About Our Office
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office (EDIO) reports to the Office of the Dean at the Rotman School of Management. The EDIO’s mission is to support the Faculty’s commitment to equity, inclusion and diversity, to create inclusive initiatives and programming, and to serve as an advisor to students, faculty, and the Office of the Dean.
The Rotman School of Management’s mission is to be a catalyst for positive change: rooted in transformative learning, informed by original insight and inspired by the biggest challenges in business and society. We distill our shared beliefs down to four fundamental principles.
We acknowledge the land on which the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and the EDIO is grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.
Rotman is a diverse and inclusive community comprising students, staff and faculty of all backgrounds and perspectives. We actively promote an academic and working environment that’s safe, open and accessible to all, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or any of the other factors that make each of us unique.
Our teaching, research and public engagement are enriched by the variety of experience and points of view we bring together in fruitful collaboration. We know that the willingness to embrace difference creates more successful enterprises and a more equitable society.
Rotman is a diverse and inclusive community comprising students, staff and faculty of all backgrounds and perspectives. We actively promote an academic and working environment that’s safe, open and accessible to all, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or any of the other factors that make each of us unique.
Our teaching, research and public engagement are enriched by the variety of experience and points of view we bring together in fruitful collaboration. We know that the willingness to embrace difference creates more successful enterprises and a more equitable society.
For Rotman, excellence is ultimately defined not by our own exacting measures, but by the value we create for others in transforming how they think, do business and work to meet society’s changing needs and aspirations.
Upholding rigorous standards of scholarship, we push the boundaries of inquiry in the search for innovative answers to the most challenging questions. We’re united in our commitment to creating superior-quality learning experiences – in the classroom, online, in the business arena and in society at large.
In our teaching and learning, as well as our investigations and partnerships, we strive to behave honestly, ethically and responsibly. In all of our activities, as individuals and as an organization, we believe in maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct. And we communicate openly and transparently with one another and with the wider world.
We reinforce our professional integrity by being clear and forthright in our intentions and keeping our promises. And we nurture it by supporting all members of our Rotman community, encouraging and enabling everyone to contribute their best.
We foster a collegial environment in which all students, staff and faculty commit to treating each other with respect, regardless of their roles at Rotman. In exchanging ideas, we agree to be open-minded and considerate of others’ right to hold and express differing points of view. Divergent perspectives are the lifeblood of a healthy academic community.
Our values guide how we teach and learn, conduct research, collaborate with one another and engage with business and society. In all of our collaborations and interactions, including the resolution of conflicts, we count on one another to act with civility and sensitivity.
Darrell Bowden
Director
Darrell Bowden is the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at the Rotman School of Management.
With more than 25 years of social justice, EDI, human rights and career development experience in post-secondary environments, Darrell joined Rotman in July 2022 to lead the School’s EDI strategy. He oversees all efforts that help create a more diverse and welcoming community for students, staff and faculty – one of Rotman’s top priorities in the new Academic Plan.
Together with his team, Darrell’s responsibilities include implementing strategies to improve pathways for students, staff and faculty from underrepresented and marginalized communities to participate in all aspects of life at the School; improving EDI awareness and education initiatives for the Rotman community; and collaborating with faculty to bring various facets of EDI into the curriculum and research activities.
His team also works towards aligning Rotman’s equity efforts with recommendations from U of T’s task forces on anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Asian racism, islamophobia and anti-Semitism.
Previously, he held the position of Executive Director of the Office of the Vice President/Vice Provost Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). In that role, he provided a range of consulting services for faculties and departments through education initiatives that address systemic barriers among the University’s academic and administrative functions.
With his team, he managed the White Privilege Conference Global – Toronto in 2018, a four-day event bringing together students, leaders, academics and keynote speakers to explore challenges with privilege and oppression in Canada. This was the first time this conference was held outside of the United States, with 650 delegates participating in six keynote speakers, 21 preconference institutes and 65 concurrent sessions.
For the last 15 years, Darrell was also the mastermind behind the Viola Desmond Day Ceremony at TMU which recognizes and celebrates the success of Black Women in the TMU community. Awards are given out each year in five categories: Black women who are faculty, staff, TMU students, alumni and local area high school students.
Darrell completed his Master’s in Education in Critical Anti-Racism Studies in Education at OISE at the University of Toronto in 2007. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Dalhousie University and an Honours Diploma in Career and Work Counselling from George Brown College.
Ruth White
Project Advisor
Ruth White is the new Project Advisor of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at the Rotman School of Management.
Ruth White, PhD, joined Rotman in October 2023, as the new EDI – Project Advisor, on a two year contract. In this role, she supports key Rotman and Rotman Commerce EDI projects, focusing on project management, education, awareness development, and facilitation. Ruth reviews processes and practices through an EDI lens to implement best practices. Collaborating with the Rotman community, the university EDI team, and external partners, she contributes to realizing Rotman’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
With over two decades of experience as a professor, including seven years at the University of Southern California, Ruth brings expertise in curriculum design, adult learning, group facilitation, assessment, evaluation techniques, and educational programming. Her research, writing, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills make her a valuable addition to the Rotman community. Additionally, Ruth is a sought-after consultant, writer, and media commentator in EDI and mental health. Currently, she serves as a sessional lecturer with the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at UofT.
Dr. White holds a PhD in Social Welfare and a Master of Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. She earned a Master and Bachelor of Social Work from McGill University and a Bachelor of Social Science (Sociology) from the University of Ottawa. She is also a registered social worker in Ontario, practicing as a psychotherapist in private practice.
Theresa Young
Coordinator
Theresa Young is the new Coordinator of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at the Rotman School of Management.
Having joined Rotman in August 2023, Theresa provides high-level confidential support to the Office and Director in developing and implementing the University’s equity, diversity, and inclusion programming to meet the needs of Rotman students, staff, and faculty. She assists in facilitating programming, education, outreach, project management, and research & development initiatives.
Theresa, a 2019 Honours Bachelor of Arts graduate from the University of Toronto, brings over a decade of professional experience across financial, communications, and retail sectors, offering valuable expertise to Rotman’s equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
We would love to hear from you!
We are located at the Rotman School of Management Building:
105 St. George St.
Toronto, ON
Canada
You can contact us via email:
Darrell Bowden
Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion