Congrats UC!

By Elaine Smith

The University College Class of 2021 has looked the COVID-19 pandemic squarely in the eye and refused to blink. Instead, they have triumphed. Remote course delivery, changes to their living situations and pandemic restrictions did not interfere with their enthusiasm for learning and their eagerness to engage with UC and the larger University of Toronto community.

“You have accomplished something truly remarkable during our current upheavals,” says UC’s principal, Professor Markus Stock. “The challenges that everyone has faced this year are not equal and I have been continuously impressed by your determination and perseverance.”

To celebrate the accomplishments of such a stellar group of students, we’d like to introduce you to four members of this year’s graduating class who exemplify the depth and breadth of UC students’ interests, as well as their diversity.

Philip Ding spent all four years at U of T living in the UC residences, first as a newcomer, then a member of the Residence Council, next a don and, finally, a head don.

Ding, a Calgarian, found residence “a warm, inclusive environment where I could grow through leadership and community service. My closest friends at university were from residence.” 

The dons from Ding’s first year motivated his decision to pursue that leadership path because they “tangibly improved the UC experience and I could look to them at any time for advice. Being a don seemed like an excellent way to develop myself and give back to the community that had given me so much.”

In the classroom, Ding discovered another passion: cancer research. He majored in global health and specialized in molecular genetics, and will be entering medical school in Alberta this fall. 

“My end goal is to become a clinician-scientist, so that I can both look after my own patients and contribute scientifically to better the health of many more,” he says. 

While at U of T, Ding worked on various research projects under the auspices of researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital, including one that focused on liquid biopsies for cancer and another on improving quality of life for people who use substances and are experiencing barriers to care during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I definitely want to continue doing research, creating new knowledge and sharing insights,” Ding says.  

The mentor he’d most like to thank at U of T is Kimiya Karbasy, the current UC Residence Life Co-ordinator who “was always there for me.”

Adam El-Masri graduates from the University of Toronto as a part-time mature student with a myriad of industry experience as a software developer and a commitment to anti-poverty activism. He put both to good use while earning an honours BASc degree with a major in Computer Science and a specialization in Indigenous Studies, along with his talents for collaboration and building networks of people dedicated to a cause.

El-Masri is one of the founders of the U of T’s Emergency Food Bank, an outgrowth of the need he saw among students during the pandemic. He also served as the head teaching assistant for Introduction to Software Engineering, receiving U of T’s Teaching Excellence Award for TAs, the first undergraduate to be so honoured.  

“I’m trying to create a future with an intersection between skill sets,” says El-Masri. “I want to see how I can tie research, technology, academia and education together to alleviate poverty and address societal inequalities. 

 Throughout his university career, El-Masri was engaged in campus life, leading a poverty alleviation portfolio of projects project for Engineers Without Borders, serving on the board for the Association of Part-Time Students, on the student advisory committee for Accessibility Services and as an Undergraduate Steward for CUPE 3092, all while being engaged in a number of activities with not-for-profit collectives such as Civic Tech Toronto.

 “Among the things I’ve learned are to keep an open mind, to find a support system and to live out my values,” El-Masri says.

 He credits three mentors at U of T for “shaping my perspective in life”, and inspiring him “to think about my place in the world”, and supporting his growth: David Jorjani of Computer Science; Dr. Marieme Lo of African Studies; and Ryan DeCaire of Linguistics.

For the past couple of years, Sophia Fan has been one of the faces of University College. As Sustainability Commissioner for UC Lit, the College’s student governing body, Fan became known for her leadership and mentoring skills and her environmental activism. She was also involved with UC’s e-mentorhip program, intramural sports and orientation -- “probably the most fun I’ve ever had.”

“I couldn’t have asked for a better college community,” Fan says. “I feel like I found a family right away. I have all these friends who came from studying in the Junior Common Room, from getting involved. There was such a good vibe.”

Fan also found a home at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), where she also explored biodiversity and conservation. She was involved in research endeavours throughout her undergraduate career, most related to pollination and plant evolution. Fan is the first author of a soon-to-be-published paper describing a new species of leech that she had the privilege of naming and is also among the authors of a paper being prepared for the Journal of Experimental Botany.

A broader interest in research will be taking Fan far from her UC community to the University of British Columbia, where a prestigious NSERC Master’s Grant will aid her in pursuing a master’s degree studying urban pollination. Fan is using it as a test of her passion for research before making further career choices.

“My department at U of T was really amazing and I feel prepared for master’s research,” Fan says, giving a particular shoutout to two “fantastic mentors,” Dr. Keng Lou James Hong, a post-doctoral researcher, and Sebastian Kvist from the Royal Ontario Museum who supervised her leech research.

Nonetheless, it was difficult to leave her U of T world behind, and, “As soon as the COVID-19 situation settles, I’ll be back to Toronto a lot.”

Gregory Venizelos, a Connecticut native, chose to attend U of T to contrast with his high school career at a small private school.  

 “I liked U of T and its diverse community and it had the offerings I wanted,” he says. “UC was a very inclusive college, and the college system is great because it offers students that much-needed community within a large university.” 

 Diversity is part of Venizelos’ approach to life. He majored in both ethics, society & law and cognitive science with a minor in philosophy. While in high school, he served as a summer intern for a judge with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and has been passionate about the law and access to justice ever since; his research on justice in the Inuit community of Nunavik, Quebec was published in U of T’s Mindful Journal of Ethics, where Venizelos also worked as an editor. However, a psychology course taught by assistant professor John Vervaeke awakened his interest in neuroscience and “changed my life,” Venizelos says.

“His lectures were so deeply engaging and he has such a profound understanding of the subject matter regarding what makes a human being special – the Holy Grail of consciousness.”

Venizelos is torn between his two passions – “ideally, I’d be a lawyer-scientist” – but his next step will be earning a master’s degree in cognitive science at University College, London where he’ll study “conscious awareness and the neural mechanisms that allow us to be aware.”

 Afterward, law school? No matter which path he follows, Venizelos is certain to be passionate about the experience.

The final words to the 2021 graduating class go to the principal of University College.

“I am confident that your education and UC connections will serve you well as you make your way in the wider world,” says Stock. “On behalf of the University College community, I wish you all of the best on your future endeavours, wherever they lead you.”