2007 - the Faculty of Arts & Science - University of Toronto

DEAN’S MESSAGE
I am pleased to share with you the second Year In Review
published by the Faculty of Arts & Science. Once again,
this piece highlights a few of the achievements of the
past year as we continue to implement the priorities of
our academic plan with its strong emphasis on putting
students first.
Given our focus on students, it is appropriate that we
feature Nidhi Punyarthi on our cover. Nidhi recently
completed her honours bachelor degree with a major
concentration in Women and Gender Studies, as well as
minors in Spanish and in French Studies, and she is the
first recipient of the Dean’s Student Leadership Award.
This award was created to recognize a student who has
demonstrated exceptional leadership and community
engagement. Nidhi’s extracurricular work has been
characterized by responsiveness to the needs of her
fellow students. Through her work with the Women
and Gender Studies Student Union, Nidhi founded
Stop the Silence as a forum for students to discuss their
experiences with gender-related violence. She has been
an active and articulate voice for students on a number
of committees including Arts & Science Curriculum
Review and Renewal, and is a strong supporter of the
University of Toronto’s food bank. There were many
outstanding nominees for this award, which reminds
us that some of the most important opportunities for
growth and learning during university happen outside
of the classroom.
Over the course of the year, we have made excellent
progress on a number of priorities. We have continued to
focus our attention on providing our students with the
best-possible education: one that includes meaningful
involvement in research, opportunities for significant
international experience and engagement with a wide
variety of scholars and peers. But there is still much to
do and I am confident the momentum will continue.
This is my final year as dean of the Faculty of Arts &
Science. It has been my privilege and pleasure to serve
as leader of such an outstanding group of people. I have
been impressed time and again by the creativity and
innovation of our faculty and staff as they work to ensure
that our students get the excellent education they
deserve and expect from the University of Toronto.
This Year In Review provides but a glimpse of their
extraordinary work – work that I’m sure will continue
and flourish.
With best wishes,
PEKKA K. SINERVO, FRSC
Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science
Vice-Provost, First-Entry Programs
University of Toronto
University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science 1