Honours Bachelor of Arts (with High Distinction), Double Major in Environmental Studies and Women and Gender Studies • University of Toronto
Bio
Sara graduated from the University of Toronto St. George (Trinity College) in 2022 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts (High Distinction) in Environmental Studies and Women and Gender Studies. During her degree, Sara took courses exploring the connection between colonialism, environmental degradation, and gender and racial discrimination, sparking her interest in environmental and social justice. In her final year, Sara interned at HiGarden International as a research assistant to develop nature-based educational material related to HiGarden’s Off-Grid Food Shed. This experience exposed Sara to the role engineering and technology can have in promoting sustainable food production via aquaponics and fostering a nurturing relationship between people and nature.
Sara nurtured her leadership skills and contributed to social justice activism through her volunteer experiences at the University of Toronto. In her final year, Sara served as Co-President of Students for Shelters (S4S). This student group encourages the U of T community to take local action and donate items to charities and emergency shelters. Sara and her fellow S4S members hosted educational panels with Toronto-based organizations to shed light on issues faced by underprivileged communities, such as housing insecurity and mental health. Sara is proud to say that the S4S community raised $1000.00 in a local fundraiser event which was donated to Anduhyaun, a charitable organization in Toronto that supports at-risk Indigenous women and children.
After graduating, Sara joined the University of Toronto Press as a Course Materials Coordinator at the U of T Bookstore St. George, liaising with faculty, administrative staff, and publisher representatives to purchase course textbooks. During her break times, Sara would roam the shelves in the Nature and Environment sections, picking out new titles to read like Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Wasteland by Oliver Franklin-Wallis. These books deepen Sara’s appreciation of the natural world and fuel her passion for caring for ecosystems. Sara cannot imagine pursuing any other path than collaborating with others to protect the planet, and she is extremely excited to do so with her MScSM classmates.
In her free time, Sara enjoys playing tennis, gardening, practicing yoga, and is an avid reader of nature writing – one of her favourites being Under the Sea-Wind by Rachel Carson. As a resident of Oakville, Sara loves spending time walking along the waterfront with her family while enjoying a cup of coffee.