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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Meet our Team

 

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Qusay H. Mahmoud, Ph.D., P.Eng.

Associate Dean of Experential Learning and Engineering Outreach

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Hi, my name is Qusay Mahmoud (aka Dr.Q). I am a professor of software engineering, and privileged to serve as the Associate Dean for Experiential Learning & Engineering Outreach. My teaching fosters critical & creative thinking, and my research empowers software for humanity. I am passionate about my support for providing high quality education for students, and a positive professional working environment hospitable to academic excellence. In addition to research publications, you can find my AI-infused writing at: https://drqwrites.medium.com 

Contact: qusay.mahmoud@ontariotechu.ca 


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Ellen (James) Istvan

Engineering Outreach Manager
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Hello, My name is Ellen Istvan. I am the Women in Engineering and Engineering Outreach Program Supervisor. I graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Western University, where I was involved in many clubs including Women in Engineering, and completed an internship at Union Gas. After graduation, I joined Ferrero, the leading global chocolate and confectionery manufacturer (Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac, and Kinder Chocolate) as a project supervisor, and moved to Alba, Italy. Now back in Canada, I am using my experiences to help inspire and lead the next generation of youth to understand the importance of STEM pathways. I hope through our work, we are able to transform the way youth interact with STEM concepts by simplifying complex thoughts into actionable ideas that society can use. My door is always open!

Contact: ellen.james@ontariotechu.ca

 

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Madeline Sialtsis

Women in Engineering & Engineering Outreach Coordinator

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Hey! My name is Madeline Sialtsis and I’m the Women in Engineering and Engineering Outreach Coordinator! I oversee our Women in Engineering Sub-Society and our Girls Programs. I graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University with a B.Eng in Aerospace Engineering. During my time at TMU, I held many leadership roles focused on supporting and connecting LGBTQ+ engineering students, including my work as President of EngiQueers Canada. I have a passion for diversity and inclusion in STEM! I’m always looking for new opportunities to share my love of science and engineering design and help youth learn that anyone can be successful in STEM!

Contact: madeline.sialtsis@ontariotechu.ca

 

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Alex Piliounis

Engineering Outreach Coordinator

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Hi! My name is Alex Piliounis and I am one of the Engineering Outreach Coordinators. I graduated from Queen’s University with a B.A.Sc. in Engineering Physics. After working in research and being a teaching assistant at Queen’s which fostered my passion for teaching, I switched to pursuing a B.Ed. at Ontario Tech University. While studying, I worked to develop engaging STEM activities using microcontrollers, sensors, and coding for numerous classrooms. Now working in Engineering Outreach, I am excited to have the opportunity to support teachers with design thinking in the classroom. One of my many goals is to bring inquiry-based and accessible STEM experiences to a broad range of youth - igniting students' passion for STEM.

Contact: alex.piliounis@ontariotechu.ca

 

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Sydney Smith

Engineering Outreach Coordinator

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Hi! I’m Sydney and I’m the Special Projects Outreach Coordinator! I just graduated from Software Engineering here at Ontario Tech University and couldn't leave just yet. I previously worked at Outreach as an instructor in 2019, and have been volunteering with Outreach since my first year. During my time at school, I was involved in orientation planning, the ambassador program, Women in Engineering, and EngSoc. I am so excited to keep working with Engineering Outreach and connecting with our community.

 

Contact: sydney.smith@ontariotechu.ca 

 

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Charlie Kivi

Engineering Outreach Coordinator

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

My name is Dr. Charlie Kivi. I completed an HBSc at the University of Ottawa followed by a Ph.D. in Chemistry at U of T. Post graduation, I've worked at a start-up, as a chemistry instructor at various universities, and volunteered for science outreach initiatives. I really enjoy teaching and science outreach. It is always fun to go into a class and inspire students. Within my role as an Engineering Outreach Coordinator, I aim to bring accessible, fun, engaging STEM activities to schools across Durham Region with our Mobile Design Lab program.

Contact:

 

HunterHunter Johnson 

Engineering Outreach Coordinator

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Hello! My name is Hunter Johnson, I’m Métis, originally from Northwestern Ontario, and I am currently the Indigenous Program Coordinator for our Indigenous Youth STEM program. I am currently completing my Bachelors of Health Sciences, and I expect to graduate in 2024. After my Bachelors, I plan on pursuing a masters in Biomedical Engineering, with the overall end goal of becoming a Family physician! Before taking the role as the Indigenous Program Coordinator, I was an instructor. That was when I realized how much passion I have for STEM education, especially for Indigenous youth. Overall, I am so grateful to be in the position I am in, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for our InSTEM team! 


Contact: hunter.johnson@ontariotechu.ca 

 

AvdonAvdon Racki

Engineering Outreach Coordinator

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Hello! My name is Avdon Racki and I am an Engineering Outreach Coordinator working primarily with Mobile Design Lab. I graduated with a degree in Software Engineering from Ontario Tech University. During my time at the university I was involved in numerous projects, teams and societies including Ontario Tech Racing, Ri3D (Robot in 3 Days), and ENGSOC. After graduation I spent a year working with Ford Motor Company in Ottawa on automated vehicle software testing. Now I am back at Ontario Tech University with Engineering Outreach and excited to create and foster meaningful learning experiences for youth in STEM!

Contact: avdon.racki@ontariotechu.ca

 

 

Meet Our Instructors!

Daimen

Daimen

Academy


About Me - Daimen
My name is Daimen and I am a Mechatronics Engineering Graduate working with the c_wonder Academy team this year. I love music, science, and plants. On my days off, I like to build small projects to further my understanding of coding, electrical concepts, and 3D printing.

Sammak

Sammak

Library


About Me - Sammak

Hello. My name is Sammak and I have just completed my 2nd year of Computer Science. I try to work on personal projects on my own time but for fun I usually play video games or do activities with my friends. I like to spend a lot of time alone and in my head. I'm usually pretty laid-back and go with the flow, but I focus when I need to. 

Ashlee

Ashlee

Black Youth


About Me - Ashlee
Hello, my name is Ashlee and I am a 2nd year mechanical engineering student. My job will be to prepare and deliver different STEM programming to students. My hobbies include cooking, anime, and movies. I will have hour long discussions about Marvel !

Marianna (Pic)

Marianna

Academy


About Me - Marianna (Pic)
Hey, I'm Marianna. I'm a 3rd year Mechatronics engineering student. I've worked with Engineering Outreach primarily with teachers and I'm the vice-chair of the ambassador committee for the non-profit hEr VOLUTION. I play guitar, draw, colour, and LOVE anime. I enjoy learning about things that are cool and technology.

Caleb

Caleb

Black Youth


About Me - Caleb

Hey! My name is Caleb and I’m a grade 9 student with keen interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. This reflects in my ability to support other students in class. One thing you should know about me is I really enjoy baking, cooking and I like to experiment with new recipes.

Chenhao

Chenhao

Community


About Me - Chenhao
Hi, I'm Chenhao! I'm a high school student with a passion for STEM and helping others. Outside of that however, I enjoy playing the piano, figure skating, and reading!

Jessica

Jessica

InSTEM


About Me - Jessica
Hi I’m Jessica and I'm a grade 11 student going into grade 12 this upcoming school year. This is my second year as a InSTEM instructor. In my free time I spend a lot of time listen to music and going on walks, I love to explore!

Sandy

Sandy

All Girls


About Me - Sandy
Hi! I'm Sandra, and I'm a 4th year Human Health Science student. I am working with all students to deliver both virtual and in person programs! I love reading, sewing, and baking in my free time, as well as hanging out with my friends! I am super friendly, so come up and say hello to me any time!

Amanda

Amanda

Academy


About Me - Amanda

Hello! My name is Amanda and I will be entering my 4th year of the human health science program here at the Ontario Tech University. I love Jesus, music and having a good laugh!

Fareeha

Fareeha

All Girls


About Me - Fareeha
Hi! My name is Fareeha and I'm a 3rd year Computer Science student. I am going to be working with the Engineering Outreach as a Program Instructor. In my free time, I like to meet new people! One thing you should know about me is that I love to go for long walks in the summer.

Ododo

Ododo

Black Youth


About Me - Ododo
Hello! My name is Ododo or Doesy (if you find that easier to pronounce). I am a 3rd year nursing student who enjoys singing and dancing in my free time. I am working with the Black Youth Program and enjoy impacting the kids I work with. And if you love watching Korean dramas, we will get along really well!

Deven

Devon

InSTEM


About Me - Deven
Hey! My name is Deven. I'm currently studying mathematical science and I just finished my first year of university. I enjoy going to the gym, playing sports, warm weather, spending time with family and friends. Also, I recently took up meditation.

Maegan

maegan

Library


About Me - Maegan
Hey there! I’m Maegan, and I just finished my second year of mechatronics engineering. I work with our library programs, mobile design lab, and community campus events like ribfests, fun fairs, and school workshops. In my free time, I love reading, solving puzzles and brain twisters - as I like to call them! One interesting thing about me is that I am a crime junkie, I love listening to, reading and watching crime stories!

Daniel

Daniel

Academy


About Me - Daniel
Hi, I'm Daniel. I'm a 2nd year Mechatronics Engineering student. I'm involved with the Motorsports team and Engineering Society at Ontario Tech University. My interests are in software development, electrical engineering, CAD and anything robotics. In my free time I like to work on personal projects, watch YouTube and occasionally play video games.

Erin

Erin

All Girls


About Me - Erin
Hi! I'm Erin, I'm a 2nd year Electrical Engineering Student working as a Program Instructor this summer. I enjoy learning anything math or calculus related. In my spare time I love playing Pokémon!

Mira

Mira

Communications


About Me - Mira
Holaaa! My name is Mira and I study communications and marketing! I'm so excited to be working with the team here at Engineering Outreach! I love a cozy night in with friends and in my free time you'll find me either at the gym or learning a new language on Duolingo! Also a fun fact about me, is when I get extremely hungry I start to cry and shed actual tears.

Jacob

Jacob

Community


About Me - Jacob
My name is Jacob and I am a Grade 10 student. At school, I currently represent the Grade 10 class as Grade 10 premier on student cabinet. In my free time, I like to code and 3D model. Also, I play many instruments such as the guitar, the piano and the alto saxophone. One thing that you should know about me is that my favourite subject is math and I have gotten some awards from math competitions!

Raeesa

Raessa

All Girls


About Me - Raeesa
Hey, I'm Raeesa, and I'm a high school student! I like to spend my time learning something new, coding, reading, or solving brain teasers and riddles (or pretending to solve them only to look at the answers). As a STEM enthusiast, I hope to become a leader that inspires others while doing something I enjoy!

Fayez

Fayez

Community


About Me - Fayez
Hello! I’m Fayez, and I’m a 3rd year mechatronics engineering student. I am also a member of the Ontario Tech Racing team, working with the electric drivetrain. I have a passion for tinkering with things such as cars and technology, and making people laugh. A fun fact about me is 7/10 times you see me, I am probably snacking on something because I love food!

Rushda

rushda

All Girls


About Me - Rushda
Hey all :) I'm Rushda and I've just completed my first-year of software engineering here at Ontario Tech. This year, I'm working with the All-Girls programs and STEM clubs for youth. I love reading fantasy novels and webcomics, writing poetry and solving mysteries. A fun fact about me is that I love baking even though I'm not very good at it -- but that doesn't stop my sweet tooth!

Steven

Steven

Co-op Student


About Me - Steven
Hello, I'm Steven and I am currently a 3rd year software engineering student. As a student, I have some experience with camps and working with kids. I am also currently an executive for anime club and a helper for the K-pop club. In my free time, I love gaming and listening to music. When it comes to music, I enjoy sad music even when I am in a good mood.

Jonas

Jonas

Community


About Me - Jonas
Hi! I'm Jonas. I just finished my second year of software engineering. I will be joining the team as a Program Instructor. I love movies and enjoy talking about them. I also like hanging out with friends.

Yousef

Yousef

Academy


About Me - Yousef
Hey! I'm Yousef, and I am currently studying computer science with a data science specialization. In my free time, I love listening to music, reading non-fiction books, and going to the gym. I also love building connections, so if you got a hold of my contact information, make sure you reach out to me!

Michael

Michael

Community


About Me - Michael
Hello! I'm Michael, and I am 2nd year mechanical engineering student. I like to come to school often to play as much basketball as I can between classes and studying in my free time. I was also on the intramural all-star team this semester! I love listening to music and something will always be playing in my room. I also like playing video games with my friends!

Ronald

Ronald

Co-op Student


About Me - Ronald
Hey! I'm Ronald, I'm a 4th year mechatronics engineering student. I will be working as a Program Instructor. I love 3D Printing, and building robots. I'm looking forward to teaching students about STEM!

Ethan

Ethan

Library


About Me - Ethan
I'm Ethan and I'm a 3rd year mechatronics engineering student. In my free time I play soccer, hockey and spend time with family and friends. I'm a huge fan of soccer and I own roughly 70 soccer jerseys from multiple different clubs.

Taz

Taz.

Co-op Student


About Me - Taz
Hey! I’m Taz, and I’m a software engineering student. I love playing video games and painting. I am working with the c_wonder Community team this year.

Juan Carlo (JC)

 JC

Teachers


About Me - Juan Carlo (JC)
Hi! My name is JC. I am currently entering my second year in my Master of Education and Digital Technologies program, and I graduated from the Networking and IT Security program at Ontario Tech. During the school year, I am a Teaching Assistant for the Faculty of Business and IT where I teach math, business, and IT courses. In my free time, I enjoy trying sports such as archery, golf, basketball, rock climbing, and many more!

Paula

Paula

Black Youth


About me - Paula
Hi! I'm Paula, a 3rd year biological life science student. I am so excited to be working with Engineering Outreach this summer! In my free time, I'm most likely reenacting scenes from musicals (not very well), dancing, or watching movies! I love meeting new people so I'm excited to meet you all!

Dorina

 Dorina

Communications


About Me - Dorina

Abigail

Abigail

InSTEM


About Me - Abigail
Hello! I’m Abigail, an 11th grade high school student. I’m a visual artist, who loves to create her own stories.

Hannah

Hannah

InSTEM


About Me - Hannah
Hi! I am currently enrolled in grade 12 and graduating this June.I'm working as senior program instructor in the Indigenous Youth program.I am enrolled in college as a pre health student to get into the healthcare field! I have a passion for helping people and becoming a nurse one day!

Leona

Leona

Community


About Me - Leona
Hi! My name is Leona and I'm in grade 12. I'm an aspiring software engineering student that will attend Ontario Tech in the fall. In my free time, I enjoy reading books, playing sports for fun (not competitively) and spending time with family and friends. I worked with Outreach last summer with community (grade 1-8) and I'm looking forward to working with Outreach again because they helped me develop a passion for engineering. 

Shamiria

Shamiria

Black Youth


About Me - Shamiria
Hello! I’m Shamiria, and I’m a grade 11 student. I’m involved in a black student association and M271 that volunteers inside and outside the school. Some things I like to do in my free time is play the sims, dressing up (when I have no where to go), and watch survivor with my mom. One thing you should know about me is I love music, but especially Korean music. :)

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Click here to sign up as a Volunteer - Volunteer Opportunities

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