Introducing the 2026 doctoral cohort

The Faculty of Social Work is thrilled to welcome our first cohort for the new virtual synchronous PhD Program! Our eight new doctoral students bring a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and research interests that will enrich the program. We look forward to working, and learning, alongside them throughout their journey as doctoral students. 

Meet the 2026 Cohort 

Fizza Abbas (she/her)  

BSc, ADMH PGCert, MSW, RSW

My journey in social work is anchored in a commitment to community care, justice, and transformative systems change. I came to this work through clinical practice and policy in child and youth mental health, supporting youth engagement initiatives across Ontario and collaborating with community organizations, service providers, and governments to reimagine more equitable systems of care. This foundation informs my current practice in trauma-informed psychotherapy, where I accompany individuals navigating complex trauma, grief, and neurodivergence. My doctoral research engages Shi’a mourning practices as living archives of collective grief, ancestral knowledge, and resistance, attending to how acts of remembrance carry histories, sustain community, and connect personal healing to broader struggles for collective liberation.

Fun Fact: I’ve flown an airplane, and lately, I’ve been drawn to the art of perfume-making.

Kadeam Cox (he/him) 

BSW, MSW, RSW  

After earning my MSW in 2015, I have spent over a decade supporting children, youth and families of various backgrounds to overcome multitudes of complex challenges. My professional experience consists of child welfare, youth programming and community-based mental health services. I currently work with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), supporting students who have been suspended, expelled, or involved in the youth justice system, with a focus on disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline. In addition, I support The 13th Round, a Toronto-based boxing gym dedicated to empowering underserved youth through physical training, mentorship, and life skills development. My research examines the experience of serious violence and premature death among inner-city Black male youth, with an emphasis on identifying structural risk factors and developing community-informed intervention strategies.

Fun Fact: I am the sound engineer of a TDSB student-led wellness podcast called 4Students, available on Spotify and Apple Podcast.

Dillon Dodson (she/her)

BSW, MSW, RSW

Dillon is a RSW with nearly 20 years of professional experience in community mental health, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness andsurvivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Her practice is grounded in ethical, trauma‑informed social work and focuses on integrating humanand animal wellbeing within interdisciplinary settings. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from McMaster University and a Master of Social Work fromthe University of Toronto, along with advanced certifications in trauma recovery, veterinary social work, and pet loss and bereavement. Dillon holdsleadership roles within professional organizations, including serving as Vice President of the International Association of Veterinary Social Work, and hasreceived provincial recognition for her contributions to the profession of social work. She is the Director of Social Work at Toronto Humane Society, whereshe leads embedded and integrated social work practice within animal welfare.

Shauna Livesey (she/her) 

BSW, MSW, RSW  

Shauna Livesey is a First Nations social worker, therapist, and social work instructor based in northern Alberta. She is the founder of EaglesPath Healing Society, a nonprofit organization focused on culturally grounded, land-based healing for families and communities. Her work centers relational, community-led approaches to wellness that bring together culture, land, and family systems. Her research interests include Indigenous-led healing, land-based interventions, and addressing violence and trafficking affecting Indigenous women and girls in northern communities. Through practice, teaching, and research, she is committed to advancing community-driven solutions that restore connection, strengthen cultural identity, and support collective wellbeing for Indigenous families and communities.

Fun Fact: When I’m not working, I love spending time on the land, drinking London fogs, and being with my family. Our house is also run by two dogs, a German Shepherd and a French bulldog, who keep life interesting.

Michelle Régnier (she/her)  

BSW, MSW, RSW

Michelle Régnier is a registered social worker whose work is shaped by both clinical practice and lived experience with cancer. Originally from Manitoba and now based in Toronto, she supports those navigating grief, trauma, complex transitions, and life-limiting illness. Her research interests examine how cultural beliefs, traditions, and rituals shape experiences of dying and inform the concept of a "good death." She is particularly interested in how these perspectives inform compassionate, culturally responsive palliative home care systems. A citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation, Régnier is committed to research that honours diverse cultural knowledge and advances equity in palliative care.

Fun Fact: I'm a foster parent for French bulldogs and enjoy beadwork, embroidery, and crocheting character toques for the kids in my family.

Sumu Sathi (she/her)  

BSW, MSW, RSW

Sumu Sathi, RSW, is a University of Toronto award-winning social justice advocate, psychotherapist, and TEDx speaker committed to amplifyingunderrepresented voices. She is the founder of Shakti Empowerment and Counselling Inc. and Sumu Sathi Media Inc., a platform dedicated to centeringwomen’s stories through impactful storytelling. A Tamil-Canadian actress with film screening credits, Sumu uses both media and mental health advocacyto elevate diverse narratives. Guided by an intersectional and entrepreneurial lens, she is passionate about creating spaces where women can lead,heal, share their stories, and ultimately create their own tables in industries where they have historically been underrepresented.

Fun Fact: I love trying new recipes and cooking for my loved ones.

Nzinga Walker (she/her)  

BA, MSW, RSW

My work in social work and community mental health spans more than 15 years, supporting young adults and marginalized communities navigatingtrauma, systemic inequities, and suicidal distress. This experience has shaped my commitment to creating compassionate, culturally responsive spacesfor healing and support. Through my doctoral studies, I am exploring how suicide affects Black families and communities, particularly the experiences ofgrief, stigma, and the limited availability of culturally grounded postvention supports. My research seeks to amplify voices often missing from Canadianscholarship and to contribute to more equitable and community-informed approaches to suicide prevention and healing.

Fun Fact: My favorite pastime is spending time with my grandson, who has autism and is nonverbal. Our interactions continually remind me that meaningful connections go far beyond words.

Shameela Zaman (she/they)  

BA, MSW, RSW

Much of my life has been dedicated towards the pursuit of justice, particularly around issues of systemic oppression and institutionalized violence. I haveworked in non-profit settings, within outpatient healthcare facilities as well as post-secondary institutions. My research interest looks to deconstructpromises of social justice, and the preservation of human rights and dignity as outlined by social work bodies in their professional codes of ethics acrossso-called Canada. I aim to explore how these bodies continue to perform neutrality in the face of ongoing settler colonial violence, both nationally andinternationally.

Fun Fact: I love to read (though this may be put on hold for a while!) and create little polymer clay pieces.