Dr. Carolyn Mak

Biography

Carolyn Mak is an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. With over twenty years of experience as a practicing social worker in the Toronto community, she has worked extensively with children, youth, and caregivers, primarily in public and independent schools. Dr. Mak has received notable awards such as the Ontario Association of Social Workers' School Social Work Achievement Award in 2023 and the International Coalition of Girls' Schools H. William Christ Educator Prize in 2024. She has taught BSW and MSW students at various local post-secondary institutions, including Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she facilitated an online seminar for doctoral students. Her research interests and publications address critical topics, including social-emotional learning in girls' schools, the teaching and learning of anti-Black racism in social work, and decolonizing social work practices. Dr. Mak earned her MSW from the University of Toronto and her PhD from Smith College. Throughout her career, she has held various roles in family service organizations and community children's mental health agencies, as well as in administrative leadership positions, such as Director of the Knowledge Mobilization Program Development at Kids Help Phone and Director of Well-Being in School Counselling at a local independent girls' school. Her professional interests focus on innovative teaching methods, aiming to integrate clinical direct practice with a broader commitment to social justice.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards