Meet Our 2022-23 Team
Our multi-disciplinary team combines experience with passion, creativity, and dedication in order to take action on mental health at the University of Toronto.
Hania
Event Team Lead
Hi, I am currently a MSc candidate at the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. My research focuses on a neurodegenerative disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and I am situated at the Krembil Research Institute. I find myself preforming at my best when I am mentally and physically fit, thus, I thoroughly enjoy dedicating time to go to the gym. I am constantly looking for opportunities that can help me grow at a personal and professional level. I am quite outgoing; I enjoy interacting with a diverse group of people and find that growth stems from tackling challenging scenarios
Riddhita
Event Team Lead
Hi there! I am a 2nd year PhD student in the medical sciences program, and I work on a weight loss study in obese individuals with schizophrenia spectrum illness. Mental health has been a longstanding passion of mine, so I am super excited to be a part of this year's Grad Minds team. I want to be able to bring fun new initiatives to this team, while keeping the wellbeing of graduate students in mind. Outside of academia, I love to travel, hike, run and read mystery novels whenever I can! I am looking forward to making some impactful changes over the coming year with the team!
Yunfan
Event Team Lead
Hi everyone! I am a first-year Master’s student at the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. Having gone through mental health struggles for a few years, I realized how important it is to advocate for mental well-beings in school. I am excited to join Grad Minds to help you build connections with your fellow students and to provide a safe pace for you to just talk. If you are going through something, please reach out to us and know that you are not alone. In my free time, I love playing badminton, rock climbing, and reading One Piece—shout out to fellow strawhat fans!
Elizabeth
Treasurer
Hi all! My name is Elizabeth, I am a PhD student in the Institute of Medical Science. I am passionate about mental health and I am excited to continue working within Grad Minds to promote well-being!
Serrina
Policy and Advocacy Advisor
Hello everyone! My name is Serrina, I am a first-year student in the Master of Public Health with a collaborative specialization in Aging, Palliative, and Supportive Care Across the Life Course at the University of Toronto.
I am thrilled to be a Mental Health Policy Advisor for Grad Minds! I love being a part of something greater where an entire team shares one common goal of creating positive change for graduate students and advocating for mental health awareness. I hope to use the knowledge I learn in my public health courses into practice to promote and address the needs of graduate students. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime regarding changes you would like to see and for available mental health campus recourses.
Aqsa
Policy and Advocacy Advisor
Hi everyone! My name is Aqsa and I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) where I specialized in mental health studies. I’m currently a Master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program at UTSC. Through my research, I hope to underscore the importance of addressing stigma associated with psychosis in treatment interventions and to build an understanding of which individuals in this population may be more vulnerable to the effects of stigma. Apart from my studies and extracurricular activities, I really enjoy painting, exercising, cooking, and spending time with my pet cat! Feel free to reach out to me at aqsa.zahid@mail.utoronto.ca for anything I could possibly assist you with.
Felix
Policy and Advocacy Advisor
Hello! I’m a second-year MPH (Health Promotion) student at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. I am broadly interested in mental health policies and interventions that improve the health outcomes of equity-seeking groups both in Canada and abroad. As the Mental Health Policy Advisor, I’m excited to shape policies and programs so that they better reflect and address graduate students’ needs. If you would like your voice heard as a student or campus group, please reach out and connect with me! In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, and experimenting in the kitchen.
Jessica
Policy and Advocacy Advisor
Hi everyone! My name is Jessica and I am in my first year of the Masters of teaching program at OISE. I have always had an interest and passion for mental health, which led me to studying psychology in my undergraduate degree at Queen’s. Now, I strive to improve my understanding of mental health in order to best support my students and their diverse needs. Within the policy and advocacy team, we are determined to advocate for the graduate student population and the diverse needs among us. I am looking forward to working alongside the other brilliant minds at Grad Minds to spark change in how we, as a community, view mental health.
Curtis
Co-chair
Hello! I am a second year PhD candidate in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. My research focuses on nutrition during infancy and feeding behaviours and health outcomes later in childhood. Given the unique set of circumstances this year presents, our mental well-being is as important as ever. I look forward to meeting with you this year through unique workshops, initiatives, and more to ensure we stay connected. Feel free to reach out to me or Grad minds at any time if you have a concern. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, camping, and travelling!
