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 of all Committees and their membership can be found here.
Anastasija Petrovic is a third-year Neuroscience Specialist and Biochemistry Major at USMC. At St. Mike’s, she has served as an Orientation Marshall and a Junior Editor with The Windrose yearbook. In her spare time, she rows with UofT’s Varsity Blues Rowing Team. She joined the Collegium to learn more about governance and to help other students in any way she can. She loves St. Mike’s for its close-knit, values-driven community where tradition and service make the college feel like a home.
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.
Bio to follow.
Carmen Diston holds a BA, major in religious studies, from USMC (1981); and an MA –Theology from St. Paul University, Ottawa (2004).
Carmen is a member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary / Loretto Sisters since 1981. She served in Niagara Falls as parish pastoral assistant and later Director of Loretto Christian Life Centre; She held roles in IBVM Canadian Province leaderships and as General Consultor to IBVM in Rome. She is currently Treasurer for IBVM.
She previously served on the Board of Directors of Catholic Crosscultural Services; and is presently on the Board of Association of Treasurers of Religious Institutes (ATRI) and Ignatian Spirituality Program (STIR Retreats).
Christine Way Skinner is a doctoral student at Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology in Toronto. Her area of specialization is in ecclesiology. She has worked in parish ministry for over thirty years and still continues to engage in ministry when she has an opportunity. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theology from St. Francis Xavier University and Masters of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. She has a keen interest in art, liturgy, and in social and ecclesial justice. She collects stamps and nativities and loves to garden. She has authored several books for both children and adults.
Bishop Robert Kasun CSB has been the auxiliary bishop of the Central Region of the Archdiocese of Toronto since 2016 when he was ordained to the episcopacy by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins in the Archdiocese of Edmonton. He is also a member of the Basilian Fathers of Toronto. Following the Basilian charism of “education within the Church’s broader ministry of evangelization,” Fr. Kasun served as a teacher, a Vocations Director, a member of the Basilian Fathers General Administrative Council, a pastor, and as a member of the executive council of St. Mary’s University College Board of Directors in Calgary, Alberta, at the exciting time when the first Canadian Catholic Teachers’ Training College was in the process of its formation.
Matthew Seppanen is entering his third year at USMC as of September 2025 and is studying a double major in Political Science and Criminology. He has served on the St. Michael’s College Student Union as the VP of Mental Health and was also an orientation leader. Outside of university, Matthew is an infantry soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Army Reserve. His unit is the 48th Highlanders of Canada and his rank is Corporal. Matthew considers USMC as a home away from home. He joined the Collegium to ensure that future generations of St. Mike’s students get to have an even better experience than himself and that St. Mike’s continues to stay on its unique path and maintain its identity.
Luigi Ferrara is an architect, designer, educator and storyteller. Luigi has had various roles from that of a
practicing architect, designer and urbanist with various firms including his own practice Conifer, an
executive VP and CEO respectively of the Design Exchange and the DXnet, Canada’s Centre for Design and
Innovation and as Dean of the Centre for Arts, Design and Information Technology at George Brown
College where he led program development, partnerships and innovation institutes that provided
students with challenging and exciting real-world learning opportunities.
Luigi was elected to the Board of the World Design Organization (then ICISID) in 1997 and became
President Elect in 2001 and President in 2003-2005. Since 2006, Luigi continues to serve as a Senator of
the organization.
Luigi was the Director of the Institute Without Boundaries (IWB) from 2004 to 2022. The IwB was an
academic program and studio aimed at solving real-world problems through design research and strategy
with goals of social, ecological and economic innovation. After 20 years the IwB’s academic programs
were transferred to the Brookfield Sustainability Institute.
Luigi was the founding Chair and CEO of the Brookfield Sustainability Institute (BSI). The Institute focused
on aligning the processes of digital transformation and sustainability for the benefit of communities
everywhere. It combined a global solutions studio with a research observatory and a new educational
model based on work-learning.
Luigi has devoted his career to advocating and practicing interdisciplinary design both in Canada and
internationally, working on the relationship between architecture, urban design, sustainability, digital
transformation, strategy, and design thinking. He continues to take on professional design projects every
year and lends his expertise to several boards (Metrolinx, McLuhan Foundation, The Gathering Place) and
associations while showcasing his talent and knowledge through exhibitions, publications, and lectures.
Prior to his ordination, Fr. Scott Birchall obtained his Bachelor in Environmental Studies (BES) from the University of Waterloo and a Master’s of Science in Planning (M.Sc.Pl) from the University of Toronto where he focused on affordable housing policy (accessory dwelling units). Following the completion of his planning studies, Fr. Scott worked in both the public (municipal) and private sectors.
Fr. Birchall entered St. Augustine’s Seminary in 2008 and obtained a Bachelor in Sacred Theology (STB) and a Masters in Divinity (M.Div) in 2014. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Toronto in 2014. After his ordination, he served as an associate pastor at Merciful Redeemer Parish in Mississauga.
In 2017, Fr. Birchall began his role as the Director of Discipleship Formation (Serra House) at St. Augustine’s Seminary and undertook his Doctor of Ministry studies at the Catholic University of America with a focus on empathy development in Canadian English seminaries.
He completed his doctoral studies in 2021. Fr. Birchall was appointed as the Director of Pastoral Formation and the Director of Field Placement for St. Augustine’s Seminary in 2021. He continues to serve as an assistant professor at St. Augustine’s Seminary.
In addition to his responsibilities at St. Augustine’s, Fr. Birchall provides ongoing weekend support to parishes within the Archdiocese of Toronto and has served on several committees within the Archdiocese including member of Vocation Council 2015-2018, Priest’s Under 5 Program 2017-2020, and Priest Council Clergy Representative 2017-2021. He is currently the chair of the Priest Retreat Committee 2021-present, and chaplain to the Couples for Christ community (western region) 2022-present. He has also provided several talks and led prayer services throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto.
Jean-Olivier (J.O.) Richard is Assistant Professor in the Christianity and Culture Program, with a status-only appointment at the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. He grew up in a suburb of Montreal, received his B.A. from Concordia University in 2009, and completed his Ph.D in the History of Science and Technology department at the Johns Hopkins University in 2016. Before joining USMC faculty in 2017, he conducted research as a Cain Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Science History Institute in Philadelphia.
J.O. teaches undergraduate courses on a wide array of topics, ranging from the history of science and Chritianity to human and artificial intelligence, science fiction, and Death and technology. His research interests include the relationship of natural philosophy with Christian theology in the early modern era, Jesuit history, environmental history, and the history of alchemy, astrology, and magic. His current research focuses on the life and world of the French Jesuit polymath Louis-Bertrand Castel (1688-1757), with a particular emphasis on his “system of the action of Man of on nature,” an early modern counterpart to today’s concept of Anthropocene. He is revising his dissertation, “The Art of Making Rain and Fair Weather,” into an intellectual biography that will foreground Castel’s intellectual contribution to climate theory and the early Enlightenment.
J.O. is a co-founder and lead organizer of the Toronto Jesuit History Research Group. In his spare time, he draws, practices and teaches martial arts, and volunteers for Action Haiti, a Quebec-based organization working with Haitian schools.
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
Dr. Brendan Browne is a widely respected educational leader, teacher, author, husband, and father, and is proud to serve the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) as its 14th Director of Education.
Throughout his educational career as a Teacher, Vice-Principal, Principal, Superintendent, Executive Superintendent, and now as Director of Education and Chief Executive Officer of the TCDSB, Dr. Browne has remained focused on improving outcomes for students, families, and communities. His commitment to student achievement, equity, and mental health and well-being, firmly rooted in faith, is articulated in the TCDSB’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan.
His publications and presentations include research and expertise on teaching and learning, special education, educational leadership, invitational leadership, systemic change, and Catholic education. Dr. Browne is the author of the book “Leading for Educational Lives: Inviting and Sustaining Imaginative Acts of Hope in a Connected World”, along with numerous magazine, journal articles, and Catholic leadership course modules. Brendan has served on provincial and international committees and boards focused on educational leadership, and currently serves on the provincial committee for school mental health, and internationally on the Board of Directors for a Christian mission hospital in Kenya.
As a graduate of the Catholic school system, Dr. Browne remains intimately connected to the importance of the application of Catholic values to our work as educators. He holds Bachelor of Arts and Education degrees from Queen’s University, a Masters from the University of Toronto (OISE), and PhD from Brock University. Brendan is a husband to Sarah, and father to two girls who are TCDSB students in both elementary and secondary schools. It is at the intersection of faith and family that Dr. Browne grounds his educational leadership and vision for the Toronto Catholic District School Board.
Kevin Morris is a partner in the corporate group and Chair of the Capital Markets Group at Torys LLP. Kevin is a graduate of St Francis Xavier University, the University of Toronto Jackman Law Faculty, the University of Cambridge and the Rotman School ICD.D programme. While at law school, Kevin was a Residence Don at Fisher House, USMC.
As a representative of the Sisters of St. Joseph on the Collegium from 2018-2021, Sister Mary Anne directly contributed to the creation of St. Mike’s 180. In particular, her input on the new mission, vision and values of St. Mike’s has guided the St. Mike’s community toward a future of enhanced sustainability and impact for the common good. She was given an Arbor Award for her volunteer contributions to the University of Toronto in 2023. Sister Mary Anne is thrilled to contribute to the governance on the Collegium for another term.
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.
An Ojibway from the Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation, Dr. DeGagné served for seven years as President & Vice Chancellor of Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario and in 2020 he became the first President & Vice Chancellor of Yukon University in Whitehorse. His more than 25 years’ experience in public service includes serving as an executive with Health Canada as well as with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
In 1998, Dr. DeGagné became the founding Executive Director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, working on a national level to encourage and support community-developed and delivered culturally based initiatives addressing the intergenerational effects of abuses suffered in the Indian Residential School System. The recipient of numerous awards and honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2014 and Member of the Order of Ontario in 2010. He was made a Visiting Fellow at St. Michael’s College in 2021 and is a member of the advisory council for St. Michael’s Diploma in Social Responsibility & Sustainability program.
Bio to follow.
Carmela, now retired, was a tax partner in KPMG’s financial services practice. For over 30 years she delivered tax compliance and advisory services to a diversity of financial services clients including banks, investment dealers, finance & leasing companies, asset managers, and investment funds.
Carmela advised clients on a variety of matters relating to Canadian income tax issues including financial products, tax accounting, cross border withholding and tax information reporting issues including FATCA and CRS. She co led KPMG’s Canadian FATCA/CRS/QI Team and was instrumental in developing the Canadian modules of the KPMG Global FATCA and CRS solutions. Carmela assisted clients with implementation of FATCA and CRS as well as providing them with ongoing support determining practical solutions to various FATCA and CRS issues. Carmela has helped publicly listed financial institutions with designing and executing the internal audit of their tax department.
In addition to her client responsibilities, Carmela has written articles and spoken on a variety of topics including fundamentals of mutual fund taxation, debt instruments, Canadian branches of foreign banks, derivatives, financial institution taxation, doubtful debts, Islamic finance, IFRS, FATCA, CRS and other recent tax developments. Carmela authored the tax section of KPMG’s annual Financial Statements of Canadian Banks publication and presented the Tax Update at KPMG’s Annual Banking Update seminar for a number of years. She also wrote the chapter on the taxation of hedge funds for the 2014 edition of The Capital Guide to Canada’s Hedge Fund Potential and co authored the 2011 KPMG discussion paper The Taxation Treatment of Islamic Finance in Canada.
Disha has been a part of the St. Michael’s community for the past three years. She began her tenure in the President’s Office, where she gained valuable experience in university governance and administration. Currently, she serves as an Executive Assistant in the Division of Continuing Education, with a strong focus on supporting students. This fall, Disha began a Master of Education in Higher Education at OISE and looks forward to contributing insights from her studies to the Collegium’s work.