Meet Emmanuel College’s Class of 2024

By Minh Truong

Many members of Emmanuel College’s Class of 2024 started their journey with a similar story: to learn more about themselves. Some came to discover or rediscover their faith identities, some wanted to pursue a personal interest and some dreamed of fulfilling a personal goal. Emmanuel’s unique focus on theological inquiry, interfaith engagement, social justice and psycho-spiritual care has helped create future psychotherapists, chaplains, pastors and more. Regardless of career path, background or faith, Emmanuel grads will make meaningful contributions to their communities, building diversity, inclusion and accessibility for everyone around them.  

Here are some of Emmanuel College’s outstanding graduates and their stories. 

Joan Wyatt  

One of Joan Wyatt’s big milestones this year, apart from celebrating her 81st birthday, was becoming one of the last recipients of the Doctor of Theology (ThD) degree from Emmanuel College. The program was replaced by the PhD in theological studies degree in 2014, and final calls were made in 2023. After earning her Master of Divinity degree at EC in 1986, Wyatt started her doctorate journey in the 1990s. During her studies, she worked as a minister at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church Toronto, took up a faculty position at the Vancouver School of Theology in 1999, then returned to Emmanuel College as a faculty member in 2006. Her final thesis research, which she began writing in 2003, features one of this year’s Honorary Doctorates, Ruth Evans, whom Wyatt nominated.

“My time at Emmanuel was wonderful,” said Wyatt. “My supervisor, Dr. Phyllis D. Airhart, was an outstanding teacher and colleague.” Wyatt would be the last ThD student under Professor Airhart’s supervision, who retired in 2020 after a 37-year tenure at the college, to graduate. Wyatt is also thankful for her committee members, Professors Bill Kervin and Tom Reynolds. She hopes to publish her thesis in the near future, but for now, Wyatt’s current passion is working to inspire green practices in her community to help address the climate crisis. 

Dayle Barrett 

“I'm passionate about proclaiming the kingdom of God,” said Dayle Barrett, this year’s recipient of the Sanford Gold Medal in Divinity for outstanding scholarship and academic excellence. Barrett, who was raised in the Pentecostal Church and ordained at the Tabernacle of Refuge Church in the United Kingdom, immigrated to Canada and helped run services for the Old Windham United Church in Simcoe, Ont., after its minister left. He set his sights on becoming an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada and was accepted at Emmanuel College in 2021. While studying, Barrett continued his ministry work as a pastor in charge of two churches in southwestern Ontario and doing pastoral care at long-term care homes. Barrett said Emmanuel gave him the courage to embrace ambiguity and explore diverse theological perspectives. “It was a good place to do some deep thinking and grappling complex ideas,” said Barrett. “It was great to broaden my perspective and learn more about different Christian traditions.” His academic interests were in biblical studies, hermeneutics (the study of interpretation of the Bible), and scripture, which he is looking to delve deeper into in the future. Barrett is taking a “short break” before starting Supervised Ministry Education–the next step on the United Church pathway to becoming an ordained minister.

Raquel Benlezrah  

Raquel Benlezrah began her journey at Emmanuel College at age 50 after discovering a passion for spiritual care while volunteering at Baycrest Health Sciences Centre. Raquel plans to return to Baycrest as a chaplain after graduation. With her new qualifications as a registered psychotherapist, she's poised to make a profound impact on the lives of others, blending spirituality and therapy to provide holistic care. “Emmanuel College has been nothing short of transformative in my academic and personal growth,” said Benlezrah. Emmanuel also gave her the tools to live her faith authentically, “in greater vocational clarity, self-confidence, and self-understanding.” As a student co-ordinator on the EC Spiritual Life team, she was able to lead spiritual practices, sharing her Jewish faith with her Muslim, Buddhist and Christian colleagues. Benlezrah's goal is to create a healing space where everyone feels supported, understood and empowered. “I’m filled with a profound sense of excitement and determination for the journey ahead,” she said.

Ábner Campos 

Ábner Campos connected with his Brazilian heritage in Emmanuel’s Master of Sacred Music program, searching for authentic Brazilian church music-making from a postcolonial perspective. Seeking a multi-faith environment, Campos applied to Emmanuel through an international student scholarship. “This unique music program does not exist in Brazil,” said Campos. “It has exposed me to diverse musical cultures and equipped me with valuable tools for my future church work.” Campos spent his time at EC honing his skills as a gospel choir conductor at Toronto’s First Lutheran Church, where he now serves part-time as a church music director, leading the choir and various music-oriented activities. He credits Emmanuel’s Spiritual Life Team, colleagues and professors for their support and mentorship. 

Christie Dang 

Christie Dang made a life-changing decision to leave her home in Hong Kong in search of new inspiration. Eventually, she found her new home at Emmanuel College, where she studied the connection between arts and faith. Dang is one of the first students to graduate from the Theology, Spirituality and the Arts stream of the Master of Theological Studies program. The degree focuses on interpreting and analyzing the theological dimension of the arts and culture. Dang was grateful to find a “beautiful gem” at Emmanuel College, where she was able to interact with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, faiths and traditions. “It was intimidating at first when I arrived in Canada, but the wonderful Emmanuel community has supported me with kindness and hospitality all the way,” said Dang. She is looking for new opportunities in Toronto. 

David Gallas 

Military chaplain David Gallas applied for the postgraduate training program at the Canadian Armed Forces to offer more support to servicemen and women. The military agreed to send him to an approved school for training in spiritual care and psychotherapy and he was accepted into Emmanuel College’s Master of Pastoral Studies program. Emmanuel helped Gallas develop his skills, knowledge and attitude toward psychotherapy and spiritual care. During his first placement at St. Michael's Hospital's trauma unit, he supported new patients adjusting to their traumatic injuries. For his second placement, Gallas worked with individuals facing financial barriers to therapy at St. Micheal’s Homes. Gallas emphasizes the importance of human connection in psychotherapy, a key takeaway from his time at Emmanuel. “It’s all about connecting to everyone, regardless of their background,” said Gallas. With his master’s degree in spiritual care and psychotherapy, Gallas brings a unique perspective to his new posting in Halifax.

Mona Rasmussen

Graduating remained one of Mona Rasmussen’s goals when she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease a year ago. With Emmanuel College’s support, she finished her Master of Theological Studies program. During her treatment, Rasmussen enrolled in a one-on-one reading and research course with Professor Natalie Wigg-Stevenson, ensuring she could complete her degree requirements. “I wouldn’t have been able to finish this degree without Emmanuel’s accommodation,” said Rasmussen. Her journey began in 2019 in the Buddhist Stream of the Master of Pastoral Studies program. However, her studies ignited a passion for theological theories and research, leading her to switch to the Christian stream of the MTS program. “Coming to EC was a personal journey of self-discovering my spiritual identity, a way to orientate myself in the world,” said Rasmussen. “Three years later, it has proven to be exactly that – a welcoming place where the multifaith focus allowed me to learn more about myself.” Rasmussen’s next goal is to continue studying.  
 

Beena Syed

One big lesson Beena Syed learned from her mentors at Emmanuel was the need for advocacy on behalf of herself and her patients. After earning her undergraduate study in psychology, Beena spent a year volunteering with distress centres and women’s organizations before applying to Emmanuel College. “I want to do counselling with spiritual integration, and through the help of Andrew Aitchison, an Emmanuel College admissions counsellor, my goal became a reality,” said Beena. She is currently working as a qualifying registered psychotherapist at Nisa Foundation, an organization that services women across North America in different capacities, and Healing Hearts Counselling. She is also furthering her education in theological studies as part of enhancing her skillset that she refined at Emmanuel College. Beena acknowledges the support and accommodation she received at Emmanuel College: "Everyone is not only helpful, but they’re also very insightful in navigating us through the challenges and advocating for our needs. When I had my first child, Professor Nevin Reda was kind enough to let me attend her classes virtually, pre-COVID, so I could continue my studies while also prioritizing myself and my child."

Joseph Seymond

After being let go from his job in 2015, Joe Seymond embarked on a transformative higher education path. He earned an undergraduate degree at U of T in Indigenous Studies before pursuing a Master of Pastoral Studies degree at Emmanuel College. “It was hard but incredibly rewarding,” said Seymond. He chose the Christian stream for Bible College ministry and said the unique interfaith focus of the program broadened his horizons. The program also provided him with vital tools for spiritual care. Seymond is now working as an elder for Indigenous clients at an addiction rehab centre and said church ministry and private psychotherapy practice remain his future aspirations. “The degree has opened many doors for me,” said Seymond. Emmanuel College’s embrace of his Indigenous heritage further enriched his experience, allowing him to share his culture with the community.

Emmanuel College, part of Victoria University in the University of Toronto, is one of the most respected theological schools in North America. Graduates go on to serve as ministers and faith leaders in their communities and as spiritual care practitioners/chaplains in military, hospitals and prisons. They also offer mental health supports to some of the most vulnerable members of society as psychotherapists who integrate spirituality into their practice. Doctoral graduates of Emmanuel serve in academic institutions across the world and are considered leading academics in their fields.