The Office of Research and Innovation Services has recognized six students from various disciplines who are making the campus community more welcoming by working to develop more equitable and inclusive research.

The Student Leadership Awards for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion carry with them a $500 prize.

Renee Taylor, a graduate student in psychology, was nominated by professor Ben H.C. Kuo for her work on Black experiences in education and mental health services in Canada, as well as for her on- and off-campus contributions to supporting a more equitable community, such as participating as a panellist in a roundtable co-hosted by the federal Anti-Racism Secretariat and serving as a student representation on the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Staecey Ngabire and Larissa Dushime were nominated by professor Rajesh Seth in recognition of their work on improving the student experience of Black and marginalized students in the Faculty of Engineering and in reaching out to them to encourage interest in STEM careers. Ngabire is a master’s candidate pursuing a career in civil engineering because of her love for learning and passion for innovation. Dushime, a third-year civil engineering major, says she chose to studies in engineering to help develop a safer and more sustainable future. Both are volunteers with the WINONE Engineering office and Students Offering Support. They are working together on a project funded by the UWindsor Anti-Black Racism Student Leadership Experience Grant, which aims to promote the recruitment and retention of Black and marginalized students in UWindsor and the Faculty of Engineering. The team also hopes to gather and learn from current and past students to help bring positive change in the student experience.

Understanding the impacts of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination in the workplace is the focus for Arief Kartolo, a doctoral candidate in psychology, nominated by professor Catherine Kwantes. His research revolves around the “dark side” of diversity and inclusion, where he looks at the impact of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination in the workplace. His dissertation project looks at the impact of intersectional stereotypes on leadership expectations and evaluations. Kartolo has also been involved in research advocating for Indigenous communities and for educational developers in their efforts to Indigenize the post-secondary curriculum. He is currently a research associate at the Diversity Institute, providing consultation services to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion for private, non-profit, and government organizations across Canada.

In a society that privileges norms and is hostile to deviations from stereotypical expressions of femininity and masculinity, psychology student Janet MacIsaac is challenging old ideas and exploring the intersection of being trans/femme and experiences of joy and gender euphoria through her doctoral research. MacIsaac was nominated by professor Charlene Senn, who noted the impact of her community involvement as chair of the board of WE-Trans (now Trans Wellness Ontario), where she has previously done practicum work. MacIsaac is a white, queer/lesbian, femme, non-binary woman who is leading the way in her department on ensuring LGBTQ+ inclusiveness.

Natalie Hazineh, a recent graduate of the Faculty of Science, was nominated by Adriana Grande of the WE-Spark Health Institute for her exciting work with the organization, where she developed a medical intake form that is inclusive to the LGBTQIA+ community when collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data. She also developed her research into a position paper that focuses on the importance of addressing these issues in health services and research, using the medical intake form as an example of how the system can be improved. Hazineh is also a founding member of WE-Spark’s 2SLGBTQIA+ Health & Wellness Working Group, whose goal is to bring together a diverse group of clinicians, researchers, and community members to advance research, education, and outreach. She looks forward to beginning graduate certificate program in September 2022 in clinical trials research, where she will work towards advancing research and the standard of care for LGBTQIA+ individuals and make health research more inclusive, equitable, and diverse for all Canadians.