Gabriel Musso is the recent recipient of our Outstanding New Instructor Award. Learners in his course, Statistics for Data Science, nominated Gabriel for his ability to tailor challenging content, and meet the needs of diverse learning styles. His talent for teaching innovative, adaptive, and current material, while being highly accessible to his learners, earned him this exciting honour.

As Chief Scientific Officer at BioSymetrics Inc., Gabriel is focused on growing the company’s AI platform and applying it in the areas of genomics, drug discovery, imaging, and clinical diagnosis. Prior to joining BioSymetrics, Gabriel was a Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School where his work focused on using machine learning frameworks to predict gene and small molecule function, and identification of disease-causal genes using large-scale genomic datasets. Gabriel received his PhD in Molecular Genetics and Computational Biology from the University of Toronto (U of T). He also received his Master of Science and undergraduate degrees from U of T.

Gabriel is passionate about teaching data science at SCS. In his course, learners explore probability and descriptive statistics, and cover data analysis from both a classical and contemporary viewpoint while learning how to extract insight from datasets. The course content also covers part of the body of knowledge of INFORMS’ Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) certification.

People of the jury, we have an exciting update to share.

If you are looking to gain a solid introduction to the Canadian legal system, we offer an online, self-directed course that will guide your bold first steps into the world of legal thinking and analysis.  Introduction to Legal Principles, Thinking and Reasoning delves deep into four groundbreaking cases.  Exploration and discussion will help you understand why certain decisions were reached. You will complete hands-on projects, such as preparing case briefs, while completing quizzes to ensure comprehension of all course materials.

Introduction to Legal Principles, Thinking and Reasoning illuminates how past decisions influence future cases, and prepares you for your next steps-whether that be sitting an exam, or incorporating your new understanding of legal frameworks into your daily work. Prepared and delivered by leading academics from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, the course materials are relevant and thought-provoking, enhancing your ability to read, analyze, and effectively brief legal cases.

Moving through modules at your own pace, you have three months to complete all course materials, but are welcome to expedite your learning if you prefer. Our fully online course allows you to learn where and when it best suits your busy schedule.

This flexible course isn’t just for aspiring law students. Business professionals who directly or indirectly deal with legal matters, entrepreneurs, and internationally educated professionals can all benefit from learning the foundations of our legal system. Our dynamic instructors, Anthony Niblett and Yasmin Dawood, offer perfect examples of the interdisciplinary nature of law. While both are highly accomplished Canada Research Chairs, they leverage their legal skills in a variety of unique ways. Anthony is an entrepreneur whose work brings together dig data, law and economics, contract law, and judicial behaviour. His start-up company, Blue J Legal, proves that law and creative potential go hand-in-hand. Yasmin, an expert in election law, has shared her legal savvy with the media, and has even testified as an expert before Parliamentary House Committees; her legal knowledge allows her to stand at the forefront of important public issues in Canada.

A new offering of this course is offered every month with our next course starting August 1! If you need further evidence, click here to learn more.

Also, check out this short video to meet our instructors and further explore this exciting opportunity.

When Ana Fukushima came to Canada in 2016, she immediately began pursuing her Cyber Security Management Certificate at SCS. “When we decided to relocate to Canada, I began researching opportunities to enhance my skills and gain a certification in my field, information security” says Ana. Her first goal was to become a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). “I knew the CISM certification would increase my employability” says Ana. “The certificate at SCS is aligned with the CISM curriculum, so it was the perfect way to upgrade my skills, earn a certificate, and prepare for the CISM exam all at the same time.”

While the certificate definitely helped Ana prepare, she found networking with her peers and instructors to be the most valuable aspect of her experience at SCS. “I am in touch with many of my classmates and instructors to this day. Our relationship didn’t end when the courses ended. We reach out to one another with questions and job opportunities” she says. “Being new to the Canadian job market, this was invaluable.”

Within six months of completing her certificate, Ana earned her CISM certification. In the meantime, she was hired by eHealth Ontario in cyber security operations. Six months after that, she earned her Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification. Today, she is a Senior IT Security Consultant with eHealth Ontario.

Ana really connected with her instructors, and stayed in touch with Carlos Chalico, who is Director of Membership at ISACA, the global professional association that issues the CISM certification. “Carlos encouraged me to volunteer with ISACA, mentoring newcomers and young professionals” Ana reflects. “It felt great to give back while expanding my network.”

Reflecting on the future of the cyber security industry, Ana thinks that increased public awareness around security is an important step forward. “With all the recent security breaches we have seen, people are taking data security more seriously” she says. “This shift in public perception will open doors, allowing us to improve policies and procedures in the future.”

$1000 Winner: Erin Conway-Smith for After Mining

Erin Conway-Smith is a journalist reporting on southern Africa for The Economist, and other publications. Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, she has lived in Johannesburg since 2009. She was previously based in Beijing. Her reporting has appeared in publications such as The Globe and Mail, Los Angeles Times, Times of London, Daily and Sunday Telegraph, Financial Times, Foreign Policy, and The Independent.

Juror’s citation:
The poems in After Mining collide to create a vivid and devastating portrait of the mining industries in South Africa. The poet re-visions the extracted and stripped landscape and the people who live there using bold and dynamic language of place and identity. In these poems fracture reigns, and both land and language are opened up in ways that are brutal and necessary to read. 

-Hazel Millar, Co-Publisher, Book*hug Press

$500 Winner: Melany Franklin for Triptych

Melany Franklin is a former Bay Street litigator, now part-time lawyer with the YMCA of Greater Toronto. She is writing her first novel, thanks in no small part to Dennis Bock’s Novel Writing Workshop at SCS, and ongoing encouragement from her writing groups, the Sceniuses, the Ladies of Balmoral, and Stillpoint writers. Melany is currently adjunct faculty to Osgoode Law School’s Certificate in Human Rights: Theory and Practice, and previously taught labour and employment law at Woodsworth College, University of Toronto. Melany has been published in the Law Society’s Special Lectures Series (2013) and her high school year book. Her absolute favourite poem is Gwendolyn MacEwen’s Sunlight at Sherbourne & Bloor.

Juror’s citation:
In her Triptych of poems, Melany Franklin demonstrates a light touch; her images are unhurried and yet precise, a ‘gentle tumble’ of perceptions that manage, very quietly, to dramatize grief. No mean accomplishment, that these pieces hold the darkness so softly, like a sleeping bird in hand.

               -John O’Neill, poet

$500 Winner: Jane Macdonald for Bread Creek Runs Under Our Village and Other Poems

Jane Macdonald lived in California for fifteen years, where she was a student of the poet Ellen Bass, and where she was ordained as a Zen Buddhist priest under her teacher, poet Angie Boissevain. Jane has participated in workshops with Marie Howe, Sharon Olds, Jane Hirshfield, Tony Hoagland, Dorianne Laux, Frank Gaspar, and Mark Doty. In 2009, Jane returned to Canada, where she now lives in Prince Edward County and is enrolled in the Poetry Certificate Program at SCS. 

Juror’s citation:
This collection of poetry vibrantly captures the idyllic life of sound and shape, of animals and family, air and water. Macdonald expertly uses concrete language and imagery to hold both the universal and the local on the page. Swift and subtle in their immersive nature, these poems highlight the smallest moments to paint a pastoral community in words, excellent to the ear and eye.

                -Terese Mason Pierre, poet

Finalists for the Penguin Random House Canada Student Award for Fiction 2019

Established in 2002 Value: $2,500, plus two finalist awards of $1,000 each annually

This generous award supports emerging writers (learners) taking Creative Writing courses at SCS. The competition for this endowed award is open to all creative writing learners who have taken a course in the previous year. Winners and Honourable Mentions will be announced in August! Here is a list of the finalists and the title of their entry.

Leslie Carlin, Natalie Happy

Diana Catargiu, Saint

Stephanie Cesca, Dotted Lines

Sheila Chapman, Departure Lounge

Suzanne Dugard, The Book of How Things Used to Be

Laurie Elmquist, Max the Drag Queen

Stephanie Mark, Animal Intelligence

Pratheesh Nair, The Signalman

Sherman Snukel, Behind the Miracle Bakery

Benno Tutter, Boxes

Finalists for the Marina Nemat Award 2019

Established in 2008 Value: up to two awards of $1,000 annually 

Thanks in part to the generosity of writer Marina Nemat, this award is given each year to the most outstanding Final Project of a Creative Writing Certificate student. Winners are chosen by a panel of Canadian publishing-industry professionals.  Winner(s) will be announced in late August! Until then, here is a list of finalists and the title of their entry.

Logan Broeckaert, Boyish And Other Stories About Home

Leslie Carlin, The Richley Chronicles

Kathleen Kampeas-Rittenhouse, 2200 Avenue Ste. Gertrude

Catherine Taman, Life Without Limbs

"My whole writing career is based on making lemonade out of lemons” says Ariel Ng Bourbonnais. At 33, after losing her first pregnancy at 8 weeks, Ariel was diagnosed with Low AMH, meaning she had a low egg reserve for her age. To process her shock and pain, Ariel turned to writing. “I had heard that writing about your feelings could help. Next thing I knew, I was hooked” she says. While completing her Certificate in Creative Writing, Ariel wrote about her personal experience; she found it cathartic to shed light on infertility issues, which afect approximately 16% of Canadians trying to conceive, according to government statistics.

Ariel’s instructor and mentor, author Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, played an important role in her writing, guiding her and providing an interesting male perspective on infertility. Meanwhile, Ariel and two friends co-founded The 16 Percent, an online community dedicated to providing a safe space for couples and individuals to share their infertility and pregnancy loss stories. “I realized how much hearing other people’s stories of loss and courage helped me heal, and inspired my writing” says Ariel, who recently published a book of essays with her co-founders titled Through, Not Around: Stories of Infertility and Pregnancy Loss.

“I wouldn’t have been able to edit a collection of essays without taking the creative writing courses at SCS. They taught me how to present and edit my work, incorporate feedback into my writing, critique others’ writing, and provide feedback” says Ariel. She also credits her Certificate in Project Management, which she obtained prior to her Certificate in Creative Writing, for helping keep her writing schedule and content planning on track. “My project management abilities helped me manage my time better, and break my writing into steps. This allowed me to write over 50,000 words within a year while working full time.”

Looking towards the future, Ariel has big plans. She is writing (and aims to publish) a personal memoir, and plans to take our Non-Profit Leadership for Impact Certificate to help her grow The 16 Percent. “I would like to develop a web series about infertility to be shared Canada-wide” she says. “Learning at SCS has sparked my creativity and there’s no turning back.” Ariel is however giving back; all proceeds from the sale of her book will be donated to the Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Network based out of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

SCS is excited to celebrate our partnership with The EDUCAFIN Scholarship Program, a decentralized initiative from the Guanajuato government in central Mexico, that pursues international professionalization for young university grads. Eligible learners who enter the program can choose to study in our English Language Program (ELP) to improve their English language skills and prepare for graduate studies. 

The EDUCAFIN Scholarship Program is a unique pilot that is inspiring other states in Mexico to pursue similar initiatives. “SCS and ELP are so pleased to be a part of this exciting collaboration” says Lisa Morgan, Director of our English Language Program (ELP) and International Initiatives. “It’s encouraging to see international learners so eager to advance their English skills, and we are honoured to be a part of their learning journey.”

Today, along with the School of Graduate Studies and the Office of the Vice-President, International, we will be hosting a barbeque to recognize this important partnership. “Our team at ELP looks forward to discovering future collaborations with international programs that share our passion for language education,” says Lisa Morgan. “Congratulations to all our EDUCAFIN learners who display an admiral commitment to lifelong learning.”

For Thomas Ponniah, learning Farsi was a romantic gesture—a wedding gift to his wife. However, the fringe benefits have been exponential.

“My wife and her family are Persian, and when they interact with each other, they speak Persian. My background is not Persian, so I felt it would be nice for them if I could speak their language” says Thomas. “At dinners or events, they would speak English for me, but it wasn’t their natural language. There is so much more emotion and feeling when you speak your native tongue.”

Thomas’ wife Afsoon was born in Iran, and came to Canada as a refugee at age four. Today, she is refugee rights lawyer.  “When we were discussing getting married, I spoke to Afsoon’s parents. I said I want to study Persian, and that it was important to me to teach our future children Persian as well.”

After the wedding, Thomas stuck to his promise, and began studying Farsi at SCS. “Choosing SCS was an obvious choice. I didn’t want a tutor; I wanted to learn with other motivated students, and felt confident about the quality of instruction I would receive at U of T” he says. “My classmates were really committed, and they pushed me to be a better student.”

In fact, Thomas, who is a philosophy professor, found being in the role of student instead of teacher was very eye opening, and enjoyed learning from his instructor Alireza Bahrani, who won an SCS Excellence in Teaching award in 2017. “When you learn a language, you are witnessing a pedagogy. Watching how Ali taught was really inspiring. He teaches how to love a language. Ali encourages us to be enthusiastic, because he is enthusiastic! He brought in poetry, songs, and music videos to engage us in a more multidimensional way,” Thomas notes. “I’m normally in front of the class. Now, I have a better understanding of the learner experience, which has improved my teaching. You could say my goal was romantically inspired, but my craft has also benefited from learning at SCS.”

Another benefit has been his newfound ability to engage in Persian culture, and the Persian community here in Toronto. “There is a large, vibrant Persian community here. My beginner language skills allow me to engage in a new way. I have a fresh perspective and appreciation for the food, culture, and media” he smiles. “When you know a language, you start meeting new people in coffee shops, taking transit, wherever! Today, I feel a greater connection to Persian society.”

After completing his first Farsi classes, Thomas told his in-laws at a family dinner to only speak Persian, forcing himself to learn, engage, and show off his new skills. “Every now and then I would pipe in with a phrase. Sometimes that was ambiguous to be safe” he laughs. “But I was participating, which was great.”

Thomas’ goal is to continue taking Farsi courses at SCS, and would recommend the challenge of learning a new language for love. “There are so many cross-cultural relationships in Toronto. I think trying to learn your partner’s native language and culture is an amazing gift to give them and their family” he says. Thomas also admits that learning a new language requires the ability to let go, take risks, and not take yourself too seriously. “Right now, most of what I say in Farsi is fairly mundane. As a professor, I am used to knowing the most, but it’s very helpful to know the least in the classroom” he says. “Learning requires emotional and mental flexibility, to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Essentially, in class we all have to get used to laughing at ourselves while pushing ourselves to learn. It has been a great experience and I look forward to continue developing my ability to speak, read, and understand Persian.”

“My artistic sensibilities were born in Saint Lucia, in oral folk traditions” says Canisia Lubrin. “Every night, my grandmother’s folktales would usher me into a life of storytelling.” Canisia, who teaches our Poetry and Creative Writing courses, is a writer, editor, poet, and critic, who has been involved in arts administration and community advocacy for almost two decades. “I approach my classrooms as I do my work: with a sense of curiosity, a commitment to discovery, and a mission to expand the possibilities of literature” she says.

Her most recent collection of poetry, titled Voodoo Hypothesis, landed Canisia on multiple lists, including CBC’s Six Black Canadian Writers to Watch in 2018. “My writer mind is always active and alive; writing is how I live. My other passion is teaching” she says. Canisia feels that teaching is less about sharing her vision, and more about guiding learners through their own visions. She has taught retired grandmothers, learners right out of high school, and professionals in the height of their career, all of whom had the work in them, and just needed the nudge to put pen to paper. “Once they commit to starting the creative process, the path is already laid” she says.

Canisia, who holds a Master of Fine Art in Creative Writing, is currently working on a variety of projects, including another collection of poetry, some short stories, a novel, and a book of essays. She also plans to explore more teaching opportunities, and appreciates the mix of learners and perspectives in her classroom. “I think the richness of diversity at SCS bodes well for the health of literature in this world. The beauty of creative writing in a continuing education setting is that everyone can access it” says Canisia. “By removing creative writing from a strictly academic setting, the possibilities now and into the future are endless. For me, it’s a kind of freeing and democratizing of creativity.”

“The technology industry is evolving faster than we could ever imagine” says Saumil Bapat. “Between automation and shifts in the job market, there’s a huge demand for employees with machine learning, AI, and full-stack skills. I want to be in high-demand, so I came to SCS.”

Saumil recently completed our Coding Boot Camp, and is currently enrolled in our Data Analytics Boot Camp . After graduating in 2010 with a degree in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto, Saumil began his career in engineering consulting. In 2011, he made a transition to the tech industry, landing a job at Salesforce. He is currently part of their consulting team.

“I was working on a project a while back with a major client, building a cutting edge advertising delivery platform. On the back end, it was very complex” reflects Saumil. “I realized that a lot of tools and strategies had really evolved since I earned my undergrad degree. So I started exploring continuing education options. I wanted to learn in a hands-on, collaborative environment.”

Saumil chose to pursue part-time studies in our IT Boot Camp program, attending classes two nights a week, and every Saturday morning for 24 weeks. “It’s a big commitment, but my employer is very supportive of my efforts. I’m learning from industry experts, and I’m able to ask questions and engage in meaningful conversations with my peers” he says. Saumil’s classmates come from a variety of backgrounds. “My peers range from chefs who are looking to make a big career change, to others in the tech industry looking to upgrade their abilities. It makes for a really diverse learning environment” says Saumil, who plans to pursue our Certificate in Mobile Business Technologies and Applications next.

As his skills grow, Saumil is confident that he is becoming more versatile in the ever-changing tech landscape. His goal is to gain the ability to envision a project, and create it successfully from the ground up. Saumil acknowledges that it can be challenging to keep your skills up-to-date when you are working full time. “It’s a lot, but it’s worth it. I am learning to tackle problems that most others can’t. It’s given me an edge,” he says. “You have to be fully committed and mentally prepared for these Boot Camps. But if you are passionate, it doesn’t feel like a burden. I look forward to every class. There is no question in my mind that this is the time to upskill and adapt to our rapidly changing world.”

SCS Boot Camps are presented in partnership with Trilogy Education Services. To learn more, visit our designated Boot Camp page.

“For me, teaching is a means of giving back, and sharing the skills I’ve acquired throughout my training and career” says Christine Misquitta, a research scientist and project manager. This attitude towards teaching inspired Christine to join SCS to teach our new Project Management for Research course.

“A few years ago I sat on a panel discussion about large-scale project grants. I was the only project manager in attendance, and shared the observation that many investigators lack the administrative resources to put together these large projects, and manage them effectively. The Office of the Vice President – Research and Innovation at U of T worked with SCS and Alison Paprica (also an SCS instructor) to develop a course that would meet these needs” she says. “Now, as an instructor, it’s refreshing to see the many scenarios in which learners from various research backgrounds can use the project management skills I teach. It’s eye opening.”

Based at the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research at the University of Toronto, Christine uses her project management skills to coordinate large, interinstitutional projects funded by organizations such as the Ontario Research Fund (ORF), and Genome Canada.

She is excited to bring her project management experience to SCS. “It’s encouraging to see project management becoming more widely accepted and utilized in non-traditional industries, such as education and research” she says. “In the future, I would like to see project management skills become core competencies that all members of a team can possess. When project management is embraced and used by an entire team or organization, it’s bound to lead to increased efficiency”.

Christine enjoys working with adult learners who are seeking novel ways to bring better organization and management strategies to their work. “The people in my class are making a time commitment, and putting themselves out of their comfort zone to acquire new skills, as a way to enhance their efficiency on the job” she says. “This is very admirable in my opinion.”

Despite a demanding roster of responsibilities, including her additional role as Vice President of Administration and Communications for the Centre for the Commercialization of Antibodies and Biologics (CCAB), Christine still finds time to stay in fighting form.

Literally.

She, her husband, and two sons all hold black belts in Taekwon Do, and all four of them teach the martial art in their spare time. “I love encouraging others to challenge themselves and take the next step, or hooking kick, forward.”

“My son knows that ‘Mama goes to school.’ I think he’s proud of me, and respects the hustle,” says Nikki Martin, who recently earned her Certificate in Leadership Essentials. As a working mom, it was challenging to carve out time for professional development, but it was well worth the effort. “I was open with my family. I told them that growing my leadership skills was a priority for me, and I admitted I needed support to achieve my goals,” reflects Nikki. “You can’t be afraid to ask for what you need, and as parents, sometimes we forget that.”

Nikki has worked in the retail industry for over 10 years, finding her passion in project management and operations. She came to SCS in 2016, after identifying significant cultural changes taking place in her organization. “I realized now is the time to ramp up my leadership abilities” says Nikki, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce. “I wanted to get ahead of change, and prepare myself for future challenges.”

She particularly enjoyed two courses within the Leadership Essentials Certificate: Conflict Management Skills, and Understanding & Managing Conflict. “I’ve learned you don’t have to react; you can choose when it’s best to engage in conflict, and when not to. There is a psychology to each unique conflict, and through analysis I can get to the core of an issue,” Nikki says. “I’m no longer intimidated, because I have the skills to handle many situations.”

While her new conflict management skills have served her career, Nikki has also found them to be applicable in a variety of personal situations. For instance, she now views conflict with her five-year-old son in a different light. “I ask him the right questions, and I’m an active listener,” she says. “Whether at home or in the boardroom, my ability to manage conflict has been life changing. I’m a better parent and a better professional.”

Nikki valued her in-class experience, networking with peers equally as passionate about leadership. She stays in touch with her classmates, sharing leadership and conflict management tips to support one another. Her conflict management instructor, Robert Pidgeon, brings decades of experience in designing and facilitating conflict and dispute resolution systems. “Robert taught us to be flexible in our methodology, to be deeply curious, creative, and thoughtful in our problem solving,” she says. “He showed us it’s ok to make mistakes, and that mediation doesn’t have to be scary. I’m a braver woman having taken these courses.”

In the future, Nikki plans to use her leadership skills to counter gender biases in the workplace. “As women, we need to stand up, speak up, and help one another. We are building the next generation of female leaders,” she asserts. “I want the same opportunity and earning potential as any other Canadian, regardless of my gender, or any other factors. I’m so glad I made self-development a priority, because now I am more capable of leading my vision of equality forward.”