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.
Vanessa is a third-year double major in criminology and sociolegal studies and psychology, with a political science minor. Vanessa has been living on residence since first-year, and was the President of St. Michael’s College Residence Council, 2021 and 2022 Orientation Leader f, and is currently the Vice-President of Arts, St. Michael’s College Student Union.
Vanessa loves the community and organizing activities for other SMC members. Seeing people smile, enjoying themselves, and having fun are the biggest motivations. It is very exciting for Vanessa to be able to contribute to the community in a different way on the collegium.
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.
Susan is a retired business leader with a track record of driving results and optimizing revenue through cyclical markets. She has created and lead high performing sales and marketing teams in 20+ global markets. Susan has a deep understanding of how to create competitive advantage and brand equity having been instrumental, over 28 years, in building the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts brand to its iconic global status, making it the leader in luxury hospitality as the gold standard of service. As a principal at Helstab Advisory Inc, she helped reposition global brands, transform marketing organizations and implement marketing platforms to support strategic business objectives and deliver accelerated performance.
Susan has an MBA from the Schulich School of Business and an Honours BSc from the University of Toronto. She is an alumnus of St. Michael’s College. Susan has sat on advisory boards of post-secondary institutions including Cornell University and Toronto Metropolitan University, the board of C200, and currently serves as treasurer of MTCC 699.
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 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 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.
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.
Valentine Lovekin is a lawyer with offices located in Toronto and in Newcastle Ontario. His areas of practice include real estate, estate, and business law.
He is the President of the Canadian Association Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Treasurer of International Association of Catholic Bioethics, Board Chair of the Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Association and a Governor of Trent University. Previous community experience includes Board Chair Lakeridge Health, President of Credit Counselling Service of Toronto, Vice Chair of the Toronto Parking Authority and Treasurer for the John Milton Society for the Blind in Canada.
His commentary includes the following publications: Power of Attorney for Personal Care: A Catholic Overview; and Power of Attorney for Personal Care: Balancing Private Rights and Public Interest, both published in Proceedings of Our Lord’s the Sick, Our Lord’s the Poor: A Symposium in Honour of the 900th Anniversary Year of the Order of Malta, Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute, University of St Michael’s College, University of Toronto (2014).
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.
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.
Emma Oliver is a Student Life Professional currently serving St. Michael’s as Assistant Dean, Campus Life in the Office of the Dean of Students. Her work includes oversight of student activities and programs such as student government, orientation, wellness, clubs, and student leader development. She holds a BA from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from the University of St. Michael’s College. In addition to her work at the University, Emma serves the community through music ministry at events across the Archdiocese of Toronto, as well as a Suicide Alertness, Safe TALK trainer with LivingWorks.
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.
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.
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.
Mr. Stephen is a seasoned financial services professional with extensive experience in the insurance, banking and securities industries in both Canada and the United States. In 2004, he launched Stephen Financial, an independent estate and retirement planning boutique focusing on individual and group solutions.
Prior to launching Stephen Financial, Mr. Stephen was with Morgan Stanley & Co. in New York where he served as a Vice President in the Finance Division responsible for Morgan Stanley’s relationships with creditor banks, fixed income investors and rating agencies. Before joining Morgan Stanley, Mr. Stephen held various positions of increasing seniority at TD Bank in Toronto and also held a business development role as Vice President at TD Securities USA in New York. Before joining TD, he interned in the Foreign Securities Department at HypoVereinsbank in Munich, Germany.
In addition to his B.Comm from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, Mr. Stephen holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers (FICB). While working in New York, he held the Certified Cash Manager (CCM) designation, General Securities Representative Certification (Series 7) and Securities Agent New York State (Series 63).
He is President of the Order of Malta (Ontario) Charitable Foundation as well as a member and past Chancellor of the Order of Malta, Canadian Association. He has served on the Planned Giving Committee at Providence Healthcare Foundation and was a founding member of the Legacy Advisory Committee for the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Foundation. Mr. Stephen is a past President of the McMaster University Alumni Association and past President of The Canadian Club of New York. He lives in Toronto with his wife and two sons.
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
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.
Sr. Carla Thomas OP was selected as the graduate student representative on Collegium by the Student Life Committee of the Faculty of Theology in September 2022. She belongs to the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, based in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. She holds a Master of Theological Studies from the University of St. Michael’s College and is currently pursuing a PhD at the Toronto School of Theology. Her dissertation will examine accompaniment and contextuality as distinctive components of Pope Francis’ enactment of a more pastoral magisterium, with particular focus on the church’s care of families in a postcolonial Caribbean.
Mark Yenson is Associate Professor of Religious Studies/Catholic Studies at King’s University College in London, Ontario. He has served as Religious Studies department chair, and now serves as Associate Academic Dean.
He received his Master of Divinity (2003) and Ph.D. (2010) from the USMC Faculty of Theology, and specializes in historical and systematic theology. He is on the executive of the Centre for Advanced Research in Catholic Thought at King’s, has served recently on the board of directors of St. Peter’s Seminary, London, and as an appointee of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to the Roman Catholic-Evangelical Dialogue of Canada.
Colleen Shantz is a professor in the Regis St Michael’s Faculty of Theology where she teaches Biblical Studies. Her academic administrative experience includes a term as director of graduate studies for the seven colleges of the Toronto School of Theology and a key role in development of the collective agreement between USMC and UTFA.
Dr Shantz is a specialist in early Christianity and the letters of Paul. Her award winning research is multi-disciplinary, employing cognitive science, affect theory, and ritual studies. She is active in several academic societies and recently completed a term as President of the Canadian Society of Biblical studies. Dr Shantz is also deeply committed to inclusive classrooms and effective teaching and learning. For several years she taught a required course on pedagogy and course design that she developed for doctoral students in theology.