Our Team – Summer 2024

OUR TEAM

At the Innovation Hub, we are student-led and driven.

MEET OUR TEAM

The Innovation Hub is a student-driven research collective that uses a peer-to-peer approach to understand the needs of UofT students. Campus partners provide us with real design challenges, and we hire teams of interdisciplinary students to work on each project using a consulting model. Student team members are empowered to understand their peers’ needs using human-centered design and learning as they go, building confidence through practical work experience.

Our projects range in scope from designing campus spaces and services, policy evaluation, listening to the needs of students from equity-deserving groups, ideating for the future, and more.

A collage of Innovation Hub employee headshots

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Julia smiling against backdrop

Julia Allworth

Manager, Innovation Projects

 

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Julia smiling against backdrop

Julia Allworth

Manager, Innovation Projects

Julia is a leader, innovator, and “intrapreneur” who specializes in design thinking, collaboration, and related methodologies that strive to design programs with students. As the Leader of the Innovation Hub at the University of Toronto, she works with hundreds of students, faculty and staff on campus to improve the community’s campus experience. Julia holds an MBA in Global Leadership and a BA in Psychology. Julia has presented her work at various higher education conferences across North America. She is the co-author of a book, Design Thinking in Student Affairs, and delivered a TEDx talk entitled Design yourself to change the world. Outside of her work, Julia is a single mom to neurodiverse twins Joshua and Victoria who are in middle school. 

Hayley smiling against backdrop

Hayley Park

Senior Project Assistant

& Communications Lead

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Hayley smiling against backdrop

Hayley Park

Senior Project Assistant

Hayley (she/her) is a visual designer with a passion for supporting and inspiring the student community. She previously completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Culture, Information & Technology at U of T, and holds a certificate in Digital Communications from Sheridan College. Combined with her extensive background in graphic design, Hayley loves to use design thinking and creative leadership to bring ideas to life, channeling perspectives on sustainability, accessibility, and equity throughout the process. When she is not designing, you can find her making music, travelling, and always learning. 

Lidiia smiling against backdrop

Lidiia Tulenkova

Research Lead

 

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Lidiia smiling against backdrop

Lidiia Tulenkova

Research Lead

Lidiia (she/her) is a creative strategist and leader with an intrapreneurial mindset and extensive experience in project management. With an Honours Bachelor's Degree in Sociocultural Anthropology and Material Culture, she joined the team as Research Lead to manage and oversee all research projects, design thinking research teams and their Team Leads. Outside of work, Lidiia is passionate about creative production and curation of multi-media projects including exhibitions and documentaries. Drawing inspiration from human stories told in a creative medium, Lidiia is inspired by the creative force embedded in the Innovation Hub projects and the potential to make a social change through storytelling. 

Amelia smiling against backdrop with trees

Amelia Di Meo

Research Coordinator

 

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Amelia smiling against backdrop with trees

Amelia Di Meo

Research Coordinator

Amelia (she/her) recently graduated from U of T with a Master of Health Science Degree in Translational Research where she also received an Honours Bachelor of Science with a double major in Neuroscience and Physiology. In between degrees, Amelia worked as a clinical research assistant, where she was introduced to design-thinking and qualitative research. Amelia is very excited to join the Innovation Hub as a Design Research Team Lead and is looking forward to working together with the team to identify student needs and improve life on campus. In her free time, Amelia can be found rock climbing, playing piano, and guitar. 

Joseph smiling against backdrop

Joseph Lek

Digital Communications Coordinator

 

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Joseph smiling against backdrop

Joseph Lek

Digital Communications Coordinator

Joseph (he/him) completed his Honours Bachelor of Arts in both Communication, Culture, Information & Technology and Art & Art History at University of Toronto Mississauga jointly with Sheridan College. As the Digital Communications Coordinator, Joseph leads the digital communications planning and strategy for Innovation Hub projects. As a former U of T student, Joseph is eager to use his passion for art, communications, and design to reconnect with the U of T community and help improve campus life for everyone. Outside of work, Joseph loves to watch movies and create artistic works. 

ENGAGEMENT & BELONGING - STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

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Nicole smiling against backdrop with trees

Nicole Shi

Design Research Team Lead

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Nicole smiling against backdrop with forest

Nicole Shi

Design Research Team Lead

Nicole Shi (she/her/hers), a Contemporary Asian Studies graduate from UofT, has experienced first-hand the transformative power of being accommodated and supported for her disability at UofT. She recognizes how effective support can lead to empowering experiences that shift feelings from isolation to belonging and to profound personal growth and development. Nicole is grateful for the people who facilitated her access to resources and support during her time at university, and is motivated to ensure that equal access to quality education is less dependent on luck and more as an intentional outcome. As Team Lead, Nicole is so excited to engage in the research field and methods that align so closely with her values: that a commitment to equity demands that researchers act with an awareness of the various axes of marginality and actively deconstruct their own beliefs. In her free time, Nicole enjoys journaling, doodling, and playing tennis.

EDIA AT SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT

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Antik smiling against backdrop

Antik Dey

Design Research Team Lead

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Antik smiling against backdrop

Antik Dey

Design Research Team Lead

Antik Dey is a Master of Educational Leadership and Policy student at OISE. As the Design Research Team Lead for the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access at the School of the Environment project, Antik leverages his previous experience as an educator and design researcher to support his team. Equity, diversity, inclusivity, and access are of particular interest to Antik, who is a student parent himself and has lived experience as a religious minority in a South Asian country. A fun fact about Antik is that he loves to travel and experience diverse cuisines.

RECEPTION EXPERIENCES AT HEALTH & WELLNESS

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Thaksha smiling against backdrop with trees

Thaksha Krishnagumar

Design Research Team Lead

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Thaksha smiling against backdrop with trees

Thaksha Krishnagumar

Design Research Team Lead

Thaksha Krishnagumar (she/her/hers) recently graduated from the Master of Information program, specializing in User Experience Design at UofT. With a background in Mathematics and Linguistics, Thaksha leverages cognitive diversity to understand the variability of human experiences. As Design Research Team Lead for the Health & Wellness front-line service project, Thaksha aspires to understand the variability and expectations of students when navigating and engaging with services and programming at Health & Wellness. Thaksha is excited to advocate for accessible access for students by letting their voices lead the way for innovative design solutions. Aside from work, Thaksha enjoys watching tv shows and listening to music.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM

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Amelia smiling against backdrop with trees

Amelia Di Meo

Research Coordinator

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Amelia smiling against backdrop with trees

Amelia Di Meo

Research Coordinator

Amelia (she/her) recently graduated from U of T with a Master of Health Science Degree in Translational Research where she also received an Honours Bachelor of Science with a double major in Neuroscience and Physiology. In between degrees, Amelia worked as a clinical research assistant, where she was introduced to design-thinking and qualitative research. Amelia is very excited to join the Innovation Hub as a Design Research Team Lead and is looking forward to working together with the team to identify student needs and improve life on campus. In her free time, Amelia can be found rock climbing, playing piano, and guitar. 

DIGITAL STORYTELLING TEAM

photo of communications team

Joseph smiling against backdrop

Joseph Lek

Digital Communications Coordinator

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Joseph smiling against backdrop

Joseph Lek

Digital Communications Coordinator

Joseph (he/him) completed his Honours Bachelor of Arts in both Communication, Culture, Information & Technology and Art & Art History at University of Toronto Mississauga jointly with Sheridan College. As the Digital Communications Coordinator, Joseph leads the digital communications planning and strategy for Innovation Hub projects. As a former U of T student, Joseph is eager to use his passion for art, communications, and design to reconnect with the U of T community and help improve campus life for everyone. Outside of work, Joseph loves to watch movies and create artistic works. 

QUALITATIVE DATA ARCHIVIST TEAM

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Ruth sitting on couch

Ruth Rodrigues

Qualitative Data Archivist Team Lead

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Ruth sitting on couch

Ruth Rodrigues

Qualitative Data Archivist Team Lead

Ruth (she/her) is completing a Master of Education in Social Justice Education at the OISE. She recently completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Critical Equity Studies at U of T. As a Qualitative Data Archivist, Ruth aims to further develop her qualitative research skills while working with the Innovation Hub in their mission to improve student accessibility and inclusion. Some of Ruth’s other interests include animal welfare and developmental policy.