W. Andy Knight, alumni

Knight, who received his PhD in political science from 91亚色, is a renowned and award-winning University of Alberta Distinguished Professor in the Political Science Department specializing in global governance, the United Nations and more. In addition to being a prolific author 鈥� with over 16 books, 80 chapters in edited volumes and 68 journal articles 鈥� he is a Fulbright Distinguished Chair in International and Area Studies at Yale University, a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, as well as the inaugural provost fellow in Black excellence and leadership at his university.

Andre Smith, alumni

Smith, who completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting from 91亚色, is the founder and CEO of Flip & Floss, a digital platform that teaches and empowers today鈥檚 youth with financial literacy and money management skills. The company 鈥� founded in 2020 鈥� already has over 5,000 users and 1,000 workshops.

Previously, Smith has received the CBC Toronto Community Champions award (in 2020) and was the BMO Black Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Technology Industry.

Nadine Williams, alumni

Poet, author and arts educator Nadine Williams has published four collections of poetry, two children鈥檚 books and 16 volumes of literature for Black History Month that are part of Canadian school curriculums. She is frequently called upon as a speaker and presenter, having shared her work at Citizenship & Immigrants Canada ceremonies and at events with prestigious attendees like former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, Jamaica鈥檚 former prime minister Portia Simpson and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She is also using an art installation project called The Fabric of Our Being to raise awareness about the United Nations鈥� International Decade for People of African Descent project.

Other recognitions Williams has received include being named on a list of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women in 2022, being given the 2024 Women Who Inspire Change Award from the Jamaican Canadian Association and earning a parliamentary mention for contributions to Black history in Canada.

Gervan Fearon, former faculty

Fearon, who once served as a 91亚色 associate professor and associate dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, is the current president of George Brown College in Toronto.

Fearon was recognized for his contributions as a prominent education advocate, driving and leveraging the transformative power of learning to improve social and economic mobility.

His career鈥檚 work has previously earned him the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Micha毛lle Jean Foundation Influencer Award and an appointment to the Order of Ontario.

Visit the the to find out more about the winners.

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In addition to work focused on the political economy of oil and gas in Alberta, Angele Alook 鈥� a professor in 91亚色's School of Gender, Sexuality & Women鈥檚 Studies and a member of Bigstone Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory 鈥� has been pursuing interdisciplinary projects that underscore how critical Indigenous Peoples鈥� rights and knowledge systems are to developing solutions to the climate crisis and achieving climate justice.

Among Alook鈥檚 efforts are serving as an academic delegate for the Indigenous Climate Action organization and as a member of the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council-funded Just Powers project, which looks to create socially just approaches to decarbonizing energy transitions.

Alook鈥檚 projects are often driven by the desire to champion Indigenous voices and knowledge systems. For example, for Just Powers, she directed a documentary called Pikopaywin: It is broken, which examines energy projects in Treaty 8 territory by sharing the perspectives and insights of Indigenous traditional land users, environmental officers and elders 鈥� notably from the Bigstone Cree Nation.

Recently, Alook attended the annual meeting of the United Nations' Local Communities & Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) Facilitative Working Group, which took place in Bonn, Germany. The event aims to facilitate the integration of diverse knowledge systems, practices, and innovations in designing and implementing international and national actions, programs, and policies in a manner that respects and promotes the rights and interests of local communities and Indigenous Peoples.

By attending the event, organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Alook鈥檚 objective was to produce a series of educational videos showcasing Indigenous climate leaders discussing false solutions, just transition and youth engagement 鈥� all critical elements to understanding climate progress and effectively moving the needle. Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change Professor Martha Stiegman and research assistant Ana Cardoso were also in attendance to support Alook with data collection, filming and note-taking.

"We are actively engaged in the Indigenous Peoples Caucus [of the United Nations] to uphold the principles of safeguarding Indigenous Peoples' rights, promoting ethical and equitable engagement with knowledge systems, ensuring direct access to Indigenous Peoples for climate finance, and advocating for full and effective participation," said Alook.

At the meeting, Alook and her team conducted interviews with youth representatives, elder knowledge keepers, policy experts and members of Indigenous organizations. Their conversations spanned regions, engaging with people from Chad, the Philippines, the Arctic Circle, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, the M茅tis National Council, the Assembly of First Nations in Canada and the Indigenous Environmental Network in the U.S.

Alongside Alook, Stiegman and Cardoso was Indigenous student Ashton Gladue, who is currently pursuing a degree in communications and media studies in 91亚色 U's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. 

"It was a fantastic learning opportunity for Ashton," said Alook. "He got to be in UNFCCC spaces, learn about Indigenous research methods and film educational videos with Indigenous climate leaders from all over the world, including elders and youth."

She added, "There was a special moment when a well-known knowledge keeper and climate leader spoke directly to Ashton during filming. In that moment, we realized we weren't just filming an interview but experiencing intergenerational knowledge transfer and revitalization of knowledge systems."

Beyond that powerful interaction, Alook believes her team's participation in this event 鈥� and others like it 鈥� is an active demonstration of Indigenous research methodologies in action, and one that she hopes will contribute to the gradual decolonization of climate change policy.

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The Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA) recently announced Mickel A. Allen, a research and administrative support assistant in the Lassonde School of Engineering's Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, as the recipient of their Unsung Hero Award. Presented at CARA's Canadian Conference on Research Administration held in St. John's, N.L., the award recognizes Allen's dedication and contributions to the field of research administration.

The award is presented annually to CARA non-executive members who, although not always in the spotlight, have made significant impacts through their volunteer work with the organization and beyond.

鈥淎s a volunteer-led association, CARA is deeply grateful for the contributions of research administrators like Mickel Allen," said Dominique Michaud, president of CARA. "Her generous sharing of time and expertise on various committees and her efforts in cultivating national and international connections have been crucial for the synthesis and dissemination of knowledge within the profession.鈥�

Allen鈥檚 industry service and leadership were highlighted in her selection for this award. Her contributions to the CARA organization include serving as an ambassador on both national and international stages and volunteering on the editorial committee. Additionally, she played a key role as a co-facilitator for the 2021 CARA West Regional Conference and the 2023 CARA National Conference, and has been deeply involved in workshops, webinars, virtual conferences and the Mohawk College/CARA partnered Certificate in Research Administration.

"As an immigrant and woman of colour from Jamaica, being named an 'unsung hero' is profoundly meaningful," said Allen. "It represents a journey marked by resilience, dedication, and excellence within a diverse and often challenging environment. I aspire to embody the quiet heroism that lies in steadfast commitment, navigating new territories, and championing the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion."

Recently seconded to the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation as an Organized Research Unit centre co-ordinator, Allen is also a member of the Office of Research Services' Research Administration Network, where she works to forge collaborations between 91亚色 and other higher education institutions in both Canada and the Caribbean.

"Receiving the Unsung Hero Award is not only a recognition of individual excellence," she said, "but also a testament to the collective values upheld at Lassonde and across the University."

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As part of its obligations under the , the University is required to conduct a workforce analysis to identify areas of under-representation of equity-deserving group members in its workforce. Each year, 91亚色 presents this analysis in the Annual Employment Equity Statistical Report. The report covering January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, is now available.

The report highlights representation at 91亚色 for the four federally designated groups under the Employment Equity Act (women, Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, and persons with disabilities) and community members identified as 2SLGBTQIA+. It also highlights some of the employment equity initiatives undertaken in 2023.

This year, the data revealed some improvements, including the year-to-year increase in representation of racialized persons and persons with disabilities among total employees over the last three years (2021 to 2023).  

In general, the data showed that while the overall representation rates for women continue to exceed the external availability data, numbers for Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, and persons with disabilities show a general trend of representation rates falling below the external availability data provided by Statistics Canada. 

Recently, there has been a notable increase in awareness of the potential uses of employment equity data within the University community, as requests for employment equity data by units and Faculties have increased. Responding to this need, a new 91亚色 University employment equity dashboard will launch later this year. The dashboard aims to increase access to data for the entire community in order to assist in the implementation of some of the recommendations highlighted in the Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. 

Because it is important to obtain accurate data for the dashboard to be truly useful in supporting evidence-based decision making, community members鈥� participation in the Employment Equity Survey is critical to ensure the report and the new dashboard are being truly representative of the community.

Those who have not yet completed the improved version of the employee self-identification survey yet, or would like to change their responses, can access it via within your 鈥淧ersonal Details鈥� tab. The more people who complete the survey, the more accurate the data will be for both the Annual Report and the soon to be launched dashboard.

To find out more about Employment Equity at 91亚色 and to view past reports, visit the Employment Equity and Diversity website.

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On this day, August 1, we annually mark the day when the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire. Black and Indigenous people were once enslaved on the land that is now Canada, indelibly shaping Canadian society through their struggle, resistance, endurance and fortitude. This day is a call to learn more about slavery and its legacy, to respect the strength and perseverance of communities that have been subjected to the practice of slavery, and to reject ongoing anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism and discrimination.

91亚色 answers this call in many ways, including by:

• Contributing to the collective efforts of the Action Plan on Black Inclusion. The third Annual Report details these efforts. While 80 per cent of the actions are complete, on-track or progressing, there are ample opportunities for community members to play a role in countering anti-Black racism at 91亚色.
  
• Supporting spaces where Black community members can engage, connect and experience a sense of place and belonging. This includes the work of the program for Black students, the YU Black Staff Network, the YU Black Alumni Network, and in Black student spaces in McLaughlin College and in the HNES building (for EUC students).
  
• Cultivating research, teaching, and learning dedicated to Black Canadian histories, communities, and experiences. Examples of this include the to include a Major, and the support of Organized Research Units such as the Harriet Tubman Institute and CERLAC.
  
• Dedicating resources to support Black students thriving, such as those available from the and .

I invite you to about Emancipation Day and slavery in Canada and to engage in activities to advance Addressing Anti-Black Racism: A Framework on Black Inclusion and the .

Thank you. Merci. Miigwech.

Laina Y. Bay-Cheng
Vice-President Equity, People and Culture

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Le 1^er ao没t est le jour o霉 on c茅l猫bre l鈥檈ntr茅e en vigueur de la 芦 Slavery Abolition Act 禄 de 1833 (Loi sur l鈥檃bolition de l鈥檈sclavage), partout dans l鈥橢mpire britannique. Dans le pass茅, des membres des communaut茅s noires et autochtones ont 茅t茅 r茅duits en esclavage sur le territoire qui est aujourd鈥檋ui le Canada, ce qui a profond茅ment marqu茅 la soci茅t茅 canadienne par leur lutte, leur r茅sistance, leur endurance et leur force d鈥櫭e. Cette journ茅e est une occasion d鈥檈n savoir plus sur l鈥檈sclavage et son h茅ritage, de respecter la force et la pers茅v茅rance des communaut茅s qui ont subi cette pratique et de s鈥檈ngager dans la lutte continue contre le racisme et la discrimination 脿 l鈥櫭ゞard des communaut茅s noires et des peuples autochtones.

91亚色 r茅pond 脿 cet appel de plusieurs mani猫res :

• Contribution aux efforts collectifs du Plan d鈥檃ction sur l鈥檌nclusion des personnes noires : le troisi猫me rapport annuel d茅crit en d茅tail ces efforts. Bien que 80 % des actions sont achev茅es, en bonne voie ou en cours de r茅alisation, les membres de la communaut茅 ont de nombreuses possibilit茅s de jouer un r么le dans la lutte contre le racisme anti-Noirs 脿 91亚色.
• Soutenir des espaces dans lesquels la communaut茅 noire peut s鈥檈ngager, se rencontrer et avoir un sentiment d鈥檃ppartenance. Ceci comprend le programme pour les 茅tudiantes et 茅tudiants noirs, le R茅seau du personnel noir de 91亚色, le R茅seau des dipl么m茅s noirs de 91亚色 et les espaces r茅serv茅s aux 茅tudiants noirs au Coll猫ge McLaughlin et dans le b芒timent HNES (pour les 茅tudiants de l鈥橢UC).
• Appuyer la recherche, l鈥檈nseignement et l鈥檃pprentissage sur l鈥檋istoire, les communaut茅s et les exp茅riences v茅cues par les Canadiennes et Canadiens noirs. On peut citer, 脿 titre d鈥檈xemples, l鈥櫭﹍argissement du programme d鈥� en majeure et le soutien apport茅 aux unit茅s de recherche organis茅es comme l鈥�Institut Harriet Tubman et le CERLAC.
• Le et les , qui consacrent des ressources 脿 l鈥櫭﹑anouissement des 茅tudiantes et 茅tudiants noirs.

Je vous invite 脿 en sur le Jour de l鈥櫭﹎ancipation et sur l鈥檈sclavage au Canada, ainsi qu鈥櫭� participer 脿 des activit茅s pour faire progresser la lutte contre le racisme par le biais du Cadre d鈥檌nclusion des personnes noires et du de l鈥橴niversit茅 91亚色.

Merci. Thank you. Miigwech.

Laina Y. Bay-Cheng
Vice-pr茅sidente int茅rimaire de l鈥櫭﹒uit茅, des personnes et de la culture

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The third Annual Report on Black Inclusion is now available. The latest annual report features a comprehensive look at all 86 calls to action items, offering a clear account of progress on each item. It also provides a robust assessment of efforts to advance the action items, as well as insight into what more is needed to substantially shift institutional culture toward the inclusion and affirmation of the vibrance, diversity and depth of Black lives and experience.

鈥淚t is meaningful that over 70 per cent of action items have been completed or are on track. We should celebrate this and thank those who have made it happen鈥� said Laina Y. Bay-Cheng, vice-president Equity, People & Culture. 鈥淗owever, these achievements shouldn鈥檛 be treated as endpoints. I hope we鈥檒l use the progress evident in the report to keep up momentum and engage even more 91亚色 community members in advancing Black inclusion initiatives.鈥�

Some completed activities to date include: 

Action Item: As part of our commitment to review campus security and explore alternative models for community safety, ensure that the lens of equity, diversity and inclusion is central, and that the process will include community consultation (e.g., townhalls, focus groups) with Black community members.

Results: The Security Services Review has been completed and recommendations for changes in service provision and community engagement are already being implemented.

Action Item: Support the development of a Black staff affiliation group and support ongoing activities.

Results: The 91亚色 Black Staff Network (YUBSN) was formed in 2021, with membership open to all Black people of African descent who occupy non-academic staff roles at the University.

Action Item: Hire a minimum of 12 new Black faculty over the next two years (2021-2023). Support departments鈥� readiness and develop their capacity to support Black colleagues.

Results: In fact, 35 Black Faculty members have been hired since 2021, with considerable effort and programming going into ensuring they encounter colleagues and a larger University community ready to support their success. 

Action Item: Support the development of the Black Alumni Network, created in 2020, and its ongoing activities.

Results: The 91亚色 Black Alumni Network (YUBAN) continues to embody Black excellence with an energetic group of graduates, enthusiastic about mentorship and inspiring the minds of emerging thinkers and leaders.

Many additional items are progressing well but are still underway and so are listed as 鈥渙n track鈥� in the report. Some activities were postponed but remain active parts of this strategy. 

Several themes emerged from the progress updates, and the report shares these insights. For instance, those who take on important initiatives often feel burdened by requests to report on it. This is a challenge that Equity, People & Culture and others across the university will try to address.

鈥淚t is important to continue to acknowledge and centre the voices of people from the Black community, some of whom have wondered whether this strategic effort will bring perceptible, meaningful change across 91亚色 campuses for Black students, staff, and scholars,鈥� said Lisa Cocketts, strategy and engagement specialist - Black Inclusion. 鈥淚t is through a dynamic and evolving Action Plan as well as honest, full reporting that 91亚色 can demonstrate its commitment to creating actual, positive change towards Black inclusion,鈥� added Cocketts.

Community members are asked to join together in recognizing the hard work of the many contributors to the work of Black Inclusion and the progress the University has made, as updates such as this report are not possible without the efforts of many.

The 91亚色 community is encouraged to review the Annual Report to learn more. Feedback can be provided by email to epcinfo@yorku.ca.   

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Advancing YU is a mentorship and scholarship program in 91亚色's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) that links Black and/or women third- and fourth-year students with experienced alumni mentors, and provides professional and personal development opportunities.

A critical component of the Advancing YU program is matching student mentees with alumni mentors who share identities and experiences, and who have faced similar barriers.

鈥淏y connecting them with alumni mentors who share aspects of their identities, and many of whom have navigated similar challenges, we provide contexts within which our participants can excel and where they receive supports to encourage success in their academic and professional pursuits,鈥� says Michele Johnson, interim dean of LA&PS.

Advancing YU consists of two streams 鈥� Advancing Black Students and Advancing Women 鈥� and offers a $1,000 scholarship upon completion of the program requirements. The program has benefited over 300 LA&PS students since 2020.

"Advancing YU has been a game changer for our Black and women students, offering targeted mentorship and resources that are meant to address some of their specific needs and aspirations,鈥� says Johnson.

Within the program, students are organized into 鈥渜uartets鈥� consisting of one mentor and three students. They are required to invest 40 hours total (10 hours per month) into meeting with their mentor, joining workshops and personal reflection.

The program has engaged over 70 mentors in the past three years and continues to provide accomplished Black and/or women mentors a platform to give back to the 91亚色 U community.

Alumni mentor Anika Holder, vice-president of human resources at Penguin Random House Canada, had this to say about the program: 鈥淥ne of the reasons I wanted to participate in the Advancing YU program is because, at this point in my career, I felt it was time to reach back and lift up. It鈥檚 helpful [for students] to have a real-life example who can offer their thoughts and help them to uncover and shape their vision.鈥�

Lynette Furtado, a past participant in Advancing YU who now works as a policy consultant and mental health advocate, calls the program transformative in helping her navigate post-graduation life.

鈥淸It was] vital in allowing me to network and develop strong connections, while providing resources tailored to my needs,鈥� Furtado says. 鈥淢y mentor guided me in the complexities of the legal field and helped me explore paths available to me.鈥�

Keisha Porter, a recent mentee in the Advancing Black Students stream, echoes that being accepted into the program was life changing, both professionally and personally.

鈥淎side from building great contacts and networks, this program has taught me how to show up and advocate for myself in a variety of situations and environments. As a result, I am empowered and prepared to face both future obstacles and victories.鈥�

鈥淭his program exemplifies our commitment to supporting diverse groups within our community and creating pathways for the advancement of Black and women scholars,鈥� says Johnson.

Advancing YU student applications are open now until Oct. 4. Students must be in their third or fourth year of study in an LA&PS program, with聽a minimum of 54 credits completed. To learn more and apply for the 2024-25 Advancing YU program, students can visit the Student Information page.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to share Advancing YU program information and the application deadline with students.

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91亚色 Professor Nadia Hasan, in collaboration with the National Council of Canadian Muslims, has published a new study called 鈥溾�� that examines how legislation passed in Quebec has negatively impacted the lives and careers of Muslim women.

Bill 21, a legislation enacted in 2019, prohibits Quebec public servants 鈥� teachers, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and others 鈥� from wearing religious symbols like the hijab, turban or kippah while at work.

Given the implications of the bill, Hasan, who joined 91亚色 U's School of Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies last year, sought to better understand the impact the bill has had on the lives of Muslims and other religious minorities in Quebec since its inception.

After conducting in-depth interviews with 10 Muslim women, surveying 411 Quebec Muslim women and 750 other individuals in the general Quebec population, and drawing on information from Canadian market research company Abacus Data, a clear conclusion 鈥� shared in the published study 鈥� emerged: 鈥淏ill 21 systematically corners Muslim women into vulnerable positions as second-class citizens,鈥� says Hasan. "This study is one of the largest of its kind and it contributes to a mounting body of evidence that illustrates the clearly damaging and harmful impacts of Bill 21.鈥�

Per the findings in the report, Muslim women are experiencing heightened levels of stress and discriminatory treatment from colleagues due to the legislation, in ways that leave many facing a difficult decision between their religious beliefs and their professional careers.

鈥淭his important study provides compelling evidence for the real and negative impact of Law 21 on Muslim women living in Quebec, especially regarding access to the job market and career advancement opportunities, mental health, rise in verbal and physical aggressions, and gender equality,鈥� says Professor Amelie Barras from the Department of Social Science, who was an external advisory committee member on the study.

鈥淲hen you take away people鈥檚 rights, when you legislate and legitimize discrimination against them, it is not surprising to find that their lives have deteriorated in multiple ways,鈥� says Hasan 

The negative impact of the bill isn鈥檛 limited to individuals, either, the study finds. As many Muslim women are contemplating relocating from the province to seek better opportunities elsewhere, this potential exodus could result in billions of dollars of income loss for Quebec.

鈥淭he study shows that these negative consequences are far from being limited to women working in public services affected by the law, but extend to Quebec society at large, affecting both public and private sectors,鈥� says Barras.

The study ends with 11 recommendations to help mitigate the impact of Bill 21, but for Hasan, the hope is the report will help advance what she believes is the most important outcome. 鈥淭he only real solution is to repeal it,鈥� she says.

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For centuries, the Indian Ocean has been a vital maritime highway, facilitating the movement of people, goods and ideas across a vast region stretching from East Africa to Southeast Asia. Yet the artistic legacies born from these cross-cultural exchanges remain relatively understudied compared to other parts of the world. Zulfikar Hirji, a professor of anthropology at 91亚色, is on a mission to change that.

This past April and May, Hirji co-organized the pioneering Arts of the Indian Ocean conference, which brought together 75 scholars, artists and curators from diverse backgrounds to explore the region鈥檚 rich artistic heritage across mediums, geographies and eras.

鈥淭he Indian Ocean constitutes one of the world鈥檚 most historic hubs of maritime trade and artistic exchange, but it remains one of the most understudied areas in terms of the arts,鈥� says Hirji. 鈥淪cholars and artists working in and on the region provide vital insights into how it has been continually shaped by aesthetic and material exchanges.鈥�

The conference鈥檚 wide-ranging program reflected the Indian Ocean region鈥檚 incredible cultural diversity. Presentations spanned topics such as Indonesian textiles, Japanese majolica tiles influenced by the Indian independence movement and the monumental Arabic inscriptions of royal palaces in East Africa.

鈥淲e had papers covering everything from ceramics to digital arts, from prehistory up to the contemporary period, from East Africa all the way to Japan,鈥� Hirji says. 鈥淚t really gave a sense of the vibrancy and depth of artistic production across the region over centuries.鈥�

Notably, the conference prioritized including voices and perspectives from the Global South, breaking from the tradition of knowledge about the region being produced primarily from a northern viewpoint. Participants hailed from countries including India, Singapore, Mauritius and Mozambique.

鈥淚t was unprecedented in terms of the partnerships we built across Toronto to fund and host this event,鈥� notes Hirji, citing collaborators such as the University of Toronto, the Aga Khan Museum and the Royal Ontario Museum. 鈥淗aving that diversity of perspectives was crucial.鈥�

A key theme was the threat climate change poses to the Indian Ocean鈥檚 cultural heritage and coastal communities. Several artists raised concerns about rising seas, erosion and flooding putting historic sites and traditions at risk of being lost forever without documentation and conservation efforts.

鈥淭hese are issues that artists in the region are really grappling with,鈥� Hirji says. 鈥淭heir work sounds an alarm about the need to address these environmental impacts before it鈥檚 too late.鈥�

Looking ahead, Hirji hopes to establish the conference as a biennial event and publish an edited volume of selected papers to further scholarly engagement with Indian Ocean arts. But most of all, he wants to inspire more research and creative work illuminating the region鈥檚 incredible cultural riches.

鈥淭he Indian Ocean world has been a crucible of creativity for millennia,鈥� Hirji says. 鈥淏y bringing greater attention to its artistic legacies, we can better understand the diverse societies that have shaped human history across this vast maritime region.鈥�

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