Announcing a new International Student Coordinator and FIFSW International Liaison

Dear Students, Staff, and Faculty:

I am pleased to announce that Ms. Megan Davies has been appointed to the role of International Student Coordinator at FIFSW beginning May 4, 2020.

The International Student Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the liaison among the Associate Dean Academic, Practicum Office, the Centre for International Experience (CIE), the Admissions and International Student Advisors, and the Graduate Centre for Academic Communication (GCAC) at the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). Megan will report directly to the Associate Dean, Academic.

There is a need to ensure that our international students are better supported as they navigate services across the University and Faculty, and are adequately informed, oriented, advised, and supported to successfully execute their curriculum and practicum requirements.  Megan would provide these important supports to all international students in this information, orientation, advising, and coordination role.

Megan has successfully executed a similar student role for our students in the Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency Program (ITR) during the past two years. She also served as Counsellor and Coordinator for the FIFSW Counseline Program (2015-2018). Megan has an MSW from FIFSW and over 15 years of post-MSW experience in clinical, coordinator, and administrative roles. 

I am also pleased to announce that during the 2020-2021 academic year, Professor Izumi Sakamoto will serve as the FIFSW International Liaison. In this role, Professor Sakamoto will provide training to staff and faculty on the unique needs of international students and best practices for successfully providing supports. As the number of our international students has increased over the last few years, we have an opportunity to provide more assistance to our staff and faculty on how to better respond to our student needs.

A major focus of Professor Sakamoto’s scholarship is on immigration. During the past several years, she has been providing ongoing assistance to international students. This new role would now formalize and acknowledge the important support that Professor Sakamoto has been providing to the Faculty.

I am grateful to both Megan and Izumi for assuming these important roles, which is enabling us to formalize and institutionalize the supports that we would be able to provide our international students.

Best regards

Dexter Voisin
Dean & Professor
Sandra Rotman Chair in Social Work