Congratulations to the Class of 2021!
With Convocation happening online once again, we'd like to invite the Toronto Metropolitan University community to enjoy convocation through the eyes of graduates as they prepare for and participate in their ceremonies.
We’ve partnered with six graduates who will be taking over our Instagram Stories to represent their graduating class! These graduates have made an indelible impact during their time at Toronto Metropolitan University and were 2021 recipients of the Dennis Mock Student Leadership Award (external link) for outstanding voluntary extracurricular contributions to their school or academic program department, faculty or to Toronto Metropolitan University as a whole.
Follow us on Instagram (external link) and tune in to their takeovers, June 22 – 24, 2021.
Josel Angelica Gerardo
Politics and Governance ’21
@josel.angelica (external link, opens in new window)
Date: June 22, 9:30 a.m.
Bio: Josel Angelica Gerardo is a recent Politics and Governance graduate, an Events and Office Administrator at Faculty of Arts, and is an incoming M.A. Political Science student at University of Toronto. She was an avid student leader throughout her undergraduate journey becoming an executive member in various student groups, volunteering in the community, and the former President of the Liberal Arts Society (RLAS) serving all Arts students.
Memory: My favourite memory at Toronto Metropolitan University was attending various events around campus, and meeting new people when I got involved.
Anat Usatinsky
Biomedical Sciences ’21
@ustanat (external link, opens in new window)
Date: June 22, 1:30 p.m.
Bio: Anat graduated Biomedical Science (Hons) with a minor in Psychology. She is currently working at the Little Lab where she is engineering protein reagents for the development of a portable device for Covid-19 immunity testing. She will join University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomechanical Engineering in September to pursue her Biomedical Engineering MASc.
Memory: My favorite memory of my time at Toronto Metropolitan University is utilizing Toronto Metropolitan University's close-knit community and geographical location to help form partnerships between the Deans of the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science and the Faculty of Science, student groups, and Unity Health Toronto. We developed the largest healthcare networking event at the University. I loved the connections I witnessed form between students, professors, and industry professionals.
Kashif Bin Arif
Image Arts — Photography Studies ’21
@ka.eagle (external link, opens in new window)
Date: June 23, 9:30 a.m.
Bio: Kashif is a graduate of the Photography Studies program at the School of Image Arts. During his Toronto Metropolitan University experience he was heavily involved on campus, taking on leadership roles in Orientation, Toronto Metropolitan University Communications Design and Society, Image Arts Course Union, and CSEGA (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity) student with disabilities advisory committee. After graduation, he is starting a freelance photography and design career and continues to volunteer at Deaf Canada for the Youth.
Memory: My top memory of my time at Toronto Metropolitan University was the exchange program to Edinburgh Napier University, in Scotland, during the winter term of 2020. It is the most memorable experience for me because I was the only deaf student on the exchange program.
Alessandro Cunsolo
Aerospace Engineering ’21
@am_cunsolo (external link, opens in new window)
Date: June 23, 1:30 p.m.
Bio: Alessandro graduated this year with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and a minor in Real Estate Management. Since joining the Toronto Metropolitan University community, Alessandro has been a prominent figure in student leadership and representation, particularly within FEAS. His focus was improving student engagement and motivation through his work on organizations like RESS, the ACU and engineering frosh, as well as various spirit events throughout the years! He plans to continue engaging in his passion for aviation and space after graduation, with an entrepreneurial goal in mind.
Memory: My favourite memory at Toronto Metropolitan University was marching down Yonge Street, full-body purpled, celebrating frosh week and our pride and love for engineering. It was this wonderful community that helped me through my degree, and I will never forget the friends and memories that came with it.
Jacob Circo
Urban and Regional Planning ’21
@jacob_circo (external link, opens in new window)
Date: June 24, 9:30 a.m.
Bio: Throughout his four years at Toronto Metropolitan University, Jacob has been involved in many different roles representing students, such as being a Toronto Metropolitan University Student Senator representing FCS students, Course Unions Director on the RSU and setting up the Faculty of Community Services Society to enhance student life in the Faculty of Community Services. Upon graduating from Toronto Metropolitan University, Jacob will be studying a Masters of Arts in Disaster & Emergency Management with Royal Roads University.
Memory: My favourite memory was visiting Washington, DC through taking PLG 532 in the Urban & Regional Planning Program. It was very exciting to learn how the city's planning department functions and the different development projects occurring in and around the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Edie Lynn Assinewe
Retail Management ’21
@edielynna (external link, opens in new window)
Date: June 24, 1:30 p.m.
Bio: Edie is an Anishinaabe Kwe and her home community is Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation. She recently graduated from the Retail Management program at Ted Rogers School of Management. During her Toronto Metropolitan University experience she was involved on campus working for Toronto Metropolitan University Aboriginal Student Services, Tri-Mentorship Program and the Toronto Metropolitan University Pow Wow. Edie and her sister Jacquelyn are the Founders of Assinewe Jewelry (external link, opens in new window) , an Indigenous-owned jewelry brand that specializes in clay and beaded jewelry influenced by traditional Ojibwe designs.
Memory: My favourite memory is attending the New York City Field Trip in 2019 with Dr. Donna Smith in the Sector Studies Fashion course! I learned so much about retail through visiting the Flagship Louis Vuitton store, Michael Kors Headquarters, Hudson Yards and more.