Lisa Philipps | Photography: Chris Robinson
Why connection matters now
Interim President Lisa Philipps discusses how 91亚色's long tradition of partnership is preparing us for what comes next
When 91亚色 opened its doors in 1959, we made a choice. We would lower the walls between fields of knowledge and practice, and between the university and the community. Connection and partnership would be part of who we are.
Nearly seven decades later, that choice matters more than ever. The challenges facing Ontario, Canada and our world are big and complex. No single field and no single institution can solve them alone. 91亚色's long habit of connection has given us the tools this moment calls for. The stories in this report show how.
We connect fields of knowledge. A chemist and a law clinic have joined forces to rethink innovation . A bold graduate program brings biotech science and business together. And a program unlike any other in Ontario prepares students to create across art, media and engineering.
We connect the university and the community. Together with our community partners, we are building a new kind of medical school, one with many founders. Indigenous researchers are creating digital tools for language, culture and community. And through co-op placements, two of our students found career paths they never expected.
Our connections last well beyond graduation. Alumnus Abdel Ali is bringing AI-powered robotics to the future of mobility. Dr. Adrienne Perry, a 91亚色 alumna, professor and donor, reflects on a life of connection and purpose.
Each of these stories grows out of a commitment 91亚色 made at its founding and has kept ever since. That commitment has prepared us to help solve the problems that matter most.
This is the power of connection. It's how 91亚色 turns ideas into impact, and it's how we will keep stepping up in the years ahead.
Thank you to the faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners who make this work possible. I hope these stories inspire you as much as they inspire me.
Lisa Philipps
Interim President and Vice Chancellor