Alan Shepard Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Employee Award Recipients
The Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI) provides the strategic leadership, advocacy, education and coordination needed to address equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the entire TMU community and to foster an inclusive, welcoming environment for students, faculty and staff. Alan Shepard was provost and vice-president, academic of TMU from 2007 until 2012, and a champion for equity, diversity and inclusion. OVPECI is proud to sponsor the Alan Shepard Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Employee Award, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals or teams/committees who advance EDI through their work and/or their volunteer contributions within the TMU community.
Recipients may be awarded in any of the following categories:
- Staff member
- Faculty member
- Senior leader
- Lifetime achievement
- Team/Committee
Individual recipients receive a certificate and a one-time monetary award of $3,000 (subject to applicable deductions).
Team recipients (a group of two to ten individuals) receive individual certificates and a total one-time monetary award of $4,000 (subject to applicable deductions) to be shared equally among members.
Although this award recognizes staff and faculty, students or student groups who demonstrate excellence in the area of EDI are also eligible to receive an award. Student or student groups, please visit the AwardSpring page on the Office of the Registrar awards website and log in to find the Alan Shepard Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Student Award.
Key criteria: Equity, diversity and inclusion
2023 recipients
Susan Silver
Faculty of Community Services
Dr. Susan Silver has dedicated her 28-year career at TMU to advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring all have voice and opportunity. Her research, teaching, and service have been guided by social justice. Susan has established a legacy of hiring Social Work faculty with diverse and intersectional identities including race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. As Co-chair of the Employees with Disabilities Community Network and Co-chair of the Late Career Faculty Group, she continues to tirelessly promote accessibility, accommodation and inclusion. She truly deserves the Alan Shepard Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award for Faculty.
Yu-Ching (Jean) Tsai
Student Wellbeing
Jean has been a key leader in building out robust pathways of care for Black-identified and Indigenous students. She has been an instrumental stalwart in the collection of equity data to better understand the experiences and service needs of equity deserving student for the purpose of reducing service barriers and increasing their quality of care. She has led the CSDC through a transformative EDI change process which has included the creation of equity focused counselling positions, an innovative partnership with Indigenous Student Services, and EDI changes to hiring processes. This has led to a more equitable CSDC for students/staff.
Anti-Asian Racism Awareness Team
Janet Lum, Josie Lee, Wincy Li, Yumi Numata, and Melissa Yu Vanti have worked tirelessly to lead in the fight against Anti-Asian racism, and in the celebration of Asian-Canadian identities, culture, and history at the University. They have been central in the creation of networks of support and affirmation within the TMU community, and they have striven to support inclusivity and understanding in highlighting historical context (both the good and the troubling) and for problematizing anti-Asian racism sentiments to the wider University and even local community. Their efforts truly embody TMU's values of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Gabriel Ciufo, Office of the President
- Josel Angelica Gerardo, Faculty of Arts
- Josie Lee, Office of the General Counsel and Board Secretariat
- Wincy Li, Studdent Affairs
- Janet Lum, Faculty of Arts
- Yumi Numata, Faculty of Arts
- Melissa Yu Vanti, Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion
The Tri-Mentoring Program Team
Founded in 2001 as one of the first resources for equity-deserving students, the Tri-Mentoring Program promotes retention of racialized students as they navigate various systems at the university. The mission and priority is to mentor students through their individual experience to find a sense of belonging on campus. Over the last 21 years, the TMP has evolved from Peer to Peer Mentoring, adding Career Mentoring and Group Mentoring as opportunities for students to succeed. In its history, 30,000+ students have benefited from this program.
- Rena Jennifer Barcelona, Studdent Affairs
- Shailee Koranne, Student Affairs
- Tashana Mcdonald, Student Affairs
- Eboni Morgan, Student Affairs
- Rudhra Persad, Student Affairs
- Samantha Tome, Student Affairs
Past recipients
- Julian Hasford
Faculty of Community Services - Krishan Mehta
University Advancement - Michael Mihalicz
Ted Rogers School of Management
- Riley Kucheran
Faculty of Communication and Design - Antoinette Mercurio
Office of the President, Central Communications - Inclusive Media and Design Centre
- Deborah Fels, Ted Rogers School of Management
- Margot Whitfiel, Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management
- Kimberlee Collins
Faculty of Community Services - Laurel Walzak
RTA School of Media, Faculty of Communication and Design - FCAD School Fashion Main Office
- Ben Barry, School of Fashion, Faculty of Communication and Design
- Audrey Colphon-Reynolds, School of Fashion, Faculty of Communication and Design
- Sadia Kamran, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Communication and Design
- Grahame Lynch, School of Fashion, Faculty of Communication and Design
- Cira Nickel, School of Fashion, Faculty of Communication and Design
- Jeanine Webster, School of Fashion, Faculty of Communication and Design
- Tracey King
Human Resources - Kathryn Underwood
Faculty of Community Services - Housing and Residence Life - All-Gender Housing Development Team
- Imogen Coe
Faculty of Science - Sricamalan Pathmanathan
Human Resources - Anver Saloojee
Ryerson International - Career Centre Team
- Positive Space Co-Chair Team
- Kerri Bailey
Facilities Management and Development - O'neil Edwards
Spanning the Gaps, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education - Myer Siemiatycki
Department of Politics and Public Administration, Faculty of Arts