Meaningful Connections: Ethics, Society and Law Students Network with Alumni

Posted: May 05, 2016

Ethics, Society & Law Backpack to Briefcase Event on March 21, 2016

The Backpack to Briefcase mentorship meal connects students, alumni and faculty

Students in Trinity College’s Major Program in Ethics, Society & Law had the opportunity to connect with alumni and faculty at a Spring 2016 Mentorship Meal at the Faculty Club. In an intimate dinner setting, students were able to network with alumni and faculty. The dinner was congenial, lively and informative.

The five E-S-and-L alumni (bios below) shared their stories and career journeys, provided advice and answered students’ questions about the transition from undergraduate degree to profession, life after graduation, and career challenges and possibilities.

“It was extremely helpful connecting with alumni. All of the alumni told their individual stories, shared their career paths, answered questions, as well as shared things about the University of Toronto that helped them get into positions they have either held, or currently hold. It allowed us to understand how the Ethics, Society and Law program provides a unique advantage for students, and how the degree applies to multiple career areas,” said Carina Newton, an E-S-and-L graduating year student.

Alessia Avola, who is completing her second year, agreed. “The alumni were genuinely happy to speak with, and learn about, us, and to share their own experiences and advice. I had some really wonderful conversations with people I would not otherwise have been able to talk to. I actually made a contact, and will continue to correspond with one of the alumni I met at the event, so I would definitely recommend it to others!”

Ethics, Society & Law students and John Duncan at the Mentorship Meal Event

Ethics, Society & Law students and Prof. John Duncan at the Mentorship Meal Event in March 2016

Professor John Duncan, ES&L Director, and Professor Derek Allen, Trinity’s former long-time Dean of Arts at Trinity College, attended the event as faculty representatives.

“I would like to acknowledge the tremendous generosity of our alumni guests in attending this dinner and for sharing their wisdom and experience with students. Our alumni’s participation is an empowering symbol in itself as it signifies a genuine belief in our students,” Prof. Duncan said. “The Ethics, Society & Law program and the Faculty of Arts and Science sincerely thank our alumni for mentoring our students and making the event such a pleasant and meaningful experience.”

The Mentorship Meal is part of the Backpack to Briefcase (b2B) program coordinated by the Faculty of Arts & Science.

Click here to view more photos from the Mentorship Meal

 


Honoured Alumni of Trinity’s Ethics, Society and Law Program

Tarik Bacchus, Out of the Cold Program Manager, University Settlement 

Tarik Bacchus graduated from U of T in 2006, and has spent the intervening years in various roles in the Social Services sector, with foci on poverty, employment, food security, homelessness and harm reduction. Throughout this period, Tarik has had the privilege of working on City of Toronto shelter policy, as well as contributing to research within the sector related to increasing our understanding of specific subpopulations among Toronto’s homeless. Tarik is currently the Vice-Chair of the Board of the Toronto Hostels Training Centre and the shelter manager at University Settlement’s Out of the Cold emergency shelter in downtown Toronto. He is a graduate of the Ethics, Society and Law Program at Trinity College, University of Toronto.

Michael Beeforth, Associate, Dentons LLP

Michael Beeforth is a senior associate with Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group. He appears regularly on behalf of clients before all levels of Ontario courts. Mike has particular expertise in representing financial institutions in a variety of different circumstances, including securities-related matters, regulatory inquiries, issues involving asset tracing and recovery, and broker-dealer matters. He is currently seconded to one of Canada’s largest financial institutions. Mike is also a member of Dentons’ Alternative Dispute Resolution Group and has acted as counsel in several mediations and arbitrations across various industry sectors, including real estate, renewable energy, shareholder disputes and energy distribution. He is a graduate of the Ethics, Society and Law Program at Trinity College, University of Toronto.

Natalija Fisher, Water Program Manager, Environmental Defence

Natalija Fisher has worked on freshwater challenges at the local, provincial and international scale – from directing a local stormwater startup, to working for Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, to facilitating the Water Youth Network workshops in Korea and Stockholm. Natalija is a published author on the topics of water security and integrated urban water resources management. As Water Program Manager, at Environmental Defence, Natalija collaborates with communities, governments, and groups engaged to safeguard our water. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Toronto, and she has a MSc in Water Resources Management from UNESCO-IHE, in the Netherlands. She is a graduate of the Ethics, Society and Law Program at Trinity College, University of Toronto.

Warda Shazadi Meighen, Barrister and Solicitor, Attorney, Waldman & Associates

Warda Shazadi Meighen is an immigration, refugee and human rights lawyer with Lorne Waldman PC. She practices both US and Canadian law. She is called to the Ontario and New York bars. She previously worked at Shearman & Sterling in New York. After practicing US and Canadian law for several years, she pursued further studies at the University of Oxford, where she focused on refugee, human rights and international law. Warda has also worked with the United Nations Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Tanzania, where she was part of the prosecution team in connection with the Rwandan genocide. In that position, she was also involved with publication of internal guidance for the United Nations. Warda currently serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Oxford Monitor of Forced Migration. She is interested in all aspects of immigration, refugee and human rights law and regularly publishes in the area. Warda obtained her undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Toronto and began her legal career at McCarthy Tétrault in Toronto. She is a graduate of the Ethics, Society and Law Program at Trinity College, University of Toronto.

Anthony Morgan, Policy & Research Lawyer, African Canadian Legal Clinic

Anthony Morgan is a lawyer whose practice and advocacy focus exclusively on human rights, with an emphasis on local, national and international manifestations of anti-Black racism. He has appeared at the Divisional Court and the Supreme Court of Canada representing African Canadians on these matters. He has also represented the interests of African Canadians before United Nations human rights treaty bodies. Anthony is a frequent social and public affairs commentator on issues concerning race and racism, critical multiculturalism and critical race theory in Canada. His comments on these issues have been featured in the Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Star, Huffington Post Canada, and other major newspapers and broadcast outlets, including CNN. In addition to holding an LL.B. and B.C.L. from McGill University, Faculty of Law, he holds an Hons. B.A. from the University of Toronto. He is a graduate of the Ethics, Society and Law Program at Trinity College, University of Toronto.