About Dr. Toledo

Estefanía Toledo, Ph.D. (she/her/ella) is an educator and researcher committed to advancing educational equity and improving access to post-secondary education. She is a Professor at Humber Polytechnic, where she teaches and designs inclusive, student-centered learning experiences that foster confidence, belonging, and academic success. Her pedagogical practice is grounded in care, collaboration, and culturally responsive approaches, to enhance belonging for students historically excluded from post-secondary education.

 

Dr. Toledo holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Her dissertation explored the lived experiences of Latine post-secondary students, examining the structural barriers they encounter as well as the strategies they draw upon to navigate institutions, persist in their studies, and create spaces of belonging. It was recognized with the prestigious Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Graduate Research Scholarship.

 

Grounded in feminist and critical theories, her research and teaching examine how institutional structures, practices, and cultures shape students’ experiences of access, belonging, well-being, and success. Across her work, she is interested in addressing inequities and advancing community-rooted, equity-oriented approaches to educational change.​