One of the most influential ways of stemming the cycle of inequity and inequality is through the telling of human impact stories of either those who have experienced these firsthand, or those who have demonstrated ways to improve communities. Shanti Fernando, PhD is a prolific storyteller who has dedicated her career to giving a voice to those who don’t have one. As the Political Science Program Director and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, her research agenda is grounded in Canadian politics and policies that support community development including adult education, mental health supports, immigration and settlement policies, anti-poverty and social service policies. Dr. Fernando advocates for evidence-based policy making that engages communities in questioning systemic discrimination and the interconnectedness of policies. For example, policies that increase support for adult education, infrastructure, affordable housing, social services, disability services and health services can all be part of a holistic anti-poverty strategy. Her collaborative research also explores the intersection between immigration and disability. She leads an interdisciplinary research team examining ways to improve adult supported education programs run by Canadian psychiatric hospitals. Along with her UOIT research team, she has helped create some of the few studies on supported education conducted in Canada. Growing up, she envisioned herself a writer and storyteller, and became fascinated with political stories. She earned her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English and Political Science from the University of Toronto, her Master of Arts in Political Studies from the University of Guelph, and her Doctorate in Political Studies from Queen’s University. Dr. Fernando spent four years as Assistant Professor in Political Science at York University in Toronto, then as an Assistant Professor of Canadian Studies at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. She authored the well-known book Race and the City in 2007 in order to raise awareness of racism and its historical legacy in Canada. She came to UOIT in 2008 where she contributed to the establishment of the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities’ Community Development Program (now the Political Science program). For her research and community outreach, Dr. Fernando received the 2012 Extraordinary Partner Award from the Canadian Mental Health Association in Durham Region.