Meet MUSSA!

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 

​PRESIDENT, FACULTY COUNCIL, & COMMITTEE ON STANDING REPRESENTATIVE
​

Johanna Hill

Johanna is a third-year CDP student in the library and archives concentrations at the iSchool. Now in her third year on MUSSA, she is exciting to continue Council's outreach and community development initiatives for all MMSt and CDP students within the faculty. When not doing MUSSA work or iJournal editing, she can be found working on a spreadsheet, trying to read through her tbr, attending or talking about sports, taking super funky photos, or trying all the shawarma places around campus. A fan of the Oxford comma (the song and the concept), as one of MUSSA's many listening ears, she is excited to help or hype with ideas, projects and presentations, and is always an email (or tap on the shoulder) away. Thanks for reading this and for being here. ​

VICE PRESIDENT, 
​CRO, UTGSU, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, & 
​FACULTY COUNCIL REP

Ruth Bryce

Ruth is a second-year museum studies student who is passionate about working in museum education. She has a Bachelor of Arts and of Education from Queen’s University. This is her second year on MUSSA after being Secretary last year. When not in school, Ruth works as an occasional supply teacher or can often be found at the rock climbing gym or reading a book. She loves being outdoors and can talk you ear off about turtles. Ruth is excited for the year ahead with MUSSA and is happy to answer any questions about the upcoming year!

SECRETARY

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Van Gonzales

Van is a first-year Master of Museum Studies student, with a Bachelor of Arts Education from the University of Regina. His passion lies at the intersection of art, culture, and education, where he seeks to enrich learning experiences by integrating the worlds of schools and museums. He is interested in synergizing schools and museums to enhance the learning experience, believing in the transformative power of immersive education. Beyond the academic realm, Van Gonzales is the #3 ranked tennis player within his friend group, a collector of Art Books he might read one day and a sore monopoly loser. Eagerly offering his support to the program and its
students, Van is thrilled to be a part of MUSSA and MUSINGS.

TREASURER

​

Niki Wickramasinghe

Niki is a first year Master of Museum Studies student. She has an undergraduate degree in History, Political Science, and Material Culture from the University of Toronto. She is the current Exhibitions Curator at Gallery 1265, a contemporary art gallery at the University of Toronto Scarborough, and has previously worked as an Education Guide at the Bata Shoe Museum. She is really passionate about inclusive education and curatorial practices within museums.  In her free time, Niki can be found hobby-hopping from aerial arts to embroidery to zine-making much to the chagrin of her friends and family. Niki is excited to begin her journey on MUSSA and committed to continuing a tradition of financial transparency and accessibility within the association! 
​

SOCIAL CHAIR & ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
REPRESENTATIVE​

Panni Ajtony

Panni is a second-year Master of Museum Studies student from Budapest, Hungary. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts, Culture and Media from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Within the museum world, she is interested in programming and exhibitions development, as well as how museums adapt to the challenges of the 21st century. Outside of the classroom, she loves watching films, reading, the theatre, and exploring Toronto. There is also a good chance you’ll find her drinking/wishing for coffee (do tell her your favourite Toronto café!) or reading up on the latest news.​

SOCIAL ASSISTANT
​

Liz Sullivan

Liz Sullivan is a second year CDP student concentrating in Library and Information Sciences. She has a Bachelor of Design in Environmental Design from OCAD University. Going into her second year on MUSSA, she is excited to develop many engaging events for students to enjoy. She is passionate about public programming and accessibility, and intends to incorporate them into her work within museums and within MUSSA. When not at U of T, she can usually be found exploring Toronto, or chilling with her cats, a good book or film, and a large cup of tea. 

SOCIAL MEDIA
​MANAGER

Anna Benko

Anna Benko is a second-year MMSt student at the iSchool. In her second year on council, Anna is our lead behind making sure our Instagram and Facebook accounts looks beautiful, constantly keeps us accountable to a very strict social media schedule, and often will remind us of events that other executives forgot about. Anna completed her BSc Honors in Archaeology in 2022 at the University of Calgary. Her drink of choice is Sprite, and can either be found checking out new museum exhibits and programs around Toronto (what started MUSSA's Museum Monday posts) or at BVM her favorite place to find a good book. 

SOCIAL MEDIA
​ASSISTANT

Iris Wu

Iris Wu is a first year Master of Museum Study student. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Visual Arts from St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick. She wants to be a curator and work in museums since middle school. In her free time, she loves trying different foods, novel reading, and cuddling with her animal siblings (Cheeto and Bagel). Iris is excited to join the MUSSA family!

SECOND-YEAR
​REPRESENTATIVE

Sophie Langille

Sophie Langille (MMSt ’24) is your Second Year Representative for the 2023-2024 year. Last year she served as Treasurer of MUSSA and is so excited to continue to help make things happen this year! Sophie moved to Toronto from Halifax in 2022 and is certainly no stranger to moving around and becoming acquainted with a new place. She was raised in Calgary until age 14 before her family moved to Nova Scotia. During her history degree at the University of King’s College she was fortunate to spend two summers in Banff and a semester abroad at Bader College, UK. Her goal of launching a career in museums began to come to fruition when she completed an internship at the DesBrisay Museum in Bridgewater, NS, (which also just so happened to be the hometown of her father of many generations). Entering this program at U of T has truly been a dream come true! In her spare time Sophie enjoys thrift shopping, admiring the streetscapes of Toronto, and listening to her vinyl record collection.

FIRST-YEAR
​REPRESENTATIVE

MISC-MUSSA ​
LIAISON​

Laura Prior
Laura is a first year Master of Museum Studies student from Newfoundland who holds a Bachelors in History (Hons) from Memorial University and a Masters in History from the University of Galway, Ireland. She has always loved visiting and working in museums and is really excited to be in this program to expand her knowledge of curation and collections management (she’s a history girl through and through). As first year representative, she is passionate about inclusivity, creating a welcoming environment, and making sure that all thoughts and concerns are brought to the right people so that they can be heard and addressed. When not in school, Laura loves listening to music, especially live music, cooking, and reading whatever was popular 80+ years ago (always doing so with a cup of tea or coffee in hand). Bio coming soon!

This could be you!

Are you a CDP student that loves the idea of student government? Send us an email and you could become our newest MUSSA member!

MUSINGS​

MUSINGS
​COPY EDITOR​

Zoé Tokarchuk

​Zoë is a second year MMSt student from Vancouver, BC. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology at UBC in 2017. She sees museum collections as an under-examined site of change and activism. She is interested in object stories and the people who tell them, and excited to collaborate with MUSSA members and share their insights. When she's not working on assignments, she'll be out in nature, reading a book, or knitting while watching a 4 hour video essay. Her favourite spot in Toronto is the Riverdale Farm, for the sweet goats.

MUSINGS
​ADMINISTRATIVE EDITOR

Devin de Silva

Devin is a second year combined degree candidate from Hong Kong. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Anthropology from the London School of Economics. While working towards his MI degree in human-centred data science this year, being part of Musings allows him to stay connected to his enduring passion for heritage and museology. Outside of academic pursuits, he enjoys exploring unfrequented, historic and multicultural neighbourhoods, collecting antiquarian books and adoring progressive rock music.

MUSINGS  COMMUNICATION OFFICER

Van Gonzales

Van is a first-year Master of Museum Studies student, with a Bachelor of Arts Education from the University of Regina. His passion lies at the intersection of art, culture, and education, where he seeks to enrich learning experiences by integrating the worlds of schools and museums. He is interested in synergizing schools and museums to enhance the learning experience, believing in the transformative power of immersive education. Beyond the academic realm, Van Gonzales is the #3 ranked tennis player within his friend group, a collector of Art Books he might read one day and a sore monopoly loser. Eagerly offering his support to the program and its

COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES

SECOND-YEAR
TECH FUND
​REPRESENTATIVE

Tia Dayman

Tia Dayman is a third year CDP (Museum Studies and LIS) student. In her studies and outside the classroom, she's passionate about creating meaningful community engagement through shared experiences of cultural heritage and information. During her undergraduate studies (U of T, Honours Bachelor of Arts, Art History, 2021), she engaged in student leadership at Victoria College through her various council and committee roles with the Drama Society, Student Council, and Dean's Advisory Board. She hopes to bring her experiences in event planning, community support, financial planning, and project management to the MUSSA team! ​

FIRST-YEAR
​TECH FUND
​REPRESENTATIVE

RECRUITMENT & ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE (MRAC) ​REPRESENTATIVE

This could be you!

Do you love getting students the technology they need, being part of student government and doing low-stakes, high-reward work? This position could be right for you! Shoot us an email and you could be our newest MUSSA member!

Mary Watson

I am a 3rd year iSchool student, completing a combined degree in Museum Studies and Archiving and Record Management. Through professional and academic experiences, I have developed skills and knowledge in event organization and execution, community outreach (specifically working with local community resources like public libraries, as well as supporting Indigenous communities through onsite programs and events), representing professional organizations, and reporting meeting minutes. I believe the skills and knowledge I bring to the table will support MUSSA and its functions, and will further my growth as a young professional. Through joining MUSSA I look forward to collaborating with and learning from like-minded emerging museum professionals.

INDIGENOUS ACTION AND ANTI-COLONIALISM COMMITTEE  REPRESENTATIVE

This could be you!

Are you passionate about Indigenous representation, ways of knowing and learning more about Indigenous action and events on campus? This may be the position for you! [Must be free Thursday mornings for IAACC meetings]. Shoot us an email and this position can be yours!

PROGRAMS
​COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE

Amanda Furniss

Amanda is a second year MMSt student from the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. She has a bachelor’s degree from Acadia University with a double major in English and Classics. Amanda has worked in cultural heritage institutions across Nova Scotia for seven years and hopes to soon expand her work further across Canada. During the academic year, you might spot her working at the Student Services desk in the Learning Hub, thrifting in Kensington Market, or ogling crystals at a local rock shop. 

iCONFERENCE
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE

Morghen Jael

Morghen is a second-year CDP student in the Culture & Technology concentration, with a Bachelor of Arts & Science from McMaster University. She supported with last year’s iConference (catering logistics, registration logistics, last-minute logistics . . lots of logistics) and is thrilled to be formally representing MUSSA to plan this year’s! Morghen’s research interests focus on digital interactives and auditory experiences in museum exhibitions, especially via QR codes that visitors scan with their personal devices. She also helps edit The iJournal! When she’s not procrastinating by way of thoroughly reading all of her email newsletters, Morghen can be found combing Spotify for weird 90s dance songs, drinking kombucha (or strong black tea), or reading a murder mystery.   
​Position descriptions can be found in MUSSA's Constitution.

View past MUSSA Council members here.
Faculty of Information,
University of Toronto
BL 624
140 St. George St
Toronto, ON M5S 3G6
CONNECT WITH US
mussa.ischool@gmail.com
@mussauoft
MUSSA acknowledges the past and ongoing role of museums in colonialism and are committed to overcoming and reforming oppressive practices within the iSchool and larger museum community. MUSSA operates on the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Wendat peoples, Haudenosaunee, and Anishinaabe. We are thankful to be situated on Turtle Island and for the opportunity to learn and work on the land.
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MUSSA is a student association of the University of Toronto and as such is committed to the university’s goals of equity, human rights, and respect for diversity. All members of the learning environment should strive to create an atmosphere of mutual respect where all members of our community can express themselves, engage with one another, and respect one another’s differences. The University of Toronto does not condone discrimination, violence or harassment against any persons or communities. As University of Toronto students, MUSSA members are bound by the University of Toronto’s Code of Student Conduct and are expected to act in a manner that is appropriate and respectful while fulfilling their role on MUSSA.
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