new college alumni & friends magazine · arielle vetro / whitney wiebe going places around new...

New CollegeAlumni & FriendsMagazine:InternationalEdition2015

Contents

Features

Small Cities, Big Challenges in Urban AfricaDickson Eyoh

Culture ShiftKaitlin Klaas

Preparing to LaunchKaitlin Klaas

Articles

New GrowthCynthia Macdonald

Notable New AlumniKaitlin Klaas / Terry Lavender /Arielle Vetro / Whitney Wiebe

Going Places

Around New

Then and Now: InternationalFoundation Program OfficeArielle Vetro

05The E. Anthony Ross Fund for Community Engagement in Belize at New CollegeKaitlin Klaas

Contents New College Alumni & Friends Magazine

InternationalEdition

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06 08

14 18 26

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Contents / Contributors

Contents / Contributors New College Alumni & Friends Magazine


03

New GrowthCynthia Macdonald

04Message from the Principal, Yves Roberge

22Giving Back

PUBLISHER

Alison Liddell (New ‘88)

EDITOR

Kaitlin Klaas

CONTENT EDITORS

Alexandra GuersonDeborah KnottColin Swift (New ‘80)

CONTRIBUTORS

Dickson EyohKaitlin KlaasTerry LavenderCynthia MacdonaldBrenda Registe (Carib. Studies ‘01)Arielle VetroWhitney Wiebe

SPECIAL THANKS

Donna ChangGillian MacDonald (New ‘13)Bruce RussellHong SiTerence Van Elslander

COVER ILLUSTRATION

Sködt McNalty

ART DIRECTION & DESIGN

www.typotherapy.com

CORRESPONDENCE ANDUNDELIVERABLE COPIES TO:New College Office of Advancement300 Huron Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3J6

This magazine is published once annuallyby the Office of Advancement at NewCollege, University of Toronto, and iscirculated to 18,000 alumni and friendsin print and digital formats.

Published April 2015

www.newcollege.utoronto.catwitter.com/NewCollegeUofThttp://bit.ly/FacebookNewCollegehttp://bit.ly/LinkedInNewCollege

Cover New CollegeAlumni & FriendsMagazine:InternationalEdition2015

Articles

14

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“In today’s world, our identities are defined by multiple affinities and connections, and ourdaily experience is permeated by both local andglobal relationships. We as a university must thinkever more strategically about how to leverage andstrengthen our international partnerships and reach.”

Those were the words of University of TorontoPresident Meric Gertler as he took office in thefall of 2013.

President Gertler’s focus on internationalization –part of a broader strategy that also includes re-imag-ining undergraduate education, fostering entrepre-neurship and embracing the University’s city-build-ing role – is welcome news to us. That is because atNew College, internationalization is a proud tradition.

From our Caribbean Studies and African Studiesprograms to our international initiatives – such asthe Belize experiential-learning program you canread about on the opposite page – the College isabundant with opportunities for students to engagewith the world beyond our borders.

Often, when we think of internationalization, theseare the sort of outbound activities that come tomind – students learning about the world; studentsstudying abroad. And, indeed, our area studies pro-grams and relationships with international partnersare part of the foundation of our community.

But internationalization is also happening right here at New College. Forty-two percent of NewCollege students are international students. Our student body comprises a diverse community ofover 4,700 people from 96 countries – and that is, in large part, what makes New College so special.

In this spirit, we welcome international students in need of additional English-language learningopportunities through our International FoundationProgram and host economically disadvantaged buthigh-achieving students from sub-Saharan Africathrough the MasterCard Foundation ScholarsProgram. As a result, New College is a microcosm of the world; a tight-knit global community at thecorner of Huron and Willcocks streets.

Why focus on internationalization? Over 50 yearsafter Marshall McLuhan conceived of the global village, it remains important for our students tograduate with the knowledge they need to be globalcitizens. For proof, you need look no further thanpage 18, where you will find profiles of alumni wholive and work abroad.

As you read this issue, I hope it becomes clear thatNew College students, faculty, alumni and friendsare making a positive impact all over the world.

Professor Yves RobergePrincipal, New College

Community Engagement in Belize

New College Alumni & Friends Magazine


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For several years, New College has provided students the opportunity to travel to Belize to learnhands-on about indigeneity, health and food sustain-ability – but without stable funding, the program’sfuture was uncertain. Now, thanks to a generous giftby Toronto-based lawyer E. Anthony Ross, Principalat the E. Anthony Ross Professional Corporation,the program will carry on – and students will continue to benefit.

The E. Anthony Ross Fund for CommunityEngagement in Belize at New College will defray the program’s travel costs, ensuring students canparticipate in the program without financial burden.

During this experiential-learning opportunity, which is offered in partnership with the Centerfor Engaged Learning Abroad, Belize, 10 upper-yearstudents in Aboriginal Studies, Caribbean Studies,Equity Studies and the Human Biology programspend a week in Belize working with Indigenousand other communities, visiting farms and commu-nity organizations and attending talks. Upon theirreturn, students share their experiences with the U of T community, broadening the program’s impact.

“Coming from the Caribbean, I recognize there isstill a hangover of massive exploitation, not only for Aboriginal people, but generally for people inthe area,” says Ross. “I could see myself in those verycircumstances but for the fact that my father hap-pened to become a developer-contractor, and I wasable to get past the economic barriers which deprive

a lot of people of access to opportunity. [Establishingthis fund] is a little something I could do to give back.”

Program participants have said it offers “a differentlevel of engagement with learning”.

“My time in Belize gave me the scope and capacity to apply the concept of food security in a spacewhere I was surrounded by top area scholars andpeople who were open to explaining intricate issuesthat are not always discussed in a classroom,” saidMark Chatarpal (Caribbean Studies ‘14).

Dr. June Larkin, Equity Studies program directorand the Belize program’s faculty advisor, has seenfirst-hand how the program benefits students.

“Students return to the College with new perspec-tives on food and indigeneity issues,” says Dr. Larkin.

“Mr. Ross’ gift will provide the support needed toensure our students continue to have access to thisrich learning experience.”

Ross hopes his gift will empower students to helpothers and reduce economic barriers for Aboriginalcommunities in Belize.

“It’s up to students to take it, make somethinguseful of it, and be in a position to give back in the

future,” says Ross. “I hope my support gives them acapacity to be free to think, free to dream and freeto advance their own causes, whatever they may be.”

WRITERKaitlin Klaas

In these photos (above),Belize experiential-learn-ing program participantsvisit the Gulisi CommunitySchool. A newly-announced gift fromToronto-based lawyer E. Anthony Ross will support this program.

PhotographyCourtesy MariajoséLopez

Announcingthe E. AnthonyRoss Fund forCommunityEngagementin Belize atNew College

E. Anthony Ross

PhotographyKay Woollam

Small Cities, Big Challenges in Urban Africa



06

The rapid growth ofAfrica’s small cities isleaving many citizenswithout access tobasic services. Thissemester, ProfessorDickson Eyoh isexploring the scope ofthe problem — andsearching for meaning-ful solutions.

WRITERProfessor Dickson Eyoh,African Studies ProgramDirector

Small Cities, Big Challenges in Urban Africa



07

In many communitiesacross Africa, rapid urbanization is overwhelming thestate’s capacity to provide basic servicesand access to formalemployment for its citizens.

hen envi-sioning life in

a modernAfrican city,

you mightthink of a

dystopic city incrisis: millions of

people living in sprawling slums.Children playing in open sewers.Mountains of garbage.

Yet in these same cities, you will also find a small class of privileged people living in circum-stances no different from whatyou might find in any major cityin a more economically-developedcountry: people living in modernhigh-rise apartments and houseson tree-lined streets; people shopping in upscale malls; people with ready access to global popular culture.

These contradictory images underscore the challenges of rapid urbanization.

Africa remains the least-urbanizedpopulated continent – but it is alsoexperiencing the fastest rate ofurbanization in the world. Thedramatic pace has overwhelmedthe state’s capacity to providebasic services, including trans-portation, sanitation, educationand access to employment – andthis is felt most acutely by the citizens of slums, also known as informal communities.

This semester, I have undertaken a research project to identify solu-tions African cities can use to dealwith this tremendous growth andcreate liveable cities.

African Urbanization AfterColonialism: A Brief History LessonBetween the 1960s and 1980s,as colonialism ended, urbanpopulation growth acceleratedacross Africa.

African economies stagnated in the early 1970s and continuedto decline over the next threedecades despite reform programsmeant to place them on morepositive trajectories. By the early

ones I grew up in, are incredible.This growth is overwhelming thecities’ infrastructure.

In Search of Meaningful SolutionsThis semester, I am surveying theissues faced by people living insmall African cities in general, andin Cameroon in particular.

I will travel to Cameroon to talk to citizens, urban administrators,mayors, councillors and govern-ment officials of all levels touncover more information aboutthe obstacles facing small cities. I will conduct the bulk of myresearch in Limbé and Kumba(populations 84,223 and 144,268,respectively).

My research will explore a num-ber of open-ended questions. Toname a few: What is driving thisrapid urbanization? What are theconsequences of this growth?How do and should administrators,activists, urban planners and citizens respond? How do theproblems of small cities mirrorand differ from those of majorcities? And how can we involvecitizens in city planning?

At the project’s completion, I hope to offer empirical evidenceto support solutions administrators,activists and urban planners can implement to help addressthese issues.

Rapid urbanization, with all of itsconsequences, is a long-standingphenomenon that won’t be solvedovernight. But by studying theissue as it impacts smaller citiesand offering practical solutionsgrounded in empirical evidence,we may yet see Africa’s smallcities develop the capacity to provide their citizens the servicesthey deserve.

Excerpted in part from ProfessorEyoh’s “Citizenship and LivelihoodStruggles in Turbulent Times: The City and Ethnic Politics inPostcolonial Africa,” fromSegmented Cities? How UrbanContexts Shape Ethnic andNationalist Politics.

1980s, most states could not pay for basic services, salaries or public investments. Citizensincreasingly had to rely on informal networks to secure housing and other services.

Abysmal economic conditions –according to World Bank estimates,Africa’s average GDP per capitashrunk by $11 USD between 1990and 2003 – did not moderateurbanization rates, which contin-ued at an annual average of 5 per-cent through 2000. De-regulationpolicies meant to open economiesto international competition fur-ther weakened domestic firms that could not compete withcheap imports. Established andsmall-scale entrepreneurs alike foundered.

Facing declining wages, urbanpoor and middle classes turned toinformal-sector work (self-employ-ment) en masse, accounting for 90percent of all new jobs and 61 per-cent of urban employmentbetween 1990 and 2003.

Small Cities in CrisisMost research in African urbanstudies, as well as the work ofinternational development organi-zations, is focused on primarycities, the major cities that domi-nate a nation’s economy.

But while primary cities’ popula-tion growth is astounding –between the 1960s and 1980s,their populations grew at an annu-al average of nine to 11 percent –some of the most significantgrowth can be found in Africa’ssecondary cities. These are thecontinent’s smaller cities, wherethe challenges of urbanization aremore severe due to a comparativelack of municipal resources.

My research this semester focuses on these small cities. Ifone travels across the continent,what becomes clear is a pattern ofenormous growth in small cities.Over the last few years alone, therange and number of buildings I have witnessed being built insmall cities in Cameroon, like the

WA market in Makénéné,Cameroon (pictured left).

PhotographySarah Tz/Creative-Commons licensed

Dickson Eyoh

PhotographyCourtesy Dickson Eyoh

ach year, adventurous NewCollege students experience livingand learning in a new countrythrough U of T’s internationalexchange program (40 studentsparticipated this year alone).Gillian MacDonald (New ‘13), asocial-cultural anthropology and

Equity Studies alumna, enjoyed her exchangeexperience at the University of Copenhagen somuch she has since returned there to complete amaster’s degree in applied cultural analysis. Weasked MacDonald how her exchange affected heroutlook on life at U of T – and her future.

CultureShift

Culture Shift New College Alumni & Friends Magazine


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CultureMacDonald calls this photo of her withCopenhagen’s The Little Mermaid statue

“the most touristy photo ever,” but likes it

“because it representsmy first step intoexchange life.”

PhotographyCourtesy GillianMacDonald

WRITERKaitlin Klaas

E

Culture Shift New College Alumni & Friends Magazine


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What was it like to immerse yourself in Denmark’s culture and language?There were a lot of differencesfrom North American culture toexplore. But because everyonespeaks English, it was quite easyto get around and I could immersemyself slowly. Like getting into a pool, I could dip my toes intoDanish culture first, and thenjump in after a while. There wereonly one or two times I felt over-whelmed. As an exchange student,you have a support network ofother exchange students aroundyou that makes the transitionnot as difficult.

Why did you pursue an interna-tional exchange experience?I’ve always had a bit of a travelbug and been curious about theworld. In anthropology, you speakso much about international expe-riences. I thought an exchangewas the best opportunity for me to actually get to have an interna-tional experience before I get set-tled down and have a job. Luckily,my parents are very encouraging.

Why did you choose the Universityof Copenhagen?It’s surrounded by mainlandEurope, so it’s quite a central spot to travel from. They also had really interesting courses. I was surprised that a countrythat speaks a different languagewould offer English-languagecourses that were quite broad.They weren’t just introductorycourses and they didn’t just focuson local culture. I also thought itwould be a great opportunity tolearn a different language.

Of the courses you took in Copenhagen, which was your favourite? Probably an anthropology courseon Danish culture and society. Itintroduced me to Danish society,but also gave me a critical lens onDanish society. The final projecton that course ended up beingrelated to the thesis work I’mdoing now as a master’s student.

Did you travel to other countrieswhile you were abroad? After I was done school, I spenttwo solid months travelling. Fortwo weeks, I volunteered at anorchard outside of Stockholm in exchange for room and board. I couchsurfed and stayed withfriends and family in Iceland,Poland, Hungary, Austria, Slovakiaand Scotland. Then my mom, auntand uncle flew in from Canada.We did a genealogy trip toBrussels, Bruges and Prague, and Ishowed them around Copenhagen.

Did your experiences abroadaffect how you approached yourlife at U of T?Danes have a very relaxed, laid-back culture. So I tried to take alittle bit of that with me to U of T.I did well at U of T, but it’s astressful school and there’s a lotof work to do. That definitelytook a toll on me in my first two years there. Coming backfrom my exchange I realized Ican take time for myself. Beingon exchange also showed me the benefits of being friendly,outgoing and spontaneous.

After graduate school, what’s next for you? Getting a job. I’d like to stay in Scandinavia, but because I’m in a place in my life where I don’t need to be anywhere in particular, I’m not going to close my doors. Because of my exchange, I’m not scared to move anywhere anymore.

Gillian MacDonald (pictured top-left) atNew College in winter2014

When she returned toCopenhagen for gradu-ate school, MacDonaldused the local knowl-edge she had gained asan exchange student towork as a tour guide (pictured top-right).

MacDonald, who playedroller derby in Toronto for three years, says shesought out a team (KickAss Cuties, pictured mid-dle-top) as soon as shebegan her exchange. “Inroller derby, I was able to make a network ofDanish friends,” she says.

For a last-minute tourna-ment between Danish,Norwegian and Swedishroller derby teams,MacDonald and herteammates didn’t havetime to order t-shirts.They sewed Red WhitingHoods patches (picturedmiddle-bottom) to plaintees instead.

This Danish flag (pictured below) used to hang in the apartmentMacDonald shared during her exchange.“Danes put flags oneverything — birthdaycakes, Christmas trees,”she says.

PhotographyKaitlin Klaas

Preparing to Launch



10

of T is known for attracting thebest and brightest students fromall over the world – but what happens when these studentsdon’t quite meet Englishfluency requirements?

For New College studentsChristian Garcia and Yuwen

(Constance) Jiang and alumnus Yuechuan Chi,the right solution was New College’sInternational Foundation Program (IFP).

WRITERKaitlin Klaas with filesfrom Arielle Vetro

HOW A NEW COLLEGE PROGRAMHAS GIVEN OVER 600 STUDENTS – ANDCOUNTING – THE ACADEMIC ANDENGLISH-LANGUAGEFOUNDATION THEYNEED TO THRIVE AT U OF T.

Launch

Preparing to Launch



11

Jiang originally hails from Xinhui,a city in China’s Guangdongprovince. Having attendedChinese-language schoolsthroughout her life, Jiang says her lack of exposure to Western-style education left her feelingunprepared to study abroad.

“I had no experience with learningfrom an English-speaking teacheror studying English-language academic materials,” says Jiang,who is now a first-year student inthe Rotman Commerce program.

“The IFP gave me an idea of what

U of T lectures are like, what U of T itself is like and what theCanadian education world is like.”

Since 2009, the InternationalFoundation Program has helpedstudents brush up on theirEnglish-language skills andprepare for the academic rigoursof the University of Toronto in a small-class environment.

Over the course of the fall andwinter terms, students take disci-pline-specific courses to enrichtheir understanding of their

chosen field and English coursesto boost their oral and writtenEnglish-language skills and theircomfort with the University’sacademic style.

Chi, a graduate of the IFP and 2014 New College alumnuswho is now pursuing a master’sdegree at Oxford University, saysthe program’s small-class settingwas key to his academic survival.

“After I completed the IFP, thefirst classroom I walked into wasConvocation Hall. It had about1,200 students sitting there,” saysChi. “If that was my first-ever

Pictured left: First-yearstudent Yuwen(Constance) Jiang feltunprepared to studyabroad. She credits theInternational FoundationProgram with readyingher for life at U of T.


Pictured right: YuechuanChi (New ‘14) says hegained confidence andhoned his critical thinkingskills in the IFP's small-class setting. He is nowpursuing a master'sdegree at OxfordUniversity.

PhotographyFrances Beatty

Preparing to Launch



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List of countries IFP students and alumni have come from (25 in total):

MALAYSIA MEXICO MOLDOVAMONGOLIA POLANDRUSSIASAUDI ARABIA SOUTH KOREA TAIWANTUNISIATURKEYUKRAINEVENEZUELA 60%

are from China

40%are from the other

countries

60% 40%

14 native languages

AZERBAIJANCANADACHINAECUADORFRANCEHONG KONGINDONESIAIRANITALYJAPANKAZAKHSTANKENYA

AzerbaijaniRussian Cantonese

Fre

nch

Ma

nd

arin

Ukrainian

Spanish

university class, I would havebeen lost. But at IFP, the firstclass I walked in was about 15students. We got to know eachother really well and the small-class size really helped me startto gain confidence and developcritical thinking skills.”

Admission to the 24-week program includes conditionalacceptance to the University’sFaculties of Arts & Science,Applied Science & Engineering,Music or Architecture, Landscape& Design. After successfully completing the IFP, students beginfull-time undergraduate studies in

their chosen faculty – with onefull credit already completed.

First-year student Garcia, a nativeof Latacunga, Ecuador, who hopesto specialize in computer science,says his participation in the IFPgave him an invaluable head start.

“When I began my first year, I already knew what resourceswere available, how to seek help,how to take good notes and howto approach my assignments,” says Garcia.

The IFP aims to address thenumerous challenges internationalstudents face when studyingabroad. According to the IFP’sAcademic Director Bruce Russell,the greatest issues tend to be reading comprehension and written expression, languagecomprehension during lectures

Pictured left: First-yearstudent Christian Garciasays the InternationalFoundation Programgave him an invaluablehead start.


Preparing to Launch



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fall 2014 IFP undergraduate

students fall 2014 IFP graduate students

197 17 14summer 2014 IFP

undergraduate students

41graduate IFP alumni undergraduate IFP alumni

607

Polish Italian Japanese Turkish

Ma

lay

Ka

zak

h

Korean

and challenges communicatingwith students, faculty and staff.International students needcompetence with academic language to complete courserequirements, but also witheveryday language and culturalconventions to successfullyreach their academic goals.

Garcia credits the program with easing his transition to life in Canada – both culturallyand academically.

“It took me some time to getaccustomed to the environment,to the cultural differences, to theweather – especially the weather,”says Garcia. “But the IFP helpedme survive the transition. Ourinstructors became role modelsand they really knew how toanswer my questions and concerns.”

Beyond academics, the programalso instills a sense of community –important for any university student, but even more criticalfor those studying far from home.

“It’s really nice to see familiar facesaround campus,” says Garcia. “Itfeels good because we are goingthrough the same problems andwe are striving together.”

Nearly a year after completing theInternational Foundation Program,Garcia and Jiang say they continueto benefit from the knowledgethey gained from the program. Inaddition to their academic success,they are both busy with extra-curricular activities such as peermentorship programs.

And Chi’s experience shows the program’s benefits have the potential to last well beyondthe undergraduate years.

“A lot of the time, people are afraidof asking tough questions,” saysChi, whose master’s researchfocuses on tumour hypoxia (can-cerous tumours with low levels ofoxygen, which often make themresistant to treatment). “But in the IFP and at the University ofToronto, students were encouragedto ask questions and challengeprofessors in an academic way. Asa graduate student, I’m really ben-efitting from that training.”

After a tremendously successfulstart, the International FoundationProgram has expanded. A graduate-studies version of the programwas launched in 2012, and in 2014,a condensed, summer-only version of the program was launched forstudents whose English-languageskills fall just shy of U of T’sEnglish fluency requirements.

New Growth New College Alumni & Friends Magazine


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NEW

WRITERCynthia Macdonald

ILLUSTRATORSködt McNalty

PHOTOGRAPHERThe MasterCardFoundation ScholarsProgram/Pawel Dwulit

A GROUNDBREAKING SCHOLARSHIP IS EMPOWERINGSUB-SAHARAN AFRICA’S BEST ANDBRIGHTEST TO STUDY AT NEWCOLLEGE – AND FLOURISH IN COMMUNITIES BACK HOME.

ith herlove of read-

ing and solidwork ethic,

Vanessa GraceBart-Plange was

always a naturalstudent.

Growing up in the coastal city of Takoradi in southern Ghana,her dreams of one day becoming auniversity professor were stronglyencouraged by teachers impressedby her drive.

But without money, encourage-ment simply wasn’t enough. Bart-Plange’s father had five otherchildren to support, and couldn’tafford to further her educationafter high school.

Fortunately, Bart-Plange discov-ered a brand new initiative thatcould help her do just that. TheMasterCard Foundation ScholarsProgram has given her the educa-tion she had once thought wasbeyond reach. Now in her secondyear at New College, she is study-ing international relations andpolitical science, with a minor in African Studies.

It’s a gift she plans on paying forward after graduation, whichshe hopes will eventually include a doctorate.

“I want to inspire other students to think about great things, aboutwhat they can also do with theirtalents,” she says, smiling warmly.

GROW

W



15

WTH



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The MasterCard Foundation has committed $500 million overten years to provide disadvantagedstudents, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, the opportunity to study at universities around theworld. Bart-Plange is a member of the first cohort, and one of 23such Scholars currently studyingat U of T.

In addition to covering tuition andbooks, MasterCard also supportsBart-Plange’s living expenses, andhelps her source internship, volun-teer and social activities. Calling it “the greatest thing that everhappened to me,” she is ever-mind-ful that her education can’t betaken for granted. Her diligenceis proof of this: already a recipientof multiple academic awards, she served, until recently, as secretary on the FoundationScholars council, and social convenor on her residence floor.

With 60% of its citizens under the age of 25, sub-Saharan Africais rich with the potential andpromise of youth. Unfortunately,fewer than 7% are ever educatedbeyond high school. Within thatsmall group, far fewer than halfare female.

Which is why brilliant studentslike Sylvia Mwangi are true trail-blazers. Like Bart-Plange, Mwangiis also a MasterCard FoundationScholar. She was raised in themountainous central highlands of Kenya, and developed a passionfor science and math early on.Now in residence at New College,she’s in the second year of a program in industrial engineering.

Mwangi first heard of theMasterCard Foundation ScholarsProgram while interning at a bankin Nairobi, and also consideredstudying law or pharmacy. But as a result of studying in Toronto,she is newly motivated by theprospect of working in health careor the relatively new area of oiland gas exploration back home.

“I’m not just interested in mining,but in community development,”she says. “How do we make surewe give back? We must alwaysremember that the resourcesbelong to the people, and that they should see benefits, too.”

Giving back is a theme that recursin conversation with the two stu-dents. A key program requirementis that they will spend the summerafter their third year interning intheir home countries. After gradu-ation, their ultimate plan is toreturn to where they came.

This is no small point, as sub-Saharan Africa suffers from a

“brain drain”: for example, eventhough few people living there cantake advantage of medical training,in many African countries, themajority of locally-trained doctorsultimately take their skills else-where – instead of staying homewhere they are often badly needed.

So Bart-Plange knows she can make a difference where shestarted, and always has those whocan’t take advantage of scholarshipopportunities in her thoughts.

“What I hope to do for them,” shesays, “is to found an organizationwhere they can use skills likesewing and beadmaking, then per-haps set up an online shop wherethey could sell their products tointernational markets.”

And she has already embarked on that teaching career. Uponcompletion of her first year at U of T, she returned to gainexperience teaching social studiesat a junior-high school in Ghana.

“It was a very deprived school, withover 200 students and only oneteacher,” she says ruefully. “So Ihelped out.”

Vanessa Grace Bart-Plange (pictured left), aMasterCard FoundationScholar and second-yearinternational relations,political science andAfrican Studies student,wants to inspire otherstudents to make themost of their talents.



17

This situation reflects both the good and bad newsemanating from countrieslike Ghana and Kenya. On the one hand, governmentfunding and newly boomingeconomies have resulted in greater school enrollment at early levels (the MasterCardFoundation also funds secondary education). Butlacking teachers, school buildings, transportation and money for school fees,there is a limit to how fareducation can currently gofor most students. This isespecially true for girls, whoare often forced to give upschool in favour of domesticresponsibilities.

So it is up to the brightest of these students to createchange. Because Canada has a well-established miningindustry, Mwangi knows that many in the burgeoningresource sector in Kenya can

profit from the lessons she willbring back from her classworkand internships. In a way, teach-ing her means teaching manyother Africans as well.

“Canada has the resources, and we students have the skills,” shesays. “This program gives a perfectopportunity to match the two. Ireally look forward to going homeand sharing what I’ve learned.”

MasterCard Foundation Scholarsare also offered counselling andmentorship, to help them adjust to the culture and climate shock of their home away from home.Though they’d never travelledfrom their infinitely warmerhomelands before, neither studenthas had much trouble fitting in.

Both gregarious, kind and funny,they’ve adjusted easily to their

“home away from home” (whileadmitting they could certainly dowithout the cold of winter). Ontop of studying and volunteering,Mwangi has tried her hand at martial arts and leadershipopportunities through the

Rotoract Club. For her part, Bart-Plange also writes poems andshort stories.

They have found Canada to besafe and friendly, and appreciatethe range of viewpoints on offerin a diverse city like Toronto. This is something Mwangi hasabsorbed through the frequentgroup work in her engineeringclasses, something she’d neverdone in Kenya: “That was a wholenew concept for me,” she says.

Bart-Plange’s African Studiesminor and international relationsmajor have allowed her to seeissues such as foreign aid througha different lens than she wouldhave had at home.

“I loved the way my professor,who’s South African, was able to present things from both the European and African per-spectives,” she says. “We’ve alsocovered similar material in mypolitical science courses, too, butin a different way. That balancehas been perfect.”

Bart-Plange and Mwangi havealready learned a great deal inCanada – but Canada has much to learn from them, too. Theircourageous journey is a powerfulreminder that North Americansshould never be complacent, boredor cynical about the rewards ofeducation. And that even a youngperson is capable of taking on thebiggest challenges.

“I cannot change Africa on my own, but I can start that change,”Bart-Plange told viewers in arecent television appearance.Across the continent in Kenya,Mwangi will be helping her.

“Big things are going to happen in Africa,” she says. “There’s somuch energy there, and so muchto do.”

MasterCard FoundationScholar and second-yearindustrial engineeringstudent Sylvia Mwangi(pictured above), wholives in residence at NewCollege, is consideringapplying the knowledgeshe's gaining at U of T toa career in Kenya's bur-geoning resource sector.

Notable New Alumni New College Alumni & Friends Magazine


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Notable NewAlumniFrom Hong Kong to Ghana, you’ll find alumni thriving all over the world. We are proud to featurethree alumni who have found rewarding lives and careers abroad.

Ryan Pyle (New ‘01):Anthropologist with a Camera

Many students dream about mak-ing a career of their passions. ForNew College alumnus Ryan Pyle,this dream has become a reality.

Pyle is an adventurer, photogra-pher, journalist and GuinnessWorld Record-holder best knownfor his epic motorcycle journeysaround China and India with hisbrother Colin. The two brothersdocumented these journeys fortheir television series ToughRides: China and Tough Rides:India. (A third series, ExtremeTreks: Sacred Mountains, capturedPyle’s adventures in remoteChinese mountain communities.)Pyle’s entrepreneurial spirit andhard work have allowed him tothrive since he graduated with apolitical science specialist degreefrom the University of Toronto.

Before creating these documentaryseries, Pyle lived and worked inChina as an award-winning photo-journalist for international publi-cations including Time, Fortuneand The New York Times. Despitehis success as a photojournalist,Pyle decided to pursue a career in documentary production. Hecreated Tough Rides: China toexpose a more complete image of China, providing an expansiverepresentation of regions he feltwere largely ignored by media outlets in favour of stories on

“the economy, pollution and exposing sweatshops”.

“The best way I thought to do that was to ride a motorcycle all around the country and show people the deserts, the grasslands,the nomad families, massivemega-cities, mountain base camps,everything China has to offer,” hesays. “When I talk to people about[Tough Rides: China], the numberone feedback I get is, ‘I had noidea China looked like that.’ Thatis exactly what we were going for.”

Ryan Pyle (picturedbelow) on his GuinnessWorld Record-winningmotorcycle ride aroundChina.

PhotographyCourtesy Ryan Pyle



19

Carmichael (picturedright) covers the early-morning departure ofUN peacekeepers fromLiberia, who were beingsent on loan to the UNMission in South Sudanto help protect internally-displaced-person camps.

PhotographyCourtesy StefanieCarmichael

Pyle’s interest in China, which he calls his muse for photography and storytelling,came about by mere chance. Asan undergraduate student, heenrolled in an introductory classin Chinese history and politics –primarily because it fit into hisschedule. This random choicewould turn out to greatlyimpact the course of his life.

“That class introduced me to a whole way of life in China,a history that I had had noexposure to until that point,”Pyle says.

In the remaining years of hisundergraduate degree, Pyle con-tinued taking classes related toChina, and from then on knewthat he had to visit. Staying trueto his vision, Pyle travelled toChina following his graduationfor a three-month trip, later relo-cating to Shanghai to establish a life and career there.

Pyle’s story is proof that acareer can be made out of a passion – and ambition helps.

“I’ve learned that the more you try to do and the biggerbites you take out of life, nomatter what it is you do withyour life, the bigger the rewardand the better your confidencewill be,” he says.

Another adventure is under-way for Pyle; he began produc-tion on his next series, ToughRides: Brazil in March. It is thelatest move in a career that hastaken Pyle far beyond the bor-ders of his home country – andthat suits him just fine.

“I think the more you see, themore you know yourself,” Pylesays. “Every time I see a newpart of the world, I get a betterunderstanding of who I am andhow I fit into the bigger picture.”

Arielle Vetro with files fromWhitney Wiebe

How long will you be in Ghana?UNMEER was created due to theurgent need for fast action, but we don’t plan on being here long.As soon as the outbreak is undercontrol, all of us at UNMEER willpack up and go. That’s not to saythe work will be over – there isgoing to be a long recoveryprocess after everything thesecountries have been through – but the emergency needs will have been met.

Why did you go to Ghana to fight Ebola?I had been living abroad foralmost eight years – in Rwanda,Congo, Thailand, Libya and Liberia– and thought it would be nice tobe closer to my family in Torontoagain, so I accepted a short-termposition in New York last summer.But when I was called to join theEbola response, I couldn’t say no,especially as I used to work for theUN Mission in Liberia. The issueand the people it was affectingwere very close to my heart. Myfamily and my team in New Yorkunderstood that I had to go.

Did U of T help prepare you foryour current career?In my second year, I was living oncampus with some students fromTanzania. They kept telling mesuch amazing stories about theircountry that over Christmas breakI decided to go visit. I was 19 and

Q&A with Stefanie Carmichael(African Studies ‘04 & SMC ‘04)Public Information Officer, UnitedNations Mission for EbolaEmergency Response

The Ebola epidemic may no longer be front-page news in NorthAmerica, but the threat persists inWest Africa, where new cases arestill being confirmed each week. Asthe crisis continues, many peopleare trying to help out however theycan, including Stefanie Carmichael,an African Studies alumna nowworking for the United Nations.

Carmichael left a communicationsposition at UN headquarters inNew York to return to Ghana,where she’s working with an Ebolaresponse team. We interviewed herby email about her role.

What is your role in Ghana? I work as a public informationofficer with the United NationsMission for Ebola EmergencyResponse (UNMEER). We are asmall team that helps get the wordout about what all of the EbolaResponse partners – the UN andothers – are doing to stop the out-break. We try to both help raiseawareness about the situation, andalso keep up the momentum andpublic support for all of our part-ners, so they have the resourcesthey need to keep up the fight.

Fighting Ebola in West Africa



20

but instead hoped to work as a teacher or counsellor.

She learned the ropes of higher-education administration as a U of T admissions counsellor, but found she missed her family in her hometown of Hong Kong.She decided to move back to HongKong in 2008 with no job linedup – but fortunately, the uncer-tainty was short-lived.

“Within a week of arriving in HongKong, I was offered a three-monthtemp job at the U of T Asia-PacificAdvancement Office to work ontheir Asia-Pacific GraduationCeremony,” Poon recalls. “As peoplewould say, the rest is history.”

Poon says in many ways, the connections and memories shemade at New College – she livedin Wilson Hall for over three years,served on Johnson House’s committee and joined a variety of clubs during her time at theUniversity – prepared her for her current role.

“I loved U of T and my time there,and met some of my best friendsthere,” she says. “I could neverimagine doing this type of workwithout believing in and lovingthe institution I work for.”

From presidential alumni recep-tions to the Asia-Pacific convoca-tion, and from faculty seminars toalumni association events, Poon’sportfolio of events keeps her inconstant contact with her fellowalumni. She says it has made anenormous impact on her life.

“I’ve always kept in touch withfriends from my residence days atNew College, but being able to con-nect with the larger alumni com-munity in Hong Kong has givenme a sense of pride and belonging,”she says. “Even after seven years,whenever I walk into a room of U of T alumni, I’m alwaysreminded how great U of T is. I get extremely nostalgic even afterall these years and all these events.”

Kaitlin Klaas

my parents thought I was nuts– I think they even called theRCMP when they didn’t hearfrom me for the first few days –but it was the best experience.When I came back, I couldn’twait to finish my studies andget back overseas.

I added a major in AfricanStudies to my program, startedvolunteering with NGOs all overthe place, even started studyingSwahili at New College, andnever looked back. Yes, I caughtthe bug and love working over-seas – you meet so many amaz-ing people from all over theworld. And every day is some-thing new – you don’t get stuckin any kind of routine. Nothingbeats it. I really do owe mycareer to the diversity of U of Tand those international studentsI used to live with.

How has your African Studies education made an impact on your career?I have to say, [African StudiesProgram Director] DicksonEyoh was one of the best pro-fessors I ever had. Everythinghe taught me, and the way hetaught us to think, will alwaysstay with me. Studying Swahilifor two years has also come inhandy in the most random ofplaces that I never would’veimagined. The African Studiesprogram at New College completely reaffirmed my decision to start up the careerthat I have. And unlike otherprograms, it really felt like afamily, which was nice.

Where will you go next?I don’t know where I’ll go next!I know I want to stay with theUN – it’s in my blood now, andI love what it stands for. But Igave up my job in New York tocome here, so I don’t have any-thing to go back to. We’ll seewhere the world takes me.

Terry Lavender with files fromKaitlin Klaas

Michelle Poon (New ‘05)Associate Director, U of T Asia-Pacific Advancement Office

They say you can’t go home again,and in some ways that is true. Butwhat if you never left? For everyalum who finds a fulfilling careerbeyond the borders of campus, itseems you will also find an alumwho has flourished right here atthe University of Toronto.

Among this sizeable population of alumni-cum-staff is MichellePoon. Unlike most of her colleagues, Poon works some12,500 kilometres away in theUniversity’s Hong Kong-basedAsia-Pacific Advancement Office.

Poon’s role, alongside two colleagues and a team of dedicatedalumni volunteers, is to coordinateall fundraising, event planningand alumni engagement activitiesacross the Asia-Pacific region, aswell as administer the University’sHong Kong Scholarship.

“Getting to meet alumni across Asiaand hear how their U of T experi-ence has shaped their lives is sorewarding,” says Poon. “I’ve heardso many inspirational stories –some about family, friendship andlove, and some about how smallexperiences at U of T suddenlytook an alum on an unexpectedand successful career path.”

As so often happens, Poon’s careerisn’t what she had imagined as anundergraduate student; she earnedan Honours B.Sc. in environmentalmanagement and psychology andhad no aspirations to work infundraising or alumni engagement,

PhotographyCourtesy Michelle Poon

*geographic statistics are based on the 17,317 alumni for whom we have current addresses.

**not including International Foundation Program or incoming exchange students.

Alumni

Students

23,826 alumniFound in 34 countries around the world*

Citizenship of current New College students

A whopping 82% of alumni still live

in the Greater Toronto Area

82%

A whopping 82% of alumni still live

in the Greater Toronto Area

82%

2%live in Other

AfricaAfrica

Australia and New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand

EuropeEurope

AsiaAsia

North America & CaribbeanNorth America & Caribbean 16,60916,609

621621

6363

1414

1010

A statistical look at New College’s globe-trotting community

New College by the Numbers

4% South Korean citizens

Other (from Afghanistan

to Zimbabwe)

Chinese citizens

6%

23%9%

New College students are Canadian citizens

58%

1% each: American, Taiwanese, Indian, Hong Kong,Pakistani, Turkish,Bangladeshi, Russian, Nigerian citizens (totalling 9%)

93%live in Canada

3%live in USA

2%live in Hong Kong

4,705**Studentsenrolledfrom 96 countries

New College by the Numbers New College Alumni & Friends Magazine


21

Giving Back New College Alumni & Friends Magazine


22

Giving BackThanks to the support of our alumni and friends, New College is closer than ever to our $7 million goal as part of Boundless: The Campaign for the University of Toronto.

Our annual donor listing recognizes the generosity of donors whohave made new gifts or pledges to New College of $100 or morebetween January 1 and December 31, 2014.*

New College would like to thank the following benefactors who contributed to the Boundless campaign in 2014, impacting our students, faculty and academic community:

$25,000+Richard RooneyE. Anthony Ross

$10,000 - $24,999Robert Bruce

$1,000 - $9,999Marvin M. BernsteinFares BoulosGlenn H. CarterKerri HuffmanDonald G. IveyKnox College

Missionary SocietyYves Roberge and

Diane MassamJeffrey NewmanNorm PatersonUniversity Lodge 496

Awards FundLuc A. VannestePaul and Sally WalkerAnonymous (1)

$500-$999Arts & Science

Students’ UnionJean AugustineKeren BrathwaiteRichard ChowVeena DaddarRoy DoromboziClifford E. DresnerDenise DuhaimeJudy M EarlDeborah KnottJune LarkinMicrosoft CorporationNew College

Student CouncilRobert M. NishikawaKathleen Mary

O’ConnellCeta RamkhalawansinghHarris M. RosenKathryn L. SeligaElaine SheSheryl Stevenson and

Alan WitkinFrank K. F. YeungAnonymous (5)

$100-$499Giuseppe J. AielloOswald AlmasiStephen N. AltbaumSteven BaldassarraCharles BarrettRyan Edson BaxterDavid BergerDonald BoereD. Edwin BoeveMelva G. BowmanAlexander J. BrownAndrew J. BrownCaroline Yoon Hee

BrownLinda BubenkoPaul ByamElsa Maria CabralDavid CameronRosemary CameronFong Wah Betty ChanIvy M. ChanDonna ChangThe Charlton FamilyHoe Kooi CheahMagdalene CheungDamon ChevrierPhilip Charles Chin-SamDavid and

Sandra Clandfield

Bernard D. CoopermanSherry L. DanielChandler and

Natalie DavisMichael W. Des RochesDulcie DixonColin R. C. DobellRobert C. DouglasBartosz J. DworakR. H. FarquharsonRonald GinsbergBarry Lloyd GlaspellPaul W. Gooch and

Pauline ThompsonPeter A. GrunwaldGuy Aime HamelW. Jason HansonPatricia HarrisSally Hill PoupeeAudrey HinesMonica Chung-Yan HoDolores C. IaboniKelly JayMichael Joel Kam

continued on page 25

BOUN

DLESSLEGACY

“A gift to higher education is an enduring contribution. Your bequest will give future New College students the precious opportunity to fulfill their potential and become the people they are meant to be.”

Samuel Killackey BSc in Pathobiology, 2015

Join the Boundless campaign for New College by including a gift in your will. Your bequest is a powerful way to support the limitless potential of future clinical researchers like Sam Killackey.

To find out more, contact [email protected] or give.utoronto.ca

Academic Focus New College Alumni & Friends Magazine


24

Yes! I will support New College

Solicitation code: NEW15ANNANEWCOALLAFF Charitable reg. BN 108162330-RR0001** A receipt for income tax purposes will be issued for all donations.

Your Privacy: The information on this form is collected and used solely for the administration of the University’s advancement activities, undertaken pursuant to the University of Toronto Act, 1971.If you have any questions, please refer to www.utoronto.ca/privacy or contact the University’s Freedom ofInformation and Protection of Privacy Coordinator at 416.946.7303, McMurrich Building, Room 201, 12 Queen’s Park Crescent West, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8.

The Presidents’ Circle: Individuals giving annual combined donationstotalling $1,827 or more become members of this U of T recognition program with many exciting benefits.

Ways to give:Complete the form below and send your donation to: Office ofAdvancement, 300 Huron Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3J6 using the attached envelope.

Contact Alison Liddell by phone 416-978-0310 or email: [email protected]

Donate online at donate.utoronto.ca/new

Name: _________________________________________________________________________________Address:________________________________________________________________________________City: _______________________________________________________ Province: __________________ Postal Code: ___________Tel: _________________________ E-mail: ______________________________n Are you a grad? If so, what year: __________________________________________________________n I would prefer that my name not be included in listings of donors

Here is my donation of n $250 n $500 n $1,000 n Other: $________________________

l Visa l Mastercard l Amex

Card Number: __________________________________________ Exp: _____________/_____________Name on card: ______________________________________ ____ Signature: _____________________

n Cheque, which is enclosed (payable to the University of Toronto)

Please designate my gift as follows:$___________ to support student financial aid and scholarships (0560002309)$___________ to support the improvement of student space at New College (0560013808)$___________ to the E. Anthony Ross Fund for Community Engagement in Belize (0560014334)

DE

TAC

H T

HIS

PO

RTI

ON

Thank you for your generous support!

Giving Back New College Alumni & Friends Magazine


25

Nicolle KatzLaura KerrAndrew F. KovacGlenn A. LoneyRosanne G. Lopers-

SweetmanMark J. LukasiewiczPeter J. MacDonaldMichael J. MaikawaLinzi ManicomSinisa MarkovicSusan McDonaldSandra J. McEwanJosephine T. McMillenGary M. McQueenDavid M. MocekDean E. MoratzColin MorningstarA. Elaine NielsenGary R. NortonJohn and Penelope

PepperellCarol E. PercyGeorge J. PilarMorton B. PragerKeerthiga RajaratnamCelestia Richards

Lesley Riedstra and Rian Mitra

Shirley RobertsLara M RoccataniWalter V. RojenkoPaul RussellKlaus H. SchaedlichSohely ShafiqueCheryl ShookSandra E. SpellerJune StrakerClarence J. SwantonRegine TaborJohn TepelenasThomas TranMichael VachonRichard J. Walter and

Susan SuzukiGeorgina L. WhiteE. Ann YeomanAdrian S. Zenwirt Anonymous (20)

Gifts-In-KindIan LancashireF. Michah Rynor

*Payments toward previously-recognizedgifts are not included in this list.

Willem O. KwantV. LobodowskyKerrie MacPhersonRichard RooneyE. Anthony RossIn Memory of

Hammed ShahidianLuc and

Pamela VannesteFrank WalwynChristopher WoodfordMarion WoodmanBuddhist Education

Foundation for Canada

Canadian Tamil Congress Ontario

Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies of New Taipei City

Dream Maker Realty

English Testing Canada Ltd

The MasterCard Foundation

Minto Foundation Inc.Northwater Capital

Management Inc.Steelworkers

Toronto AreaTamil Studies

Coordinating Committee

Your donations make a tremendous difference to the entireNew College community. They support students throughscholarships and bursaries; new and improved spaces to learn, connect and live; and enhanced academic and community outreach programs. Because of your generosity,New College students enjoy an unparalleled educationalexperience. New College is deeply grateful to all of its donors.

Every effort has been made to ensure all donor names are listed correctly. Please contact us at 416-978-0310 ifthere are any errors or omissions so we can update ourrecords accordingly.

Boundless Leadership New College would like to thank the following benefactors, who have contributed $25,000 ormore to the Boundless campaign in benefit of theCollege, for their remarkable generosity. Thank youfor investing in the boundless potential of theUniversity community.

Going Places New College Alumni & Friends Magazine


26

Going Places

Dr. Manveen Puri (New ‘09) mar-ried Nymisha Sridhara (May 2014)

Ceta Ramkhalawansingh (New ‘77)was appointed interim city councillor of Toronto’s Ward 20(Trinity-Spadina) (July toNovember 2014)

Lesley Riedstra (New ‘95) was appointed Director, MassAffluent Platform Strategy atCIBC (August 2014)

Ali Rizvi (New ‘10), co-founder of Flarian Inc., received the Top 30 Under 30 Future Leaders inManufacturing Award from theSociety of ManufacturingEngineers (July 2014)

Have you moved lately? Changed phone numbers? Gotten married or received a promotion and want toshare the good news?

We love hearing great news andhope you’ll tell us all about it!

Please email us at [email protected] to keep us in the loop.

New College Staff andFaculty Updates

Dr. Stanley Doyle-Woodwas appointed ActingDirector, Equity Studies,during Dr. June Larkin’sleave (January to June 2015)

Cori Hanson, StudentServices Assistant, hasaccepted a position at U of T’s Faculty of AppliedScience & Engineering

Kate Johnson wasappointed ActingLibrarian during LibrarianJeff Newman’s leave(January to June 2015)

Deborah Knott, WritingCentre Director, wasappointed Vice-Principaleffective July 1, 2014

Alison Liddell (New ‘88)was appointed AssociateDirector, Advancement, in December 2014

Dr. Anne McGuire wasappointed to the rank ofLecturer in Equity Studies in July 2014

Angela Santos, wasappointed AssistantCoordinator, InternationalPrograms effectiveFebruary 2015

Vince Tropepe, HumanBiology Director, hasbeen appointed Chair of the Department of Cell & Systems Biologyeffective July 1, 2015

Dr. Ramon (Arturo)Victoriano-Martinez was appointed ActingDirector, CaribbeanStudies, during ProfessorMelanie Newton’s leave(2014-2015)

Professor RinaldoWalcott was appointedDirector, Women &Gender Studies Institute,effective July 1, 2014

Robert Herjavec (New ‘84) joinedthe cast of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars

Sandra McEwan (New ‘83) retiredafter a 30-year career as a teacherfor the Durham District SchoolBoard (June 2014)

Paul Nazareth (New ‘99) was named Vice President,Community Engagement ofCanada Helps (August 2014)

Marin Pavlic (New ‘03), his wife, Maja, and son, Adrian, welcomed a new baby boy, Luka (September 2014)

David Scrymgeour (New ‘79),founder and owner of GreenStandards Ltd., was appointedExecutive-in-Residence at theUniversity of Toronto’s RotmanCommerce program (March 2014)

Richard Tse (New ‘91), Analyst,Institutional Equity Research atCormark Securities Inc., receivedBrendan Wood International’sTopGun designation (August 2014)

Chris Woodford (New ‘06) marriedSarah Woodford (August 2014)

Dr. Manveen Puri (New ‘09)and Nymisha Sridhara (pictured left)

PhotographyCourtesy Dr. Manveen Puri

Chris Woodford (New ‘06)and Sarah Woodford(pictured right)

PhotographyCourtesy Chris Woodford

The office of the InternationalFoundation Program (IFP),New College’s English-language-learning program, is nearly unrecognizable compared to itspre-renovation design.

Led by architect Terence VanElslander of Van Elslander +Associates Architects Inc., thisproject was just one piece of alarger, multi-stage renovationbrought about by the 2011 trans-formation of the Wetmore Hallbasement, the original location of the IFP office.

The basement renovation necessitated moving the IFP officeinto a room on the main level ofWetmore Hall, which at the timewas the New College StudentCouncil (NCSC) headquarters. As a result, the NCSC relocated toa new office in the College’s 45Willcocks Street building.

Transforming the space to suit the IFP’s needs presented VanElslander with a series of chal-lenges, the first being convertingthe room’s unique design, with itscollection of small nooks, into amore open-concept space.

“It was a challenging and difficult-to-use space,” says Van Elslander.

“It’s on two levels and is noteasily accessible.”

Adding to the list of obstacles, the office’s mechanical system hadto be separated from the neigh-bouring dining hall for fire-safetypurposes. The office also necessi-tated the introduction of anacoustic barrier, reception area,

conference room and privateoffices. The challenge was ampli-fied by having to design aroundthe natural curve of Wetmore Halland its interspersed columns.

“New College has fantastic modernbuildings and the New Collegecommunity respects that heritage,”Van Elslander says. “The changesthat have been made to the build-ing all attempt to reach the samedesign level as the original build-ing and to modernize things.”

The new IFP office is now in an ideal location, with amplenatural light and a picturesqueview of the quadrangle.

“Now they have a space that’s full of light, high ceilings andgreat views that work well for thecollaborative work they do,” saysVan Elslander. “They can bringtheir students into a space theycan be proud of.”

The room was transformed into an open-concept, modernspace (pictured top).

Prior to the renovation, the former New CollegeStudent Council office (pictured bottom) containeda number of inconvenientnooks and dark corners.

PhotographyCourtesy Van Elslander +Associates Architects Inc.

InternationalFoundationProgram Office

WRITERArielle Vetro

new college alumni & friends magazine · arielle vetro / whitney wiebe going places around new...

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