Dr. Tanya (Toni) De Mello
Meet the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion
Dr. Tanya (Toni) De Mello is a human rights lawyer with a unique background in economics, finance and operational management. With experience working in private, government and nonprofit sectors, she has co-founded two NGOs and worked internationally on three continents for the United Nations in humanitarian aid. In her role as vice-president, equity and community inclusion, she brings 25 years of experience in equity, diversity and inclusion and over 15 years working in administration of post-secondary education to help build an equitable community-focused and human rights centred campus that strives to work towards decolonization.
Dr. De Mello has been a valued member of the the TMU community since her arrival as director of human rights services in 2017 where she worked closely with campus administration, faculties, associations, unions and student groups to engage in programming, service delivery and curriculum development in order to operationalize diversity, equity and inclusion on campus.
As the inaugural associate dean, student programming, development and equity at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Dr. De Mello helped to open Canada’s newest law school and had a broad portfolio including admissions, health and wellness, careers, student accommodations, targeted support for Black, Indigenous and racialized students, and student engagement.
Dr. De Mello holds a dual Bachelor of Economics and Political Science from the University of Waterloo; a double Master in Public Policy and Urban and Regional Planning from Princeton University; a Master in Counseling and Psychotherapy from the University of Toronto; a dual law degree from McGill University and a PhD in social justice education at the University of Toronto. She has recently completed a Master of Laws In Dispute Resolution at Osgoode Hall Law School.
A trusted and collaborative leader at TMU, Dr. De Mello has over 20 years of experience as an experienced coach and mediator with expertise in discrimination, harassment and sexual violence, with a focus on the postsecondary sector. She works collaboratively with partners across campus and outside of TMU and centers students in her work. Her office has created and oversees TMU’s Community Building Working Group, which supports community members affected by global conflicts through initiatives focused on fostering trust and belonging, and building capacity for constructive dialogue and conflict resolution. Dr. De Mello is considered a leading expert and trainer on equity and inclusion in Canada, and explores the nuances of everyday experiences and challenges in the workplace and in our communities. By moving past definitions and handouts to help folks wrestle with the material in their daily lives, she is praised for the way in which her education and work moves beyond transactional to transformational.
Vice-President of Equity and Community Inclusion
The Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion provides strategic leadership and direction to achieve TMU's vision to be a leader in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in all aspects of the university’s mandate.
Responsibilities include:
- Overseeing and directing implementation of the university’s EDI and human rights-related values, priorities and strategies.
- Providing counsel to senior leadership on institutional priorities and policies related to human rights, EDI and decolonization.
- Leading the five equity and community inclusion units: Indigenous Initiatives, Accessibility, Education, Awareness and Outreach, Human Rights Services, and Research, Planning and Assessment.
- Managing the human rights and sexual violence investigation processes as well as leading crisis management responses that require an equity-informed approach.
- Managing the collection and analysis of EDI data, critical to influencing our responses to removing systemic barriers and increasing representation and belonging.
- Leading EDI education and providing expert advice on inclusive training, curriculum development and pedagogy.
- Acting as the university’s primary spokesperson on matters related to equity and inclusion and human rights.
- Facilitating capacity building across all areas of the university to strengthen EDI literacy, foster purposeful action, and empower all community members to create a human rights-centred campus culture grounded in empathy, dialogue, and constructive conflict resolution.