Shining a light on a superstar student at UofT Mississauga

UTM undergraduate student garners accolades for her exceptional leadership
 

Over the course of her undergraduate studies, Trishanny (Trish) Rhoden has supported and spearheaded many initiatives across the UofT Mississauga campus, and this dedication to improving student life has recently earned her a University of Toronto Student Leadership Award (UTSLA). 

With all of the leadership roles she has taken on over her time at UTM, it's the equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) activities that hold particular significance for the fourth-year student in Women & Gender Studies and Criminology. 

“I am most proud of the EDI-focused committees and events that I’ve been involved with because I want to bring people together, as well as help to foster the well-being of UTM’s residence community,” says Rhoden, a Community Assistant at UTM Student Housing & Residence Life (SHRL).

“I have been so fortunate to play a role in planning and facilitating events at UTM that has encouraged and led to the formation of new connections across the campus – both for myself and the community at large,” says Rhoden.

Rhoden has been instrumental in numerous programs on campus: an executive co-chair and one of the committee leads for the Equity Outreach Network (EON) over the past couple of years with SHRL, ensuring events and activities promote EDI for the students living in residence; lead organizer for UTM residence’s Haunted House at Halloween (2022); volunteer panelist on various groups including the SHRL Hiring Panel and the UTM Mental Health Student Association; and the Cup of Coco event lead (2021) where she aided in transforming the event into one of more inclusivity, removing the Christmas-holiday lens and shifting to a winter theme. In 2022, Rhoden was one of only two representatives selected as a UTM SHRL Delegate for the Residence Life Conference where she delivered her presentation, “Something About Race,” which discussed the importance of diverse representation in professional staff, and was subsequently awarded a Top Five designation at the event. She also currently serves as the student representative for UTM’s Anti-Black Racism Operational Group. Rhoden has managed all of these activities while also maintaining a high cumulative grade point average (CGPA) to secure her status since 2021 as a Dean’s List Scholar, which is conferred on students who have a 3.50 CGPA or higher.

Lead nominator Bianca Anderson, residence education & transition coordinator at UTM SHRL, says that Rhoden has made unique contributions in many different areas, including the Experiential Education Unit, that will impact the UofT community for years to come.

“The various events she has spearheaded have relied heavily on Trish’s ability to see, hear and understand the needs of students, and then meet those needs through this comprehensive and inclusive lens,” says Anderson.

“She has a drive to prioritize student learning with respect to building global citizens and allies and fostering future leaders across campus, and her amazing efforts have led to our residence and campus communities feeling safer, and also more welcoming to current and prospective students.”

Her influence extends beyond residence life: Rhoden continues to contribute to the EDI environment at UTM, currently working as a Programming Assistant with the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office at UTM.

“Trish has been a wonderful addition to our team," says Entisar Yusuf, Program Coordinator for the EDI Office.

“She’s worked closely with me on several projects, including our Laugh, Cry, Cringe: Storytelling Series, Global & Intercultural Fluency Training Series, and Black Table Talk, and she has enriched all of these offerings with the fantastic skillset she brings. Aside from her contributions to the team, Trish has been a pleasure to work with as an individual – she always has a positive outlook and brings that enthusiasm to the team.”

The UTSLA is not the first award for Rhoden either: in 2021 she was the recipient of the Women and Gender Studies Prize, and in 2022 she received the WGS Student of the Year/ UTM Study of Women and Gender Program Award; both were awarded by UTM’s Department of Historical Studies. In January 2023, she was also the recipient of the UTM Student Recognition Award of Achievement.

“This has been so rewarding, to contribute to both the UTM Residence life, and more broadly the entire UTM community,” says Rhoden.

“I am truly honoured by the recognition and to be in an environment where I feel my participation has been so welcome and valued.”
 

The University of Toronto Student Leadership Award (UTSLA) recognizes outstanding student leadership, commitment to the university, and volunteer service. UTSLA continues the spirit of the retired Cressy Award, which ran from 1994-2019 and was named in honour of Mr. Gordon Cressy, former Vice-President, Development and University Relations. Recipients of the UTSLA  join the distinguished community of past Cressy Award recipients whose commitment and volunteerism holds a lasting impact on their peers and the university.