Student spotlight: Dyutee Arani (Urban Health PhD)

The Faculty of Community Services’ Urban Health PhD program is drawing professionals who’ve often seen firsthand the challenges of city dwelling on health and well-being — and who now want leadership roles in finding solutions.

TMU alumna Dyutee Arani (MA, Early Childhood Studies ‘22)  is just one such from our second cohort. With a background spanning multiple geographies and contexts — from research in informal settlements of Bangladesh to graduate school in the U.S., and finally settlement in Canada — Arani is back in class working on a doctoral dissertation that examines educational and well-being experiences of Bangladeshi immigrant mothers.

Tell us about your background

I was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh. I hold two master’s degrees in economics, as well as a master’s degree from TMU in Early Childhood Studies. Being a first-generation immigrant, who raised children in North America, I am a diehard advocate of health and educational equity of children and truly passionate about social justice. I also worked as a research assistant in measuring the effects of a number of poverty alleviation projects on improving the quality of human life in the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh. I am a mother of four amazing young adults — three daughters and a son — who are the constant source of inspiration, support and joy in my life. Raising them as an immigrant parent has taught me innumerable valuable lessons.

I have over 15 years of experience as an educator in Canada and internationally—the last ten years with the Toronto District School Board as an Early Childhood Educator in a kindergarten classroom, where I implement curriculum and address individual students' needs with regard to their individual stages of development and interests. My job includes planning programs, environments and learning activities that facilitate an inclusive and diverse classroom, the developmental progress of students with special needs, and the use of art, music, movement and other media in a play-based environment to promote numeracy and literacy.

What area of research do you plan to pursue?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I taught, virtually and in-person, students from marginalized families in Toronto. I have seen first-hand how educational equity and overall well-being of students from immigrant and marginalized families were challenged.

My proposed PhD topic is: “Perspectives of Bangladeshi Immigrant Mothers on their Children’s Educational Experiences and Its Impact on their Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Toronto-based Study.” I believe that through my research there will be some valuable insight into the educational needs and well-being of the students so that their educational and health equity can be addressed.

What goals do you have after completing your PhD?

After finishing my PhD, I hope to teach at the post-secondary level where I can impart my knowledge and experience as an educator of young children. I would also like to continue carrying on research on educational equity and well-being of children from marginalized communities.

There are very few books for children of colour in Canada, which are essential for representation and building children's positive identities. I would like to write books on the stories of children from immigrant families. I would also continue to advocate for educational and health equity for children from marginalized communities in Canada.