Student Award Recipients
Congratulations to the 2024-2025 student award and bursary recipients in the School of Social Work.
Bachelor of Social Work Awards
Maureen Garvin
Maureen Garvin is a fourth-year student, pursuing a minor in disability studies. Maureen is a mature student who identifies as someone from the 2S LGBTA+++ community and has three invisible disabilities. Maureen has advocated for same sex marriage, Indigenous land rights, and accessibility for all. Maureen is a registered social service worker and has worked across different social service settings. Maureen is deeply passionate about disability rights. Maureen completed her placement at the Office of the Vice-President, Equity & Community Inclusion at TMU with the Accessibility Unit. Besides studies, Maureen volunteers, works at a gender-based violence shelter and a substance abuse treatment centre. Maureen is excited about future opportunities in the field of social work.
Victoria-Lynn Manitowabi
Victoria Manitowabi is a part-time, advanced-standing student. She graduated from George Brown College’s Social Service Worker diploma program with honours in 2022. Victoria is an Anishinaabe kwe from Wiikwemikoong Unceded First Nation who grew up in Toronto. She is passionate about working in the Urban Indigenous community in Toronto. She is a helper and Indigenous Patient Navigator in the UHN's Emergency Department at Toronto General Hospital. Her goal is to create a safe space for Indigenous people and continue working in the community. She looks forward to completing her BSW and pursuing a Master of Social Work: Indigenous Field of Study.
Michelle Calleja
Michelle Calleja pursued further education in the advanced-standing, part-time program to follow her passion for working with the homeless. She had a unique undergraduate placement during the COVID-19 pandemic with Dr. Dawn Onishenko. As one of four student research assistants in a project on marginalized homeless youth during the pandemic, Michelle and the other student researchers remained on the project after the placement concluded. They accepted the invitation to write about the experience. This co-constructed autoethnography has been published as Chapter 14 of Critical Reflexive Research Methodologies Interdisciplinary Approaches, Volume Editors: Dawn Onishenko, Nob Doran, Rose Ann Torres, and Dionisio Nyaga. It was an honour for Michelle to participate in the placement and contribute to the publication on critically reflexive research.
Elena Giuliano
Elena has been deeply involved in community-based roles supporting Indigenous, queer, and transitional-aged youth populations through peer support, outreach, and culturally-grounded programming. With front-line experience in mental health, addiction, and crisis response; her work emphasizes trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and identity-affirming practices. Her passion lies in dismantling systemic barriers and creating inclusive, culturally safe spaces for marginalized communities. She aspires to continue advancing equity and transformative change through critical and community-rooted social work practice.
Selena Capone
Selena Capone is a registered social service worker with experience supporting children, youth, and families through trauma-informed, equity-focused care. She has worked across various social service settings, including women's shelters, school boards, and ABA therapy services for children diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder. At Sheridan College, Selena founded the Student Leader Inclusion Partner Program and served as Chairwoman of the Women in Leadership Program, championing gender equity and institutional policy change. She is also a member of TMU’s Students with Disabilities Group Mentoring Program. Her work centers on inclusive service delivery, anti-oppressive practice, and community empowerment that focuses on advancing accessible, family-centered care.
Mila Dzinic
Mila is a settler and a second-year student pursuing a minor in criminology. She has been actively involved in community initiatives since the age of fourteen. Recently, she has dedicated her time to the Tri-Mentoring Program and the TMSU’s Centre for Safer Sex & Sexual Violence Support: Sexual Assault Survivor Support Line. Mila is passionate about harm reduction research and community organizing and aspires to pursue a career in the field.
Antonietta Gutierrez
Antonietta Gutierrez (she/her) is a third-year student. She has been a longtime volunteer for Camp Erin Toronto, a special annual bereavement camp for children and teens who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or family member. She is a national committee member of Children’s Grief Research through Canadian Alliance for Children’s Grief (CACG), where her passion lies in advocating for communities impacted by trauma, loss and grief. Antonietta has worked and volunteered for numerous community-based organizations including Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Centre, Bereaved Families-Toronto, Lumenus Community Services and SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health. She currently works as a peer support worker with the Emergency Department at Mount Sinai Hospital; in this role, she utilizes her lived experiences with mental health and grief to support patients, ages 16-29.
Navid Mirzaei
Navid Mirzaei identifies as a dedicated second-year, mature student who is pursuing a minor in psychology. As the first in his family to attend post-secondary education; Navid's passion for social work is deeply rooted in his own experiences as an immigrant to Canada. He aims to be a global social worker with a focus on human rights, in particular for refugee populations. Navid is committed to community service, which he sees as a fundamental duty. He has volunteered with several organizations, including the UNHCR, where he supported other refugees during his own time as a refugee. Locally, he has served as a Housing Lead for the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board, assisting newcomers and community members with housing needs. Additionally, Navid has been active with the Toronto Neighborhood Organization (TNO), facilitating programs for youth and families. On campus, he further contributes as a committee member with the Faculty of Community Service Society, fostering connections and resources for students.
Abiola Bakare
Abiola Bakare is an advanced-standing student with a deep commitment to advocacy and community engagement. She has provided support to marginalized individuals in the capacity of a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters and for the last two years as a volunteer with Toronto People Living with AIDS. She also serves on the Women’s Advisory Board at Christie Refugee Welcome Centre, advocating for refugee and immigrant women. Abiola is passionate about working with seniors and marginalized communities, ensuring they receive equitable access to resources and support. Her dedication to social justice, empathy, and cultural humility drives her future aspirations in social work.
Mutiat Ibikunle
Mutiat Adenike Ibikunle is an experienced personal support worker and advanced-standing student. She holds a diploma from Centennial College, where she graduated with honours. Mutiat has more than ten years of dedicated service in the human services sector. She specializes in supporting seniors with personalized assistance related to their daily activities, emotional support, and overall well-being. Mutiat's work is based on dignity and respect, while deeply realizing the specific challenges of older adult populations. She cares about person-centred care that promotes independence and quality of life, in the lives of the seniors she serves.
Sevinder Kaur
Sevinder Kaur Sarwara (she/her) is a fourth-year student and registered social service worker with a strong foundation in community mental health, older adult care and newcomer/settlement support. A graduate of Sheridan College’s Social Service Worker program, Sevinder has held frontline and leadership roles in long-term care, non-profit, and newcomer-serving organizations. Her work spans case management, outreach, and group facilitation, focusing on empowering older adults, racialized newcomers and women. Sevinder is deeply committed to trauma-informed, culturally-responsive practice and aspires to pursue her MSW to continue building safer, more equitable systems of care.
Malaika Rajab
Malaika Rajab (she/her) is a second-year student who is committed to the core principles of social work. Malaika is currently a key member of the Health Promotion Programs as a peer support facilitator, where she spearheaded the creation of "Queer Community Circle" to support 2SLGBTQIA+ students. Through compassionate leadership and effective advocacy, Malaika shows great promise as a future social worker.
Ma. Pia Catherine Cuadra
Ma. Pia Catherine Cuadra is an upcoming graduate of the program, completing a minor in global politics and development. She served as the Fourth Year Student Representative and Co-Chair of the School Council, School of Social Work. She holds a diploma in Social Service Work with a certificate in Indigenous Studies from Centennial College, in addition to holding a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Miriam College. She is a research assistant for The Rights for Children and Youth Partnership, affiliated with the School of Social Work. Pia has held leadership positions in agencies and organizations including ACSA and YouthSpeak, focused on supporting children and youth in the GTA. She is active across solidarity movements advocating for liberation, including Filipinos United 4 Palestine. She is also a member of the Filipino Canadian Social and Community Workers Network. Pia proudly stands on the shoulders of Filipino ancestors.
Julie Emeid
Julie Emeid is a second-year, advanced-standing student who is pursuing a minor in disability studies. She is passionate about advocacy, policy change, and disability justice. Julie works as a research assistant with Race and Disability Canada and has spoken at conferences to raise awareness about ableism. She serves on the Citizens With Disabilities – Ontario Board and the Patient Advisory Board at Toronto Western Hospital. Julie is committed to educating employers and policymakers on dismantling ableism in the workplace. Her dedication to equity and inclusion has earned her the Dennis Mock Student Leadership Award. Julie plans to pursue a master's degree in social work and is committed to continuing advocacy for accessible and inclusive spaces, where all individuals -regardless of ability- are valued and supported.
Sonia Ghahary
Sonia is a fourth-year, part-time student who is currently working full-time as a case manager with BlueDoor’s housing program. With over six years of experience supporting vulnerable populations in shelter settings, Sonia actively contributes to Diversity, Justice, Inclusion, and Equity (DJIE) initiatives. She specializes in helping individuals to secure housing, access mental health supports, and connect to educational and employment opportunities tailored to their unique needs. Passionate about social justice; Sonia advocates for raising awareness of human rights and advancing policy changes to better support low-income and marginalized communities. Her work reflects a strong commitment to empowering individuals and promoting equitable access to essential services.
Marina Classen
Marina Classen is an advanced-standing student who has greatly valued and enjoyed her first-year in the program. Marina has a keen interest in developing her education particularly around individual client-care to structural change in communities, such as in the spaces of policy development and political activism. Marina believes the school uniquely represents the rich and broad scope of the field. For over a decade, Marina has honed leadership skills through both employment and volunteer work as an advocate and community organizer; with a focus in housing justice, anti-poverty and harm reduction movements. Marina looks forward to exploring and developing leadership skills through participation during her time at TMU.
Zintiat Kolly
Zintiat Kolly (She/Her) is a fourth-year student who is dedicated to community engagement and advocacy. She is currently completing her placement at Nusura Consulting, where she explores and advocates for equity and liberation practice through holistic, client-centered services that work to address racial justice and systemic inequities. As Vice-Chairperson on the board of directors at Future Black Female, she empowers Black female youth through her work to offer access to academic and leadership opportunities. Her commitment extends globally through volunteer work with Islamic Relief Canada and her clean water initiative in Nigeria, "Operation Build a Well". Zintiat is passionate about global justice, youth empowerment, and mental health equity and she aspires to integrate these values into her future social work and legal practice.
Dana Orr
Dana is an advanced-standing student, pursuing a minor in psychology. Dana attended St. Lawrence College for the Social Service Worker program, graduating with distinction in 2007. Since then, Dana has raised her daughter on her own, while simultaneously working full-time as a counsellor in various programs at a non-profit counselling centre. Here, she took on various leadership roles, including supervising and mentoring students, developing new programs within the agency and serving as a union steward and member of the bargaining committee, involved in the negotiation of two collective agreements. In her personal life, Dana has become a respite foster parent, was secretary of her child’s parent council committee, and supported women in her community who were struggling with issues related to addiction, mental health and intimate partner violence. Dana chose TMU's School of Social Work based on its mission and values, which strongly focus on intersectionality, critical social work, self-reflexivity, and anti-oppressive practice.
Rebecca Smith
Rebecca Smith is a second-year, advanced-standing student pursuing a double-minor in psychology and disability Studies. She joined the AAS Student Advisory Committee in September 2024 and serves as Director of a subunit for TMU’s first-ever Student-Led Accessibility Conference, launching in May 2025. Passionate about disability justice, Rebecca advocates for accessible education and ensures students have equitable access to support and services. She has volunteered with the Toronto Distress Centre and StepStones for Youth, showing a strong commitment to mental health and community well-being. Her leadership emphasizes inclusion and accessibility, aligning with the School of Social Work’s core values and reflecting her dedication to advancing equity and change within the university and broader community.
Mahima Uddin
Mahima is a second-year student pursuing a minor in Psychology and known for her compassionate leadership and dedication to community care. She has combined academic excellence with meaningful involvement in initiatives that centre on dignity, inclusion, and accessibility. Through her role as Director of Communications at DearFutureMe, she helped amplify youth voices, lead outreach, and support the organization during moments of crisis. Additionally, she has supported neurodiverse children at Surrey Place in social skills programming and helped create welcoming and engaging spaces for seniors at Circle of Care. Mahima is passionate about building person-centered, culturally-responsive systems of support and hopes to pursue an MSW to continue driving positive, community-rooted change.
Ashley Vyner
Ashley is a third-year, advanced-standing student. With over ten years of experience, she serves as a crisis intervention worker, providing immediate support and emotional guidance to individuals in distress, while addressing the social, emotional, and educational needs of students within the school board. As a facilitator for the Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA), Ashley fosters an inclusive space for students to explore and express their identities, advocating for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and building community. Additionally, she works as a community integration worker, supporting individuals in navigating systems, developing life skills, and enhancing emotional regulation. Ashley consistently embodies the core values of empathy, integrity, and advocacy in both her academic work and community contributions.
Sheyma Alfatih
Sheyma Alfatih is a first-year student and passionate about advocacy and change amongst the Black community. Sheyma is the Equity Director for the Black Student Association, FCS and in this position, she has played an integral part in developing a platform to exercise Black student voices and support those looking for a much needed space focused on vulnerability, inclusivity and acceptance. Drawing inspiration from Sheyma's prior volunteering and lived experience as a Black Muslim woman, who is also a first-generation university student; her goal is to continue her education and pursue an MSW. Furthering her goals to deepen the support of other underrepresented Black youth looking to continue education.
Laurence Price
Laurence Price is a third-year student committed to advocacy and community engagement. He has volunteered with organizations like Reena Foundation and March of Dimes, supporting individuals with developmental disabilities through accessibility and inclusion initiatives. In addition to this work, he has been involved in mental health advocacy and social justice efforts that serve diverse populations. Committed to fostering inclusive spaces, he works to break down systemic barriers and create lasting change for marginalized communities. He strives to make a real difference through advocacy, active involvement, and empathy; working to empower marginalized voices and build a more inclusive society.
Vanessa Saforo-Appiah
During the course of her third-year field placement, Vanessa Saforo-Appiah made outstanding contributions at Food Banks Mississauga. She was dedicated to going above and beyond expectations in client-care; creating and implementing ‘Client Connect’, a program supporting homebound food bank users with therapeutic calls and community resource referrals. Vanessa not only identified the need but also formalized the program through research, training manuals, and staff presentations to ensure its sustainability. Her leadership, dedication, and impact towards both the organization and community earned her high praise from her instructors and field supervisors.
Saira Ahmadi
Saira is a third-year student and is dedicated to supporting marginalized women, including victims of domestic violence, child marriage, war, and patriarchal systems. As a newcomer and survivor of domestic violence, she understands the deep challenges newcomers face, such as isolation, trauma, cultural disconnection, and lack of support. She has seen how barriers such as language, legal uncertainty, and cultural stigma prevent many from accessing essential services. Driven by her experiences, Saira is committed to using her education to address these gaps and support vulnerable communities. She is currently interning as a social worker with a charity in the GTA; helping newcomers navigate resources and advocating for inclusive, culturally sensitive, and accessible social services.
Master of Social Work Awards
Brittany Alexander
Brittany is extremely passionate about autism education and critical autism studies. Her graduate research focuses on late-diagnosed/late-identified autistic women, with an emphasis on Black women. She believes that autistic adults deserve to be seen, heard and supported across their lifespan. In her own lived experience, she would have benefitted from access to a social worker who was openly neurodivergent and understood how autism impacts mental health and social life. She is determined to embody this in practice and become this social worker and bring further advocacy to her community.
Karly McCrone
Karly McCrone is a graduate of the Master of Social Work program. As a disabled scholar-advocate, her research critically examines how ableist narratives in policy and the media reinforce dependency and marginalization. Using Foucauldian Discourse Analysis and Critical Disability Theory, Karly’s work challenges deficit-based models and advocates for rights-driven, empowering reforms. She is passionate about inclusive policymaking that centres disabled voices and promotes systemic change. Karly is committed to advancing anti-oppressive social work practices and fostering equity through community-driven advocacy.
Brittney Parkes
Brittney (She/Her) is a current Master of Social Work student with nine years of experience in the field of mental health, substance use and homeless services. Dedicated to working towards transformative care and practices, Brittney is currently researching what a reimagining of opioid-use, supportive housing could look like in Toronto for our unhoused community members. With a firm belief in housing as a form of healthcare, Brittney strongly believes in a trauma-informed and strengths-based perspective. Her research aims to centre lived experience with mental health, substance use and homelessness, and to challenge stigmatization towards our unhoused neighbours.