Barbara Ateljevic-McKechnie
Communications Coordinator – Marketing and Emerging Media, Engineering Strategic Communications

Prior to joining the Engineering Strategic Communications team in the position of Communications Coordinator – Marketing and Emerging Media in February, Barbara worked as Marketing and Communications Officer for the Professional Development Centre.

Barbara is responsible for the Faculty's newsletter, website and various social networking outfits. She has a background in corporate communications and journalism, working in a variety of industries including publishing, independent film, naturopathic medicine and asphalt.

Olenka Baron
Financial Services Coordinator, Administrative Units

This newly created position encompasses the financial component that previously existed in other roles within Alumni, Recruitment, Outreach, and Graduate Studies. The new role is designed to provide expert service to these clients, as well as clients in Advancement, the Undergraduate Office, ESP, Track One, First Year, and the Student Leadership Program.

Olenka joined the Faculty in May 2005 in the position of Financial Coordinator for ESROO. After Outreach merged with the PDC, Olenka continued to provide financial and operational services to the expanded group. Olenka holds a B.Comm. from the University of Toronto.

Shilpa Gantotti
Manager of Marketing and Communications, Engineering Strategic Communications

Shilpa got her start at UTM in 2004 as a Recruitment and Admissions Officer. In 2006, she joined the Faculty’s then Engineering Student Recruitment and Outreach Office where she promoted the Faculty to prospective students and marketed the Faculty’s outreach programs across Canada.

This February, Shilpa transitioned into Engineering Strategic Communications as Manager of Marketing and Communications where she manages a creative services team and oversees the design of several key Faculty publications and resources. She also contributes to a variety of special projects and strategic plans within the Faculty.

Raj Grainger
Senior Graphic Designer / Digital Media Specialist, Engineering Strategic Communications

Raj is the Faculty's Senior Graphic Designer and Creative Art Director, transitioning into the role this February after three years at the Outreach and Recruitment office, then the PDC and Enrichment Office. He works on the Faculty's strategic digital media needs within Engineering Strategic Communications.

Before working at U of T, Raj worked at UBC at the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery as their in-house Graphic Designer. He has a BA from University of Guelph, where he majored in studio art, specializing in printmaking and time-based media. He also studied Electronic Media Design at Langara College in Vancouver.

Natalia Kinal
Human Resources Generalist, Professional Faculties South HR Office

Natalia Kinal joined PFS-HR in October as a Human Resources Generalist, and provides human resource services to six of the professional Faculties at U of T. Her role is to advise clients on issues relating to recruitment and selection, job evaluation, organizational design and development and labour relations.

Natalia graduated with a BComm. with a concentration in Human Resources, and worked in various HR roles for six years with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto prior to joining U of T.

Ryan Mendell
Manager, MC78 Engineering Machine Shop (MIE)

Reporting directly to Anna Vanek, Director Administration & Finance, Ryan is responsible for the management and operation of the Student and Production machine shops in MC78 since November. Ryan spent the last seven years working for Magna Auotmotive as a Project Engineer at Tycos Tool and Die as well as Polyrim and Plydex production facilities.

Faisal Ahmed Musa
Research Associate (ECE)

Reporting to ECE Associate Professor Anthony Chan Carusone, Faisal began his term position as Research Associate in January 2009. His research interests include modeling, design and implementation of high-speed integrated circuits for chip-to-chip communications.

Faisal completed a PhD in ECE at U of T in 2007. During the summer of 2004, he worked on the design of high-speed clock recovery systems at Intel's Circuits Research Labs, Hillsboro, OR. From 2006-2008, he worked at Gennum Corporation, Burlington on the design and verification of high-speed integrated circuits for video and data communication applications.

Vicki Norton
Curriculum Assistant, Engineering Strategies & Practice

The first point of contact for complex inquires from students, staff, faculty, alumni and the broader community, Vicki is responsible for daily administration of the ESP course. She advises ESP students, oversees the program website, maintains the student database, and participates with the development of electronic and written materials. She also assists the Coordinator with the solicitation of potential projects for the program.

Vicki holds a BA in Sociology from Glendon College, York University, and has worked for a number of non-profit organizations prior to being self-employed for 10 years. She joined U of T in January 2007 as the Course Clerk for Engineering Strategies & Practice, moved to the Faculty of Social Work as Executive Assistant to the Practicum Office before returning to ESP as the Curriculum Assistant. Vicki particularly enjoys working with first year students.

Emily Reed
Student Leadership Curriculum Specialist

Assuming the Student Leadership Curriculum Specialist role in November, Emily is responsible for developing academic content, educational events and experiences for members of student clubs, student government, and department-based programs.  

Prior to joining U of T, Emily worked at the University of Guelph in Student Life, and in non-governmental organizations. She reports to Greg Evans, Co-leader of the Faculty's leadership development program, Leaders of Tomorrow and Professor of ChemE.

Anne Rose
Acting Associate Director, Engineering Student Recruitment and Retention Office

On secondment from the Central Office of Student Recruitment (OSR) where she has worked for the past nine years, Anne is responsible for the operation of the Engineering Student Recruitment and Retention Office (ESRRO), and leads a team to develop and implement recruitment initiatives to attact top students from Canada and around the world. The office also provides support to the Faculty to ensure that all recruitment efforts lead to appropriate transition and retention activities in order to improve retention efforts and the first year student experience.

Reporting directly to Professor Susan McCahan, Chair First Year, Anne is filling Janet Hunter's position while she is away on maternity leave. Anne has worked at the University for over 20 years and continues to be inspired by the opportunities it offers its students, staff and faculty. Working in recruitment is particularily inspiring for Anne as she very much enjoys meeting students and their families at this exciting point in their lives. 

Koneswaran Sivagurunathan
Research Associate at Center for Advanced Diffusion-Wave Technologies (MIE)

Reporting to Professor Andreas Mandelis, Koneswaran assumed his new role as Research Associate in January and is responsible for software development and instrumentation of a dental clinical diagnostic device for early detection of carious lesions in human teeth. Koneswaran also works as as a research and development scientist at Quantum Dental Technologies, a U of T start-up company.

Koneswaran received a BSc in Physical Science at University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, and a PhD in Physics at Northeastern University, Boston. Prior to working at U of T, he worked for three years as a Post Doctoral Research Fellow with Professor Christopher Yip at The Center for Molecular Imaging, IBBME.