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Massey College

Student Life at Massey College

Life at Massey College

What is life like for resident Junior Fellows at Massey College? Take a look here:

Brohath Amrithraj

Brohath Amrithraj

PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering

I applied to be a Massey Junior Fellow to explores idea outside of the silo of engineering that I had been a part of for over 7 years. As a Resident Junior Fellow, every day, I get more assured that it was the best decision I’ve ever made. The diversity of ideas and opportunities has made this experience rich and memorable. My favorite part of Massey is that the community has a way of pushing you just outside your comfort zone without overwhelming you. Within a few months of being a fellow, I started singing in the Massey Choir, performed a piano piece, and recorded my first podcast episode (JCR Podcast) – things I could not even fathom doing two months prior! This was only possible with the love and support of the junior and senior fellows. From playing board games to discussing ideas to augment my Ph.D. thesis, I am incredibly grateful for being welcomed to the Massey community as a Junior Fellow.

Setayesh Yazdani

Setayesh Yazdani

PharmD student, Pharmacy

The Meeting of the Minds mentorship program has been a pivotal part of my experience at Massey College. I have been fortunate to connect with mentors whose expertise aligns closely with my academic and professional interests in areas such as global health and public policy. Through one-on-one conversations and meetings, I have gained invaluable insights from these leaders, who have generously shared their professional journeys and introduced me to new perspectives. My mentors have also facilitated connections with others in their field, broadening my network and enriching my understanding of potential career pathways.

Olanrewaju Adetunji

Olanrewaju Adetunji

PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering

Since commencing my Junior Fellowship at Massey College this fall, I have experienced the power of community and the strength in diversity. At Massey, each meeting, be it high tables, talk series, MGR and other symposia, Meeting of the Mind mentorship program or dinner, offers an opportunity to create ideas that have meaningful impact on society. I get to learn, leverage and share in the diverse knowledge of various disciplines with my peers, while being inspired by the vast experience and humility of the Senior Fellows and visiting scholars that make up our community. Junior Fellows at Massey College also get to apply to a wide range of financial awards, and as a recipient of the prestigious

Climate Change Bursary, I am grateful and inspired to continue my work as an aspiring bioengineering researcher while adding value to the Massey College and University of Toronto community.

Marissa Herzig

Marissa Herzig

PhD Candidate in English Literature

I cannot express how grateful I am to continue to meet and interact with such a warm and breathtakingly collaborative, multidisciplinary community. I find constant pleasure in the range of Massey’s events, such as the more informal movie nights, Coffee House, and Super Bowl party, to the more formal Holiday Gaudy and Massey Barbeque. It was always an utter delight to see my own cultural heritage represented at Massey, but it has been an honor to be able to participate in the making of these events, such as through Massey Choir, the Book Club Committee, and the Junior Fellows Lecture Series. Massey affords us a safe and generative space to question, grow, and deepen our knowledge as one. Massey is academically-minded, but also an incredibly meaningful social and community that has not only enriched my time at the University of Toronto, but has shaped my life better than I could have imagined.

Flagship Programming

Massey Arts Society

The Massey Arts Society provides a unique forum for the arts community at Massey to connect with leading Canadian artists and nourish emerging leaders in arts and culture among the Junior Fellowship, through a monthly dinner series, an annual conference, and other events through the year. Integral to shaping our culture and our understanding of contemporary issues, the arts play a vital role in fostering the public good, and the Massey Arts Society harnesses the energy of the college’s diverse arts community, establishing Massey College as a nexus for vital national conversations about arts and culture. 

Junior Fellow Lecture Series

The Junior Fellow Lecture Series showcases the intellectual breadth and creativity of Massey College’s Junior Fellows, offering a platform for emerging scholars to share their research, ideas, and work in progress with the wider community. Spanning disciplines—from the humanities and social sciences to the natural and applied sciences—the series invites thoughtful engagement and dialogue across fields. These lectures reflect the spirit of the College: rigorous inquiry, openness to diverse perspectives, and a commitment to advancing knowledge in service of the public good.

Massey Grand Rounds

Massey Grand Rounds is a flagship interdisciplinary forum that brings together Junior Fellows, Senior Fellows, and invited experts to examine pressing questions at the intersection of medicine, the health sciences, and society. Led by Junior Fellows, the series creates space for thoughtful, evidence-informed dialogue that moves beyond disciplinary boundaries, encouraging participants to consider the ethical, social, and global dimensions of health and healthcare. Through a combination of panels, lectures, and an annual symposium, Massey Grand Rounds reflects the College’s commitment to rigorous inquiry, civil discourse, and leadership in service of the public good.

Massey Dialogues

Massey Dialogues is a flagship conversation series that convenes leading thinkers, public figures, and members of the College community to engage with the most pressing issues of our time. Bringing distinguished guests such as Geoffrey Hinton, Bob Rae, and Cameron Bailey into conversation with Junior and Senior Fellows, the series creates a rare space where ideas are tested, challenged, and refined across disciplines and perspectives. Held in advance of High Table or as stand-alone events, Massey Dialogues embodies the College’s commitment to intellectual leadership and civil discourse, fostering rigorous, respectful exchange in service of the public good.

Meeting of the Minds Mentor Program

Meeting of the Minds is Massey College’s mentorship program, designed to connect Junior Fellows with distinguished members of the Massey community for thoughtful conversation, guidance, and interdisciplinary exchange. Through carefully considered pairings, the program fosters relationships that support intellectual growth, career exploration, and personal development. Bringing together emerging scholars and established leaders from a wide range of fields, Meeting of the Minds reflects Massey’s tradition of intergenerational dialogue, curiosity, and community.