Our Team

Get to know the BRN team!

Director

Dr. Beth Coleman

Dr. Coleman is the inaugural Director of the University of Toronto’s first Black Research Network and Associate Professor of Data & Cities at the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology and Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, where she directs the City as Platform lab. Working in the disciplines of Science and Technology Studies and Critical Race Theory, her research focuses on smart technology & machine learning, urban data, and civic engagement.

Core Team

Maria Williams

Maria Williams

Program Lead

Maria is the Program Lead at the BRN. Driven by the opportunity to effect change through the BRN initiative, she brings with her wealth of project management experience from the International Development sector, leveraging Education, Arts and Entrepreneurship.

Projects and Administration Support

Rabia Saleem

Vanessa Stephen

Tina Adamopoulos

Matina Adamopoulos

Communications Officer

Tina is the Communications Officer at the BRN. Energized by the opportunity to envision, produce and deliver thoughtfully tailored, people-driven stories and initiatives, Tina has spent majority of her early career telling stories of research and innovation at the University of Toronto.

Steering Committee

Maydianne Andrade

Professor of Biological Sciences and former Vice-Dean Faculty Affairs and Equity, at the University of Toronto Scarborough

Alissa Trotz

Professor of Caribbean Studies at New College and Director of Women and Gender Studies, University of Toronto

Lisa Robinson

Vice-Dean, Strategy & Operations, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics

Rhonda McEwen

President and Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University and Associate Professor of New Media & Communication