‘I understand financial need not as an abstract concept, but as something that can interrupt even the strongest academic commitment’ — Q&A with Woodsworth College alumna Sandra Laughren and her vision for student support

For alumna Sandra Laughren, the journey to and through university was anything but linear. She faced many barriers while pursuing her studies, however, she stayed resilient and determined to finish her degree. 

Guided by her lived experience, and an awareness of the systemic challenges faced by Indigenous learners and non‑traditional students, Sandra and her late husband, Steven Dwyer, established the Sandra Laughren & Steven Dwyer Scholarship. Their goal: to ease financial pressures, affirm students’ potential, and help ensure that education remains accessible to all who seek it.

The scholarship is one of Woodsworth's featured UofT Giving Day funds. From now through March 26, when you make a gift to any featured Woodsworth fund, it will be matched dollar-for-dollar by both U of T and Woodsworth, up to $1,000, while matching funds last.  

In this Q&A, Sandra reflects on her formative years at Woodsworth and the motivations behind her desire to give back. Her story is one of perseverance, gratitude, and an unwavering belief in the promise of every student.

What brought you to Woodsworth and the University of Toronto, and what was your experience like?

My path to Woodsworth College was not straightforward. After high school, I worked for two years in a garment factory and did not initially have the academic credits required to attend university. A chance meeting with a visiting union lawyer from Chicago changed the direction of my life. That conversation opened my eyes to what higher education could make possible.

I first enrolled at the University of Waterloo, but financial pressures forced me to withdraw. Determined to continue, I transferred to the University of Toronto and found a home at Woodsworth College. The part-time structure was crucial. It allowed me to work while pursuing my degree — not as a preference, but as a necessity.

As a First Nations woman, Iroquois, Onondaga, Beaver Clan, returning to university also carried deeper meaning. For Indigenous peoples, education has historically been shaped by exclusion, the denial of culture and history, and inequity. Completing my degree was not only a personal milestone, but reclaiming education as a space of self-determination and opportunity.

Woodsworth recognized that not all students arrive by a traditional path. My experience was one of resilience, hard work, and deep appreciation for the flexibility and academic rigor that made completion possible.

Were there particular challenges, mentors, or turning points during your studies that shaped your path?

There were certainly challenges along the way. At one point, I had to step away from university because continuing was not financially possible at the time. What stayed with me from that  experience was the importance of finding a way back. 

The key moments were often quiet ones: deciding to try again, requesting a transfer, enrolling part-time instead of giving up. Mentorship also mattered — individuals who treated my aspirations seriously and reinforced that my path, even if unconventional, was valid.

Those experiences left me with a lasting appreciation for institutions like Woodsworth that make space for students whose journeys may not follow a traditional path.

What inspired you to create the Sandra Laughren & Steven Dwyer Scholarship and motivated you to support students in this way?

The scholarship is rooted in lived experience. I understand financial need not as an abstract concept, but as something that can interrupt even the strongest academic commitment. I also understand how transformative institutional flexibility and financial support can be.

As a First Nations, Iroquois, Onondaga, Beaver Clan woman, I am mindful of the broader history that shapes Indigenous access to education. Supporting students — particularly those navigating financial barriers or non-traditional pathways — is both personal and purposeful.

Creating this scholarship is an expression of gratitude and an investment in potential. It reflects a belief that talent and determination are widely distributed, even if resources are not.

What impact do you hope the award will have on current and future students?

I hope the scholarship provides more than financial relief. I hope it provides reassurance.

Reassurance that someone believes in their potential.
Reassurance that their path — even if nonlinear — is valid.
Reassurance that financial obstacles do not define their future.

If the award allows even one student to remain enrolled, reduce work hours to focus on studies, or persist through a difficult semester, it will have achieved its purpose.

What advice would you give to students today who are navigating their own academic and personal journeys at U of T?

Your path does not have to look conventional to be meaningful. Setbacks are not verdicts — they are chapters.

Seek out mentors. Ask for support. Take advantage of flexible structures when you need them. Be patient with yourself, but remain determined.

Education can be transformative — for individuals, for families, and for communities. Claim your place within it.