Students

Odalis Mairena is a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto Mississauga, specializing in History and minoring in Anthropology. Her placement is at Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA). Odalis’ work focuses on twentieth-century Latin American History. Thus, under the guidance of Senior Curator Sam Cronk, Odalis hopes to research the contributions and influence of Latin American culture in Peel Region. She intends to further her education by pursuing a Master’s degree in Information and Museum Studies at the University of Toronto. When she is not at school, Odalis volunteers at the Royal Ontario Museum sharing her passion for history. 

Shawna Quigley is a fourth-year student pursuing a double major in history and English at UofT. Her placement is with the Royal Ontario Museum. She is particularly interested in researching gender, medical history, and literature in the Medieval period and early Canada. Outside of school, she volunteers at the Aga Khan Museum, enjoys drawing, and frequently goes to concerts and Broadway shows.  She intends on going to grad school for Medieval studies.

Cansu Aydemir is a 4th year student in University of Toronto Mississauga, specializing in History, and minoring in Diaspora and Transnational Studies. Due to her background and interest in journalism, she is interning at UofT News this year. During her internship, she will be writing on student life in University of Toronto. In her spare time, she likes to read, wander around in downtown Toronto and discover new places.

Nico Mara-McKay is a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto completing a double major in History and Art History, with a minor in the History of Religions. Nico's research interests are the medieval and early modern periods, with a focus on queer identities. They are interning at the ArQuive in Toronto.

Andrew Boogaard is a fourth-year student at UofT, completing his Bachelor of Arts in a Combined Specialist Program for Political Science & History. His placement is with the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs Ontario, where he spends his time on the ninth floor, reviewing the land claims assessments related to evaluating the historical aspects of submissions made by First Nations in Ontario. Andrew intends to continue his education through pursuing a Juris Doctorate at Law School, come graduation.

Hammad Junejo is a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto, Specializing in History and Minoring in Classical Civilizations. His placement is at the Royal Canadian Military Institute. He is most interested in the Military and Political History of the Second World War and the Cold War. Beyond that, he is also interested in Ancient Greek and Roman History. In his spare time, he practices playing the guitar, playing video games and watching TV shows. He intends to go on to complete his Masters and PhD.

Matthew Halsall is a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto Mississauga with a Major in Criminology and minors in Political Science and History. He has a particular interest in 20th century European and American History. Beyond that, Matthew enjoys visiting his sister in Ottowa and playing golf with his grandparents. This year Matthew will be interning at the Holocaust Education Center. 

Angelo Gambatesa is a fourth year student at UTM, enrolled in a History & English double major. His internship placement is in the Public Programming and Learning department at the Art Gallery of Ontario, wherein which he is utilizing his background in historical studies in the undertaking of myriad tasks pertinent to the further development of the department's many goals; ultimately toward a more comprehensive, enriched experience for the AGO's many patrons by way of education. 

Jacob Skilich is a fourth year student at the University of Toronto Mississauga. His programs are a major in history, a minor in political science, and a philosophy minor in ethics and the law in society. Currently, Jacob is participating in an internship at the Multicultural History Society of Ontario. His main task for the duration  of the course is to transcribe interviews of immigrants to Canada from the last half century.  Jacob’s future educational endeavours include going to grad school for a Masters degree in either history, politics or information. The final goal is to achieve a degree in law. 

Hilary Dow is a 4^th year student at University of Toronto Missisauga, Specializing in Studio Art and Art History and majoring in History. Hilary is delighted to be interning with the Artist Suzy Lake this year. She will be assisting Lake with updating her Inventory(a catalogue of her works), as well as working with archivists and curators that have worked with Lake  and hold her papers at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Hilary may also be doing some work for Lake's Scotiabank Photography Prize exhibition that will be taking place at the RIC this April. Hilary has become increasingly interested in the art and history of non-western cultures and museology, and how art intersects with politics and enters public knowledge through that relationship. Some of her research interests include but are not limited to: Indigenous and Aboriginal History and Art in Canada, African Art and Diaspora Studies, Global Cultures and Museums, Representations of Identity and Culture in Exhibition Contexts, Post-Colonialism, and Feminist Performance and Video Art.

Adrian Kawula is a 4^th year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto Mississauga, where he is specializing in History. He is interning this year at the Mississauga Sports Council during the 2016-2017 school year, where he will help create a display on the history of martial arts in Mississauga. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and playing soccer.

Alexa Pellerino is a 4^th year student pursuing a major in History and a double minor in History of Religions and Women & Gender Studies. She will be interning with the Peel Art Gallery Museum and Archives (PAMA) during the 2016-2017 school year as a research assistant. She will help create exhibits that showcase the history of the Peel Region. When she does not have her nose in a book, she likes to play with makeup and repost photos of cute animals on Facebook.

Bhavpreet Saini is a 4^th year student at the University of Toronto Mississauga, majoring in political science and minoring in Earth Science and History. Bhav is excited to be interning with Jane Stirling in the Department of Advancement at UTM. It will be UTM's 50th anniversary during the 2017 school year, and as a result the Department of Advancement will be creating a special 50th anniversary website for this occasion. Bhav will be in charge of creating a digital interactive timeline that will be placed on the website. It is meant to showcase the achievements, successes, and milestones that have come forth at UTM over the past 50 years. He likes to play video games and do anything technology related, whether it be graphic design or fixing computers.

Andrew Walker is a 4^th year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto’s Mississauga campus. His majors include Professional Writing and Communication, and he is also finishing a minor in Historical Studies. His placement for the year involves an internship at the Royal Ontario Museum, where he is assisting with data transfers for the release of eMuseum, as well as with blog posts and social media awareness surrounding the project. When he isn’t at the Museum or the University, he can likely be found in a corner somewhere, trying to understand some new phenomenon of information technology, or some distant phenomenon of history (the Gaulish Wars being the present obsession). He enjoys his research very much, and is also fond of long walks on the beach.

In 2015-2016, Lea Alilovic is a 4^th year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto Mississauga, where she is majoring in History and Anthropology. She is interning this year at Heritage Toronto, where she will be researching and developing a walking tour of a Chilean neighbourhood in Toronto. In her spare time, she enjoys watching basketball, running, and playing with her dog, Iggy.

In 2015-2016, Nicholas Oswald is a 3^rd year undergraduate pursuing a joint specialist in history and political science. He is currently interning at the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate, Oakville where he is researching the history of some of Erchless' former inhabitants. He is an avid reader and coin collector.

In 2015-2016, Sophie Orlando is a 4^th year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, Mississauga, where she is specializing in History with a minor in Classics. She is interning at the Mississauga Sports Council where she is researching the development of organized softball and soccer for women in the 20^th century in Mississauga, and examining how the popularity of each summer sport evolved throughout the decades. In her spare time, Sophie enjoys trying new restaurants and cheering on all the major Toronto sports teams. 

In 2015-2016, Morgan Sutherland is a 4^th year joint-specialist Political Science and History undergraduate. He is interning at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum + Archives (PAMA) in Brampton, Ontario. In this revitalized 19^th century prison and connecting courthouse, Morgan is researching the historical experiences of Black residents of Peel County. He hopes to find a compelling collection of new information about this very sparsely studied area of public history. His hobbies include playing strategic games, exercising, and painting historical figurines.

In 2015-2016, Rachel Wedekind is a 5^th year History/Anthropology double major who attends the University of Toronto, Mississauga. She interns at the Royal Ontario Museum under the supervision of Robert Mason, and is responsible for georeferencing archaeological sites for an interactive Google Earth map to be put on the ROM website. Her favourite animal is a pygmy hippopotamus and she has a knack for drawing.