Table Officers are volunteer alumni leaders for the Board of the OISE Alumni Association. They set goals and objectives for the Board, help write bylaws, policies and procedures, and monitor the association’s financial activity. Together with the Office of Advancement & Externals, our Table Officers help maintain effective partnerships with other OISE associations and alumni governing bodies at the University of Toronto.
Jacqueline Karsemeyer, BEd '94 PhD '00
Since retiring in 2022, I have had the privilege of serving organizations whose vision and mandate I respect and can contribute to. Hence, my enthusiasm for strengthening engagement, building community and enriching opportunities for OISE’s alumni, students and friends.
My lifelong learning adventures reflect aspects of many students and alumni. I was born in Guyana, educated as a Francophone in Montréal, lived in India, worked with teacher educators in Beijing, studied in Guinée and Sénégal. My formative connection with OISE was right after high school, as French bibliographic searcher and I am continuously impressed by OISE’s international leadership reputation.
The Ontario College of Teachers and Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario honed my skills as a collaborative leader in visioning, planning and implementing initiatives. Certification in mediation underpins my strength in building consensus, while valuing multiple perspectives. Often drawing from the arts, I am skilled in creating opportunities that are accessible to all. Professor Emeritus David Booth was a key influence in my personal and professional growth. His maxim “Your time is worth more than money”, inspires my service as President of the OISE Alumni Association.
Ken Nakamura, BEd '81
I am a U of T Faculty of Education graduate from 1981. I have served as an OT with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) for over 44 years. I earned my BA from York University in 1979 and a law program degree from Centennial College prior to joining OISE to study education. I have extensive certification in law, recreation, and the union field. As Vice-President (Internal), I enhance my metric capacities in the field and in OISE circles by serving our members to the best of my ability.
Monica Gutierrez, MEd '14
Monica has 15 years of diverse fundraising experience in the non-profit healthcare, arts, and education sectors. She currently works as a Senior Development Officer at the University of Toronto Scarborough Development and Alumni Relations Office, where relationship-building is integral to her work. In this position, she has learned the valuable interconnected nature of advancement and alumni relations. Throughout her career, Monica has built strategic and meaningful partnerships with private and non-profit organizations to secure sponsorships and donations. She has a Master in Adult Education and Community Development from OISE where she focused on social justice education and Popular Education. Monica strives to use her education, experience, and skills to leverage fund development for social change. Outside of work, Monica creates murals and public art installations. You may have caught glimpses of her work at a Nuit Blanche in the past!
Monica has a wealth of advancement experience to offer, fundraising knowledge, and knowledge of post-secondary administrative processes. As an alumni who has gone on to work in post-secondary, she provides valuable insight into the ways OISE can deepen alumni engagement locally, across Canada, and internationally. She is particularly interested in supporting efforts to celebrate alumni successes and contributions. Monica joined the OISEAA to strengthen her connection to OISE, which was pivotal in her career and professional advancement, and to give back to this institution. She fondly remembers her studies and professors and the relationships she built with other students.
Janet Fu, PhD '11
Jing Fu (known as Janet) received her doctorate degree from OISE. She has been teaching at the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and other universities for more than two decades. Dr. Fu also has a diploma in accounting and business administration. She is proficient in Microsoft Office suites (e.g. Words, Excel, and PowerPoint), SAP, Sage 50, Simple Accounting, and Quickbooks.
She worked as Treasurer at an accounting firm and the Canadian Union for Public Employees (CUPE) for many years. During her time as Treasurer, she worked full-cycle bookkeeping and payroll administration, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, performed reconciliations, prepared ROE, created financial statements, and many other accounting-related duties. Furthermore, Dr. Fu is passionate, independent, and accurate in her work. She is honoured to serve OISE alumni and friends.
Alison Burkett, MEd '12
I am an adult educator, project manager, and board governance expert with 15 years of professional experience in senior administrative roles within non-profit management and higher education.
With a Master of Education from OISE University of Toronto and a Certificate in Project Management from Cornell University. My professional expertise focuses on leading strategic initiatives in multi-stakeholder environments. As Project Manager of the Mindful Campus Initiative at OCAD University I led the implementation of a $4M national student mental health grant. Prior to that, I was the Manager, National Digital Learning HUB at Springboard, where my leadership approach expanded the operating budget from $1M to $3M, partner network from 40 to 900 social service agencies, and learner engagement from 1,000 to 15,000 learners annually.
I am the Co-Founder of the registered charity, Rwanda Survivors Foundation, where I have extensive Board Governance expertise. Responsible for the charity's annual Board of Directors corporate compliance, I have deep knowledge in Canadian charitable law and good governance best practices. I bring to all my work a commitment to the principles of Truth and Reconciliation and an ethics of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
Nikoletta Papadopoulos, MEd '13
Nikoletta Papadopoulos is a higher education manager passionate about community building and connecting individuals with opportunities that contribute to their professional and personal growth. She graduated from OISE with a Master of Education in 2013. Since then, she’s worked in higher education with roles at Sheridan College, the University of Toronto, and is currently a Manager of Graduate Student Recruitment at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). She's responsible for recruitment strategies and oversees admissions processes for graduate programs.
As a volunteer of the OISE Alumni Association, she has served as a Member-at-Large, Treasurer, Vice-President, Internal and President. As a Treasurer, she implemented an internal process to streamline incoming funding requests and ensure the proper management of funds. Additionally, she secured donations for a raffle at an Alumni Reunion event that raised money for the Professor David Booth Memorial Bursary, which supports OISE students in financial need. As Vice-President, Internal, she led engagement activities, including the launch of a survey to OISE alumni to capture their interests and areas of engagement with the association. She ran a focus group to reflect on the survey results with association members. Nikoletta has also represented OISE as a Member of the College of Electors, a group of University of Toronto volunteers responsible for electing the Chancellor and alumni governors of the Governing Council. In 2019, she was an Arbor Award recipient.
Outside of the alumni association, in 2021, Nikoletta Chaired the Canadian Bureau for International Education’s (CBIE) International Network of Tomorrow’s Leaders, a professional learning network made up of international higher education professionals from across Canada. As Chair, she worked with other lead members to facilitate networking and professional development opportunities for its members.
