led the world’s first conference on mass murder (1993) and has provided expert academic information to several high-profile investigations, including the Paul Bernardo case. His excellent work as a teacher and mentor has also been recognized with several awards, including being the inaugural recipient of Ontario's Leadership in Faculty and Teaching (LIFT) Award (2007), being named to Wilfrid Laurier University’s Teaching Hall of Fame, and being designated a Best Professor at the University of Windsor by Maclean’s magazine. ADVICE TO US “Surround yourself with those that support your goals. The majority will often be naysayers but believe that any goal is possible, and don't let negative attitudes alter your resolve to succeed.”

Sheldon Godfrey

Photo of Sheldon Godfrey
Sheldon Godfrey
(BA 1960 UC)

WHO Sheldon Godfrey (BA 1960 UC) WHAT Co-author of several books and author of a number of articles on Canadian history and heritage; former chair of the Heritage Canada Foundation; longtime lawyer, businessman and philanthropist. IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “[The Godfreys] have been involved in several charitable, environmental, and civic initiatives … and have played a leading role in strengthening government policies for heritage preservation.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS Sheldon Godfrey and his wife, Judy, have led a wide range of award-winning projects over several decades, many of which concern the preservation of Canada’s architectural heritage. Among the books they have co-authored are Stones, Bricks and History (Lester and Orpin, Dennis, 1984) and Search Out the Land: The Jews and the Growth of Equality in British Colonial America, 1740-1867, (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1995). In 1998, Sheldon Godfrey was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada. WHAT LIFE LESSONS DID YOU DRAW FROM YOUR UC EXPERIENCE? “At University College, I learned that the essence of learning is the right to participate in a free and open society and that the essence of scholarship is documentation of facts.”

Dr. Joseph Halpern

Photo of Dr. Joseph Halpern
Dr. Joseph Halpern 
(BSc 1975 UC)

WHO Joseph Halpern (BSc 1975 UC) WHAT Joseph C. Ford Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Cornell University (tenured since 1996); formerly worked for the IBM Almaden Research Center (1982- 96). IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “Joe is a world-renowned computer scientist and mathematician … [with a] stellar career in pioneering research and student mentoring.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS Halpern’s research interests are in the areas of reasoning about knowledge and uncertainty, security, distributed computation, decision theory, and game theory. He has coauthored five patents and three books. Some of his more recent honours include being elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering (2019), being named the Moore Distinguished Scholar at Caltech (2018-19), winning the Kampe de Feriet Award (2016), being elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2015), and being appointed the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Natural Sciences and Engineering at Hebrew University (2009-10). ADVICE TO UC STUDENTS “If you can afford it, don't go straight to work (or grad school) after graduation. I spent two years as a math teacher in Ghana (with CUSO) before going to grad school, and I'm really glad I did.”

Dr. Anne Innis Dagg

Photo of Dr. Anne Innis Dagg
Dr. Anne Innis Dagg 
(BA 1955 UC)

WHO Anne Innis Dagg (BA 1955 UC) WHAT Longtime freelance writer and research biologist; former assistant professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Guelph (1968-72); senior academic advisor for the Independent Studies Program at the University of Waterloo (1989-2013). IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “Dagg is a pioneering wildlife biologist and advocate for women in science.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS An expert in the study of animal behaviour, Dagg is recognized as the first person to study wild giraffes. She has published 25 books, including the world’s first monograph on giraffe biology. Her groundbreaking work has led to a wide range of awards, including being appointed Fellow of the Zoological Society of Ontario (1967), receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Science from the University of Waterloo (2019) and the University of Toronto (2020), and being appointed to the Order of Canada (2019). Her life and work were the subject of an award-winning documentary, The Woman Who Loves Giraffes (2018). HOW DID UC PREPARE YOU FOR LIFE BEYOND UNIVERSITY? “I am an explorer and adventurer at heart and UC provided the engaging atmosphere to pursue my dreams.”

Professor Sharona Kanofsky

Photo of Professor Sharona Kanofsky
Professor Sharona Kanofsky 
(BSc 1992 UC)

WHO Sharona Kanofsky (BSc 1992 UC) WHAT Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Family & Community Medicine, U of T; a physician assistant who has practised in a variety of clinical settings and served as the founding academic co-ordinator of the PA Program. She now serves as the program’s research & scholarship lead. IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “Sharona has made a significant impact in advancing our young Physician Assistant profession, thereby improving health care in Ontario and for Canadians overall. She has demonstrated excellent qualities of leadership, advocacy, scholarship, and teaching excellence.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS Kanofsky is a leader in the development of the physician assistant (PA) profession in Canada. PAs help provide medical care in collaboration with physicians and improve access to health care for rural, remote, and otherwise underserved communities. As one of Ontario’s first practicing PAs, her work has led to several awards including the Tom Ashman Physician Assistant of the Year award from the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (2013). WHAT LIFE LESSONS DID YOU DRAW FROM YOUR UC EXPERIENCE? “One special aspect of UC, and of Toronto in general, is the amazing diversity.... I feel so fortunate that we live in this society that respects diversity, allowing everyone to bring the best of who they are and where they come from.”

Deirdre Kelly

Photo of Deirdre Kelly
Deirdre Kelly 
(BA 1983 UC)

WHO Deirdre Kelly (BA 1983 UC) WHAT Editor of The York University Magazine; former dance critic, reporter, investigative reporter and columnist for The Globe and Mail (1985-2017); longtime mentor to students considering a career in journalism. IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “[Kelly is] known as a champion of dancers’ rights and is an early advocate of diversity in the arts.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS Kelly also earned an MA from U of T in 1984. She is the best-selling author of two nonfiction books, Paris Times Eight (2009) and Ballerina: Sex, Scandal and Suffering Behind the Symbol of Perfection (2012). She also has a long list of accolades, including winning two Nathan Cohen Awards (2014 & 2020) from the Canadian Theatre Critics Association. ADVICE TO UC STUDENTS “Maximize your university experience; try things even when you don’t think you’re suited, as you just might surprise yourself. As Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland, once said, ‘If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will do.”

Alfred Lafferty

Photo of a plaque for Alfred Lafferty
Alfred Lafferty
(BA 1863 UC)

Born in Canada to parents who fled slavery in the United States, Alfred Lafferty forged an incredible career that included numerous firsts. Known as an excellent student, Lafferty won several academic awards and graduated from UC in 1863 with a BA in Mathematics and Classics, later earning a master’s degree. Following his post-secondary education, Lafferty worked as headmaster at numerous schools and, in 1872, he moved to Guelph and became the first Black principal at a high school in Ontario. Lafferty would later move to Chatham to work as principal at a new school for Black settlers in the area. During this time, he began studying law. A few years later, he became the first Canadian-born Black lawyer in Ontario. Lafferty passed away in 1912, leaving behind a rich and lasting legacy.

Liviya Mendelsohn

Photo of Liviya Mendelsohn
Liviya Mendelsohn
(BA 2001 UC)

WHO Liviya (Liv) Mendelsohn (BA 2001 UC) WHAT Executive director, Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (present); director, accessibility and inclusion at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (2016-2021); artistic director at ReelAbilities Film Festival (2015-2021). IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “Liv lives by the principle of ‘nothing about us without us’, and is dedicated to creating opportunities for youth with disabilities to contribute, to lead, and to advocate.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS Mendelsohn is well-known for her work to advance equity and accessibility in Ontario. She was recently awarded a Mandel Fellowship in Executive Non-Profit Management (2021- 23) and has won several awards, including Programming Excellence Awards from the Jewish Community Centre Association of North America (2016, 2018, 2019 & 2020) and the City of Toronto Access, Equity and Human Rights Award (2019). WHAT DOES RECEIVING THIS AWARD MEAN TO YOU? “For me, this award represents recognition of the importance of the work of community building and of creating more equitable community networks and spaces.”

Dr. Carol Nash

Photo of Dr. Carol Nash
Dr. Carol Nash 
(BA 1980 UC)
Photo Credit: Mike Young

WHO Carol Nash (BA 1980 UC) WHAT Scholar-in-Residence with the History of Medicine Program in the Department of Psychiatry at U of T (2012-present); founder and facilitator of Health Narratives Research Group at U of T; volunteer mentor in various on- and off-campus programs IN THE NOMINATORS WORDS “As I embark on my entrepreneurial journey and come across life’s firsts, it’s a warm and empowering feeling knowing that I have a wise, experienced, and compassionate mentor like Carol whom I can always count on for providing perspectives and guidance.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS Nash is a compassionate facilitator and mentor who has devoted her career to inclusive education, developing many programs that encourage self-directed learning, including co-founding Alpha II Alternative School with the Toronto District School Board. Nash is a recipient of the Leaders & Legends Innovation Award from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the U of T (2020), the Arbor Award from the U of T (2015), and various mentorship awards. ADVICE TO UC STUDENTS “The most important piece of advice to students is to take advantage of the many opportunities available from the larger campus. There is no other time in your life that in being part of an organization you immediately have access to such a vast array of resources and various ways to meet and interact with other people, all for no additional cost.” 

Professor Peter Oliver

Photo of Professor Peter Oliver
Professor Peter Oliver
(BA 1981 UC)

WHO Peter Oliver (BA 1981 UC) WHAT Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa (2007-present); formerly held various government and academic positions around the world. IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “It is no exaggeration to say that Peter Oliver graduated University College to become one of the people who guides Canada to be a country that other countries point to as an exemplar of civilization.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS Oliver is a widely recognized expert in the area of constitutional law who, in addition to his prolific academic career, has served as a special advisor to the Privy Council of Canada. Included amongst his many honours and awards are an appointment as Chair in Constitutional Law at King's College London (2005), an appointment as Scholar in Residence at Justice Canada (2005), a Christensen Visiting Fellowship from St. Catherine’s College, University of Oxford (2015), and the Peter Birks Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship (2006). WHAT LIFE LESSONS DID YOU DRAW FROM YOUR UC EXPERIENCE? “My experience at UC taught me to deepen friendships and keep my interests and activities wide even as I pursued my chosen career in a more focused way.”

Ruth Richardson

Photo of Ruth Richardson
Ruth Richardson 
(BA 1992 UC)

WHO Ruth Richardson (BA 1992 UC) WHAT Executive director of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food; former positions include being the inaugural director of the Unilever Canada Foundation, founding chair of the Canadian Environmental Grantmakers’ Network, and the first environment director at the Metcalf Foundation; she also served as the lead consultant to establish the Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “Ruth believes strongly in the critical need for transformative change, in our ability to create the change required of us today, and in the power of narratives to help make those shifts.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS Richardson has more than two decades of experience in the philanthropic sector and is recognized as a dynamic leader on the global stage regarding food/agriculture sustainability, security, and equity. She sits on various advisory and steering committees and was the founder of Small Change Fund, an online vehicle for micro-philanthropy. ADVICE TO UC STUDENTS “The future needs you. You have so much to contribute. Step up and change the world.”

Donna Young

Photo of Donna Young
Donna Young
(BSc 1987 UC)

WHO Donna Young (BSc 1987 UC) WHAT Founding Dean of the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Ryerson University (2020-present); formerly a longtime professor of law at Albany Law School and a joint faculty member at the University of Albany’s Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; appointed as Albany Law School’s President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law and Public Policy (2018-20) IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “Donna has broken barriers and charted a promising future for female leaders in law. She is empowering the next generation of lawyers to meet the changing demands of the legal economy while increasing diversity and inclusion in the sector.” AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Young’s research and work has focused mainly on criminal and employment law, as well as gender and race studies. She is only the second Black woman law school dean in Canada. Recently, Young was selected as one of the Top 25 Women of Influence (2021) and won the 2021 Female Trailblazer Excellence Award from the Canadian Law Awards. She has also served as keynote speaker at numerous conferences and events. WHAT LIFE LESSONS DID YOU DRAW FROM YOUR UC EXPERIENCE? “Balancing the social opportunities with the academics helped to prepare me for the rigours of law school and eventually for a career in academia. It’s all about balance and remembering to nurture all aspects of who you are.”

Young Alumni of Influence

Dr. Natalie J. Galant

Photo of Dr. Natalie J. Galant
Dr. Natalie J. Galant
(BSc 2010 UC)

WHO Natalie J. Galant (BSc 2010 UC) WHAT CEO and co-founder of Paradox Immunotherapeutics Inc. and a post-doctoral research fellow with the University Health Network. IN THE NOMINATOR’S WORDS “Natalie is a role model for the women in the science community in terms [of her] contributions to heart failure … and she is a trailblazer among Canadian female entrepreneurs in tech.” ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS Just over a decade removed from her undergraduate education, Galant has already founded a company that develops novel immunotherapies to stop and reverse organ failure. She has won numerous academic awards, including the Mitacs Accelerate PostDoctoral Award (2021), the ECHO PITCH competition Ignite Funding Award (2019), and the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research Education Fund Post-Doctoral Award (2020) ADVICE TO UC STUDENTS “Your degree doesn't define your career or path to success. When in university, especially in a college as prestigious as University College, take the time to learn about yourself, meet people, make connections, and most important, have fun.”