New College Alumni & Friends Magazine: International Edition 2015
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New College Alumni & Friends Magazine: International Edition 2015 Contents New College International 02 Alumni & Friends Edition Magazine Contents 05 The E. Anthony Ross Fund for Community Engagement in Belize at New College Kaitlin Klaas Features 06 08 10 Small Cities, Big Challenges Culture Shift Preparing to Launch in Urban Africa Kaitlin Klaas Kaitlin Klaas Dickson Eyoh Articles 14 18 26 New Growth Notable New Alumni Going Places Cynthia Macdonald Kaitlin Klaas / Terry Lavender / Arielle Vetro / Whitney Wiebe Around New 27 Then and Now: International Foundation Program Office Arielle Vetro Contents / Contributors New College International 03 Alumni & Friends Edition Magazine Contents / Contributors New College Cover Alumni & Friends Magazine: International Edition 2015 PUBLISHER Alison Liddell (New ‘88) EDITOR Kaitlin Klaas CONTENT EDITORS Alexandra Guerson Deborah Knott Colin Swift (New ‘80) CONTRIBUTORS Dickson Eyoh Kaitlin Klaas Terry Lavender Cynthia Macdonald Brenda Registe (Carib. Studies ‘01) Arielle Vetro Whitney Wiebe SPECIAL THANKS Donna Chang Gillian MacDonald (New ‘13) Bruce Russell Hong Si Terence Van Elslander COVER ILLUSTRATION New Growth Sködt McNalty 14 Cynthia Macdonald ART DIRECTION & DESIGN www.typotherapy.com Articles CORRESPONDENCE AND UNDELIVERABLE COPIES TO: 04 New College Office of Advancement 04 300 Huron Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3J6 Message from the Principal, Yves Roberge This magazine is published once annually by the Office of Advancement at New 22 College, University of Toronto, and is Giving Back circulated to 18,000 alumni and friends in print and digital formats. Published April 2015 www.newcollege.utoronto.ca twitter.com/NewCollegeUofT http://bit.ly/FacebookNewCollege http://bit.ly/LinkedInNewCollege “In today’s world, our identities are defined But internationalization is also happening right by multiple affinities and connections, and our here at New College. Forty-two percent of New daily experience is permeated by both local and College students are international students. Our global relationships. We as a university must think student body comprises a diverse community of ever more strategically about how to leverage and over 4,700 people from 96 countries – and that is, strengthen our international partnerships and reach.” in large part, what makes New College so special. Those were the words of University of Toronto In this spirit, we welcome international students President Meric Gertler as he took office in the in need of additional English-language learning fall of 2013. opportunities through our International Foundation Program and host economically disadvantaged but President Gertler’s focus on internationalization – high-achieving students from sub-Saharan Africa part of a broader strategy that also includes re-imag - through the MasterCard Foundation Scholars ining undergraduate education, fostering entrepre - Program. As a result, New College is a microcosm neurship and embracing the University’s city-build - of the world; a tight-knit global community at the ing role – is welcome news to us. That is because at corner of Huron and Willcocks streets. New College, internationalization is a proud tradition. Why focus on internationalization? Over 50 years From our Caribbean Studies and African Studies after Marshall McLuhan conceived of the global programs to our international initiatives – such as village, it remains important for our students to the Belize experiential-learning program you can graduate with the knowledge they need to be global read about on the opposite page – the College is citizens. For proof, you need look no further than abundant with opportunities for students to engage page 18, where you will find profiles of alumni who with the world beyond our borders. live and work abroad. Often, when we think of internationalization, these As you read this issue, I hope it becomes clear that are the sort of outbound activities that come to New College students, faculty, alumni and friends mind – students learning about the world; students are making a positive impact all over the world . studying abroad. And, indeed, our area studies pro - grams and relationships with international partners Professor Yves Roberge are part of the foundation of our community. Principal, New College Community Engagement New College International 05 in Belize Alumni & Friends Edition Magazine Announcing the E. Anthony Ross Fund for Community Engagement in Belize at New College WRITER For several years, New College has provided a lot of people of access to opportunity. [Establishing Kaitlin Klaas students the opportunity to travel to Belize to learn this fund] is a little something I could do to give back.” hands-on about indigeneity, health and food sustain - ability – but without stable funding, the program’s Program participants have said it offers “a different future was uncertain. Now, thanks to a generous gift level of engagement with learning”. by Toronto-based lawyer E. Anthony Ross, Principal at the E. Anthony Ross Professional Corporation, “My time in Belize gave me the scope and capacity In these photos (above), Belize experiential-learn - the program will carry on – and students will to apply the concept of food security in a space ing program participants continue to benefit. where I was surrounded by top area scholars and visit the Gulisi Community people who were open to explaining intricate issues School. A newly- announced gift from The E. Anthony Ross Fund for Community that are not always discussed in a classroom,” said Toronto-based lawyer Engagement in Belize at New College will defray Mark Chatarpal (Caribbean Studies ‘14). E. Anthony Ross will the program’s travel costs, ensuring students can support this program. participate in the program without financial burden. Dr. June Larkin, Equity Studies program director Photography and the Belize program’s faculty advisor, has seen Courtesy Mariajosé Lopez During this experiential-learning opportunity, first-hand how the program benefits students. which is offered in partnership with the Center for Engaged Learning Abroad, Belize, 10 upper-year “Students return to the College with new perspec - students in Aboriginal Studies, Caribbean Studies, tives on food and indigeneity issues,” says Dr. Larkin. Equity Studies and the Human Biology program “Mr. Ross’ gift will provide the support needed to spend a week in Belize working with Indigenous ensure our students continue to have access to this and other communities, visiting farms and commu - rich learning experience.” nity organizations and attending talks. Upon their return, students share their experiences with the Ross hopes his gift will empower students to help U of T community, broadening the program’s impact. others and reduce economic barriers for Aboriginal communities in Belize. E. Anthony Ross “Coming from the Caribbean, I recognize there is Photography still a hangover of massive exploitation, not only “It’s up to students to take it, make something Kay Woollam for Aboriginal people, but generally for people in useful of it, and be in a position to give back in the the area,” says Ross. “I could see myself in those very future,” says Ross. “I hope my support gives them a circumstances but for the fact that my father hap - capacity to be free to think, free to dream and free pened to become a developer-contractor, and I was to advance their own causes, whatever they may be.” able to get past the economic barriers which deprive Small Cities, Big Challenges New College International 06 in Urban Africa Alumni & Friends Edition Magazine PWrRoITfEeR ssor Dickson Eyoh, African Studies Program Director The rapid growth of Africa’s small cities is leaving many citizens without access to basic services. This semester, Professor Dickson Eyoh is exploring the scope of the problem — and searching for meaning - ful solutions. Small Cities, Big Challenges New College International 07 in Urban Africa Alumni & Friends Edition Magazine hen envi - 1980s, most states could not ones I grew up in, are incredible. sioning life in pay for basic services, salaries This growth is overwhelming the a modern or public investments. Citizens cities’ infrastructure. African city, increasingly had to rely on you might informal networks to secure In Search of Meaningful Solutions think of a housing and other services. This semester, I am surveying the dystopic city in issues faced by people living in crisis: millions of Abysmal economic conditions – small African cities in general, and people living in sprawling slums. according to World Bank estimates, in Cameroon in particular. WChildren playing in open sewers. Africa’s average GDP per capita Mountains of garbage. shrunk by $11 USD between 1990 I will travel to Cameroon to talk and 2003 – did not moderate to citizens, urban administrators, Yet in these same cities, you urbanization rates, which contin - mayors, councillors and govern - will also find a small class of ued at an annual average of 5 per - ment officials of all levels to privileged people living in circum - cent through 2000. De-regulation uncover more information about In many communities stances no different from what policies meant to open economies the obstacles facing small cities. across Africa, rapid urbanization you might find in any major city to international competition fur - I will conduct the bulk of my is overwhelming the in a more economically-developed ther weakened domestic firms research in Limbé and Kumba state’s capacity to country: people living in modern