Lachmi Singh recognized for leadership and commitment to inclusion

Awards recognize Singh’s commitment to inclusion and developing positive learning and working environments

Lachmi Singh, Director of Education Programs and Administrative Services, and Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, recently received a U of T’s inaugural Exemplary University of Toronto Ambassador (EUTA) Award and Chancellor's Leadership Award. The awards recognize librarians and staff who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and who have made a significant, positive impact on their department, faculty or division.

“We’re all a part of this community and working toward common goals.”

“The University of Toronto and Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy have such a feeling of community, and that inspires me to want to ensure that our programs are providing the best learning experience for students and that our staff and faculty feel supported,” says Singh. “We’re all a part of this community and working toward common goals.”

As Director of Education Programs and Administrative Services, Singh has played an important role in improving the working and learning environments at the Faculty. She has been responsible for the delivery, curriculum, evaluation, governance and accreditation of the Faculty’s programs and was instrumental in the Faculty’s pivot to online learning at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Singh has also collaborated with other staff and faculty on innovative initiatives to improve the student experience, including a project to help current students prepare for high-stakes evaluations using virtual reality technology and developing outreach activities to help prospective students from diverse communities better understand various roles in the pharmacy profession.

“Lachmi has made significant contributions to our education programs and our faculty community and continues to have a positive impact on the Faculty,” says Jamie Kellar, Associate Dean, Academic. “She is an exemplary ambassador for the pharmacy and U of T communities. She embodies the attitudes and attributes that we hope to foster in our students, faculty, and staff.”

Singh has had a long interest in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and co-chaired the Faculty’s EDI Working Group. Having previously earned a PhD and law degree, Singh is expected to receive her master’s degree in social justice education this summer, and she was appointed as the Faculty’s first Director of EDI at the beginning of January.

“It's a great honour to receive these awards, and I’m very overwhelmed,” says Singh. “So much of my work is about being part of a team and working collaboratively, so this recognition really is exemplary of the work we all do at the Faculty.”