You are now in the main content area

RLSS and Ryerson Law Revue collaborate to toast and roast students, faculty and staff

Joint event brings the law school community together in celebration.
April 14, 2021
Ryerson Law Revue

The first ever academic year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Ryerson University has been one like no other. We refused to allow the challenges faced by the global pandemic impede our efforts to launch our school and to help shape a new generation of progressive lawyers.

The Ryerson Law Students’ Society (RLSS) recently recognized the incredible efforts of faculty and staff members to deliver classes online and in-person (for the short period when this was an option) and to provide the services needed to offer an excellent academic and student experience, while keeping everyone safe.

The awards presentation was held on April 3rd in conjunction with the Ryerson Law Revue - a student-led comedy showcase entitled “Zooming through First Year”. The production featured a fantastic line-up of SNL-esque sketches including an opening monologue, a surprise cameo performance from the senior administration and faculty, musical performances, and much more. We would be remiss not to properly acknowledge the contributions of our talented 1L students who starred in the virtual production including Jessica Barbosa, Kimberly Barbosa, Nick Chai-Tang, Annelise Do Rio, Brian Haddad, Annie Li, Deborah Lim, Gabriella Maatouk, Merima Menzildzic, Massimo Perruzza, Daniel Pignataro, Zoi Samonas, Albert Tam, Rocky Wang, and Dawson Wigle. For a full list of show credits, please see the  (PDF file) event programme (opens in new window) .

Hosted immediately beforehand, the RLSS awards presentation drew 100 participants including the students, faculty, staff, the Deans and their families. Organized and hosted by Ryerson Law’s students, the evening of celebration provided an opportunity to honour student peers and the law school community that made their first year a memorable one.

“We wanted to recognize the staff and faculty because that’s who really helped us get through all this, who essentially made the school, who made this a successful first year”, said Nick Chai-Tang, who serves as RLSS President.

To select the winners, students had the opportunity to submit their nominations using a Google form in March. In total 62 nominations were received. Then, a committee of 8 RLSS executives and representatives casted their votes from the pool of nominees. The committee included RLSS Executives Nicholas Chai-Tang (President), Leo Cho (VP Academic), Desneige Frandsen (VP Social & External) and Carol MacLellan (VP Finance), as well as 1L Representatives Jonathan Marun-Batista, Yasmeen Zamanian, Rocky Wang and Vanessa Kiraly.

In addition to winners, the students also recognized other members of the school who received votes and positive comments during the nomination process.

Professor Angela Lee (left) and Leanne Shafir (right)

Photo: Ryerson Law's Professor Angela Lee (left) and Leanne Shafir (right).

Leanne Shafir, who serves as Ryerson Law’s Director of Student Experience and Engagement, was awarded Ryerson Law’s “Staff of the Year”. Leanne was recognized for her work with the students, including creating clinical POD opportunities, setting up mentorship programs, and helping coach a student team to victory at a national competition. The runners-up for this category were John Papadopoulos, Head Librarian and André Bacchus, Director of Career Development & Professional Placement.

“I'm absolutely honoured to be nominated and to receive this award. Working with everyone over the year: students, administration, staff, and faculty, has been incredibly rewarding. Our students have put so much passion, focus and energy into everything they do, and it has been a treat to work with them to ensure so many different programs and opportunities have come to life.”, noted Leanne.

It is no secret that faculty this year had an enormous task this year: shifting their curriculum online in a short period of time, while creating spaces to listen to students and accommodate their needs in a very difficult context. Ryerson Law’s faculty did not fall short on this task and students truly faced a hard choice in picking their “Professor or the Year”. The award ultimately went to Professor Angela Lee, not only for her “amazing asynchronous lectures”, as Nick put it, but also for going above and beyond showing care for the students, including sending emails on Sundays to let them know what to expect for the week and holding Friday socials to check in with them.

“It is such an honour to receive this award, especially since I know how talented and hardworking my colleagues are, and so I'm sure that this was not an easy choice to make by any means. Though the past year has been tremendously challenging for students and faculty alike, in every aspect of my job, I try my best to show up and be the professor I would have wanted -- the professor I would have needed. As someone who very much does not fit the mold of what a stereotypical Canadian law professor looks like or acts like, I'd like to think that this is another signal of just how differently we're doing things at Ryerson Law. I am beyond grateful to have my deep commitment to our students recognized in this way, and look forward to continuing to do everything in my power to make this the most extraordinary law school in the country.”, said Professor Lee.

The runner up in this category was Professor Katie Hammond, who the students called “amazing, kind, positive, understanding, smart, charismatic, engaging, caring, flexible, organized, human, and a fantastic teacher.”

The celebration event was also a fundraiser with proceeds supporting the BLSA-Ryerson Black Excellence Award. In total, $2,355 was raised for the entrance scholarship, which will benefit an incoming law student who self-identifies as Black and demonstrates a commitment to the development of the Black community, high-academic standing and a financial need.

Special thanks and congratulations to Nick Chai-Tang, Deborah Lim, Zoi Samonas, Dawson Wigle, and Daniel Pignataro for organizing this both heartwarming and laugh-out-loud celebration.