St. Mike’s Fellows Program a Win-Win Experience

When Dr. Mark McGowan was appointed Interim Principal, one of the items on the to-do list he drew up for himself was to re-energize St. Michael’s long-standing fellows program, appreciative of how fellows enrich university life. ¶ Fellows are an integral part of the St. Michael’s community, sharing their knowledge and expertise with other faculty and students. They are appointed by College Council on the basis of their promise and accomplishments in teaching and research. Today, more than 50 St. Michael’s fellows — both those already on St. Michael’s faculty as well as from across the University of Toronto — bring to St. Mike’s backgrounds in everything from Chemistry and Computer Science to Law, Philosophy
and Statistics.

Visiting fellows like Dr. Mike DeGagné widen horizons even further. DeGagné is the CEO of Indspire, Canada’s largest Indigenous-led and Indigenous-focused charity. He is the former President and Vice-Chancellor of Nipissing University and Yukon University and is also an alumnus of St. Michael’s, having graduated from the CSR program. As a fellow he contributed to our very first St. Michael’s Indigenous Advisory Committee.

Fellows are invited to participate in the life of the university in many ways, including attending institutional and informal events on campus, offering mentorship to St. Michael’s students, and participating in college governance through Senate and College Council

In return, St. Michael’s offers fellows a warm and welcoming community, including an open invitation to all events, access to the Faculty Dining Room and Common Rooms, the ability to book rooms for talks and short events, and access to St. Michael’s College research fund competitions.

“It is an honour to be a Fellow of the University of St. Michael’s College,” says Dr. Elizabeth Smyth, Professor Emerita and former Vice Dean (Programs) at the School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto.

“Principal McGowan has created so many ways in which Fellows can participate in College life through governance, administrative, academic and social initiatives.”

Asked to single out highlights, she cites meeting students in the Celtic Studies Program; participating in the Celebrating Sisters initiative and working with faculty and staff in the production of the Sisters of St. Joseph 170th Anniversary publication. She was also grateful for the opportunity to participate in the synodal listening circles.

“I look forward to many more opportunities to engage with students, faculty, and staff, and to meet alumni and alumnae,” she says.