Community members recognized as champions of EDI
The annual Alan Shepard EDI Awards recognize those who are eliminating barriers to make our community a better place for all. Pictured above are three university employees who received the award this year: Julian Hasford, Krishan Mehta and Michael Mihalicz.
Students, faculty and staff across the university are becoming the change they wish to see by working to eliminate barriers and building a more inclusive campus. The Alan Shepard EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion) Awards held on April 6 celebrated community members for their commitment to making the university more equitable and diverse.
Part of the university’s Employee Awards program, the award ceremony was hosted by the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI). The annual awards are named after Alan Shepard, the university’s provost and vice-president, academic from 2007 to 2012 who championed equity, diversity and inclusion during his tenure.
“This award recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals and groups that advance EDI through their work and volunteer contributions in the university community,” said Anver Saloojee, interim vice-president, equity and community inclusion. “The award recipients provide services, events and programs to diverse populations, foster an inclusive environment in or outside of the classroom, and put into action the university’s values of equity, diversity and inclusion.”
The awards started with a traditional ceremony by Joanne Dallaire, the university’s Elder (Ke Shay Hayo) and senior advisor, Indigenous relations and reconciliation. With opening remarks from President Mohamed Lachemi, the event also featured a live spoken word performance by Paulina O’Kieffe-Anthony, an award-winning Toronto artist, arts educator and community advocate who wrote the poem specially for the occasion.
Meet the recipients of the faculty, senior leader and staff awards who are bringing people together for an inclusive future. Five students along with the Society for Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities were also recognized this year for their contributions to the community.
For more information about the annual awards and the full list of recipients, visit the Alan Shepard Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Awards website.
Julian Hasford, faculty award recipient
Julian Hasford is a professor in the Faculty of Community Services.
Julian Hasford champions and promotes the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of his professional life. His work to address equity issues have had a significant impact both within and outside the university community.
Hasford addresses structural barriers that inhibit equitable participation at the university, creates EDI-specific curriculum through the introduction of targeted pedagogical strategies, and provides innovative opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds and their communities to become change makers.
“I take seriously the privilege of a scholarly life that affords us the freedom to not only investigate and generate knowledge, but to be creative in how we transform our communities, create spaces that can promote thriving and the liberation of all peoples - enabling them to live and experience the fullness of their humanity in a way that is joyous and generative,” Hasford said at the awards ceremony.
Krishan Mehta, senior leader award recipient
Krishan Mehta is the assistant vice-president, engagement in the University Advancement office.
As a senior leader at the university, Krishan Mehta is committed to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusivity and accessibility for all. He also works on the anti-Black racism committee where he prioritizes identifying and addressing the systemic barriers in university life.
“Equity, reconciliation, inclusion and justice course through everything we do here at the university. But what makes this place really special are the ways in which we’re able to connect and collaborate on moving these agendas forward and seeing them come off the page,” Mehta said.
Mehta led the development of the webinar series, Generous Futures: Power and Politics in Charitable Giving, that helped put the university at the national forefront in advancing important conversations about equity, diversity and inclusion.
“Krishan has made the pursuit of equity, diversity and inclusion the cornerstone of his professional and personal life,” said Rivi Frankle, assistant vice-president of university advancement who supported Mehta’s nomination. “As the leader of engagement at the university, he challenged his team to make their events more intentionally inclusive, to consider who was being inadvertently excluded from their offerings and look for ways to remove barriers.”
Michael Mihalicz, staff award recipient
Michael Mihalicz is a professor of entrepreneurship and strategy at the Ted Rogers School of Management, and Indigenous Advisor in the dean’s office.
Michael Mihalicz has helped guide, shape and transform the business reconciliation process at the university. Over the last two years, Mihalicz brought the TRSM community into a collective circle of commitment to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #92, weaving EDI and Indigenization into the fabric of TRSM.
“Michael’s work is transformative not just because it connects us with others, but because it also deeply connects us to ourselves and our responsibilities,” said Sana Mulji Dutt, senior advisor, external stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships at TRSM, who supported Mihalicz’s nomination.
“It is an honour and a privilege to be a part of our path towards truth and reconciliation as we continue to make education inclusive and accessible,” Mihalicz said. In his role, he has championed an Indigenous healing garden and art installation, established pathways for access to business education, and developed an inclusive curriculum and cultural awareness programming.
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