The University of Toronto is known as one of the world’s best public universities and the top-ranked in Canada.
Its success is due to the individuals who work, study and do research here. Last week, the U of T community came together at the Rotman School of Management to celebrate students, faculty and staff.
U of T President Meric Gertler, Chancellor Michael Wilson and U of T Alumni Association President Scott MacKendrick presented the annual Awards of Excellence to outstanding members of the U of T community.
“I’m sure you all know that the University of Toronto consistently ranks among the world’s top universities,” President Gertler said. “It is a testament to the brilliant research and teaching that’s happening every day on all three of our campuses.
“The faculty members we honour have enhanced the student experience, influenced public policy and promoted human rights, among many other contributions,” he said. “The staff members receiving awards tonight have spearheaded innovation in fields ranging from mental health to finance, and all of them stand out as mentors or role models for their colleagues. And, of course, our student honourees have combined exceptional academic performance with co-curricular leadership on campus and well beyond. So if ever we wonder how we will meet and brave the global challenges of our time, we need only look to them for inspiration.”
This year’s award winners included Aisha Ahmad, an assistant professor in the department of political science at U of T Scarborough who is an expert on political Islam and international security; Robert Vipond, a professor of political science and author of a new book exploring the themes of diversity and community through the story of a Toronto elementary school; and Jason Foster, an associate professor, teaching stream, and creator of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering’s Praxis courses, which involve students in civic-design projects.
U of T News chatted with Arts & Science award recipient Riam Kim-McLeod before the ceremony about her contributions to the university.
Riam Kim-McLeod
John H. Moss Scholarship winner
Double major in international relations and Near and Middle Eastern civilizations
“In first year I was in the Trinity One program and I wrote a paper on the radicalization of women, particularly by the Islamic State. That kickstarted my interested in terrorism, specifically, and counter-radicalization. I chose the major in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations because of that, so I’m learning Arabic. I’ll be going on to King’s College in London to take terrorism studies.”