Thinking about applying to the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Toronto? We're here to support you every step of the way. Our recruitment team offers personalized advising for prospective students — and their parents or guardians — who are exploring the application process. Whether you're applying from a Canadian or international school system, our recruitment officers are experts in admission requirements and can guide you through completing your application with confidence.
You’ll also have the chance to connect with our amazing student ambassadors — current U of T students who are happy to share their personal journeys and answer your questions about life in the Faculty of Arts & Science. They can speak to academics, student life and how the college system works.
Our recruitment officers can help you with:
- Admission requirements for Canadian and international school systems
- Preparing and completing your application
Our student ambassadors can share insights on:
- Their unique student experiences
- Academic life in Arts & Science
- Campus life and student supports
- Navigating the A&S college system
We encourage you to connect with us — no question is too small. You can read more about our team in the bios below and sign up for a video chat by clicking one of the registration buttons. We look forward to meeting you!
Register for a video chat with a recruiter
Video chats with student ambassadors will be available soon.
Shahryer Ahmed
Admissions & Recruitment Officer
Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Languages I speak: English, Bengali
About me: I graduated from the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in International Development Studies. While I was a student, I worked in admissions, student recruitment and transfer credit as a work-study student. My love for helping prospective applicants navigate the landscape of higher education led me to earn a Master of Education degree from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), U of T. Now, I have the privilege of sharing my knowledge and experience to positively impact applicants’ higher education journeys.
Aside from work, I love to travel and most recently travelled to Bali, Indonesia and had the opportunity to watch the Balinese Kecak fire dance show at the Uluwatu temple.
Ask me about: Admissions, transfer credit, international exchange programs, graduate/professional degrees, and education pathways.
A fun fact about me: I participated in CN Tower climb and hiked Doi Inthanon (the highest mountain in Thailand), Chiang Mai Province.
Joanne Li
Student Services Advisor
Hometown: Guelph, ON
Languages I speak: English
About me: I graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Commerce. While pursuing undergraduate studies, I worked as a Teaching Assistant for the Department of Economics and Peer Academic Mentor for the Residence Life Office. I enjoyed my experience so much at U of T that I returned after graduation to continue my career path in student services and have since assumed various student advising roles in different departments at U of T. I love working with current and prospective students to support their academic goals and enhance their student life experience. Feel free to connect with me if you have questions!
Ask me about: Admissions, program and course enrolment, transfer credits
A fun fact about me: I love all things Disney and visit Disney World at least once a year.
Paul Deacon
Student Services Advisor
Hometown: Stoney Creek, Ontario
Languages I speak: English
About me: I completed both my Bachelor of Education (BEd) and Master of Education (MEd) at the University of Toronto. I have worked in the Athletics Department (coordinator of the Academic Support for Athletes Program) and as an academic advisor for current students (New College Registrar’s Office). I know how hard it is to decide on what university to attend and I’m here to help you determine if the University of Toronto is the right fit for you. I am always happy to speak with prospective students interested in studying in the Faculty of Arts & Science! Outside of work, I love comedy, live music and playing golf.
Ask me about: Admissions, transfer credits and athletics, sports and recreation at U of T.
A fun fact about me: I have read every single Stephen King book!
Se (Carol) Ye
Student Services Advisor
Hometown: Jinan, China
Languages I speak: English, Mandarin Chinese
About me: I came into the Faculty of Arts & Science years ago as an international transfer student. After I completed my Honours Bachelor of Science degree with a Specialist in Psychology, I began my career in the Faculty’s registrarial world, learning through various academic advising roles. Because my undergraduate path wasn’t a straight-forward one and having both experienced and seen the challenges international and domestic students faced when transitioning into university, it further motivated me to share my experience and knowledge with students like you, so you can have a smoother transition and university career.
Outside of work, I enjoy hanging out with my cat, learning to play badminton, watching NBA games and TV shows (just finished Clarkson’s Farm).
Ask me about: Admissions, the College system, transfer credits, program and course enrolment, and campus life.
A fun fact about me: My favourite NBA players are Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic.
Ellen Ocran
Recruitment Officer, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Languages I speak: English
About me: I graduated from the University of Toronto Mississauga with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology & Sociolegal Studies and Political Science. My path to the University of Toronto community wasn’t a straight and narrow one. I returned to post-secondary studies at U of T after the birth of my child, who was later able to watch their mother cross the stage—one of my proudest moments! U of T can be for anyone, including you! Let’s connect, talk and work on supporting your goals.
Ask me about: Communities on campus, alternate admission pathways, tailoring your degree and living your best life!
A fun fact about me: I played rugby in university!
Jan Braun
Recruitment Officer
Hometown: Osler, Saskatchewan
Languages I speak: English, basic German and Low German
About me: Prior to my work as a recruitment officer, I worked in student advising across a couple of different divisions at U of T. I use my experience as a ‘first in the family’ student ─ who attended two different institutions in different areas of Canada ─ to break down barriers to post-secondary education and provide easy-to-access information for prospective students.
Ask me about: Application and admission requirements, transfer credits, transition and first-year programming.
A fun fact about me: I learned to swim as an adult.
Kelli Brenton
Recruitment Officer
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
Languages I speak: English
About me: Avid coffee drinker and frequent traveller. I am always on the lookout for my next adventure! As a former exchange student to Ireland, I love speaking to students about international experiences. When not travelling the world and speaking to students about university, I can be found walking my dog, Quincy, or settling in to a new book. I am always looking for a great second-hand book shop and the best cup of coffee in the cities I visit.
Ask me about: International admissions, study abroad and exchange, career exploration, global university rankings.
A fun fact about me: I have a goal to read 30 books this year!
Miriam Irvine
Associate Director, Student Recruitment
Hometown: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Languages I speak: English
About me: I graduated from the U.K. with a BSc (Hons) in Business Management and International Marketing and most recently received my Master of Education - Higher Education Leadership from the University of Toronto. With over 15 years’ of experience in the higher education sector, having worked for leading universities in the United Kingdom, I am excited to be part of a talented team of recruiters who are here to help you as you research, apply and transition to university. I came to Canada in 2012 and have never looked back – I am very lucky to call Canada and Toronto my home!
Outside of work I enjoy traveling, learning new things and spending time with my family and friends.
Ask me about: Anything – I can’t wait to chat with you about your academic career.
A fun fact about me: I danced competitively up until I was in my mid-20s, having competed in the Great British Championships for Irish Dancing, as well as appearing in productions of We Will Rock You and High School Musical. If I hadn’t gone into higher education industry, I would have gone into competitive and commercial dancing.
Shankavy Paramanathan
Recruitment Advisor
Hometown: Markham, Ontario
Languages I speak: English, Tamil, learning some other languages through movies!
About me: I graduated from U of T in June 2023 with Honours Bachelor of Science in Health & Disease and Psychology, with a minor in Environment & Behaviour and a certificate in Sustainability. I was a part of the First-Year Learning Communities (FLC) and it has been a big part of my undergrad. I was an FLC peer mentor all throughout undergrad and was an intern for the Sidney Smith Commons for the Arrive Ready Program that really got me interested in helping incoming and prospective students. Now as a part of the recruitment team, I enjoy sharing my experiences being a first generation university student, a commuter student and the student life at U of T.
Outside of work, I love watching movies/ shows in any language, (do share any recommendations) and I recently got a puppy! He is a Dutch Shepard named Bhaira who is very active and takes up most of my time :)
Ask me about: Ask me about anything, whether it's how to apply, admission requirements, first-year opportunities, transition supports or the U of T experience! I'm here to chat!
A fun fact about me: I love music! I am always jumping for opportunities to learn and explore new instruments and music. I play a South Indian instrument called the Veena, sing and can play a couple of other instruments.
Sydney Cabioc
Recruitment Officer, Relationship Management & Events
Hometown: Ajax, Ontario
Languages I speak: English
About me: I’m a proud University of Toronto Scarborough alum with a Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Media Management and minors in Studio Art and English Literature and Film. My time at UTSC was shaped by hands-on experiences like leading the student-run arts festival ARTSIDEOUT to work placements with the Canadian Opera Company, Pan Am Games and Roy Thomson Hall. These opportunities sparked my passion for creating engaging events that help students feel excited and connected to their post-secondary journey.
Outside of work, I’m a coffee enthusiast (former barista - dream job!), dog mom to a sweet toy poodle named Zelda and a big fan of film and TV. Always open to recommendations!
Ask me about: Upcoming Arts & Science recruitment events, ways to get involved on campus that align with your interests.
A fun fact about me: I was a producer for an international show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Supporting artists has always been close to my heart.
Grace Park
Recruitment Coordinator
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Languages I speak: English, Korean and some Standard German
About me: I graduated from the University of Toronto (St. George campus) with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Statistics, Linguistics and Mathematics. During my third year of undergraduate studies, I was a research assistant in a sociolinguistics lab as part of the work-study program. In my final year, I also worked part-time as a teaching assistant and peer mentor for a first-year statistics course (STA130). As a recruitment coordinator, you can find me in webinars and at recruitment events. Previous to joining the Student Recruitment & Admissions team, I worked in the Awards team and the Transfer Credit team for the Faculty of Arts & Science. Outside of work, I am passionate about language learning, fashion, decorating my new home, cooking, protein and working out. I’m also a big fan of Jungkook!
Ask me about: Tips on studying, student life in Toronto, admission categories, transfer credits, anything!
A fun fact about me: I was born in Vienna, Austria, and grew up in Vladivostok (Russia), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Seoul (South Korea), Frankfurt (Germany) and Toronto (Canada)! I’ve been living in Toronto for almost a decade – the longest I’ve ever lived in one place – so I’d like to call Toronto my home.
Chris Lee
Recruitment Officer
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Languages I speak: English
About me: I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and later defended my PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo. Since then, I have been working at the University of Toronto in a variety of roles and departments supporting students in their academic journeys! I use my experience, ranging across both the country and levels of post-secondary education, to help offer insight into what you can expect when studying at university. I look forward to meeting you and seeing you at U of T!
Ask me about: Applications and admissions, university life, USA application process, experiential learning and research opportunities
A fun fact about me: I stood in line for 10 hours to watch the Raptors play in the NBA Finals at Jurassic Park!
Suad Saneh
Student Ambassador
College: Victoria College
Year of study: Three
Program(s) of study: Political Science, Peace, Conflict & Justice and Critical Studies in Equity & Solidarity
Language(s) I speak: Portuguese, English, Arabic
Hometown: São Paulo, Brazil
About me: Hi! I’m Suad, a third-year student majoring in Political Science and Peace, Conflict & Justice, with a minor in Critical Studies in Equity & Solidarity.
I grew up moving between Lebanon and various parts of Brazil and those experiences shaped how I see the world. In Brazil, I learned that community is built through action. In Lebanon, I learned resilience, storytelling and the power of hope. These lessons became my guiding principles, sparking my interest in global perspectives and social change.
Funny enough, when I first started thinking about studying abroad, Canada wasn’t even on my radar. Now, U of T feels like a second home where I’ve found purpose through participating in clubs and mentorships. As a student ambassador, I want to help make this campus feel smaller and easier to navigate. Whether you’re exploring programs, looking for community or simply just figuring out life in Toronto, I’m here to help and cheer you on.
Fun fact: I’ve been on a quest for the best cinnamon roll in Toronto!
Nifise Oguntoye
Student Ambassador, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Pronouns: He/him
College: Victoria College
Year of study: Four
Program(s) of study: Critical Studies in Equity & Solidarity and African Studies
Language(s) I speak: English
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
About me: I am currently completing my honours bachelor of arts degree at the Faculty of Arts & Science. I began my undergraduate studies as an accounting major before transferring to U of T, where I first pursued the computer science major before switching to my current programs. During the course of my degree, I have gained valuable experience through internships and active involvement in many student groups — from Black Future Lawyers to fundraising initiatives. I am now applying to law schools across the UK, US and Canada. If you’re at all interested in a career in law, I’d be happy to share my journey and offer tips for navigating the path to law school. As an EDI student ambassador, I look forward to sharing insights into the experiences and opportunities that come with being a U of T student.
Fun fact: I'm currently trying to find my favourite thing to eat in Toronto; so far it has been the real American hero sandwich from Fourth Man in the Fire Pizzeria.
Titobi Oriola
Student Ambassador, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
College: New College
Year of study: Two
Program(s) of study: Political Science and International Relations
Language(s) I speak: English, Yoruba, French
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
About me: I am a second-year student from Lagos, Nigeria, studying political science and international relations. I am very involved with student organizations; I am the vice-president of the Nigerian Students' Association and the political director of the Black Students' Association. I also hold positions on some student committees. I love building community and helping to make the transition to university an easier experience for any incoming students.
Fun fact: I currently play tri-campus soccer with the St. George Blues. Feel free to ask me any questions related to playing soccer at U of T.