The Ontario Confederation is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the Henry Mandelbaum Fellowship: Angela Underhill, from the University of Guelph, and Abena Kwatemaa Offeh-Gyimah from McMaster University.
“The Mandelbaum Fellowship recognizes graduate students who combine exceptional scholarship with deep engagement in their communities,” said Constance Adamson, Chair of the selection committee. “Despite receiving many excellent applications, the committee was unanimous in selecting Abena and Angela as the recipients of the 2015 Fellowship.”
At the Master’s level, Angela Underhill was recognized for her innovative work on the impact of sexually transmitted infections on intimate relationships. Angela, a student in Guelph’s Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, brings sensitivity and a strong commitment to social justice to her work.
At the Doctoral level, Abena Kwatemaa Offeh-Gyimah’s work looks at how the provision of social services in Toronto perpetuates systemic racism. A PhD candidate in McMaster’s Department of Social Science, she is being honoured not only for he excellent research, but her remarkable record of volunteer work and community activism.
The Mandelbaum Fellowship was establish to honor Henry Mandelbaum, Executive Director of OCUFA from 1996-2011. The Fellowship is awarded to a graduate student “who has demonstrated academic excellence, shows exceptional academic promise, and has provided significant community service in his or her university career.” For more information, please visit https://ocufa.on.ca/ocufa-awards/
“Henry’s commitment to building up individuals and communities through higher education was remarkable,” said Kate Lawson, President of OCUFA. “Henry sadly passed away in 2012, but we are honoured to continue his work through the Mandelbaum Fellowship.”