Dr. Leanne De Souza-Kenney earned her PhD from the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto (U of T) and her MSc from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at U of T. She is an Assistant Professor in the Human Biology Program and Health Studies Program, University College at U of T and is Cross-appointed to the Institute for Life Course and Aging at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at U of T. Dr. De Souza-Kenney is a Public Health Scientist and her research focuses on chronic disease prevention examining precursors and modifiable risk factors related to the social determinants of health, that lead to health outcome disparities in marginalized populations. Both her research and teaching, connects to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. De Souza-Kenney’s teaching approach emphasizes experiential learning (EL) and she has received grants from the Experiential Learning office at UTM and two Global Classroom grants from the Office of the VP International, U of T to promote and support EL on an international level. She also received an award from Survey Monkey for Curiosity at Work for the community engaged learning innovations in her senior biology classroom. Her pedagogical commitment to ‘deep learning’ through EL and scaffolded teaching and assessment design, forms the foundation of some of her pedagogical research. In 2020-2021, Dr. De Souza-Kenney is the inaugural Fulbright Research Chair in Race and Health Policy at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, University of Memphis, Tennessee, where she examines the impact of structural inequities and health disparities in the underserved.
