TORONTO, February 6, 2020 – Andrea O’Reilly, a professor at York University, has won a 2019 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.
“Andrea has distinguished herself as a leading academic in her field and as a scholar and activist committed to advancing women’s rights locally, nationally, and globally,” said Kathryn Trevenen, Vice-Chair of OCUFA’s Equity and Social Justice Committee. “Her leadership is transforming the lives of mothers in Canada and around the world.”
As a professor in the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at York University, Andrea developed the first course on motherhood in North America, catalyzing a wide body of literature on motherhood studies and maternal theory, and founded the term matricentric feminism. Further, through the International Motherhood Movement Network, of which she is the Founder and Director, Andrea has established a global network of researchers and activists from more than 400 universities and over 100 motherhood organizations vested in feminist perspectives on maternal well-being.
“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 Andrea’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.”
Professor O’Reilly will receive her award at a ceremony hosted by OCUFA in Toronto on February 8, 2020.
Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 faculty and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario.
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