Throughout her career, Dr. Melanie Panitch has been an activist, advocate, researcher and educator, with strong roots in the disability rights movement and broad international experience. As executive director of the Office of Social Innovation (OSI), Melanie is responsible for the planning and developing of the strategic vision for social innovation at Toronto Metropolitan University.
In 2015, the Faculty of Community Services (FCS) appointed Melanie the John C. Eaton chair Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship where she has been central to embedding social innovation in curriculum, and fostering international student engagement for social innovation. In collaboration with colleagues from FCS and the Ted Rogers School of Management, Melanie taught two pedagogical initiatives exploring social innovation, created the Minor in Social Innovation and launched the Community Transformation Café.
Melanie represented FCS on the steering committee tasked with completing a 360 evaluation and designating Toronto Metropolitan the first Ashoka Changemaker Campus in Canada. She is the recipient of the inaugural Usha George Faculty Recognition Award of Excellence (2015), the Toronto Metropolitan Innovative Teaching Award (2009), and the City of Toronto Access Equity and Human Rights Award for "Out From Under: Disability History and Things to Remember (external link, opens in new window) " (2008).
Contact:
416-979-5000 ext. 555875
mpanitch@torontomu.ca