Collegium is the principal of two bodies that govern the affairs of the University of St. Michael’s College. Its members work to safeguard the property and funds of the University, and ensure that it has the resources to carry out its mission while operating in accordance with the best academic practices and the governing law. Member profiles can be found below, and a list including special committee members can be found here.
- Mr. W. John Bennett
John Bennett has had a long and successful career in the Canadian business and investment communities. He is currently President of Bennett Church Hill Capital Inc., a family investment holding company, Chairman and principal shareholder of the New Look Vision Group Inc., the largest fully integrated optical retailer operating across Canada and Chairman and Co-Founder of MacKinnon, Bennett & Company, a specialized merchant bank focusing on renewable energies, transportation and smart city sectors. He has been a director of many public and private companies, is an active philanthropist and has been on the board and involved with many leading Canadian educational and charitable institutions and foundations. John holds an Honours Degree in History and Philosophy (1967) from SMC and also an L.L.B. (1970) from the University of Toronto. He is married to Diana Collins Bennett (SMC 1968), has three children and is a member of the parish of Saint Patrick’s Basilica, Montreal, Quebec. He and his wife’s family have had an involvement with SMC and the Basilian Fathers stretching back over 100 years.
- Msgr. Rev. Samuel T. Bianco, P.H.
Msgr. Rev. Bianco is a graduate of St. Michael’s College (1962). He received his M.A. from University of Toronto in 1964. He is a former Assistant Registrar of St. Michael’s College (1972-1975). He entered the Basilian Fathers in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1972. In addition, Msgr. Bianco has been Pastor of St. James Parish in Toronto, Associate Pastor, Holy Rosary Parish, Toronto (1975-1979), Director of Religious Education and Chaplain with mentally challenged Persons (1978-1984), former Pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Toronto and Rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral. He was honoured as a Monsignor by Pope John Paul II in 1996. Msgr. Bianco was appointed to the Collegium by the Superior General of the Congregation of St. Basil in September 2017.
- Ms. Cianna Choo
Cianna Choo is the President of the St Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) and a 3rd-year student majoring in Neuroscience and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at the University of St. Michael’s College.
She has served as the 2020 Orientation Coordinator and been a 2 year resident at Loretto College. Cianna has been highly involved since her first year. She loves the college and is passionate about working towards making students feel welcome and supported at St. Michael’s.
- Rev. Dr. Darren Dias, OP
Rev. Darren Dias, OP, is Associate Professor and Director of Academic Programs in the Faculty of Theology of the University of St Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. His area of research includes the intersection of lived religion and doctrinal development, in particular, the reality of religious diversity and the Trinity. He is the chair of the Toronto School of Theology’s Faculty Assembly. Darren is the appointment of the Canadian Bishops to the Catholic-Muslim working group. He serves on the board of Catholic Cross-Cultural Services, Canada’s largest newcomer settlement agency. Darren serves on the leadership of his religious order.
- Mr. Paul Harris (Chair)
Paul Harris, CFA is a partner and a portfolio manager for the Equity Portfolio and the Fixed Income Portfolio. Mr. Harris has more than 20 years of investment experience. Prior to co-founding Avenue Investment Management Inc., Mr. Harris worked in New York for Fiduciary Trust International as a senior portfolio manager focusing on global equity portfolios for institutional clients. Before joining Fiduciary Trust International, Mr. Harris was with TD Asset Management, where he was a senior portfolio manager of the Greenline Dividend Fund, the Greenline Small-Cap Fund and the TD Bank pension fund. In addition, Mr. Harris was an equity analyst covering financial services and technology globally. Mr. Harris received a B.A. from the University of Toronto in 1986. He became a Chartered Financial Analyst in 1994. He is a member of the New York Society of Financial Analysts and the CFA Institute.
Mr. Harris was appointed Chair of the Collegium in September of 2020.
- Ms. Maria Hunt
Maria Hunt is a Capital Markets professional with over 20 years of experience in the wholesale banking industry. Ms. Hunt began her career at Citibank Canada in Foreign Exchange, before moving to TD Securities where was Vice President & Director, Debt Syndication, Debt Capital Markets. After taking some time off to be with her active family, Maria re-engaged in the Capital Markets business via recently completed contracts at BMO Capital Markets and CIBC Capital Markets. Ms. Hunt also has board experience, having previously served as an executive member of the Parents’ Association of St. Michael’s College School, and she is a past board member of Food for the Poor Canada. Ms. Hunt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from USMC and resides in Toronto with her family.
- Sr Evanne Hunter, IBVM
Sr Evanne Hunter IBVM is a member of the Leadership Team of the Loretto Sisters in Canada. She has a BA from St Michael’s College, an MA from Niagara University. She holds qualifications as Elementary and Secondary School Teacher, Secondary School Principal, Ontario Supervisory Officer and specialties in Religious Education, Guidance, Special Education and Teaching French as a Second Language with summer programmes at Universite Laval. In the IBVM she has held positions as General Consultor, Regional and Provincial Superior and liaison with the Loretto/ El Salvador twinned community project. She also established the IBVM UN NGO Office at the United Nations in New York and served as representative for 3 years.
Sr Evanne has been a member of Boards of Directors including St Paul CCS in Niagara Falls, Ottawa based SalvAide Canada, Toronto based Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice and Becoming Neighbours as well as the New York based Partnership for Global Justice. She has served on the Religious Advisory Committee of the Archdiocese of Toronto, the Administrative Council of CRC-O, the IBVM UN Advisory Committee and the Catholic School Parent Advisory Council of Loretto Abbey. Currently she is on the Boards of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Toronto, the National Catholic Broadcasting Council, the Callan Foundation and Becoming Neighbours Joint Apostolic Ministry.
She is the recipient of several awards: Loretto Alumnae Association Order of Mary Ward, Toronto Catholic District School Board Award of Merit, Niagara University Alumna of Distinction, Government of El Salvador’s Friend of El Salvador Award, Catholic Education Foundation of Ontario Medal of Honour, Becoming Neighbours Margaret Myatt Award, the Degree of Sacred Letters Honoris Causa from Regis College and theTCDSB annual “Sister Evanne Hunter Award for Young Woman in Leadership”.
- Mr. John Kostoff
Mr. John Kostoff was approved as a member of the Collegium of the University of St. Michael’s College in December of 2017. Mr. Kostoff is an alumnus of the University of St. Michael’s College graduating with a Master of Education from the University of Toronto. He graduated from the Rotman School, University of Toronto, essential MBA program. He is a specialist in Religion, holds a Parliamentary certification from the University of Wisconsin, and a diploma in Ministry from St. Francis Xavier University, N.S. Additionally Mr. Kostoff holds certification for an Ontario Supervisory Officer Qualification. Mr. Kostoff has a long and widely varied experience in the field of education and is currently the Executive Director for the Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officer Association. Mr. Kostoff has served on several boards including St. Augustine’s Seminary, Healthy Cities, Mississauga, Share Life and the Institute for Catholic Education. He has held instructor positions for St. Paul’s University, St. Michael’s College Continuing Education, and the University of Niagara among others.
Mr. Kostoff’s published works include: Auditing Our Catholic Schools-Person Publishing , The Domestic Church and the Family, Novalis, publishing date 2018, Transformative Leadership, published – Institute of Education, History of Catholic Education in Ontario, coauthored with Dr R. Dixon. He is a regular contributor to the Catholic Register, education columnist, the Editor of OCSOA, a quarterly scholarly research newsletter.
- Ms. Mary Ann Leon
Mary Ann Leon is a certified professional accountant and a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors. She is also an alumna of USMC (B.Comm. 77). She has over 30 years of combined experience in public accounting, corporate finance, financial advisory services and board governance in the for-profit and not-for- profit sectors. She currently provides financial advisory and investment portfolio supervision to religious congregations. Her board experience includes Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto, Shepherds’ Trust, Mary Centre, St. Michael’s Halfway Homes, Leon’s Furniture and Sun Life Financial Trust.
- Rev. Andrew Leung, CSB
Fr. Andrew Leung, CSB completed his Bachelor of Education in Physical Science and Biology at the University of Alberta in 2001, Master of Divinity at the University of St. Michael’s College in 2007, and Master of Education in Administration at the University of Toronto in 2012.
He completed his principal papers through the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and has served as a teacher in Edmonton, Hong Kong, and Toronto. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2008 for the Congregation of St. Basil (Basilian Fathers) and had been posted as associate pastor and administrator to St. Basil’s Parish in Toronto, St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged in Sheung Shui, Hong Kong as a teacher, St. Michael’s College School in Toronto as a teacher, and St. Alphonsus and St. Clare Parishes in Edmonton as pastor.
During Fr. Leung’s time as a teacher he has taught General Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Math and coached the Badminton team. He was also the Director of Spiritual Life (2015-2016) for St. Michael’s College School. Fr. Leung also served the Basilian community as the Basilian Associate coordinator (2011-2013). In 2018, the Archbishop of Edmonton appointed Fr. Andrew as the Archbishop’s Delegate for Catholic Education and in 2019 he was appointed as a director for the Detroit Catholic Central High School board in Novi, Michigan. In November 2018, Fr. Leung was named interim president of St. Michael’s College School, a position he held until October 2019, when he was appointed to the permanent role of President.
Fr. Leung was appointed to the Collegium by the Superior General of the Congregation of St. Basil in March 2019.
- Mr. Benjamin Lujan
Benjamín Luján is completing a Ph.D. in Theological Studies at the USMC Faculty of Theology and does adjunct teaching at Seneca College’s School of Arts and Science in Toronto. He is an active participant in ecumenical and interfaith engagements, with a special focus on Indigenous justice. He holds a Master of Arts in Theology from the University of St. Michael’s College, as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religious Studies and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto. He has a special interest in Indigenous spirituality, interfaith engagements, liberation theology, and Lonergan studies. His dissertation investigates the spiritual bases of Indigenous self-determination and its relevance to all persons, in particular in the current Canadian context. Mr. Lujan was selected as the graduate student representative on Collegium by the Faculty of Theology, Student Life Committee in September 2019.
- Dr. Mark McGowan
Dr. Mark McGowan is a Professor of History and Celtic Studies, and the Interim Principal and Vice President of the University of St. Michael’s College.
St. Michael’s Principal from 2002–2011, Dr. McGowan is an historian renowned for his work on the Catholic Church in Canada and the Great Irish Famine, as well as the lasting impact that the Famine’s mass migration had on Canada.
He has won multiple awards for both his teaching and writing, and is well known for his work in Catholic education, including the history of Catholic education in Ontario. He has served as a consultant to the Institute for Catholic Education. His latest book, It’s Our Turn: Carrying on the Work of the Pioneers of Catholic Education in Ontario was published by Novalis in 2019.
He is cross-appointed to U of T, where he holds tenure and has served as Deputy Chair of the History department (2017-19), as Senior Academic Advisor to the Dean of Arts & Science, International (2014-17) and as Acting Vice-Provost, Students, for the University of Toronto for part of 2013.
- Rev. Dr. Donald McLeod, C.S.B.
Rev. Donald McLeod is Director of Healthy Aging and Eldercare for the Basilian Fathers. He is also Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Education, St. Joseph’s College, University of Alberta, and was recently appointed Dean of Advancement of the College and a member of the Senior Administrative Team. He also serves as Chair of the Board of Governors of Assumption University in Windsor, Ontario and as a Trustee of the Canadian Religious Self-Insured Retention Plan in Toronto. Rev. McLeod is an Alumnus of St. Michael’s and the Toronto School of Theology and holds an Honours B.A., M.Div. and ThD. He is appointed to the Collegium by the Superior General of the Congregation of St. Basil.
- Rev. Luis Melo
Fr. Luis Melo was raised in Toronto and was ordained a priest in 1992. He is member of the presbyterate of the Archdiocese of Toronto. He is an alumnus of the University of St. Michael’s College, graduating with a B.A. (Hons) in 1982. A specialization in ecumenical theology in Rome prepared Fr. Luis for a ministry promoting Christian Unity throughout Canada and internationally and eventually led him to the Vatican as an Official at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity where he was responsible for relations with the World Council of Churches and the Global Christian Forum.
Fr. Luis joined the academic and formation faculty at St. Augustine’s Seminary where he held administrative positions as Academic Dean (2014-2020) and Director of the Institute of Theology (2019-2020).
He is currently the Director of the Office for Promoting Christian Unity and Religious Relations with Judaism in Archdiocese of Toronto that was established in 2020. He also teaches (Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and the New Evangelization, and Eastern Christian Spirituality) at St. Augustine’s Seminary as an Associate Professor of Systematic Theology (Adjunct).
Fr. Luis holds membership in several professional societies and has written extensively and published widely in popular and scholarly publications, with academic and pastoral contexts mutually enriching one another.
- Ms. Katie Moriarty
Katie Moriarty is a Senior Manager with Deloitte Toronto. Ms Moriarty has more than 10 years experience providing audit and advisory related services to clients within the financial services industry, both in Canada and internationally. Prior to joining Deloitte Canada, Ms Moriarty was with PwC, Dublin, Ireland, where she was a manager in the audit practice, focused on delivering audit related services to clients within the financial services sector. Ms Moriarty is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland, and Chartered Professional Accountants, Ontario.
- Ms. Catherine Mulroney
Staff representative Catherine Mulroney joined the Faculty of Theology as Programs Coordinator in March, 2015. Ms. Mulroney is a double alumna of the University of St. Michael’s College, having earned a BA in English Literature and Mediaeval Studies in 1982, and a Master of Divinity degree in 2010. A career journalist, she has held positions with The Toronto Star, The Financial Post and The Canadian Press, and has worked with an extensive list of freelance clients on projects ranging from prospectus writing to ghostwriting for a communications firm. Her popular column on family life, The Minivan Years, ran for many years in The Star. Most recently, she was the managing editor of Living with Christ, a Novalis publication. Ms. Mulroney and her husband, Globe and Mail journalist Michael Babad, have co-authored three business books, and were short-listed for the 1994 National Business Book Award. Ms. Mulroney’s volunteer work includes two terms as a director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto, where she served two years as vice-president. Ms. Mulroney and Mr. Babad have four adult children.
- Ms. Rosanne Rocchi
Rosanne Rocchi is a graduate of USMC, 1973 and Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.B., 1976 and LL.M., Taxation 1986). As a lawyer at Miller Thomson LLP, Rosanne has had extensive experience with all areas of wealth transfers and management, with emphasis on fiduciary issues in both a commercial context and the charitable sector. She has served as a Director of a national public financial institution with emphasis on investment management issues, including prudent investor issues and has also serviced on the Board of Governors, Regis College, University of Toronto. Ms. Rocchi joined the Collegium as an alumni member of Collegium in September 2019.
- Mr. Simon Rogers
Simon Rogers was selected by the full time professional librarians of the University of St. Michael’s College in September 2019. Mr. Rogers earned his Master’s degree in Information Studies (archival stream) from the University of Toronto in 2008 with an additional specialization in Book History and Print Culture. He has extensive experience processing, arranging, and appraising materials. He has held contracts at a number of institutions, both private and public, including UTSC, University of Toronto Archives and Media Commons, Ontario Jewish Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, and most recently Trinity College.
He is active in the profession, having authored several publications and retaining membership in both the Association of Canadian Archivists and the Archives Association of Ontario. His most recent article (forthcoming), co-authored with a colleague, addresses the challenges inherent in monetary appraisals.
- Dr. Giulio Silano
Giulio Silano has been a member of the Faculty of Arts & Science for the University of St. Michael’s College since 1984 in the Medieval Studies and the Christianity & Culture programs. He is a member of the University of Toronto Department of History and Center for Medieval Studies. Prof. Silano is married with four children, three of whom are graduates of USMC. Prof. Silano was elected for a second term as the Faculty of Arts & Science representative to the Collegium in September 2020.
- Dr. David Sylvester
Dr. David Sylvester was appointed the 8th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto on July 1, 2018. Previously, David served two terms as Principal of King’s University College at Western and was the founding President of Corpus Christi College of liberal arts established at U.B.C. A Professor of medieval history, he holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Fordham University, New York City and has taught in universities in Canada and the United States. David is currently Chair of the Governance Committee of Universities Canada and serves on the Board of the Federation of the Humanities and Social Sciences. He recently completed a six-year term as the Canadian representative to the Washington-based Board of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities and is the past chair of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities of Canada. In addition to his interests in university governance, David is committed to exploring the role of universities in community building, especially in response to the TRC calls to action. View Profile
- Ms. Ella Tetrault
Ella Tetrault is a third-year varsity rugby student athlete double majoring in Health and Disease and Nutritional Sciences and minoring in Religion. She is the Co-President of Growing Mentality – a mental health advocacy club and the Vice-President of POWERS U of T – an organization for everyone’s reproductive and sexual rights. Ms. Tetrault has been an Orientation leader with St. Michael’s College (SMC) for the past two years, a Senior Mentor for the SMC Mentorship Program, and she worked with SMC Athletics to create the Nike Run Challenges which encouraged overall wellbeing and connectedness to the SMC community globally.