Awards Archives - LA&PS Newsroom

School of Human Resource Management student Narmada Murugarajan wins Robert J. Tiffin Student Leadership Award

efulton — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:23:17 +0000

Eleven 91��ɫ students recently received the Robert J. Tiffin Student Leadership Award. The award recognizes students whose leadership has contributed to the growth, development and vitality of 91��ɫ. Winners are nominated by members of the university community.

Narmada Murugarajan, who is completing her Bachelor of Human Resource Management, was one of the students to receive an award. Murugarajan has demonstrated an impressive level of commitment to leadership during her time at 91��ɫ. She has held several leadership roles including orientation captain, vice-president of events for the Human Resources Students Association and student senator and president’s ambassador at 91��ɫ.��

Read the full story in YFile.

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Generous donation to LA&PS creates Barrantes Prizes in Philosophy

Sanja Begic — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 15:11:09 +0000

91��ɫ’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) has received a generous donation of $100,000 over five years from��Benn Barrantes, a distinguished graduate of the Faculty’s undergraduate program in philosophy, which will establish the Barrantes Prizes in Philosophy, aimed at recognizing exceptional student essays that explore the intersection of philosophical thinking and social impact across a diverse range of topics.

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Five 91��ɫ U professors awarded federal grant to support Black, Indigenous, Latinx grad students

Sanja Begic — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 15:31:53 +0000

Tameka Samuels-Jones, an assistant professor in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, alongside four of her colleagues, has been named one of this year’s recipients of the Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity, a prestigious $100,000 grant from the Government of Canada and its Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat.

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LA&PS Researcher receives new CFI funding for cutting-edge project

Sanja Begic — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 19:30:43 +0000

LA&PS researcher Arik Senderovich has received new infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for his project on Data Analytics in Services.

The 91��ɫ researchers received a combined total of $745,204 from CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), which supports institutions in attracting top talent and acquiring the state-of-the-art tools and equipment necessary to enable their innovative work.

“We are grateful for CFI’s investment in our researchers, who continuously push the boundaries of art, science and technology,” said Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. “The John R. Evans Leaders Fund supports 91��ɫ’s commitment to research excellence in all its forms, including the diversity of these projects that range from developing new techniques in genetic engineering and biomolecular spectroscopy to advancing mental health studies to using [extended reality] technologies to promote greater inclusivity in the arts.”

Arik Senderovich, School of Information Technology, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

Project: Data Analytics in Services
Amount: $76,520

CFI funding will help Senderovich establish the Data Analytics in Services (DAISE) Lab, which will focus on developing data analytics technologies to improve service systems by making them more accessible, efficient and of higher quality. A multidisciplinary team of researchers will lead efforts in areas such as responsible data science, process mining, operations management in services, as well as AI and machine learning. The lab aims to advance research from early stages to fully implementable software solutions, utilizing advanced computational power and secure storage capabilities to address real-world challenges in service systems

Originally published in YFile.

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LA&PS Faculty Member's Book Finalist for the Toronto Book Awards and the Heritage Toronto Awards

Sanja Begic — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 19:56:51 +0000

Paul McLaughlin’s acclaimed novel, The Suicide Magnet: Inside the Battle to Erect a Safety Barrier on Toronto’s Bloor Viaduct, is one of five books shortlisted for the 2024 Toronto Book Awards, in addition to being one of fifteen 2024 Book Award nominees for the Heritage Toronto Awards.

The book recounts the story of how a group of volunteers led by two citizens – Al Birney and Michael McCamus – underwent a six-year journey to advocate to help those with mental health challenges, and push Toronto’s City Hall to fund and construct a suicide barrier on the bridge.

A course director in the Writing Department, McLaughlin is an award-winning author of several books, numerous magazine articles and several plays.

Established by Toronto City Council in 1974, the Toronto Book Awards honour works of literary merit that are inspired by the city and its residents.��The five finalists shortlisted for this year’s awards��showcase��the breadth of creativity and diversity within Toronto’s literary community.��The Heritage Toronto Book Award recognizes written works that explore all aspects of heritage in Toronto.

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2024 91��ɫ Research Awards Celebration

Sanja Begic — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 18:45:43 +0000

Each year, the 91��ɫ Research Award Celebration celebrates 91��ɫ’s scholars across all faculties and schools for their remarkable achievements. The President and Vice-President Research and Innovation take the opportunity to recognize their efforts and contributions to the world as drivers of positive change.

This year LA&PS researchers in diverse areas are praised for their mobilization efforts to create change in their communities and beyond.

Royal Society of Canada

The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) recognizes leading intellectuals, scholars, researchers and artists to help them build a better future in Canada and around the world. Fellows have made remarkable contributions in the arts, the humanities and the sciences, as well as in Canadian public life. The College of the New Scholars, Scientists and Artists recognizes emerging research excellence. The RSC also recognizes outstanding achievement through awards and medals. The RSC also recognizes outstanding achievement through awards and medals. This year, 91��ɫ added two new Fellows from LA&PS.

Joshua Fogel

Professor in the Department of History, Fogel was elected as a Fellow to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) for remarkable contributions in the field of Asian studies. Fogel’s research focuses on the cultural, political and economic interactions between China and Japan, the importance of Japan in China’s modern development and the changing attitudes both countries have towards one another from the 14th to 19th centuries.

Sara Horowitz

Professor in the Department of Humanities and Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, Horowitz was elected as a Fellow to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) for remarkable contributions in Jewish studies. Horowitz’s research and published works focus on Holocaust literature, women survivors, Jewish American fiction and Israeli cinema.

Canada Research Chairs

This prestigious national program aims to attract and retain some of the world’s most promising minds from all disciplines to institutions across Canada. This year, 91��ɫ has welcomed one renewed Canada Research Chairs from LA&PS for a total number of 35 chairholders.

Ethel Tungohan

Associate Professor in the Department of Politics, Tungohan's renewed appointment as a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Canadian Migration Policy, Impacts and Activism, recognizes her emerging international leadership in the field.

91��ɫ Research Chairs

The YRC program recognizes the University’s outstanding researchers and is the internal counterpart to the Canada Research Chairs program. These five-year awards provide resources to accelerate and facilitate the Chairholder’s international research profile. They are awarded for established research leaders (Tier 1) and emerging research leaders (Tier 2). This award recognizes the 5 new YRCs from LA&PS appointed in 2022.

Jacob Beck

Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy, Beck was named a Tier 2 91��ɫ Research Chair in the Philosophy of Visual Perception, reflecting emerging international leadership in the field.

Denielle Elliott

Associate��Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Department of Social Science, Elliott was named a Tier 2 91��ɫ Research Chair in Injured Minds, reflecting emerging international leadership in the field.

Andrea Emberly

Associate��Professor in the Department of Humanities, Emberly was named a Tier 2 91��ɫ Research Chair in Children’s Musical Cultures, reflecting emerging international leadership in the field.

Jimmy Huang

Professor in the School of Information Technology, Huang was named a Tier 1 91��ɫ Research Chair Big Data Analytics, reflecting internationally-recognized leadership in the field.

Cary Wu

Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, Wu was named a Tier 2 91��ɫ Research Chair in Political Sociology of Health reflecting emerging international leadership in the field.

Exceptional Book Prizes

This category recognizes 91��ɫ scholars who have produced outstanding publications lauded by their peers.

Alison Halsall

Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities, Halsall was recognized for winning the comic industry’s most distinguished Eisner Award for Best Academic/Scholarly Work, titled “The LGBTQ+ Comics Studies Reader: Critical Openings, Future Directions”.

Christina Sharpe

Professor in the Department of Humanities, Sharpe was recognized for winning the 2023 Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, which recognizes the very best in Canadian writing, for the book “Ordinary Notes”.

Jonathan Warren

Associate Professor in the Department of English, Warren was recognized for winning the comic industry’s most distinguished 2023 Eisner Award for Best Academic/Scholarly Work, titled “The LGBTQ+ Comics Studies Reader: Critical Openings, Future Directions”.

Outstanding Knowledge Mobilization & Impact

This category recognizes 91��ɫ Researchers who have demonstrated outstanding knowledge mobilization and impact through important connections outside of academia to disseminate and translate research results to the benefit of society.��

Kristen Andrews

Professor in the Department of Philosophy, Andrews was recognized for being named a Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) Future Flourishing Program.

Prestigious Fellowships, Honours & Awards

This category reflects 91��ɫ scholars whose leadership in the field is reflected by election to academic societies in their field and awards from these bodies.

Tesh Dagne

Associate Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration, Dagne was recognized for being named as an Ontario Research Chair in Governing Artificial Intelligence.

Andrea Davis

Professor in the Department of Humanities, Davis was recognized for being given an honorary doctor of laws degree in recognition of pioneering work bringing Black studies programming to Canadian academia and research leadership in organizing Congress 2023.

Robert Gehl

Associate Professor in the Department of Communication & Media Studies, Gehl was recognized for being named an Ontario Research Chair in Digital Governance for Social Justice.

Wenona Giles

Professor Emerita in the Department of Anthropology, Giles was recognized for being appointed as an Officer to the Order of Canada for significant contributions to refugee and migration studies and efforts to increase access to higher education among those living in refugee camps.

Leah Vosko

Professor in the Department of Politics, Vosko was recognized for winning the Canadian Industrial Relations Association Gérard Dion Award in recognition of extensive contributions to research, teaching and service to the field of Industrial Relations.

Major Grants

This category recognizes researchers who are leading major research initiatives that can advance our understanding of the world and address societal challenges. These researchers have brought in large-scale funding and secured awards in highly competitive programs.

Richard Saunders

Associate Professor in the Department of Politics, Saunders was recognized for receiving a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Partnership Grant to explore “African Extractivism and the Greener Transition.”

Leah Vosko

Professor in the Department of Politics, Vosko was recognized for receiving a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Partnership Grant for examining “Liberating Migrant Labour?: International Mobility Programs in Settler-Colonial Contexts.”

Notable Early Career Awards

Cary Wu

Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, Wu was recognized for winning the Early Investigator Award from the Canadian Sociological Association in recognition of for scholarly work and significant research contributions to the field of Canadian Sociology.

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Call for nominations: Ian Greene Award for Teaching Excellence

Sanja Begic — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 16:07:00 +0000

The Ian Greene Award for Teaching Excellence is an annual, merit-based award given to one professor and one teaching assistant (TA) in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and supporting their students.

The award was created by former students of Professor Emeritus Ian Greene – from 91��ɫ’s School of Public Policy & Administration – in recognition of his outstanding drive and efforts to make learning a unique experience. The award is overseen and presented by the Student Council of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (SCOLAPS).

Award nominations are open to LA&PS students only, ensuring that truly outstanding professors and TAs receive the recognition they deserve. Each student is eligible to nominate one professor and one TA of their choice. Nominees do not need to have taught the students this academic year, but they must be current, practising members of the University’s academic staff.

Recipients are selected by a five-person adjudication committee made up entirely of students. The committee is formed by the award director, a student position elected within the SCOLAPS executive.

To submit a nomination, students can fill out either the or the .

For more information, email Hale Mahon at hmahon@my.yorku.ca

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Students continue Japanese speech contest winning streak

Sanja Begic — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:03:00 +0000

91��ɫ students from the in the Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics (DLLL) built on recent success by winning top prizes at the 35th (NJSC).

In March, four undergraduate students from the program at the annual Ontario Japanese Speech Contest. Among them were Hei Tung Chloe Shek, who received the grand prize, and Wonkyung Lee, who was awarded first place in the Open category.

NJSC contestants who are first-prize winners in each category of the year’s respective provincial Japanese speech contests are invited to travel across the country to compete together in a national competition.

Shek and Lee participated in this year’s contest on March 24 at the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa, where the current Japanese ambassador to Canada and a former Canadian ambassador to Japan were among the five judges of the competition.

Shek, a linguistics student, won first place in the Advanced category for her speech “Views and allies of ‘young carers,’” which described her personal experience as a young caregiver to her disabled father and emphasized the importance of positive thinking.

She also was the recipient of a brand-new prize called the Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Award, which includes a return ticket to Japan and an official invitation to visit the main branch office of the Mitsui trading company in Tokyo this summer.

Lee, a financial and business economics student, won second place in the Open category for her speech titled “Liquor or Coffee,” in which she used the metaphor of sake and coffee to view people’s lives from unique perspectives.

Shek receiving the Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Award

DLLL associate professors Noriko Yabuki-Soh and Norio Ota coached the students leading up to the national contest. Yabuki-Soh also served on the 2024 NJSC’s organizing committee. “The level of the national Japanese speech contest is extremely high, and this year’s competition was no exception,” Yabuki-Soh said. “We are so proud of Chloe and Wonkyung.”

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Department of English gives out writing awards

Sanja Begic — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 16:02:00 +0000

91��ɫ’s Department of English presents its annual English Awards, which recognize outstanding essays written by students in undergraduate courses across all levels.

Each year the department offers several prizes and scholarships for students in English and creative writing, many honouring former faculty members. Several of the prizes are supported by generous donations from former faculty, alumni and affiliated community members.

As is often the case, several winners produced work that reflected students’, and the University’s, ongoing efforts to pursue progressive new ways of thinking about culture and the world.

For example, student Chance Garratt-Dahan won the Best 1000-level Essay Prize for her essay titled “Story-Telling and the Preservation of Law & Justice.” The Avie Bennet Prize in Canadian Literature went to Rosina Nicolazzo for “Julius Caesar and The Death of a Chief: The Deconstruction of Colonial Knowledge and Reclamation of Indigeneity Through Theatre.”

Other students recognized for their work were:

Best 2000-Level Essay Prize 2022-23
Winner: Charlie Lee for “The Construct of Freedom: Comparing Baldwin and Jacobs.”
Honourable Mention: Sydney Nattoo for “The Tendrils and The Spaces Between: Metafiction in Cat’s Cradle.”

Best 3000-Level Essay Prize 2022-23
Winner: Emily Schuster-Woldan for “Reading a Film: Character Interiority in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club (1989) and its Film Adaptation (1993).”

2024 English Awards Recipients

Best 4000-level Essay Prize 2022-23
Winner: Trevor Froates for “The Swan’s Nest: Shakespeare and the birds of Cymbeline.”
Honourable Mention: Lubna Salama for “On Culinary Poisoning as One of the Fine Arts: Female Poisoners Edition.”

Brian Hepworth Memorial Scholarship 2022-23
Winner: Amor Lomibao for “Racialized Liminality as Suffering in William Blake’s ‘The Little Black Boy’ and Wilkie Collins’s The Moonstone.”
Honourable Mention: Joseph Sereney for “Tyranny and the Power of the Female Voice in Pericles, The Two Noble Kinsmen, and The Winter’s Tale.”

Department of English Retirees’ Scholarship 2022-23
Co-winners: Suzanne Gregory and Javeria Rana.

Elizabeth Sabiston Prize 2022-23
Co-winner: Katura Gibb for “A Becoming Silence” and Robert MacIsaac for “Burning the Rule Book: Portrayals of Love in The Lais of Marie de France.”

H.K. Girling Literature Prize 2022-23
Winner: Cody Poisson for “A Great Deal Too Light.”

June McMaster-Harrison Memorial Scholarship 2022-23
Winner: Emma Verrilli for “Authenticity as Personal Legacy: Explorating my Family’s Italian-Canadian Immigrant Experience through Community Cookbook Writing.”
Honourable Mention: Lubna Salama for “On Culinary Poisoning as One of the Fine Arts: Female Poisoners Edition.”

Lucille Herbert Memorial Scholarship 2022-23
Winner: Cody Poisson.

Matthew Ahern Memorial Prize 2022-23
Winner: Jean-Louis Voyer.

Stephanie Stavro Scholarship in English 2022-23
Winner: John Batista.

Teaching Assistants’ Award for Excellence 2022-23
Winner: Madelaine McLaughlin.

Winning essays are preserved in the University’s open-access repository, 91��ɫSpace. They can be found in the .

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LA&PS community members invested into Order of Canada

Sanja Begic — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 19:44:31 +0000

Two individuals with connections to the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies are among the 78 new appointments to the Order of Canada, announced in December 2023 by the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.

The LA&PS-affiliated and newly appointed individuals include one officer (O.C.) and one member (C.M.) joining the Order of Canada, one of the highest civilian honours in the country. Appointments recognize people whose services, compassion and innovations have shaped society and communities throughout Canada.

Officer

Wenona Giles, professor emerita, donor
Giles, professor emerita in the Department of Anthropology, who is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and 2023 91��ɫ Research Leader Award recipient, was appointed for her significant contributions to refugee and migration studies, and for her efforts to increase access to higher education among those living in refugee camps.

Member

Zainub Verjee, alumna, affiliated Fellow
Verjee, executive director of the Ontario Association of Art Galleries, was appointed for advancing representation and equitable policy legislation within Canada’s arts and culture sectors as a leading artist, administrator and critic. Verjee is a former graduate student of 91��ɫ’s interdisciplinary studies program, as well as a McLaughlin College Fellow at the University.

Learn more about the .

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