'Try different paths' urges UTM alumna who pursued interests inside and outside the classroom
Debra Olaniyi knew from a young age she would work in the field of law.
Despite having a defined path, however, she was inspired to diversify her studies after getting involved in the broader University of Toronto Mississauga community while pursuing her undergraduate degree.
“I started to take other courses because that’s what school is about – you try different things until something sticks,” says Olaniyi.
“And, if you’re in the position where you’re able to, it’s very important you try different paths.”
At UTM, Olaniyi fueled her interest in politics to expand her knowledge about how government structures influence social institutions. She switched her major in first year to combine political science with sociology and a minor in women and gender studies.
Outside the classroom, she joined the Black Students Association as an events coordinator, where she says she found her community on campus.
Olaniyi was subsequently introduced to several other campus organizations, including Caribbean Connections and the Black Literature Club. Feeling underrepresented by academic societies, Olaniyi became the President of the African Student Association, intent on providing professional development opportunities for Black students on campus.
“Being part of the African Student Association was a huge highlight of my experience on campus,” says Olaniyi.
“I felt that I was able to give back, mending the gap between professional development and Black students on campus.”
In response to growing job scarcity concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, Olaniyi spearheaded an annual Black professionals panel and organized regular interactive career events and workshops.
Olaniyi also became a student member of U of T’s Anti-Black Racism Task Force, an initiative introduced by the university to identify and address the barriers Black students face. There, she jointly provided several recommendations, including improving representation within staff and faculty positions, providing Black-centred spaces for students, and offering accessible grants for students of colour.
Capturing the experiences of the Black community was crucial for this group: Olaniyi says that she drew on her own lived experience as a Black person, but also appreciated and considered various insights for a broader and multidimensional perspective.
“With the term ‘BIPOC,’ we tend to jumble up many intersecting identities, which have their own distinct issues,” says Olaniyi.
“Even within the Black community, everyone experiences things differently.”
Olaniyi has continued her community involvement in law school and beyond.
As an associate manager at the Federation of Black Canadians, Olaniyi is focused on supporting young Black professionals. In 2022, she developed the organization’s anti-Black racism toolkit, an educational resource for Black students to access supports and for employers to have guidelines for instilling equity, diversity and inclusion policies in the workplace.
In her role, Olaniyi oversees a team of four for a student support learning program that helps students achieve their academic goals across Canada; plus she manages a financial literacy program to connect Black entrepreneurs with helpful industry resources.
Olaniyi, who wrapped up a recent placement at Bookman Law, says her foundation in research-based studies at UTM coupled with the practical skills she has cultivated in law school have better prepared her for working in the legal field.
Her best advice to current students is to be open to constructive feedback, start networking, and get involved in research and volunteering where possible.
On this point, she continues to walk the walk: while in her final year of law school at the University of Leicester, Olaniyi will serve there as the president of the Pan-African Law Society. She is reasserting her mission to mend the gap and add her perspective.
“The law is changing to reflect the people it serves, but there are still a lot of areas to be fixed – there are so many intersections of identities that you need to be in this space,” says Olaniyi.
“No one can advocate for you or your community if your voice is not at the decision-making table.”
This interview was first published as part of Black at UTM, an initiative that emerged from U of T’s Anti-Black Racism Task Force with a goal of showcasing Black excellence at UTM and making campus a welcoming environment where Black students, staff, faculty and librarians feel included, inspired, safe and celebrated.