Fall/Winter Team 2018-2019

Operations and Communications Team

Julia Smeed – Innovation Hub Project Leader

Julia is a leader, innovator and “intrapreneur” who specializes in design thinking, collaboration and related methodologies that strive to design programs with students rather than for them. 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 from the University of Fredericton in Global Leadership and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Western University.  Julia is also the Secretary of the Council on Student Services at the University of Toronto, and has presented at various conferences including the Canadian Association of College & University Student Services and the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers.  Outside of her work, Julia is a single mom to 5-year-old twins Joshua and Victoria.

kate bowers – senior Project Assistant

Kate Bowers studied political science at U of T and has been working in leadership and career development within Student Life for over 8 years. As the Senior Project Assistant with the Innovation Hub she will be supporting the work of staff and student teams with training, communications and relationship building on campus. She is excited about the potential of the work of the Innovation Hub to help staff and students navigate opportunities and services on campus more effectively. She has completed training in Appreciative Inquiry, facilitation methods, and a Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, cycling and watching Survivor (yes, it is still on TV).

Danielle Lum – Project Assistant

Danielle is a second-year graduate student with the Faculty of Information (iSchool), holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, Political Science and Gender Studies. Empathetic and a passionate problem-solver, she is currently specializing in the field of User Experience Design. As project assistant, she plays a supportive role to the Project Manager and all other teams of the Innovation Hub. In her free time, Danielle enjoys indulging in video games, reading pulpy mystery novels, and petting cats.

Christina bondi – Storyteller

Christina is a second-year Master of Information candidate in the Culture & Technology concentration. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, with studies in Classical Civilization, Literature & Critical Theory, and Semiotics. As the Innovation Hub’s Storyteller, Christina strives to craft and uphold consistent, transparent, and accessible mixed media communications with Innovation Hub stakeholders (via blog, photography, videography, and print materials). In her spare time, Christina enjoys exploring Toronto’s architecture, partaking in both arts-and-crafts and creative writing, and snuggling with her cat named Flufe. She also serves as a Social Committee Co-Chair for the Master of Information Student Council and Managing Editor for the iJournal: Graduate Student Journal of the Faculty of Information.

Claire stevenson-blythe – connector

Claire Stevenson- Blythe is in her first year of the Master of Science in Planning program at the University of Toronto. She holds the position of The Connector at the Innovation Hub, working to maintain and grow the various relationships on and off campus. Claire is interested in environmental planning; specifically, the ways planning can be used to create inclusive, equitable, and environmentally sustainable communities. Claire has spent the last two years exploring urban and natural spaces around the world and has a deep love for travel and the learning that can be derived from it. 

Adrian Huntelar – Volunteer Coordinator

Adrian is a fourth-year undergraduate student of Political Science and Peace, Conflict and Justice Studies. He will be serving as the Innovation Hub’s Volunteer Coordinator, supporting the work of the Hub’s 70+ volunteers. Adrian has an extensive background in student affairs and on-campus problem solving, having previously served as the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) Director representing low-income students, and later as its Vice-President, University Affairs.

Margaryta ignatenko – training facilitator

Margaryta is a third-year journalism student. She has been part of various Innovation Hub teams over the past three years and is now excited to collaborate with Mia in the training and facilitation role. Margaryta works for an education non-profit and takes on freelance projects. As a commuter student she welcomes podcast recommendations and fun (easy) recipes.

mia  sanders – training facilitator

Mia is a third-year undergraduate student double majoring in Women & Gender Studies and Diaspora & Transnational Studies and. They are teaming up with Margaryta this year to train volunteers in the Innovation Hub’s methodologies, and support the design teams. Mia works for an education non-profit, is on the editorial board of a youth research journal, and does climate justice activism. They are a fan of playing the piano and drums, biking around Toronto, and hanging out with their human and

Design Research Team

liza Brechbill – senior research assistant

Liza is relatively new to the city and currently moving their way through an MA in Adult Education and Community Development at OISE. Their previous research focused on the experiences of first-generation and working class women and queer folks in post-secondary education, and for the past four years has worked in the field of gender-based violence and prevention education at the University of Victoria. Liza’s current research is focused on the relationships between empathy, power, and difference in education. They are also committed to engaging in research and conversation that challenges assumptions and narratives about change, growth, and success and looks forward to being challenged in equal measure through their time with the Innovation Hub. On some personal notes, Liza loves cats, dreams about the ocean, and watches a lot of bad science fiction.

brigid burke – design research team lead

Brigid is in the 6th year of her PhD in the Department of Sociology. Her research applies an intersectional lens to explore how norms around violence and emotional intensity are negotiated through embodied micro-interactions. She has been a Teaching and Research Assistant in the Sociology Department for the past 7 years, and is now a Course Instructor in the areas of sociology of health and gender. Outside of academia she has worked in the public and private sector as a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant and Project Evaluator. As a Design Research Team Lead for the Innovation Hub, Brigid works with her team to design and conduct empathy-driven design research with the goal of understanding life from others’ perspectives.

rachel davis – design research team lead

Rachel is an applied researcher in human-centric design and innovation in her final year at University of Toronto. Her studies in Business Management and Social Cultural Anthropology have given her an understanding of how ethnographic and Design Thinking methods can be applied to creatively solve problems. As a Design Research Team Lead for the Innovation Hub, Rachel will work with her team on a long term project. The team will uncover needs through empathetic immersion in the everyday reality that students face. Rachel is a trained student leader and mentor who has facilitated a First Year Learning Community and volunteered as an Orientation Leader Captain for Innis College. Her interests include arts and literature.

Shirin gerami – Design Research Team Lead

Shirin Gerami is a fifth-year PhD student in Socio-Cultural Anthropology at the University of Toronto. Shirin obtained her Master’s degree from New York University and her Bachelor degree from McGill University. Shirin’s PhD dissertation concerns emergent notions of normative heterosexuality in contemporary Iran by examining the ways in which changes in patterns of marriage and divorce in Iran has been framed as a crisis. Shirin has been a Teaching Assistant in the Anthropology Department for the past 5 years. As one of the Innovation Hub’s Team Leads, Shirin and her team work with the Family Care Office at U of T to conduct a qualitative research concerning the experiences of students with family responsibilities at University of Toronto.

samin khan – design research team lead

Samin has a passion for exploring human-computer interaction design. Recently his interests involve using machine learning models to solve problems in health care that range from physical capacities to psychological wellbeing. He is currently a 4th year student in computer science, cognitive science and psychology. Additionally, Samin is the co-founder of smartARM – a bionic arm start-up that is leveraging AI technology to create a cost-effective and highly functional product for the prosthetics industry.

joseph youssef – design research team lead

Joseph is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Anthropology at U of T, whose research is grounded in the Anthropology of Religion. He is interested in questions of religious identity and ethical practices. Joseph has several years of experience developing qualitative and ethnographic research overseas as a part of his studies.  He has also worked as Teaching Assistant for various anthropology courses at U of T. As one of the Innovation Hub’s Research Team Leads, Joseph will be working closely with the Multi-Faith Centre at U of T to uncover questions of student involvement and spiritual identity.  

charis lam – design research events lead

Charis Lam is a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry. She started her involvement with the Innovation Hub as a writer for the Storytelling Team, and she has also written for The Varsity. As a long-time student at U of T (eight years and counting!), she is excited about the Innovation Hub’s work to improve the student experience. Outside of work, she enjoys reading fantasy novels and sewing her own wardrobe.

Transforming the Instructional Landscape
Design Research Team

NICK FEINIG – senior research assistant

Nick has been an active member of the University of Toronto community since 2007, completing his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Socio-Cultural Anthropology here, prior to starting his doctoral work. He has held several research assistant, project management and committee roles in both the Munk School of Global Affairs and the Department of Anthropology. Nick has acted as a Teaching Assistant for various Anthropology courses and was an Adjunct Professor at Rikkyo University teaching a course in the Ethnography of Japan.

danielle Baillargeon – design research assistant

Danielle is a sixth year PhD student in the Department for the Study of Religion. She completed an undergraduate degree in Economics as well as Religion and Greek and Roman Studies at the University of Calgary.  She also has a Master’s in Greek and Roman Studies with a focus on Roman art. Danielle is part of the Transforming the Instructional Landscape project in the design research assistant role. She will help with data collection and analysis.  In her spare time, Danielle is an avid cook and gardener.

saaili Junnarkar – design research assistant

Saaili is a first year Master of Information student at the Faculty of Information, specializing in User Experience Design. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering and had worked as an entrepreneur for the past few years. As the Design Research Assistant for Transforming the Instructional Landscape project at the Innovation Hub, her work involves conducting and analyzing interviews of the University of Toronto community on their classroom experience in order to improve it. In her spare time she likes to play tabletop games, watch sci-fi & thrillers, and travel.

Zhenni (Jenna) Liao – design research assistant

Jenna is a first-year Master of Information student and currently specialising in User Experience Design. She has completed a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology and Contemporary Asian Studies at U of T. Her role on the team is to help with data collection and analysis for the Transforming the Instructional Landscape project. In her spare time, she does street photography and drinks loose leaf tea. She’s also a big fan of The xx and HONNE.

ricardo menendez – design research assistant

Ricardo is a second year MBA candidate at the Rotman School of Management with focus on Design Thinking and Digital Innovation. He has a degree in Telecommunications Engineering and has over 5 years of work experience in Peru. At the I-Hub, he works as a Design Research Assistant for the Transforming the Instructional Landscape project, in which he conducts qualitative data collection and analysis using human-centered design methodologies. Ricardo is also an amateur musician and enjoys playing guitar and composing in his free time.

→ Meet the Summer 2018 Team

→  Meet the Fall/Winter Team 2017-2018

→  Meet the Summer 2017 Team

→  Meet the Fall/Winter Team 2016-2017