A conversation with U of T’s new Assistant Dean, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
This semester, we welcome Ada Maxwell-Alleyne into the Faculty of Law as our new Assistant Dean, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI). Ultra Vires sat down with Assistant Dean Maxwell-Alleyne to chat about her new role.
Ultra Vires (UV): Can you tell us a bit about your background, education, and career?
Assistant Dean Ada Maxwell-Alleyne (AMA): I grew up in a small town in northern New Brunswick. My dad was from Ghana and my mom was Irish-Acadian. Growing up, we were the only Black family in the area, and while it was generally a friendly community, there were instances of subtle, casual racism. There were also instances of overt racism. I think these experiences planted the seeds for my interest and career in inclusion and anti-racism work. I studied Social Anthropology at Harvard and did graduate work in that field at U of T. Even though Social Anthropology evolved from a fairly racist theoretical standpoint, it is now a critical thought field. I studied concepts of othering, structural inequality, and social determinants of success and well-being. Law school—which I completed at Dalhousie—and my early career in policy helped me develop critical thinking and analytical tools which I apply to developing strategies aimed at enhancing equity.
UV: How has your time been so far at the Faculty?
AMA: It’s been great. The Dean and senior leadership have been very welcoming, and they are all EDI champions, which is wonderful. The other Assistant Deans, the Associate Dean, and the student services team are so committed to creating a positive learning environment. I’ve had a chance to start meeting Faculty members and, in some cases, begin conversations about EDI strategies in teaching and curriculum. And of course, I’m very excited to meet law students. I want to listen and learn from students about what they see as priorities in the EDI space.
UV: I saw that after completing law school, you went on to work at a national law firm in Toronto. What prompted you to leave practice and transition to working in EDI leadership roles?
AMA: I always had an interest in this area, so the writing may have been on the wall. But during law school and my time on Bay Street, I experienced a heightened sense of being an outsider. I didn’t feel like I belonged at law school; I didn’t think I looked like a Bay Street lawyer, and my search to find a professional mentor and sponsor always came up empty. There were terrific community mentors that I connected with through the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) for example, but I did not find this in my law firm. Over the years, I realized that I was not the only one and that many lawyers from racialized and underrepresented communities shared a similar experience. It’s not just law firms by the way. When I moved into other sectors, I looked at the C-Suite and Senior Executive teams of my workplaces, and there weren’t any people who looked like me. These realizations gave me a stronger nudge into the EDI field.
UV: The position of Assistant Dean, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is new at the Faculty. Would you mind describing to us what this role entails and what your primary responsibilities will be?
AMA: One of the most meaningful aspects of this role will be to support students and the community in navigating challenging equity issues and discussions that will arise. This office will take an active role in supporting our students and colleagues from equity-seeking communities in being heard, seen, and included.
First, an important part of the role is fostering a safe environment to have meaningful and productive conversations about tough issues that will impact our experiences at law school and beyond. Second, I also want to be a resource for students, faculty, and staff. I hope to contribute resources to the community on EDI that focus on the interplay between equity and the study, teaching, and practice of the law. For example, I am developing a resource hub on EDI topics and tools, and I am overseeing the EDI & Professionalism learning series. Third, I would like to design and deploy an EDI Action Plan for the law school that will include concrete strategies for enhancing EDI here at the Faculty. Finally, I would like to build on the great initiatives already underway and further embed EDI principles into all aspects of the law society from academic, mentoring, and social events to recruitment and alumni relations.
UV: I know it’s still very early in your time at U of T Law, but can you tell us about any changes you would like to implement at the Faculty?
AMA: I do believe there are many important initiatives and commitments in place here at the law school. I would like to see us move to a point where EDI is seen as a core component of legal education and relevant to all areas of law. I think there is a natural tendency to approach equity as adjunct to traditional teaching and learning models. However, there is a movement in academia that questions that and challenges us to contextualize what we teach and what we learn within the existing structures of power. I would like to support moving in that direction here at the Faculty.
UV: What do you like to do for fun? Or, what are your hobbies?
AMA: Well, I have three sons ages 5, 4, and 2, so a lot of my extracurriculars involve them! But I recently read Wow, No Thank You.: Essays by Samantha Irby, and it was pretty great. Hilarious and timely as many of us let go of the “in-our-home-comforts” we may have gotten used to over the last couple of years. I like fitness, and I’m a fairly dedicated (recreational) runner. One of my favourite things to do is hit the Moore Park Ravine or the Beltline trail with my sisters. I have four sisters who are all surgeons, judges, and lawyers, but when we are together we like to be goofy and have fun.
UV: What is the best way for students to connect with you about their EDI concerns?
AMA: I welcome the opportunity to talk to students about their concerns. Having platforms to have safe and respectful dialogue about the issues that matter to students and faculty is so important. You can reach me at my email ([email protected]), but people can always stop by my office in Flavelle 338.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
