From soldier to scribe: PhD student and WDW Alum Zak Jones explores veterans' narratives in literature
When Zak Jones was young, his mother encouraged him to carry around a notebook and write down any interesting observations.
"I've kept that practice going throughout my adult life," Jones says.
Capturing those thoughts has paid off for the University of Toronto PhD candidate. It's led to two previous degrees at U of T, a poetry collection, a book of short stories and several writing awards - including the 2023 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for short fiction for his short story "So Much More to Say." The award celebrates emerging Canadian writers in the fields of poetry and short fiction.
Jones left the army and moved to Toronto in 2013 with hopes of attending U of T - but he didn't get accepted on his first try. Determined to get in, he enrolled in Woodsworth College's Academic Bridging Program, where he took a lone English course.
College News
New grad Youness Robert-Tahiri explores how comedy can help kids cope with trauma
Youness Robert-Tahiri has never taken the conventional path — and it’s exactly that journey that’s shaped him into the advocate he is today.
Graduating this month as a member of U of T’s Woodsworth College with a major in psychology, Robert-Tahiri is determined to support children who have experienced adversity, helping them build resilience and coping skills using a perhaps unexpected tool: improv comedy.
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June 5, 2025Academic Bridging Program GraduationAlumniCommunityDean of StudentsAcademic Bridging