News and Events

Discover the latest developments and upcoming events of the Collaborative.

News & Events

Photo of Christine Arsenault

Managing Director

University of Toronto Scarborough, African Impact Challenge, The BRIDGE

Photo of Joseph Wong

, PhD

Vice President, International

University of Toronto, Office of the Vice-President International

Photo of Trevor Young

, PhD

Vice-President, Provost

University of Toronto

Photo of Harriet Tunu Baraka

Master Scholar

University of Toronto, Amref International University

Photo of David Palmer

Vice President, Advancement

University of Toronto

Photo of Isdora Bonaventure Msigwa

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Toronto

Photo of Jemila Abdulai

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Toronto

Photo of Jessica Kumah

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Toronto

Photo of Kennedy Owino Ojowi

Master Scholar

Moi University, University of Toronto

Photo of Kuol Maper Alier

Master Scholar

Moi University, University of Toronto

Profile

Christine Arsenault

Managing Director

University of Toronto Scarborough

Christine Arsenault is the Managing Director for the University of Toronto Scarborough’s Management Department, which houses all of the University’s business co-op programs and The BRIDGE; the department’s commitment to Work-Integrate Learning and Entrepreneurship. 

She has been involved in co-operative education nationally and internationally for 20 years including leading Co-op and Work-Integrated Learning Canada as President in 2012/13, as a board member of the World Association for Co-operative Education and previously chairing the Canadian co-op research committee.  In 2018, she received the U of T Scarborough Principal’s Accomplished Leader Award.

While completing her M.A. she led award-winning research that compared English Language Learners and native English speakers and their success in job searching and recent published research on work-integrated learning’s influence on entrepreneurship. Under her leadership, U of T’s innovative Management and International Business Program was designed and implemented and the department has fulfilled its commitment that ever graduate should have a work-integrated learning experience.

Profile

Joseph Wong, PhD

Vice President, International

University of Toronto

Joseph Wong is the University of Toronto’s Vice President, International. He is also the Roz and Ralph Halbert Professor of Innovation at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, and a Professor of Political Science.

He was the Director of the Asian Institute at the Munk School from 2005 to 2014, and held the Canada Research Chair in health, democracy and development for a full two terms, 2006 to 2016.

Joe is the author of many academic articles and several books, including Healthy Democracies: Welfare Politics In Taiwan and South Korea and Betting on Biotech: Innovation and the Limits of Asia’s Developmental State, both published by Cornell University Press.

He is the co-editor, with Edward Friedman, of Political Transitions in Dominant Party Systems: Learning to Lose, published by Routledge, and Wong co-edited with Dilip Soman and Janice Stein Innovating for the Global South with the University of Toronto Press.

Professor Wong’s articles have appeared in journals such as Annual Review of Political Science, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Perspectives on Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Politics and Society, Governance, among many others.

Professor Wong has been a visiting scholar at institutions in the US, Taiwan, Korea, and the UK; has worked extensively with the World Bank and the UN; and has advised governments on matters of public policy in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.

Joe’s current research focuses on poverty and innovation. Professor Wong is the founder of the Reach Alliance at the University of Toronto (http://reachalliance.org/). He is also collaborating with Professor Dan Slater (Michigan) on a book about Asia’s development and democracy, currently under contract with Princeton University Press.

Professor Wong is also writing a book for the Cambridge University Press on the political economy of the welfare state in East Asia. Professor Wong teaches courses in the department of Political Science, the Munk One program and the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. Joe was educated at McGill University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Profile

Trevor Young, PhD

Vice-President, Provost

University of Toronto

Trevor Young is Acting Vice-President & Provost at the University of Toronto.

Professor Young is Dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and and Vice Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions since 2015.

Previously, he was Physician-in-Chief, Executive Vice President Programs at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. Professor Young is a clinician-scientist who studies the molecular basis of bipolar disorder and its treatment. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and has held more than 35 peer-reviewed grants.

Profile

Harriet Tunu Baraka

Master Scholar

University of Toronto

My name is Harriet Tunu Baraka from Kenya, and I am a Mastercard Foundation scholar pursuing a Master of Health Administration at the esteemed University of Toronto. 

I got the award through my former school, Amref International University and this transformative journey has been incredible. The Mastercard Foundation team has been very supportive, and my transition to Canada has been seamless. This journey will not only equip me with the necessary leadership skills for the healthcare industry, but it will also make me expand my network and create lasting memories. I am very grateful.

Profile

David Palmer

Vice President, Advancement

University of Toronto

Since 2007, David has served as Vice-President, Advancement for the University of Toronto.  Under David’s leadership, U of T launched Boundless which concluded in 2018 as the largest campaign in Canadian history with $2.64 billion raised.   

David is a Senior Fellow of Massey College, a Council for Advancement and Support of Education Laureate and former trustee, an executive committee member of the National Council of Foundation Executives, and a director of the Earth Rangers Foundation. He earned his Master of Fine Arts in musicology from Princeton University and began his career as a Lecturer in the Faculty of Music at Western University, his undergraduate alma mater.

From 1999 to 2007, David served as President and Executive Director of the Royal Ontario Museum Board of Governors. From 1993 to 1999, David led a ground-breaking campaign for the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University, ushering in a new era in professional-faculty fundraising in Canada.

David was recognized in 2011 with the Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In 2016 he was recognized with the Outstanding Achievement Award by the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education.

Profile

Isdora Bonaventure Msigwa

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

My name is Isdora Bonaventure Msigwa. A Mastercard Foundation scholar pursuing a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto.

Being a Mastercard Foundation scholar in a renowned university has been an enriching experience that allowed me to explore my potential further and reach out for my dreams. As a graduate student, I have had a chance to partake in various programming and events that have enriched both my academic and social knowledge on numerous topics, such as cultural diversities, leadership, and more out-of-the-classroom knowledge that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I am making the most of this opportunity and look forward to realizing my hopes and dreams for the healthcare sector.

Profile

Jemila Abdulai

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

My most valued experience as a Mastercard Scholar at UofT has been the profound sense of family and community.

It’s a journey filled with thrilling and exciting moments, but it’s the heartfelt love and unwavering support from fellow scholars and the Mastercard administrators that I treasure the most. Knowing that we have each other’s backs, no matter the challenges we face, is truly amazing. This tight-knit community has made my scholar journey unforgettable, and I will forever be grateful for the genuine connections and camaraderie that define our experience here.

Profile

Jessica Kumah

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

My name is Jessica Kumah from Ghana. The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship program at the University of Toronto, aligns perfectly with my newfound passion for environmental health. Thanks to this scholarship, I am in the process of realizing my purpose, and the MPH-Environmental Health program at the University of Toronto has exceeded my expectations. The comprehensive training that I am receiving has broadened my perspective and equipped me to address environmental health challenges. I am eager to give back to Africa and the world, using my knowledge and skills to tackle global environmental health issues.

Profile

Kennedy Owino Ojowi

Master Scholar

Moi University

I am grateful for the opportunity to study health informatics as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Toronto.

This life-changing experience has challenged me to reach my full potential and has given me the opportunity to meet some of the most inspiring, intelligent, and supportive people in the world. I am confident that the experiences and relationships that I am building as a Mastercard Scholar will help me make a positive impact on the health system.

Profile

Kuol Maper Alier

Master Scholar

Moi University

My name is Kuol Maper Alier from South Sudan. I am deeply honored to be a scholar of the Mastercard Scholarship program at the esteemed University of Toronto, currently pursuing Executive Master of Health Informatics program. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship for this invaluable opportunity, enriching my education and connecting me with a community dedicated to global positive change. 

I am energized by the prospect of spearheading the development and implementation of a digital health system in South Sudan. This endeavor holds the potential to alleviate the burden of chronic diseases, elevating overall healthcare access and quality. My aspiration is to leverage my education and experiences, collaborating with healthcare stakeholders and technology experts to create a sustainable solution to advancing digital health systems in South Sudan.