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Meet Our Panel and Host

The panel consisted of leaders from the Humber Community who shared their own voices in response to the students articulating their experiences on teaching and learning in Canada. 

Allana Fairey

Alanna Fairey

Host

Alanna Fairey is the host of the Global Student Voices podcast and a former digital content writer and creator for Humber College’s International Centre. A Humber College alumnus, Alanna completed her postgraduate studies in the advanced journalism program, where she worked as the managing editor for Humber News. Alanna graduated with honours in 2017. Prior to her role at Humber’s International Centre, Alanna previously worked for Humber’s Applied Research and Innovation department. She held various roles, which included: research assistant, freelance journalist and communications assistant. She currently works at Annex Business Media as an assistant editor.


Gina

Gina Antonacci

Panel

Gina Antonacci is the Associate Vice-President, Academic at Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Toronto, Canada. Humber is a comprehensive post-secondary institution that offers a wide range of credentials to 32,000 full-time students across six faculty areas of focus. Gina provides academic leadership to the academic division, including Program, Planning, Development and Renewal, the Centre for Teaching and Learning and Applied Research and Innovation. She is a member of numerous professional associations, and continues to teach on a part-time basis at the University of Guelph. Gina has a bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the University of Toronto, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Niagara University and is a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto, pursuing a PhD. in Higher Education.


Derek Stockley

Derek Stockley

Panel

Derek is the Senior Dean of the Faculty of Social and Community Services and Principal of the Lakeshore campus at Humber College. A registered Couple and Family Therapist, Derek spent a decade as a therapist in a range of social service agencies before joining the College sector in 2004. Since 2004 Derek has held a range of positions from faculty to associate dean before taking on his latest role.


Chris Whitaker

Chris Whitaker

Panel Guest

Dr. Chris Whitaker is President and CEO of Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning. Chris Whitaker joined the college in July 2012 and is the fourth president in the college’s history. He has worked in the Ontario postsecondary sector for over 25 years and is passionate about student success and the role of colleges in providing access and pathways to postsecondary education opportunities. Since joining Humber, he has continued to advance the college as a comprehensive post-secondary institution with a reputation for creating and delivering a high quality student-focused teaching and learning environment.

Dr. Whitaker’s education includes a PhD from the University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education; an MA from York University and a BA from Queen’s University. 

Among his many commitments to Humber and the college system, Dr. Whitaker is Chair for Polytechnics Canada and Vice Chair for College Employer Council as well as a board member for Community Colleges for International Development, the League for Innovation in Community Colleges, Ontario College Application Service, Skills Ontario and the World University Service of Canada.


Barbara Riach

Barbara Riach

Panel Guest

Barb Riach is the Associate Vice-President Enrolment Management & Registrar. As registrar Barb provides oversight for all processes related to the College’s academic faculties, in order to ensure, consistency, fairness and integrity. These functions include recruitment, admissions, financial aid, transfer services, contact centre & reception, student systems development, curriculum management, academic records, scheduling and convocation.

Barb joined Humber in 1997 as a recruitment officer and since that time she has been responsible for various functions in the Registrar’s Office including recruitment, admissions, transfer and financial aid. Barb was appointed to the role of Registrar in 2014. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University, a Bachelor of Education from Brock University and is also a graduate of Humber’s Public Relations diploma program.

Barb have supported international recruitment and admissions efforts in Mexico and recently participated in partnership discussions in Ireland.


Farzad Rayegani

Farzad Rayegani

Panel Guest

Dr. Farzad Rayegani is the Senior Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology at Humber College.

He has a wealth of international experience in the fields of engineering, teaching, research, innovation and development. He has authored and co-authored numerous publications and has extensive experience consulting with industry. His career in higher education spans over 20 years and includes time as a faculty member, researcher, manager, director and associate dean. He holds a Master of Science in Engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering Systems from the University of Miskolc in Hungary.

Farzad’s journey started in 1986 as an international student studying engineering in Hungary, Europe. Dr. Rayegani is credited with developing an applied research program involving students, graduates and faculty mentors to address technological and educational needs in Canada. Dr. Rayegani is designated an Engineers Canada Fellow by Engineers Canada.


Miti Hathi

Miti Hathi

Panel Guest

Miti Hathi is an International Student Advisor at Humber College. Her role at Humber entails helping international students with adaptation to ensure a smooth transition to their life in Canada, consulting on immigration policies and programming events for a successful student life.

Miti has extensive experience in the education field and before Humber College, she worked at a High School, ESL School and a prep institution. She holds a B.Sc. Specialist in Psychology from the University of Toronto and a Certificate in Immigration, Laws, Polices and Procedures from the University of British Columbia. Miti is a Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant as a member of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council.


Jennifer Dawson

Jennifer Dawson

Panel Guest

Jennifer Dawson is the Program Coordinator for Humber’s Fashion Arts and Business Diploma Program and holds a Master’s in Education from Griffith University in Australia, and a BA from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. Last year, Jennifer participated in The International Business Week, at Saxion University in the Netherlands where she delivered lectures on fashion sustainability.  In 2017, Jennifer was a Leave for Change ambassador and worked with the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal, in Kathmandu. She has been a member of the Board of Directors of Fashion Group International for five years and was most recently appointed as the Fashion Group International Regional Director for 2019. Before joining Humber in 2016, Jennifer taught courses in Fashion, and Business Communications at both George Brown College and Seneca College in Toronto. Jennifer has also acted as Director of Education for Toronto Men’s Fashion Week, and represented Samsung in Russia at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games as a social media reporter. Jennifer has a global spirit and is passionate about empowering international students to achieve academic success at Humber College. She encourages students to pursue study abroad opportunities and is thrilled that 25 of our Fashion Arts and Business students will be traveling to Florence University of the Arts this summer to complete their field placements.


Vera

Vera Beletzan

Panel Guest

Vera Beletzan is the Senior Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Humber. Vera is also leading the development of Humber’s Institutional Learning Outcomes Framework in support of 21st century graduate employability.

Vera has held numerous positions at Humber, including Associate Dean of English and Manager of the English Language Centre, where she developed English language courses to support international students to be successful in Humber programs. Vera has worked as an ESL and English teacher both in Canada and has experienced first-hand the challenges of adapting to another country and culture. She has a special interest in internationalization projects that bring Canadian students and professors together with students and professors from around the world to share experiences and learn from one another.


Cathy Bidini

Cathy Bidini

Panel Guest

Cathy Bidini is a Professor & Program Coordinator of Humber’s Media Communications diploma program, in the Faculty of Media and Creative Arts.

Cathy has a background in editorial photography and fine art image-making, and has worked at Humber as a professor of photography for over 20 years. She has coordinated two programs, Creative Photography and Media Communications, and throughout her time at Humber, she has taught a variety of courses to a diverse range of international and domestic students; the Media Communications program having one of the largest international student intakes in the Faculty of Media and Creative Arts.

After completing a Master’s thesis in short-term study abroad, Cathy has led many photography workshops to locations including, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, New York and London. These workshops give students an opportunity to experience different cultures, practice their creative skills, while preparing them to be well informed global citizens. Recently, Cathy co-led a group of media students to Shenzhen, China to collaborate with students from Shenzhen Polytechnic University. Through her International work, Cathy has developed an appreciation for the international study experience, from both the newcomer and local perspectives.


Meg Houghton

Meg Houghton

Panel Guest

Meg was the Acting Dean of Students and Associate Dean of Student Wellness and Equity. In these roles, Meg guided continuous improvement efforts to our wide range of student activities, services and supports.

Meg was instrumental in launching the innovative “WeGotYou” brand designed to enhance service literacy and help-seeking behavior among students, and facilitated the amalgamation of health, counselling and accessible learning into integrated service centres. Under her leadership, Humber trained 3,000 faculty and staff in Mental Health First Aid and became the first public college to sign the Okanagan Charter for Health Promoting Campuses. Meg also introduced a hub-and-spoke model to enhance accommodation planning with Faculty partners. Meg cares deeply about people and education and has provided thoughtful, solutions-oriented leadership to student-related concerns.