1665 - University Lecture Series
Course Description
About this course
The University Lecture Series (ULS) invites you to explore bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and timely issues—delivered by leading scholars, experts, and thought leaders. Each one-hour lecture is accessible, thought-provoking, and followed by a brief Q&A session with the speaker.
Learn more about the events and the speakers here.
ULS speaker lineup for Winter 2026
January 23 - Mark Blevis, A Senior Executive at Commissionaires Great Lakes
Beyond Service: Integrating Veterans and Reservists for a Competitive Workforce-
January 30 - Wendy Cecil, Chair, U of T’s President’s Circle, former Chair U of T’s Governing Council
Serving with Purpose: Creating a Fulfilling Volunteer Life
February 6 - William (Bill) Smalley, Route Five International 24 Inc.
The Art of Influence - Turning Conflict into Opportunity
February 13 - Steve Orsini, President and CEO, Council of Ontario Universities
Ontario Universities: Partnering for Jobs and Growth
February 20 - Dr. Terri Hewitt, CEO, Surrey Place
Neurodiversity, Disability and Equity: Building a System that Works for All
February 27 - Joe Wong, Vice-President, International, and Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto
Inclusive Development: Why It’s the Cornerstone of Democracy
March 6 – Jessica Mosher, President, Publisher and CEO, University of Toronto Press, University of Toronto Bookstore
Publishing in the Age of AI
March 13 - Charlie Keil, Principal of Innis College and a Professor in the Cinema Studies Institute and the Department of History at the University of Toronto
Has Streaming Killed the Movie Star? How Digital Platforms Changed Hollywood
March 20 – Dr. Diana Durek
Wired to Lead: The Neuroscience of Exceptional Leadership
March 27 – Dr. Rhonda McEwan, President and Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto
Exploring Creativity and Technology: A Case for the Centre for Creativity
*Disclaimer: Please note that the speaker lineup and session dates are subject to change without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances. In some cases, a lecture may need to be cancelled without a replacement. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we work to deliver a high-quality program.
Learning Outcomes
- Engage with diverse topics across history, politics, science, literature, media, and more
- Gain new insights into current events and global issues
- Hear compelling and sometimes controversial viewpoints
- Discover new interests and challenge your assumptions
- Connect academic thinking to everyday relevance
Notes
The ULS will be offered in person at the University of Toronto St. George (Downtown) campus only. We are no longer able to offer the series in Oakville or Markham. We thank our past learners from those locations and warmly invite them to continue attending in person downtown.
Learn more about the events and the speakers here.
Disclaimer: The speaker lineup and dates may change without notice due to unforeseen circumstances.
Click the section details below to view more information.
I’m pleased to have joined the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies in November 2021 after having served as the Executive Director of Career Management and Corporate Recruiting at Ivey Business School - Western University. I’m a transformational leader and passionate advocate for an inclusive approach to addressing the supply and demand of talent for the Ontario workforce ecosystem. I’m committed to contributing to the research that is key to understanding the changing nature of work and tackling under- and unemployment of racialized youth, immigrants, newcomers, and marginalized Francophonie. I’ve been a human capital advisor to different levels of government and was the Board Chair of the largest immigrant mentorship network in Canada, and in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, I was selected by The Philanthropist as one of Canada’s leaders in the non-profit sector.