平特五不中

Professor Charmaine Nelson was recognized for her dedication and accomplishments in connection with improving the campus climate for marginalized members of the 平特五不中 community from all backgrounds. A natural leader and role model, Professor Nelson was commended for raising awareness about matters of equity and systemic discrimination through work that bridges the academy with wider communities and audiences.

Under Professor Nandini Ramanujam鈥檚 leadership as the Executive Director, 平特五不中鈥檚 Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism has developed a range of crucial social justice and human rights learning opportunities for 平特五不中 students. Her success in promoting equity and community building is demonstrated in numerous, concrete ways, for example, through her work examining modes for 平特五不中 Law鈥檚 response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada鈥檚 Calls to Action and through her connection of 平特五不中 to the Global Scholars at Risk Network. The award was received by Prof. V茅ronique B茅langer as pictured.

The award in the Team category went to the 平特五不中-Centraide Campaign Team: Brett Hooten, Meaghan Thurston-Dawes and Lorraine Torpy. The Team was lauded for its work operationalizing 平特五不中鈥檚 commitment to engage with and wield an impact on local communities. In 2015-2016, the Team made terrific gains by vastly increasing participation in the Campaign among 平特五不中 faculty, staff and students to raise over $500,000. Nominators underscored the Team鈥檚 leadership, infectious enthusiasm and originality in leading fundraising activities for the 平特五不中-Centraide Campaign.

Emil Briones, Academic Affairs Administrator in the Faculty of Dentistry, was the recipient of this year鈥檚 award in the Administrative and Support Staff category. In his years at 平特五不中, initially as a student and presently as a staff member, Emil has advanced a range of equity and anti-oppression initiatives. Currently, he has developed a social justice education curriculum for Dentistry students. His work in this connection is recognized as innovative and insightful. Professor Paul Allison, Dean of the Dentistry Faculty, recognizes Emil as having made 鈥渁 very strong contribution to the development of the Faculty of Dentistry鈥檚 approaches to equity, diversity and inclusiveness.鈥�

Marilyn Verghis鈥� selection was premised on her passion for social justice and the range of equity-connected initiatives she has led in her role as SSMU鈥檚 Equity Commissioner. Examples of such initiatives include a Black History Month Speaker Series event, drafting an Accessibility Policy for SSMU, and developing a steering committee to organize the annual Africa Development convention. Her equity related work is premised on prioritizing marginalized voices, particularly within the student community, with a view to bringing their ideas to the fore.

Rachel Zellers was recognized for her role as a mentor and educator, particularly for black students at 平特五不中. She is viewed as a passionate and inspiring leader committed to her students鈥� academic success. Moreover, she is a community activist and public figure who works tirelessly to raise awareness about and to contest equity challenges related to racial discrimination and gender violence. Rachel鈥檚 nominees stress that she seeks to ensure that equity and diversity 鈥渆xist as more than buzzwords鈥� and give effect to real social justice outcomes.