Team
Leadership
Dr. Eliza Chandler, an associate professor in the School of Disability Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University, brings a strong commitment to social innovation and social justice to the Office of Social Innovation. Widely recognized for her work on how disabled people's innovative practices are reshaping culture and advancing rights and social justice, she teaches and researches in the areas of disability arts, critical access studies, social movements, and crip technoscience.
Dr. Chandler also leads a research program that animates disability arts and its connections to disability rights and justice. She is currently running a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council-funded Insight project that explores how disability-led accessibility plans that centre cultural accessibility can affect the arts and cultural sector in Canada.
She is a member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars and is a practicing curator. Dr. Chandler's vision for OSI focuses on community-engaged initiatives, experiential learning, and the development of socially responsible technologies.
Contact:
416-979-5000 ext. 555875
eliza.chandler@torontomu.ca
Staff
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Jessica has been working in supporting social innovation initiatives in higher education for nearly 10 years. Recently, her collaborative work with colleagues in OSI has been published in the Social Enterprise Journal, Educational Action Research, and About Campus. She holds a B.Sc in Biology and a Certificate in Indigenous Knowledges and Experiences from Toronto Metropolitan University. She is currently pursuing her M.A. in Adult Education and Community Development at the University of Toronto.
Contact:
416-979-5000 ext. 553115
jmachado@torontomu.ca
Recently joining OSI, Jessica is a community engagement professional with experience developing and implementing community-focused student initiatives in the post-secondary sector. In addition to her experience working with students, Jessica recently graduated from York University with a Master of Leadership and Community Engagement. Jessica is responsible for coordinating special projects at OSI, including the Imagine the Park initiative in her role. She is eager to expand upon her skill-set by acting as a community connector and facilitator.
Contact:
With a background in marketing, communications and digital media, Lisa joins the Office of Social Innovation team as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator. Lisa comes to OSI after her time as a student at TMU in the Master of Digital Media program. Having previously participated in OSI’s programming during her time as a student, Lisa is a true believer of OSI’s mission of striving to create transformative solutions to complex social issues through teaching, learning, research, and community engagement.
Contact:
416-979-5000 ext. 553294
Tanya Aberman (she/her) recently joined OSI to help develop and implement the Sanctuary Scholars program, which will provide an access pathway for students with precarious immigration status. She specializes in the area of access to education for newcomer and migrant students, having developed, coordinated and taught community and university-based education programs. She also holds a PhD in Gender Feminist and Women’s Studies from York University. Her research has focused on migration issues from feminist, intersectional, critical migration and border studies perspectives. Tanya is also one of the founders of the Sanctuary Students Solidarity and Support (S4) Collective, a member-led organization that strives to support migrant students with accessing and succeeding in secondary and post-secondary education and works to increase equitable access for these students.
Contact:
Throughout her career, Dr. Melanie Panitch has been an activist, advocate, researcher and educator, with strong roots in the disability rights movement and broad international experience. As executive director of the Office of Social Innovation (OSI), Melanie is responsible for the planning and developing of the strategic vision for social innovation at Toronto Metropolitan University.
In 2015, the Faculty of Community Services (FCS) appointed Melanie the John C. Eaton chair Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship where she has been central to embedding social innovation in curriculum, and fostering international student engagement for social innovation. In collaboration with colleagues from FCS and the Ted Rogers School of Management, Melanie taught two pedagogical initiatives exploring social innovation, created the Minor in Social Innovation and launched the Community Transformation Café.
Melanie represented FCS on the steering committee tasked with completing a 360 evaluation and designating Toronto Metropolitan the first Ashoka Changemaker Campus in Canada. She is the recipient of the inaugural Usha George Faculty Recognition Award of Excellence (2015), the Toronto Metropolitan Innovative Teaching Award (2009), and the City of Toronto Access Equity and Human Rights Award for "Out From Under: Disability History and Things to Remember (external link, opens in new window) " (2008).
Contact: