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Undergraduate Students Prepare for St. Mike’s Colloquium

Feb 13, 2026 by jessica

News St. Mike's Students

“The goal is to have the audience walk away still thinking about your research. That’s the sign of a successful presentation.”

Book & Media Studies Professor Francesco Morriello offered this advice during a recent workshop on best practices for presenting at a colloquium, one of several resources available to students preparing for this year’s event.

The St. Michael’s Undergraduate Research Colloquium takes place in the John M. Kelly Library on March 5 and 6. The annual event showcases research conducted by undergraduate students across disciplines, with strong representation from the College’s four sponsored programs: Book & Media Studies, Celtic Studies, Christianity & Culture, and Medieval Studies. Dedicated panels will be held for SMC programs alongside general sessions.

“The event draws attendees not only from St. Michael’s College, but also members of the public and the wider University of Toronto community,” says Morriello. “The result is a series of conversations that might not ordinarily happen, especially between arts-based and science-based research. By bridging these academic divides, the Colloquium fosters a unique intellectual environment where a question from a literature student might spark a breakthrough for a budding physicist. Ultimately, the event celebrates more than just individual achievement; it highlights the power of interdisciplinary curiosity and the vibrant, collaborative spirit that defines the St. Michael’s experience.”

Students applied to participate the same way presenters would at any academic conference, by submitting a formal proposal with an abstract and supporting details. A small panel of faculty and academic staff reviewed submissions, selected presenters, and determined the most appropriate format for each project.

As they prepare, participants have access to a range of support: workshops on presentation best practices, one-on-one help at the Academic Success Centre, and a dedicated support librarian.

This year, some panels are sponsored by SMC student groups, who frame their panel’s theme, select speakers, and may moderate the session.

Presentations will be judged by faculty and academic staff on innovative research, well-evidenced findings, and clear communication. A Student Choice Award will also be given, with undergraduate attendees casting votes for their favourite presenter. All awards will be presented at a ceremony at the end of the academic year.

“There is such a wide range of topics that anyone can find something of interest to them, whether it is AI technology, mythological figures, Sherlock Holmes, Dante’s Divine Comedy, the history of print culture, science, mental health, and more,” says Morriello.

This year’s Colloquium is open to the public—and if past years are any indication, attendees can expect to leave with something to think about.

To honour Canada’s Irish Heritage Month in March, the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, in collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland and Consulate General of Ireland, Toronto, announces awards celebrating the important historic and continuing contribution of the Irish in Canada.

Ontario Elementary and Secondary school students are invited to submit projects that explore and celebrate Irish heritage in our city, province and country.

Are You a Creative Elementary or Secondary Student from Ontario?

Explore the Irish Canadian experience and history for Irish Heritage Month through your favourite medium, whether writing an essay, poetry or a short story; visual arts like painting or photography; or something performative through video or music. Show us how you would celebrate Irish heritage in Canada!

Deadline

The deadline to submit your projects is Friday, March 27, 2026.

Awards Offered

There are six awards in total: three for elementary students and three for secondary students. Each award is valued at $100.

All award recipients will receive a certificate of achievement at a presentation ceremony at St. Michael’s in April (TBD).
Each Award of Merit recipient will also receive a $100.00 honorarium.

Criteria

Projects may offer one or a combination of the following in response to the theme of the competition: visual interpretation (e.g. painting, photography), literary interpretation (e.g. short story, poem, journal article, essay), multi-media interpretation (e.g. digital, video, recorded performance), or musical interpretation.

Submissions are expected to explore the rich and lasting realities of the Irish experience in Canada, and will be judged on originality, creativity, and quality. Projects will be adjudicated by a panel from the University of St. Michael’s College.

How to Submit

Projects can be submitted on or before Friday, March 27, 2026:

By email to pa.sheehan@utoronto.ca
Or delivered to 81 St. Mary Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1J4
Attention Prof. Pa Sheehan, Celtic Studies, St. Michael’s College

Questions?

Please contact Prof. Sheehan at pa.sheehan@utoronto.ca

The tragic news out of northern British Columbia impacts us all. We at St. Michael’s hold in our thoughts the victims, students, parents, teachers, and first responders of Tumbler Ridge. We pray for them, their entire community, and for all Canadians, that we may find in each other the kindness and love that can console in this time of tragedy, and will lead to new hope.

David G. Sylvester, PhD
President & Vice-Chancellor
University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto

While most university students are preparing for midterms and tutorials, St. Mike’s student Stephen Gogolev is busy preparing for the Olympic Games.

He will represent Canada in men’s figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, marking the culmination of what he describes as the busiest and most significant season of his career.

“I would say this is probably my comeback season. It’s definitely been my most exciting season I’ve had in skating so far,” he says.

Stephen secured his spot on Team Canada after winning the national championship title at the Canadian National Skating Championships in Gatineau, Quebec on January 10. While the announcement was thrilling, it wasn’t entirely unexpected.

“It was obviously very exciting to hear that I was named to the Olympic team,” he said. “But it was also somewhat expected at the same time, because the results of nationals were the deciding factor.”

Competing at the Olympics has long been the ultimate goal.

“It’s probably the biggest stage that you work towards,” says Stephen. “It’s a goal for all high-performing athletes, so this means a lot.”

Stephen is majoring in political science after transferring to the University of Toronto in 2024 after studying at the University of California, a move that was driven by both family and personal considerations.

“Coming back to Toronto was a mutual decision between my team and my family,” he says. “At a certain point, we felt that the negative aspects of being apart weren’t outweighing the benefits.”

Once he arrived at the University of St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto, he was immediately impressed with the campus.

“It’s a very beautiful campus. I never knew U of T had such beautiful buildings,” he said.

Despite the demands of elite training, Stephen says his studies remain a priority. Balancing coursework with a rigorous training schedule isn’t easy, especially with extended travel.

“It can get a bit overwhelming, especially at times like these when I’ll be leaving for two weeks,” he says.

He credits teaching assistants and instructors for helping him stay on track.

“They’ve been quite supportive,” he says. “In cases where tutorial participation is part of the grade, I was told I could earn those grades back by visiting during office hours.”

Stephen leaves for Italy on February 2. In Milano Cortina, he’ll compete not only in the individual men’s short and free programs, but also as part of Canada’s skating team, adding to the already packed schedule.

“It’s definitely busier than regular competitions,” he says. “With the addition of the team event, I’ll be competing four times within seven days. which adds more physical and mental load.”

Still, he’s looking forward to more than just the competition.
“I’m excited for everything—the city, watching other events, training with teammates, exploring the food,” he said. “I think everything in general will be pretty cool.”

Even in the midst of his most successful season, Stephen is already thinking ahead. He says pursuing post-secondary education is essential, and he’s exploring interests in finance, politics, and law.

“I won’t be skating my entire life,” he said. “It’s important to think about what comes next.”

Stephen began figure skating at the age of six and before that trained as an alpine skier. Though he found early success on the slopes, he ultimately chose the ice.

“I enjoyed figure skating more,” he says. “I think it was the jumping and the technical elements, even though funnily enough I actually had more success in skiing when I was younger.”

For now, his focus is on Milano Cortina, where the St. Mike’s community will be cheering as one of its own takes the Olympic stage.

There will be a watch party in the COOP to cheer on Stephen on February 10 at 12:30 p.m.

The John M. Kelly Library at the University of St. Michael’s College is celebrating the addition of the Thomas Merton Collection to its holdings with a March lecture delivered by renowned Merton scholar Dr. Michael W. Higgins.

While Merton remains known most broadly for his 1948 work, The Seven Storey Mountain, he was a multi-talented, multifaceted man, a prolific writer, poet and artist as well as a theologian and mystic who engaged in interfaith dialogue. He died in 1968 while attending a conference in Thailand.

Known in his Trappist community at Kentucky’s Abbey of Gethsemani as Father Louis, Merton remains an inspiration from cloisters and academies to literary circles and prisons, notes Dr. Higgins.

“Thomas Merton was an extraterritorial and visionary thinker, and the breadth of his intellectual range and the depth of his spirituality continue to contribute to his wide global outreach,” he says. “The fact that he has to date hundreds of theses and dissertations written on various aspects of his thought is but one marker of his durability and relevance. There has been much work done on Merton at St. Michael’s and so it is more than fitting that this Merton Collection finds a home where the plenitude of his gifts and the richness of his legacy can be both studied and treasured for ages.”

The donation of more than 500 items brings together the holdings formerly housed in the Thomas Merton Reading Room at the Vancouver School of Theology. The collection includes virtually all published works by and about Thomas Merton, along with related scholarship and audiovisual materials, including recordings of talks Merton delivered to novices at Gethsemani in the 1960s. Together, these materials document the extraordinary range of Merton’s life and thought, from Western monastic and contemplative traditions to his influential engagement with Zen Buddhism and interreligious dialogue.

“The arrival of the collection, generously donated by The Thomas Merton Society of Canada, marks a significant moment in the growth of the Kelly Library’s collections and strengthens St. Michael’s longstanding engagement with twentieth-century Catholic thought, spirituality, and culture,” notes James Roussain, William D. Sharpe Chief Librarian and Director of Special Collections at the Kelly Library. “The connection between Merton and Henri Nouwen, whose archives are held at the Kelly, offers scholars a rare opportunity to explore two deeply influential spiritual voices whose lives and writings were shaped by shared questions of contemplation, community, and social responsibility.”

The new arrivals will complement and significantly enhance the Kelly’s existing holdings of materials by and about Merton. In combination with related collections across the wider University of Toronto Libraries, the donation helps establish the University of St. Michael’s College as a compelling destination for Merton scholars and students from Canada and beyond. It also reinforces the Kelly Library’s role as a welcoming space for research that bridges theology, literature, philosophy and spiritual practice, with a collection that speaks to readers across religious traditions and to those outside formal religious frameworks altogether.

Dr. Higgins, the Basilian Distinguished Fellow of Contemporary Christian Thought at St. Michael’s, will deliver his lecture, titled Merton for Our Time: A Model of Interculturality, on March 10, 2026 at 6 p.m. in Alumni Hall 400. A reception will follow in Father Madden Hall in Carr Hall.

Dr. Higgins has been researching and writing on Merton since 1971. His 1978 doctoral dissertation on Merton and William Blake, “Thomas Merton: the Silent-Speaking Poet,” was much augmented and published in 1998 as Heretic Blood: the Spiritual Geography of Thomas Merton. He has published extensively on Merton in both peer-reviewed and general interest publications, and has researched, interviewed and narrated two CBC Ideas series on him as well as documentaries for CBC’s Celebration. He also served as the consultant for CBC’s Man Alive program, “Monk on the Run.”

He is the co-editor of Thomas Merton: Pilgrim in Process and author of Thomas Merton: Faithful Visionary and of The Unquiet Monk: Thomas Merton’s Questing Faith.

Dr. Higgins has also taught graduate courses on Merton and is Past President of both the International Thomas Merton Society headquartered at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky and of the Thomas Merton Society of Canada, headquartered in Vancouver.

Next month he will deliver lectures at Sarum College in Salisbury, England and at All Hallows College, Dublin, on the two mystics and ecological visionaries Merton and John Moriarty, as well as leading a Merton event at St. Michael’s on May 9.

He is the co-editor of Thomas Merton: Pilgrim in Process and author of Thomas Merton: Faithful Visionary and of The Unquiet Monk: Thomas Merton’s Questing Faith.

When Mackenzie Young arrived at the University of Toronto four years ago from her home in Vancouver, she quickly discovered a community that has stayed with her throughout her undergraduate journey and has supported her as she balanced academics, work, and a growing passion for education.

Attending the University of Toronto had long been a dream for Mackenzie. She chose to live in Fisher House for its convenient location near the subway, which made visits to her grandparents easy, and she was immediately drawn to the campus’s Gothic Revival architecture and beautiful open spaces.

“Like for a lot of people in residence, it was my first introduction to living alone and my first experience living in the city,” she says.

Residence life played a central role in helping Mackenzie build lasting friendships, particularly during meals in the Canada Room. She looked forward to gathering with fellow residents each day and connecting over shared meals.

She particularly remembers her final evening in the Canada Room. “We were all having dinner together, and it was such a beautiful night that everyone living in residence laid out blankets in the quad. We were hanging out, chatting, and looking at the stars. It was a really, really nice way to end our residence experience,” she recalls.

Those connections carried forward as Mackenzie moved into an apartment with friends from residence while continuing her studies, pursuing a major in Women and Gender Studies, along with double minors in English and Sexual Diversity Studies.

“I took my first gender studies class in first year and I loved it. I felt like there was so much more that I needed to learn,” she says. “I’m very passionate about teaching and working with kids. Before I begin my career, I wanted to be educated in topics that feel especially relevant right now. There are so many important conversations about gender and sexual identity happening in the education system.”

Mackenzie’s journey to U of T was shaped by determination. “Since I was a young teenager, it was a dream of mine to come to U of T and I worked a lot during my adolescence to be able to afford to come here.”

Throughout her undergraduate years, Mackenzie continued working and secured employment through connections she made in residence, as well as by accessing resources at St. Michael’s College. Her first job was at Jimmy’s Coffee in Kensington Market, where she immersed herself in Toronto life. “It was a really fun way to get involved in a vibrant neighbourhood. It felt like I was getting an authentic Toronto experience,” she says. She later worked at Fet Zun, a restaurant owned by a well-known Toronto chef.

This past summer, Mackenzie worked as a camp counsellor at Spadina Museum, a Toronto History Museum—an experience that solidified her desire to work with young people.

“I was working with amazing kids who were so curious, and I could connect with them on a level that I couldn’t do through tutoring or babysitting. I was a part of their lives, and I could also be fun and silly, which I love,” she says.

As convocation approaches later this spring, Mackenzie looks forward to celebrating alongside the friends she’s made over the years and taking the next step in her journey by pursuing teacher’s college.

The University of St. Michael’s College wishes to thank Father Alexander Laschuk, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute (MASI), for his extraordinary service to the Institute and to the Regis St Michael’s Faculty of Theology. After more than five years at MASI, Fr. Laschuk stepped down from MASI as of December 31, 2025 to focus on his many other professional and vocational duties.

“Fr. Laschuk has been invaluable to the Institute and has served the Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology (RSM) extremely well. He has been instrumental in revitalizing the Institute’s programming and chaplaincy,” said Prof. Jaroslav Skira, who is the Fr. Terrance Forestell, CSB, Dean of the Faculty.

While Fr. Laschuk has enjoyed the work he has taken on while at MASI, he has a number of demands on his time, filling several roles concurrently, Skira said.

Fr. Laschuk “would have loved to continue in his role at MASI but his responsibilities as the Judicial Vicar of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese as well as of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada, serving as Chancellor of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto, have been quite demanding, all of which take place in addition to his teaching for RSM,” the Dean added. “Most importantly, he has a lovely young family to care for. We will miss Fr. Laschuk’s friendly and collegial demeanour and his dedication, which have contributed greatly to the Institute’s success.”

St. Michael’s President David Sylvester echoed Skira’s comments.

“Fr. Laschuk has been a true asset to the Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology, dedicated to MASI and a strong source of guidance and support,” Sylvester said. “He remains a friend to St. Michael’s and I wish Fr. Alex, Olenka and their children well.”

Catherine Pawluch, President of the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute Foundation, which funds the work of MASI said: “We owe a profound debt of gratitude to Fr. Alexander Laschuk for his dedicated service as Executive Director of MASI and for shepherding the Institute through the recent years of transition. He has brought much needed stability and continuity to the work of the Institute. The MASI Foundation extends its gratitude to Fr. Alex and we wish him every blessing as he takes on his new role as Chancellor of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada.”

Fr. Laschuk completed his doctorate of canon law at Ottawa’s Saint Paul University. His research interests are ecclesiology, procedural law, penal law, and sacramental law. The courses he has taught while at St. Michael’s include Canonical Tradition of the Christian East and Introduction to the Eastern Churches.

“We are coming up on 10 years at St. Mike’s and in the last five MASI has really solidified our position at the university,” says Fr. Laschuk, pointing to milestones such as granting His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, an honorary doctorate, the sold-out event featuring a conversation between His Beatitude and historian Timothy Snyder, and the naming of Sheptytsky House as signs of MASI’s success.

“Working at St. Mike’s has been a great experience. It’s top-tier university where I was learning great management from David (Sylvester), who is a great leader, and I have had many opportunities for growth,” Fr. Laschuk says. “I look forward to collaborating with MASI and St. Mike’s and I hope to continue teaching.”

Plans for a replacement for Fr. Laschuk will be announced in the new year.

Another term wrapped up with convocation ceremonies, inspiring lectures, and a first-of-its-kind art exhibit. We closed the semester with our Christmas celebrations — a joyful send-off before members of our community headed off to spend time with family and loved ones over the holiday break.

Regis St. Michael’s and Continuing Education Convocations
For the first time, graduates of St. Mike’s and Regis convocated in a joint ceremony on November 8. Graduates were warmly welcomed and congratulated by their respective Chancellors: Archbishop Cardinal Frank Leo (St. Mike’s) and Fr. Jeff Burwell, SJ (Regis). Fr. Michael Kolarcik, SJ delivered a heartfelt convocation address in St. Basil’s Church, touching on a range topics with a focus on peace and justice. Sr. Dr. Carla Thomas, OP, was awarded this year’s Governor General’s Award.

William John Bennett, a renowned USMC community member and alumnus, received an honorary degree (Doctorate of the University) during the theology convocation, followed by a luncheon held in his honour in Father Madden Hall.

Continuing Education Social Responsibility and Sustainability Convocation
Students from the Social Responsibility and Sustainability (SR&S) Post-Graduate Diploma Program also marked this milestone with their own convocation ceremony in Charbonnel Lounge. President Sylvester and Director of Continuing Education Dr. Michael Salvatori offered their remarks and the four recipients of the President’s Capstone Award were announced.

Opening of Regis St. Michael’s Canadian Centre for Catholic Pastoral Leadership
The launch of the Regis St. Michael’s Canadian Centre for Catholic Pastoral Leadership was celebrated with a keynote address by Dr. Kathy Galleher on sustainable ministry and self-care. Funded by a generous Lilly Foundation grant, the Centre was developed in consultation with religious leaders and will offer continuing education on topics ranging from how to offer spiritual direction through to managing capital projects.

Fifty Irish Lives in Canada Book Launch
To celebrate the launch of their new book, Fifty Irish Lives in Canada, 1661–2017, authors Drs. Eamonn McKee, former Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, and Mark McGowan, St. Michael’s Professor and Principal Emeritus, discussed the history and collaborative effort behind this project. The book highlights Irish men, women, and children whose lives and contributions helped shape Canada.

Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) Women at the Heart of Justice Campaign Stops at RSM
The Regis St. Michael Faculty of Theology had the privilege of hosting Sr. Laura Vicuña Pereira Manso, a member of the Franciscan Catechist Sisters and an Indigenous land defender from the Brazilian Amazon. Sr. Laura spoke about the essential role women play as defenders of life, land, and human rights. The event was organized by the CJI, the Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology, and the Elliott Allen Institute for Theology and Ecology.

Lecture on Christian Ethics and Indigenous Spirituality
Regis College, Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology, and the University of St. Michael’s College were proud to present a lecture by Dr. Christine Jamieson titled ‘Christian Ethics and Indigenous Spirituality in Dialogue: The Seven Grandfather Teachings and Lonergan’s Structure of the Human Good’.

SMC Awards Night
Incoming and returning students were celebrated at the SMC Awards Night, where recipients of a wide range of awards and scholarships — from in-course prizes to the King Charles III admission scholarship — were announced. Principal Irene Morra told the assembled crowd of students, professors, donors, and alumni, that the recipients had “achieved so much and promise to achieve so much more.”

Fall Campus Day
St. Michael’s welcomed more than 150 visitors to campus for this year’s Fall Campus Day. Prospective students, applicants, and their families explored campus through guided tours led by faculty and upper-year students and learned more about all that St. Mike’s has to offer.

Blessing of the New Kelly Library Garden
As part of the blessing of the new Kelly Library Garden, attendees paused to observe, listen, and appreciate the newly planted foliage. Interim Director of Mission and Ministry Fr. John Meehan, SJ performed the blessing. The gathering was organized by The Elliott Allen Institute for Theology and Ecology and St. Michael’s Campus Ministry. Watch video

The New Pope and the Role of Women in the Church: What’s Next?
The latest in the Alumnae Initiative for Women’s (AI4W) Conversation Series featured an online panel discussion on the new pope and the future of women in the Church. Presented in collaboration with St. Mike’s Division of Continuing Education, the event’s panelists delved into the evolving landscape of the Catholic Church. Moderator Celia Wexler (SMC 7T0) facilitated a lively conversation with Dr. Catherine Clifford (SMC 0T2), Rosemary Burns Ganley (SMC 5T8), and Dr. Phyllis Zagano.

Third McLuhan Salon
USMC and the McLuhan Foundation hosted the third McLuhan Salon of the 2025 season, continuing a series that explores the intersection of media theory and digital culture. Moderated by Prof. Paolo Granata, the event featured Adrian Guzmán, author of Technopsychology: Analysis of Human Behavior in New Media (2025), and Andrey Mir, author of The Digital Reversal: Thread-Saga of Media Evolution (2025), who shared insights into how digital technologies shape our minds, media, and understanding of the world.

Remembrance Day Prayer Service
The St. Michael’s community gathered at the Slype to pay respects to St. Michael’s fallen through a prayer service organized by the Campus Ministry team. Fr. John Meehan, SJ blessed the wreath that was later taken to the University of Toronto’s Remembrance Day service at Soldiers’ Tower.

Student-Curated Exhibit Features Donovan Collection
Students in the Donovan Seminar curated an art exhibition featuring one of the Donovan Collection’s most important and widely represented artists. Ted Rettig in Contest was on display in the Kelly Library until the end of December.

Schola Cantorum Advent Concert
Once again, theSchola Cantorum Advent Concert was a highlight of the Christmas season. The meditative concert of chant and choral music —rich in themes of longing, hope, light, and joy —featured the world premiere of a work by Canadian composer Beverly Lewis.

Faculty and Staff Christmas Party
Faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the season and share some holiday cheer before the break. The event included a Christmas dinner, a performance by students from the Campus Ministry Choir, and concluded with the always popular door prize draw.

Fall Clean-Up Day
A chilly day didn’t stop our SMCSU and community members from pitching in at the campus clean-up day, helping refresh the campus grounds in preparation for winter.

4th Annual SMC Christmas Market
Even with the windchill, the St. Mike’s community came together to enjoy the Christmas Market. With more than 35 vendors, the event was filled with festive cheer as visitors shopped for gifts and treats and enjoyed student carollers. The market raised over $1500 to support the Out of the Cold Program at St. Basil’s Church— a wonderful way to end the semester. View photos.

A new student-curated art exhibit in the John M. Kelly Library invites visitors to engage with the Donovan Collection in new ways. Ted Rettig in Context places works by one the collection’s most represented artists, Ted Rettig, alongside other pieces in the collection.

The pairings were selected by first-year students enrolled in the inaugural SMC One Course, “The Donovan Seminar: Visual Art and Meaning” and are accompanied by student-written curatorial statements.

Throughout the semester, students explored the relationship between art and meaning, using pieces from the Donovan Collection, which can be found all around the St. Michael’s campus, as their primary material.

“This course taught me that I need to look a little deeper and have more context to understand art and the world around me,” said Ella Doubleday, a first-year student enrolled in the Donovan Seminar. “I really appreciated how we were able to bounce ideas off of each other during the seminar and that collaboration really helped the exhibition flow nicely.”

Professor Stephen Tardif, who led the seminar, praised the students’ work, saying, “I am very proud of my students. They leaned into the seminar format of the class by collaborating and conducting high-quality research. Their hard work paid off with an exhibition that can be enjoyed by the greater community.”

The exhibit is set up in the Kelly Library Multi-Purpose Room, which also served as the seminar’s classroom.

“The students took the lead on how the art was to be displayed. In our final seminar we talked a lot about how the exhibit would flow. We explored the space together and thought carefully about the layout. It’s fitting, because we turned the classroom into a gallery space, just as the Donovan Collection turns spaces on campus into a gallery of sorts,” says Professor Tardif.

In addition to students gaining hands-on curatorial experience, the exhibit also makes the Donovan Collection more accessible to the campus community. The opening on December 4 drew students, staff, faculty, and community members, including friends of Ted Rettig.

“I hope the impressions that the students managed to create by pairing these works together will challenge and stimulate people to think, feel and experience different ideas that maybe they are not accustomed to,” said Linda Roy, a parishioner of St. Basil’s and friend of Ted Rettig who attended the opening.

One of the draws of the exhibit is witnessing the students’ curatorial choices.

“I think it’s wonderful because you really do get multiple perspectives on how these works can be viewed, interpreted and experienced. Art can touch people differently at different stages of life and here I get insight into the younger generation’s outlook. What speaks to me about this exhibit is that you don’t have to be an art major to understand why these pieces are placed together. You don’t have to be an already practicing or aspiring artist or a student of art to understand or experience the pairings,” says Alice Wong-Rettig, who is also connected to the artist and attended the exhibit opening.

St. Michael’s College Continuing Education Division congratulates Kathryn Cooper on her retirement and extends its gratitude for her outstanding years of service as Program Manager of the Social Responsibility and Sustainability (SR&S) Post-Graduate Diploma Program. The SR&S diploma equips students with the knowledge and practical experience needed to advance and transition into careers in social responsibility, ESG and sustainability. Stepping into the Program Director role is Dr. Shilpa Tiwari, a global leader in sustainability, corporate citizenship, and diversity and inclusion.

Cooper joined St. Mike’s in 2014 at the invitation of Dr. Mimi Marrocco, the program’s founder. Over the past eleven years, she has expanded and strengthened the program to meet the growing demand for professionals trained in social responsibility and sustainability. Under her leadership, the program evolved from a certificate to a full diploma. In 2019, she introduced the President’s Capstone Awards, recognizing graduates with the top summative projects.

In recent years, the curriculum has undergone further development adding ESG, an MIT Climate Simulation, Truth and Reconciliation, Mindfulness and Meditation, Allyship and kicking off a process to embed a Culturally Responsive and Sustainability Mindset curriculum throughout the program.

“Over the years, the SR & S Diploma has evolved with the rapid changes in this field. With support from President David Sylvester, the Senate, Mimi and the graduates of the program, we have been able to create a program that continues to evolve and equip participants with the knowledge, skills and perspectives they need to thrive as businesses recognize that social, environmental and governance issues are material today and into the future,” says Cooper.

Cooper’s leadership and commitment have been recognized beyond campus. She recently received Clean50’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to environmental change—an honour for which she was nominated by a SR&S graduate.

Her passion for sustainability began on her family’s largely self-sufficient dairy farm in Quebec, where she grew up growing vegetables and raising livestock. She went on to earn a BSc in Agriculture and Food from the University of Guelph, an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a M.Ed in Sustainability and the Environment from York University. Throughout her career, she has used education as a springboard to new opportunities, a drive she recognizes in her own students.

“I think most of our students are looking to merge their career with the values and passion for a better world. And that’s what we’ve set out to do through this program—give people the avenues to transition into a field or accelerate their career in a field where they can make their career their calling. And we do that through not only technical knowledge, but also mindfulness, reflection and reconnecting with their role as human beings in relationship with nature and the human family. Resilient leaders bring purpose and meaning to their work. It’s about learning to bring your ‘whole self’ to work,” she says.

Taking on the role of Program Director is Dr. Shilpa Tiwari, an executive with more than 15 years of experience leading sustainability, corporate citizenship, and diversity and inclusion initiatives in complex global organizations. She has worked across sectors, including financial services, mining, oil and gas, forestry, and energy, and brings an entrepreneurial and cross-cultural perspective to St. Mike’s.

“Over the last two decades I’ve worked in sustainability and social impact across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America, and a pattern has become very clear: the most meaningful change happens when people have the tools to connect global challenges to local action. St. Mike’s, and the Social Responsibility and Sustainability diploma in particular, sit at that intersection. I was drawn here because the program doesn’t treat sustainability as a buzzword or a branding exercise—it treats it as a deeply human, ethical and practical undertaking. Joining St. Mike’s felt like an opportunity to bring my global experience back home to Toronto, and to help mid-career professionals translate big ideas about climate, equity and justice into concrete decisions in their workplaces and communities,” she says.

Dr. Tiwari holds a BSc in Environmental Science from Queen’s University, an MES in Environmental Policy from York University, and a PhD in Social Anthropology from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Since joining the Continuing Education team on November 1, she has received a warm welcome from the St. Michael’s community.

“From my first meetings, I’ve sensed a genuine commitment to educating the whole person, not just transferring technical knowledge. I’ve been struck by how collaborative and curious the community is. It feels like exactly the right environment to have the kind of nuanced, sometimes uncomfortable but necessary conversations that social responsibility and sustainability demand,” she says.

“I’m looking forward to building on the strong foundation Kathryn has created and to growing the program in ways that respond to a rapidly changing world.”

To mark her retirement, Cooper was presented with a keepsake book filled with messages of gratitude, memories, and well-wishes from former students, colleagues, and friends whose lives and careers have been shaped by her work. Below are some of those messages:

“As you step into this next chapter, I want to take a moment to celebrate all that you’ve brought to the SR&S program and to everyone lucky enough to learned alongside you. Your kindness, thoughtfulness and genuine care have touched so many lives. You’ve built an inclusive, supportive community where students, like me, felt seen, heard and inspired to make a difference. Your dedication to teaching and to empowering others through education has created a ripple effect; one that will continue to shape sustainability professionals in Canada and abroad for years to come.”
– Ewa Czerny, Chair of the SR&S Alumni Committee from 2023 – 2025

“Don’t break with tradition. Enrich it”. This is what you’ve done for a highly specialized program here at St. Mike’s that started out small, but thanks to you, it grew… and grew… and GREW. You embraced our traditions and respected and shared our values. Then you added your personal values, your extensive knowledge and your remarkable skills as a leader and an innovator. The result was quite simply miraculous. Thank you, Kathryn, for all that you’ve done for Social Responsibility and Sustainability in general and for the St. Michael’s Continuing Education Division in particular.”
– Dr. Mimi Marrocco, founder of the SR&S program

“Kathryn, sending you the biggest congratulations on your retirement and more importantly on all your achievements throughout your career. I am eternally thankful for taking the CSR course back in 2018 as it helped drive me towards my dream job which I am still working in and thriving in. You led and guided us with such expertise and care and inspired us to help change minds, change our companies, and in our own small ways change the world. What an impact! Thank you. Enjoy your next chapter!”
– Emilie Nosovic, Senior Manager, LEGO® Replay North America at The LEGO® Group, 2018 graduate of the SR&S program

“Thank you Kathryn for changing my life! Your contributions to the community, the lessons I’ve learned from you are all invaluable assets that I will carry with me years on. I wish you all the best on your new journey and I trust, that by way of who you are, more souls will be blessed as you’ve blessed me. Cheers!”
– Blessing Oluloto, Debt Operations Coordinator at CAP Canada, 2025 graduate of the SR&S program

“Kathryn, you made a huge impact as I transitioned my career from Asia Pacific to the Americas; I am truly grateful for everything you did to help! Wish you all the best with your next chapter, I know that you won’t stop giving back, because that’s who you are.”
– Adnan Zaman, Superintendent of Social Performance at Newmont Corporation, 2021 graduate of the SR&S program