The University of Toronto commissioned a Presidential, Provostial, and Vice-Presidential Working Group to review programming, activities, processes, and practices in place at the institution and make recommendations to support the University’s response to Anti-Asian Racism.
The Anti-Asian Racism Working Group was planned in early 2022 and began its work in April 2022. This Working Group is part of the University of Toronto’s commitment to addressing forms of racism and discrimination faced by members of our community.
Terms of Reference
The Anti-Asian Racism Working Group will review programming, activities, processes, and practices in place at the institution and make recommendations to support the University’s response to anti-Asian racism. Its primary aims are to:
- Consult with University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and librarians about their experiences of anti-Asian racism on our three campuses, and invite their recommendations on how to foster an inclusive and respectful environment for Asian community members;
- Develop a tri-campus inventory of existing resources, initiatives, and projects that are addressing systemic and individual anti-Asian racism and advancing inclusion and excellence for Asian community members;
- Review the University’s existing practices, processes, and policies to determine whether existing tools are appropriate to i) address anti-Asian racism and ii) advance inclusion and excellence for Asian community members; and to determine whether additional policies and processes are required;
- Review previous recommendations regarding anti-racism practices made by members of the U of T community and make recommendations based on best practices and policies identified by our community and at other research-intensive universities for addressing anti-Asian racism and fostering inclusion and excellence for Asian community members;
- Recommend an institutional strategy and actionable steps to help the University achieve a more respectful, accountable, equitable, and inclusive community, and to help combat anti-Asian racism on its three campuses; and
- Present a final report and recommendations to the President; the Vice-President and Provost; the Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture.
Anti-Asian Racism Working Group Membership
Co-Chair of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group
Carol Chin
Principal, Woodsworth College and Associate Professor, Department of History
Co-Chair of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group
Vikram Chadalawada
Assistant Director, Student Information Systems, Enterprise Applications and Solutions Integration
Co-Leads
Joanne M. Chung (Faculty, Instructors & Librarians Subcommittee Co-Lead)
Assistant Professor, Diversity Committee Chair, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga
Valerie Damasco (Faculty, Instructors & Librarians Subcommittee Co-Lead)
Lecturer, Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
Joyce Hahn (Staff Subcommittee Co-Lead)
Chief Administrative Officer, Division of the Vice-President & Provost
Afshaan Kohari (Staff Subcommittee Co-Lead)
Associate Director, Major Gifts, Division of University Advancement
Wan Li (Students & Curricula Co-Lead)
Undergraduate Student, Asian Institute; Department of Geography & Planning, Faculty of Arts & Science
Lingyin Shen (Students & Curricula Co-Lead)
International Student Immigration Advisor, Centre for International Experience
Students
Faraz Alidina, Faculty of Arts & Science
Christina Arayata, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
Samantha Chang, Faculty of Arts & Science
Amy (Ji Yon) Choi, Faculty of Arts & Science
Alison D’Cruz, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
Arjan S. Dhoot, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Biomedical Engineering
Randeep Nota, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
Eva (An-Yi) Tsai, University of Toronto Scarborough
Staff
Sandy Chang, Division of Student Life
Arathi Devadas, Information Technology Services
Yen Du, University of Toronto Mississauga
Sandeep Gupta, Division of University Advancement
Loretta Ho, Division of the Vice-President & Provost
Jiyoung Kang, Division of Student Life
David Kim, Ancillary Services
Keshav Krishnamurty, Faculty of Arts & Science
Justin Lee, University of Toronto Mississauga
Kimberly Lyn, Division of University Advancement
Vi Phan, University of Toronto Mississauga
Jenny Jimin Rodrigues, University of Toronto Communications
Cordelia Shan, University of Toronto Libraries
Sharon Tan, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Faculty, Instructors & Librarians
Hong Tian Dong, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Julie Hannaford, University of Toronto Libraries
Rosa Junghwa Hong, University of Toronto Mississauga
Xiangying Huo, University of Toronto Scarborough
Jennifer Junwa Lau, University of Toronto Mississauga and Faculty of Arts & Science
Phillip Y Lipscy, Faculty of Arts & Science
Lisa Mar, Faculty of Arts & Science
Lynette Ong, Faculty of Arts & Science
Mary Reid, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
Questions?
Please direct questions about the Working Group to anti.asian.racism@utoronto.ca.