Alumni Portraits
Get to know our OISE alumni and see how they stand out in professions across the globe. Would you like to be featured? Email us at alumni.oise@utoronto.ca and we will help tell your story.

September 11, 2023
The value of volunteering: a conversation with OISE alumni association president Nikoletta Papadopoulos
OISE Alumni Association president Nikoletta Papadopoulos discusses the value of volunteering as an OISE student.

September 8, 2023
OISE alum Jennifer Johnson's work helps children find their inner compass
Inspired by her 8-year-old, Jennifer co-founded Captains & Poets, a social emotional learning initiative that helps kids develop their best, authentic selves.

August 8, 2023
A celebrated six: Meet the 2023 Leaders & Legends Award winners
Six women have been awarded a 2023 Leaders and Legends award, which celebrates the impact of OISE's alumni and friends.

June 27, 2023
The Honourable Jean Augustine, MEd grad, celebrates 50 years since graduating from U of T
Alum, community champion and trailblazing politician Jean Augustine recalls that her OISE, U of T education gave her possibilities and an expanded horizon.

April 12, 2022
'I turn coffee into education': Vince De Freitas on ed tech, mentorship and thinking bigger
Vince's story from OISE to the world of enterprise education and back again – this time as a mentor to grad students.

March 9, 2022
Alum Gina Valle’s stories cut across cultures, languages to illuminate the human condition
Valle’s professional and creative initiatives highlight the road Canada must take to make education equitable, Indigenous communities whole, and gender more just.

August 3, 2021
Bon élève! Teacher Chrystal Smith's passion for language leads her to STEM class
Smith realized her community at the Boys and Girls Club needed help in math, she quickly completed an additional qualification to start teaching them.

August 2, 2021
OISE clinical psychology grad discusses her work with marginalized communities and a new self-help resource
Jennifer Barbera (MA '09, PhD '13) decided to become a psychologist after working in homeless shelters and community organizations.

February 12, 2021
Mental health practitioner on OISE, the future of the field and treating patients during COVID-19
Meet Robert Roopa, MEd, Psychologist and Psychotherapist, Counselling Services for York Region.

December 12, 2020
'It's my life's work to help students access education': Cindy Gouveia shares path from farmhand to foundation president
Meet Cindy Gouveia, PhD, President, George Brown College Foundation

November 13, 2020
Rising star reignites passion for the arts at OISE, tells stories of worlds apart
Meet Mercedes Cardella, MEd, actor, writer, founder and CEO of Magic Carpet Productions, and curriculum developer specialist, Toronto Film School.

September 29, 2020
‘I want to be a teacher of teachers’: David F. Boshra reflects on his Master of Teaching experience
David F. Boshra caught the teaching bug at the best time. Motivated by making a difference, Boshra wanted to build on his education knowledge.

June 10, 2020
'It has changed me': Meet double OISE degree recipient Susan He
He, who finished her second graduate degree at OISE this spring, entered the Institute expecting to become a STEM educator. Instead, she gained that passion and much more.

June 1, 2020
Hip hop state of mind
Marcus Singleton, an educator, activist and musician, is graduating from OISE’s Master of Education program in social justice education – and heading back to school in fall, to pursue his doctorate.

May 13, 2020
'For whom is your learning?' Community activist reflects on academic journey with OISE graduating class, evoking grandmother's words
Tshweu Moleme is a graduate of the Masters of Education program in Adult Education and Community Development at OISE.

April 12, 2020
From the ground up: Alum discusses his path from coffee plantation worker to education policy leader
Meet Carlos Ruano, EdD, Education Expert at the World Food Programme, United Nations Office for Pakistan.

March 1, 2020
Alum shines a light on the resilience of newcomer students through teaching and storytelling
Meet Meghan Ferrari, MEd '13, Department Head of English Language Learning, St. Robert Catholic High School.

December 2, 2019
Math wiz turns dream to teach next generation of computer scientists into reality with OISE
Meet Dan Zingaro, MEd, PhD, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga.

November 5, 2019
#OISEWorld: Alum Tracey King, Indigenous human resources consultant in higher education
Tracey King, MEd is one of Canada's first Indigenous human resources consultants for a postsecondary institution and a longtime member of the OISE Alumni Association.

November 5, 2019
OISE alum Glen Sharpe wins tremendous honour for unwavering support of students in education studies
Meet Glen Sharpe, EdD, Mohawk First Nations, Associate Professor, Schulich School of Education, Nipissing University.

October 4, 2019
OISE alum drives students in NYC to excel on and off the field
Meet Amilcar Barnett, Physical Education Teacher at Hunter College Campus Schools, New York City.

August 20, 2019
OISE alum Grace Karram Stephenson takes a deep-dive into higher and global education
Meet Grace Karram Stephenson, BEd, MA, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

June 15, 2019
Biggar-Hedges Award recipient shares the power of tech-infused teaching and her dream to educate girls in Pakistan
Meet Khulood Agha Khan, MT, Doctoral student, OISE, Recipient of the Biggar-Hedges Award in Teaching and Technology

May 20, 2019
OISE alum uses teaching and policy skills to fight for human rights
Meet Fabian Garcia, BEd, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Ecuador to the United Nations, New York.

April 11, 2019
OISE alum Julie Hay talks traveling, technology and always finding balance
Meet Julie A. Hay, MEd, Vice President & General Manager, International Consumer Lending, American Express.

February 4, 2019
OISE alum works to support Toronto's flourishing arts and culture scene
Meet Konrad Skorupa, MEd, Cultural Development Officer, City of Toronto.

January 18, 2019
Alumna Author Returns to her Childhood Roots in Role as Writer-in-Residence at U of T Scarborough
The Scarborough of author Carrianne Leung (MEd 2000, PhD 2007)’s 1970s childhood was a very different place than it is today.

January 5, 2019
OISE alum empowers Indigenous learners in Canadian and Tibetan communities
Meet Karma M. Chukdong, BEd, MA, MEd, Director, Teaching Excellence and Learning at First Nations Technical Institute.

April 19, 2018
Healing the Human Spirit: Kahontakwas Diane Longboat
Figuring out how to permit open fires on hospital grounds in Toronto is a large task. Still, it’s the kind of bureaucratic challenge Longboat has specialized in throughout her career.

January 24, 2018
Toronto street nurse Cathy Crowe receives Order of Canada
Cathy Crowe, OISE alum, well-known Toronto street nurse, and activist, was among 47 invested into the Order of Canada.

May 29, 2017
#OISEWorld: Brian Li, President of Education TV China
Li is President of China Education Channels and Chair of the OISE Alumni Association in China. He has been a leader in educational media for over a decade.

December 19, 2016
“My Education Enabled Me to Break Down Walls”
Scholarships can inspire students to believe they can make a difference. For Atik Bird, it helped her reach out to others – and trust her own voice.

November 28, 2013
Evocative composer, Oscar-winner
From Moneyball to Life of Pi, Mychael Danna has put his composing talents to evocative use in a wide array of acclaimed and popular films. Many of his film scores have been issued as albums.