Dr. Ciann Wilson, an Assistant Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, has won the 2020 Equity and Social Justice Committee Award of Distinction, presented by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). The award, sponsored by OCUFA’s Equity and Social Justice Committee, recognizes faculty whose work has improved the lives and working conditions of academics who are Indigenous, women, racialized, LGBTQ2S+, living with disabilities and/or belong to other historically marginalized groups.
“Ciann has dedicated herself to social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout her academic life,” said Kathryn Trevenen, Chair of OCUFA’s Equity and Social Justice Committee. “She has a vision for community transformation and racial justice that informs her teaching, research, and mentorship that motivates everyone around her to increase their own efforts towards racial and social justice.”
Ciann’s contributions to Wilfrid Laurier University and the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association are laudable. She has revised curriculum development with the aim of attracting and supporting racialized students and, through the university’s Diversity and Equity Strategic Planning process, she has held the administration accountable for creating a safe and welcoming space in which faculty and staff can teach and work. Ciann is also engaged and active in the broader community, consistently using her position to support and magnify BIPOC voices.
“OCUFA is committed to advancing and protecting the personal, professional, and academic interests of members of the academy who identify as Indigenous, women, racialized, LGBTQ2S+, living with disabilities and/or belonging to other historically marginalized groups,” said Rahul Sapra, President of OCUFA. “That is why we are so thankful for Ciann Wilson’s dedication to this work, and so proud to present her with this honour for her exceptional commitment and contributions to the struggle for equity.”
Wilson will receive her award at a virtual ceremony hosted by OCUFA in Toronto on February 20, 2021.
Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 professors and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.
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