On this episode of VIEW to the U, Ajay Rao, an associate professor in the Department of Historical Studies, and UTM’s current Vice-Dean, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, talks about his work, including the Global Past project, which recently received funding with a University of Toronto Connaught Global Challenge Award, and is an undertaking that unites several UofT researchers as well as international collaborators. Ajay discusses the importance of humanities research, as well as the various initiatives on the horizon and collective efforts to foster a greater sense of community within the graduate studies and postdoctoral community to make UTM a destination for students looking to pursue their master’s and doctoral degrees. Resources - For more on Professor Rao's work, see his website at https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/historical-studies/people/ajay-k-rao - A full transcript of the interview is available at https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/dean/view-u-transcribed-professor-ajay-rao.