Meet Megan Pham-Quan, a second-year Innis student and one of the Equity and Outreach Directors on the ICSS.

Tell us a bit about yourself! What year are you in and what are you studying?

My name is Megan and I am a second-year Women and Gender Studies Major with a Philosophy and French Studies Minor. A year and a few months have passed by incredibly quickly and over the course of my time as an Innis student, I have met some remarkable people and found a home within the Innis community. I love everything about Innis: its active student engagement, its meme bracket victory, and its approachable student government to name a few.

What is your position on the Innis College Student Society?

In collaboration with Michelle Zhang, I am in charge of the Equity and Outreach portfolio of the Innis College Student Society. As Equity and Outreach Directors, our job is to ensure that Innis is welcoming and inclusive to all students. We will also be organizing equity-themed events to raise awareness about the issues that impact us all.

Are there any charitable causes that are important to you?

Frontier College, founded in 1899, is a national literacy organization that works to address social barriers such as poverty, poor health, and high unemployment by ensuring that everyone has equal access to educational opportunities. We work with volunteers and community partners to identify populations in Toronto that are vulnerable to low literacy rates and organize targeted programs to give people the skills and confidence that they need to reach their potential and contribute to society.

I first got involved with Frontier College in first year as a volunteer tutor. It is a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community. If you are interested in volunteering as a tutor, please reach out to utoronto@frontiercollege.ca.

What future events or fundraisers do you have planned?

At the end of Nov, we will be running the annual ICSS Movember Shave-Off. Throughout the month of Nov, we will be raising money for the Movember Foundation which works to raise funds and awareness for men’s health. On Nov 28 from 7-10PM, come out to the Innis Cafe to see your Innis friends complete the most wacky of hair challenges. If you want to see your very own IRC President, Daniel Li, go bald, come through with your donations! For more information, check out the Facebook event.

Throughout the year, Jeruby Retnakanthan will be working with the Equity and Outreach portfolios to develop INtersections, a periodical column exploring equity-related issues through interviews with Innis students. Keep an eye out in The Innis Herald and Innis Inspirations.

Any advice for first-year Megan?

Transitioning into university life is difficult. Move at your own pace and remember to reach out to the support networks in place at Innis (your dons, the Registrar, other upper year leaders) if you need help.