Brookfield Peter F. Bronfman Scholarship Recipients

Education: Specialist, Indigenous Studies and Minor, History 

Future Plans: Focusing on Indigenous language revitalization efforts 

Devonne (Devo) is completing a specialization in Indigenous Studies while also pursuing a minor in History at the University of Toronto. She entered the university in 2020 through the Academic Bridging Program, where she realized her interest in lesser-known histories of Canada.

As a member of the Kinistin Saulteaux Nation, Devo found community with other Indigenous students both in her program and at First Nations House. In 2022, Devo, along with other dedicated Indigenous students, revitalized the Indigenous Students’ Association. She is deeply committed to supporting other Indigenous students at the university. Through her own experience, she believes that a strong community of Indigenous peers is essential for achieving one’s own goals. 

Throughout her time at the university, Devo has taken Anishinaabemowin courses and is now focused on a future where Indigenous language revitalization is a priority. As she considers her post-graduation plans, she is thinking about continuing her education at the University of Saskatchewan, pursuing a Master's in Indigenous Studies. This would allow her to be closer to her speaking community and shift her language learning to a dialect more specific to her Saulteaux Nation. 

Education: Specialist, Psychology Research

Future Plans: Further piloting his comedic improvisation intervention, with the goal of making it globally scalable to help more children facing adversity.

Youness Robert-Tahiri is a psychology researcher, advocate, and comedian with a decade-long commitment to promoting mental health and resilience in vulnerable populations. His academic journey is defined by resilience, determination, and a deep commitment to making a positive impact on children’s development. Inspired by his own experiences with adversity—including youth homelessness—Youness feels a strong responsibility to help youth facing similar circumstances. This has driven his contributions to three first-author publications, nine research projects, and eleven conference presentations—all focusing on themes such as childhood adversity, optimism, and resilience. He is deeply grateful for the Brookfield Peter F. Bronfman Scholarship, which enables him to continue his transformative work.

Youness was among 25 students university-wide selected for the prestigious Laidlaw Leadership and Research Scholarship program, through which he interned at SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa—a center supporting orphaned, abandoned, and precariously housed youth. During his time there, he developed and led a comedy-based psychosocial intervention for teenagers facing adversity; the project report can be found here. He was also chosen to represent the University of Toronto at an international 3-Minute Thesis competition, finishing as the runner-up, and was recently awarded the University of Toronto’s Nelson Mandela Award for his outstanding leadership in promoting peace, justice, and human rights through his project in South Africa. In addition, he is honoured to be a UTAA Scholar and one of five finalists university-wide for the renowned John H. Moss Scholarship.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Youness has made significant contributions to the Woodsworth College and broader university communities, including serving on the Mental Health and Equity Committees of the Woodsworth College Students’ Association, hosting  seminars through the Psychology Students’ Association, and mentoring. He also continues to engage with child patients in the Neurology and Trauma Unit at SickKids Hospital, helping them find moments of joy through play.

Education: Honors Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience Specialist 

Future Plans: Medical school; Public Health Researcher 

 Jad Attari is a fourth-year Neuroscience student and Dean’s List Scholar at the University of Toronto. Recognized for his exceptional leadership, academic achievements, and commitment to community impact, he has earned numerous prestigious accolades, including the Killam Fellowship, the University of Toronto Scholar Award, and the Brookfield Peter F. Bronfman Scholarship - Leadership. 

Jad’s contributions to research and healthcare are distinguished by innovation and impact. At SickKids Hospital, he investigated the genetic etiology of pulmonary vein stenosis, advancing pediatric cardiology through statistical analyses and clinical trial data. His internship with My Next Health saw him develop a clinical trial index and contribute to groundbreaking applications of biodigital twins. As Program Manager at Re:Pair Genomics, he led discussions on AI-driven gene therapy tools and played a role in securing funding by preparing competitive grant applications for cutting-edge technologies. 

Beyond academics and research, Jad demonstrates an unwavering commitment to public service. As a Peer Educator with LetsStopAIDS, he facilitated HIV education workshops across Canada and spearheaded global research initiatives to assess and improve HIV resources abroad. His dedication to global health is further exemplified by his award-winning women’s health education program with FIMRC. At Toronto General Hospital, Jad volunteered in surgical oncology, where he bridged cultural gaps to enhance patient care and foster an inclusive environment. 

As an avid soccer player, Jad embodies teamwork, resilience, and discipline in all his endeavors. With a passion for advancing healthcare equity through research and medicine, he aspires to leverage his leadership skills and academic expertise to tackle complex global health challenges and create innovative, impactful solutions. 

Education: Major in Cell and Systems Biology (Focus in stem cells and developmental biology), Minors in Physiology and Immunology

Future plan: Successfully apply to medical school and work towards a career in transplantation medicine

Throughout his time at UofT, Luca has been actively involved in his college, academic department and local community, fostering a passion for student mentorship and advocacy.

As a third-generation Woodsworth student, Luca made involvement in Woodsworth college a priority. He has contributed to Woodsworth orientation as a committee member, head leader, and recently an Orientation Coordinator. Luca furthered his involvement by joining the Wordsworth College Students' Association, where he currently holds the role of VP Athletics, working to plan all Woodsworth college sporting events and intramural teams. Through this position Luca has advocated for the importance of physical health supporting mental well-being.

Beyond Woodsworth, Luca currently serves as Co-President of the Cell and Systems Biology Student Union, where he has helped organize “Intro to research” talks and graduate student panels. He is also a dedicated mentor within the department, guiding students in their academic journey. His passion for community involvement extends to volunteer work at the University of Toronto Sexual Education Center as an office volunteer and his local Foodbank, where he volunteers weekly and has organized UofT student fundraising initiatives. Prior to this academic year, Luca had been appointed to the University’s Governing Council, an executive member of DiabetesLinkUofT, as well as a general member to many clubs on campus.

Through his experiences working at Women’s College Hospital, medical research projects at Mount Sinai hospital, and leading community health advocacy projects, Luca has developed a strong passion for medicine, research, and patient-centered care. Following graduation, Luca hopes to continue working on CT3, a startup focused on revolutionizing early cancer detection, co-founded with fellow undergraduate students, while applying to medical school.

Luca is incredibly grateful to the Woodsworth community for becoming a home away from home and for providing him the opportunities to build meaningful friendships and long-lasting memories.

Education: Double Major, Ethics, Society, and Law and Urban Studies, and Minor, Political Science  

Future plans: Law school 

Barin Nader is an Honours Bachelor of Arts student and Dean’s List Scholar at Woodsworth College, where he is pursuing a double major in Ethics, Society, and Law, and Urban Studies, with a minor in Political Science. A proud recipient of the prestigious Peter F. Bronfman Leadership Award, Barin has demonstrated exceptional leadership and an unwavering commitment to social justice.  

Currently, Barin is participating in the Multidisciplinary Urban Capstone Project, collaborating with the Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts to promote the establishment and sustainability of Indigenous land trusts. This project, which focuses on housing access and sovereignty for Indigenous communities, reflects Barin’s dedication to advancing equity and justice in urban policy. His academic coursework in Urban Studies has also led to significant engagement with grassroots organizations like Turtle Island Carers of Fire, where he gained invaluable insights into local urban issues and community-led solutions.  

Beyond academics, Barin has made significant contributions to campus life as an executive member of the Afghan Student Association, organizing cultural events that foster dialogue and mutual understanding. His leadership experience extends to his role as a Recognized Study Groups (RSG) Leader and his participation in the Global Citizen Program, both of which have developed his global competencies and intercultural fluency. A passionate advocate for community service, Barin has volunteered with organizations such as the Second Mile Club and Kensington Health Centre, where he has supported seniors through outreach initiatives and educational workshops designed to foster social engagement and wellbeing.  

After graduation, Barin plans to pursue law school, with the ultimate goal of creating a more just and inclusive society.  

Education: Major, Indigenous Studies, Double Minor, English and Creative Writing

Future Plans: Graduate school for creative writing, teaching

Kieran is majoring in Indigenous Studies and minoring in English and Creative Writing. He is a graduate of Woodsworth College’s Academic Bridging Program and hopes to be in Grad School for creative writing next year.

Kieran is passionate about education, specifically, he focuses on developing creative writing and literature pedagogies which centre Indigenous knowledges, worldviews, and oral traditions. Kieran is the Bear Clan Leader for the Indigenous Students Association (ISA), where he has helped organize an Indigenous-led student symposium and establish U of T’s first Indigenous-led journal, called Bobbi Lee. As Bear Clan Leader, Kieran has focused on securing culturally-appropriate spaces and creating events which foster a sense of community for U of T Indigenous students.