Transformative Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Leadership

Bharat Saini is the inaugural Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) with the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Toronto. Bharat is responsible for developing and implementing strategic initiatives aimed at advancing EDI within the learning and working environments across the Faculty of Arts & Science. He provides strategic guidance and advice to the Dean’s Executive team on matters of policy interpretation and practice concerning a range of areas, including accessibility, diversity, equity, inclusion, freedom of speech and freedom of expression.

Bharat has been working in the post-secondary sector for more than a decade. Prior to joining U of T, he served as the Manager, Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion with the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion at Humber College. In this role, he managed the Human Rights Program and provided strategic guidance on Human Rights and EDI related matters. He led the College’s Employment Equity Program and Co-Chaired the Equity & Inclusion Committee as well as the EDI Taskforce Access & Equity: Employees working group.

Bharat earned his M.Ed., B.Ed. and Honours B.Sc. from York University. During his M.Ed., his key areas of focus included human rights, competing rights, disability and academic accommodations, policy development, pedagogy and universal instructional design. He is also an Ontario Certified Teacher.

Jodie Glean-Mitchell has dedicated her career to developing educational programming in the field of antiracism, equity and inclusion.

In 2011, Jodie attained her Masters of Arts in Educational Studies from Concordia University. Presently, Jodie is completing her PhD degree in Education at York University. Currently, Jodie Glean-Mitchell holds the role of Director of the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office at the University of Toronto. Jodie is an award winning practitioner and brings more than ten years of experience working in the field of equity and inclusion. Jodie is also the Principal Consultant at REACT – Race, Equity, Advisory, Consulting and Training Inc. where Jodie and her team works with community organizations, government ministries and companies to provide education programming and consultations on topics related to race and racism.

Education is one of the bridges to equity. This belief guides Nancy Simms and her work in the areas of violence against women and children, equity, adult basic literacy, human resources, and human rights. As the former Director for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion at Humber College, Nancy’s principal task was to weave equity, inclusion and belonging throughout the College community. Nancy successfully worked with Humber’s internal and external communities to build the college’s first Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Framework that is being used to advance the college efforts in building an environment that support employees’ feelings of belonging.

Currently, Nancy is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto Law School where she teaches Critical Race Theory, and she also works as an independent consultant supporting organizations and individuals in deepening equity and inclusion in their programs and services. Nancy is currently completing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education | University of Toronto.

A thought leader in the field of human rights, equity and inclusion for several years, Nancy is often called upon for her guidance and wisdom in driving equity, inclusion and belonging throughout the postsecondary sector. She is a recipient of several awards including the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women Award 2016, the CAPDHHE Distinguished Administrator Award 2017, Humber College’s Administrative Distinguished Service Award 2017, Scholar’s Choice Award 2018, Osgoode Hall Law School Adjunct Teacher Award 2021 and the Humber College Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Award 2022.