20 U of T community members named among Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN

Twenty members of the University of Toronto community – including four current faculty members – have been named among Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2025 by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN).

Launched in 2012, the annual awards celebrate women whose leadership, innovation and impact are transforming industries, organizations and communities across Canada. Winners are selected by WXN’s Global Alliance for Inclusive Leadership.

“This year has tested what it means to rise boldly, and our Top 100 Award Winners have shown us what it means to answer the call,” said Sherri Stevens, CEO of WXN, in a press release. “They’ve turned setbacks into breakthroughs, uncertainty into courage, and ambition into real impact. Their achievements light a path for others, proving that strength, confidence and purpose are unstoppable – and that when women rise boldly, they change the whole world around them.”

These are the U of T faculty members, alumni and community members to be honoured by WXN:

Faculty members

• Denise Belsham – professor, department of physiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
• Susan Christoffersen – dean, professor and William A. Downe Chair in Finance, Rotman School of Management
• Rhonda McEwen – president and vice-chancellor, Victoria University; professor, Institute of Communication, Culture and Information Technology, U of T Mississauga
• Mei Zhen – senior investigator, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital; professor, department of molecular genetics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Alumni and academic affiliates

• Amanda Bartley – honours bachelor of science, in economics and psychology

• Lori-Ann Beausoleil – bachelor of commerce

• Teresa Chan – honours bachelor of science in immunology; bachelor of education

• Dong-Ling Chen – honours bachelor of arts in sociology; bachelor of education

• Jennie Coleman – bachelor of arts in political science and German; master of arts in German

• Joanna Dafoe – bachelor of arts in peace and conflict studies and environmental policy; senior fellow, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy 

• Denise Dias – honours bachelor of arts in sociology

• Sara Emira – master of science in occupational therapy

• Chinyere Eni – MBA, Rotman School of Management

• Kathryn Lauren Hong – resident physician

• Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano – PhD in Italian Studies

• Zeina Ismail – honours bachelor of arts in economics, geography and geographic information systems; MBA, Rotman School of Management

• Joanna Kirke – MBA, Rotman School of Management

• Linxi Mytkolli – master of science in sustainability management​​​​​​

• Emily Partington – bachelor of arts in international relations, political science 

• Sheila Singh – PhD, Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Read the WXN announcement