But Samara herself is a Worimi/Biripi Indigenous woman from Awabakal Country in New South Wales. Her family and extended family are Indigenous. “I always struggled to reconcile this idea of the dying out of Indigenous people. I felt a disconnect between the things I was being taught in school, and the reality I knew,” she says.

Today, as a visiting doctoral student in the University of Manitoba’s sociology and criminology department, Samara identifies this experience as an example of educational genocide, a phrase she uses in her research to describe “the ways in which education systems are used to try to assimilate Indigenous people and destroy Indigenous knowledges and practices.”

Samara’s research has found that both Australia and Canada have histories of overt educational genocide. Parallel residential school systems in each country pursued policies of forcible assimilation intended to “kill the Indian in the child,” policies that systematically undermined Indigenous cultures by severing the ties through which Indigenous culture is taught and sustained. Survivors’ accounts describe routine physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse that caused profound intergenerational trauma.

Samara came to the University of Manitoba in 2023 to conduct doctoral research on current day educational law and policy in both countries to see how educational policy has evolved. Her research asks, “what is the constitutive role of education law and policy in genocide against Indigenous people, and does that assimilative impulse still exist in more covert ways?” She planned to visit for six months but ended up staying for two years – time that was necessary, she says, to build relationships to ensure the research took place in a non-extractive way.

At UM, Samara worked with genocide scholar Dr. Andrew Woolford, sociology and criminology department, and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to identify insights about the process of reconciliation and the historical treaty relationships between Indigenous people and the Government of Canada. She interviewed academics, teachers, First Nations educators and reconciliation professionals to collect qualitative data about the current state of education and found that the foundations of the Canadian education system are still very much rooted in western philosophies, values and knowledge systems.

Samara explains that western educational values typically emphasize individual achievement and economic productivity, while Indigenous education values “holistic spiritual and community wellbeing.” Because of this, she explains, “even though there’s a lot of effort to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into curriculum, it’s quite literally assimilated by western frameworks within the level of law and policy.”

While including Indigenous perspectives in standard curriculum is a positive step, Samara observes that material “is always being selected in ways that validate existing subject areas and systems. This risks doing a disservice to Indigenous knowledge because it’s being disembodied from its whole and being placed into western disciplinary frameworks.”

Instead, Samara suggests, educational reforms could “start from a foundation of Indigenous knowledge.” Instead of looking for Indigenous perspectives to include in the existing curriculum, she wonders “how can we develop a curriculum entirely from Indigenous knowledges? It would be a completely different starting point.”

Her research argues that exploring the fundamental assumptions of education systems and considering alternative models could open possibilities for an education system (in Canada, Australia and beyond) that is grounded in, and honours, Indigenous ways of knowing.

Samara has returned to Australia where she will continue her research as she teaches in the Faculty of Law and Justice at the University of New South Wales.

UM President Michael Benarroch, Juliette Mammel, Lori Wilkinson, Mario Pinto, Vice-President Research and International celebrate at the 2024 RSC Induction and Awards Ceremony on November 8, 2024

“The Royal Society of Canada is proud to welcome these inspiring scholars, artists and creators whose peers have recognized their exceptional contributions to the world of science and culture and to the well-being of Canada,” says Alain-G. Gagnon, President of the RSC. “The impact of their work will continue to be felt in the development of public policies for years to come, while contributing to the well-being of our society.”

Lori Wilkinson

Lori Wilkinson, distinguished professor, Sociology and Criminology, Faculty of Arts

Lori Wilkinson is the Canada Research Chair in Migration Futures and is internationally acclaimed for her research and advocacy for immigrant populations. She is director of Immigration Research West, a multidisciplinary group educating Canadians about the contributions of newcomers.

Her applied research in migration and refugee settlement has instigated policy changes in Canada that have facilitated the successful resettlement of refugees over the past twenty-five years. Wilkinson’s pioneering work on youth migration was a catalyst for policy reform that continues to impact how Canadian and international governments provide resettlement assistance.

Juliette Mammei

Juliette Mammei, associate professor, Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science

Juliette Mammei is an international leader in the field of subatomic particles. Her work expands our understanding of nuclear and nucleon structure and tests the Standard Model of Particles and Interactions, which summarizes current knowledge of the basic building blocks of matter.

She is dedicated to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in nuclear physics education in Canada. Her advocacy is helping to improve First Nations student outcomes in the sciences as part of the Verna J. Kirkness program, hosted Indigenous high school students in her lab every year since her faculty position began.

Melinda Moch and Mario Pinto

The Royal Society has also awarded Faculty of Law alumni Melinda Moch the 2024 Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize, which is presented annually to a graduating law student in each of the law schools in Canada. The award recognizes Moch for her positive influence on equity and social justice as a vocal advocate of Indigenous rights.

As a mentor with the Law Maker’s program graduate Moch helped to inspire greater understanding and interest of post-secondary students in the connections between social justice teachings and current events faced by Indigenous nations. Moch is motivated by the goal of imparting the knowledge of land rights teachings to show young people the many paths after high school that can make a difference in their communities.

The Class of 2024 RSC Fellows, College Members and Award winners will attend the Celebration of Excellence and Engagement in Vancouver, BC from November 7-9^th at the JW Marriot Park Hotel.

“These UM scholars have demonstrated leadership in the world of science and to the well-being of our society,” said Dr. Mario Pinto, UM Vice-President (Research and International). “I congratulate the honorees on this well-deserved recognition by their peers and the Royal Society for their advancing their respective fields in Canada and around the world.”

This spring, Karuhogo will graduate with a general degree majoring in psychology and Yasay will graduate with an honours degree in Criminology. Both have completed a minor in women’s and gender studies.

From creating community programming to advocacy initiatives to educational workshops, the graduates have felt the impact of their involvement on themselves and others. Two notable events these graduates had the opportunity to organize together focused on the inclusion and celebration of individuals and cultures. The 2023 Magnificent Women’s Awards Gala from the UMSU Women’s Centre was held in-person for the first time and celebrated hardworking and talented self-identifying women for their accomplishments at UM. The 2024 UMSU Cosmopolitan showcased the diverse cultures that make up the UM community through performances, artists, vendors and a fashion show. “I’ve learned so much about teamwork and organization,” said Yasay. “Student involvement has invigorated my passion for continuing to help others.”

With four of the past five UMSU Presidents being Faculty of Arts students and many more contributing in executive and student representative roles each year, we asked the grads why they think so many Arts students pursue involvement in student government. Karuhogo mentioned the influence of friendships “it is like a cycle that as long as new friends are made, those in existing roles convince others to join too.” Both mentioned the influence of their studies. “Arts students stem from many specialized majors, so they bring diverse perspectives and expertise making student governance even better,” said Karuhogo. Yasay added “Arts programs encourage students to think critically and to engage with various perspectives. Arts students bring creative problem-solving and a strong passion for advocacy which is essential to the challenges of service.”

As these accomplished women move to the next stage in their lives, what final words do they have to say about each other? “Even though some days were really long and hard, others were amazing and great. We always had each other as a support system,” said Karuhogo. “It is going to be weird to not see and work with Tracy every day. I will miss the unconditional support and encouragement we give each other,” said Yasay. She continued, “as a woman of colour, it’s important to surround yourself with empowering women, and Tracy is a force to be reckoned with.” We’d say that after all of their experiences and accomplishments during their undergraduate degrees, both women will be powerful forces wherever they may go.

The new fellows come from across UM, representing both the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Arts, and include a former Warden and Vice-Chancellor of SJC.

We caught up with them to see what joining the St John’s community means to them. 

Jenna Tichon: Faculty of Science, Department of Statistics

Dr. Jenna Tichon focuses her research on experimental design, where she looks to find optimal split-plot designs for industrial and agricultural experiments. Jenna uses programming and simulation to develop a deeper understanding of statistical concepts, data visualization, and creating accessible research.

Jenna shares her excitement about learning from other academics and making new connections.

“I’m most excited about meeting and working with new people, learning about their research, and contributing to making the University of Manitoba a more vibrant and friendly place to work and learn. Every fellow speaks about what a strong community they felt at the College and how much they learned by sharing experiences with colleagues from all around the university.” 

Aleeza Gerstein: Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology and Statistics

Before moving back to her hometown of Winnipeg, Aleeza studied in the Zoology Department at the University of British Columbia, where she focused on evolutionary genetics using the budding yeast, and held a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota.

Her research applies evolutionary principles and statistical methods to understand the factors that influence how and why fungal populations evolve.

About joining St John’s, Aleeza says, 

“I greatly welcome the opportunity as a Fellow to form additional relationships with others across the university community. Creating and fostering community is an overarching thread that has driven much of the service I have undertaken as a faculty member.”

Gregg Olsen: Faculty of Arts, Department of Sociology and Criminology

As an esteemed sociologist, Gregg Olsen has spent over three decades researching socio-economic inequality and strategies to eradicate it. A recipient of the Arts Award in Internationalization, he has given public addresses and conducted research in over twenty nations. His cross-national approach has furthered his understanding of why inequality varies dramatically across countries and time.

Murdith McLean: Former Warden and Vice-Chancellor of St John’s College 

Murdith McLean is no stranger to St John’s College, having served as Warden and Vice-Chancellor from 1980 through 1997. He was also an adjunct professor in the UM Department of Philosophy and served in several important roles at the University. He was a Senate appointee to the Board of Governors, and member of the President’s task force on strategic planning. 

The former Warden returns to St John’s College as a retired fellow.

To learn more about St John’s College fellowship, visit our website. 

Police charged the 38-year-old with manslaughter in connection with Kyriakos’ death.

“It’s easy to understand the first rationale people can have sometimes, particularly when there is a person who is on bail who then goes on to commit another offence,” said Frank Cormier, a sociology and criminology professor at the University of Manitoba.

“But the alternative to that, the only way to ensure that never happens is to lockup every person who has ever been accused of a crime. I don’t think very many people would agree that’s a reasonable way to proceed.”

Read more

Café Scientifique brings experts together with non-researchers for a discussion about the questions their work has raised for a non-research audience. Café is sponsored by the office of the vice-president (research and international) VPRIO and is a part of the Learning for Life Network.

“Our Café presentations this year were an engaging and insightful look into some of the extraordinary research breakthroughs that take place every day at UM,” says Annemieke Farenhorst, associate vice-president (research). “Researchers are working to improve the lives of people in our communities, and Café is a wonderful opportunity to share this progress with the public. I want to extend my gratitude to the researchers and content experts who presented this year, as well as everyone who joined us and asked questions in-person and online.”

All Café Scientifique presentations are permanently featured on the University of Manitoba Youtube channel:

Technology for Healthcare Service and Public Input, Feb.22, 2023 – Understanding patient experiences, perspectives, and outcomes is critical to improving healthcare services and how it is delivered. Today, input from patients informs new developments in technology that provide a more person-centered and accessible healthcare experience for all.

Featuring UM researchers: Alanna Baldwin, Gayle Halas, Jennifer Henzel, and special guest Sarah Kirby from the George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation.

Time is Brain: Preventing, Treating, and Recovering from Stroke, March 15, 2023 – As part of International Brain Awareness Week and in conjunction with the Manitoba Neuroscience Network, UM researchers highlighted new methods to identify those at highest risk, and innovative rehabilitation techniques to help patients recover from stroke, third leading cause of death in Canada.

Featuring UM researchers: Jillian Stobart, Jai Shankar, Amir Ravandi, & Ruth Barclay.

Racism and COVID-19: Understanding Racism during the pandemic in Canada, USA and Mexico, March 29, 2023 – During the COVID-19 pandemic, an international team of researchers led by experts at the University of Manitoba examined conditions that contributed to a rise of racism across North America.

Featuring UM researchers: Lori Wilkinson, Jeremy Patzer & Kiera Ladner.

Wellbeing in Youth: Supporting Teens with Higher Body Weight, April 26, 2023 – Teens with higher body weights face a significant risk of mental health difficulties, due to the complex intersections of weight-related stigma and other related adversities.

Featuring UM researchers: Leslie Roos, Jon McGavock, Emily Cameron, and special guest Mae Santos, Registered Dietitian.

Windows on the Universe, May 10, 2023 – We have entered a new era where astrophysicists and nuclear physicists can work in concert to piece together the puzzles that astrophysical observations present. Physicists and astronomers are exploring new frontiers in understanding the ultra-small and mega-large in this next era of precision astrophysics.

Featuring UM researchers: Kyle Shiells, Juliette Mammei, Samar Safi-Harb, and special guest Jorge Piekarewicz from Florida State University.

On a Shaky Podium, May 24, 2023 – To address recent allegations of abuse in sporting organizations in Canada, organizations receiving funding from Sport Canada must provide Safe Sport Training to help prevent maltreatment in sport. This extensive toxicity led Canada’s federal Minister of Sport to declare that we are experiencing a safe sport crisis. UM experts are working from legal, pedagogical, psychological, and sociological perspectives to make sport safe(r) for all Canadians.

Featuring UM researchers: Sarah Teetzel, Martine Dennie, Shannon Moore, Lori Wilkinson & Leisha Strachan.

Join us again for the next Café Scientifique season, planned to begin in November 2023.

Dr. Asomah

Dr. Joseph Yaw Asomah joins the Department of Sociology and Criminology as Assistant Professor. He hails from Ghana, where he obtained a BA in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Ghana, Legon. Dr. Asomah is a proud alumnus of the University of Manitoba, where he completed an MA in Sociology in 2015. His research interests generally focus on human rights, international development, mass media, policing and white-collar crime. He has attended several conferences and has also published in both respected Canadian and international journals. Prior to joining UM, Dr. Asomah has taught at St. Thomas University (Fredericton, NB) and the University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, SK), where he also obtained a Ph.D. in Sociology in 2018.  

Dr. Brosowsky

Dr. Nicholas Brosowsky joins the Department of Psychology as an Assistant Professor. He is a UM alumnus, receiving a BA (Honours) in 2021 and an MA in 2014. His PhD was earned from the City University of New York and he held a postdoctoral research position at Duke University. Dr. Brosowsky investigates how people adaptively regulate attention and the consequences of control regulation across a variety of domains such as skill learning, creativity and multi-tasking. At UM, he is starting the Attention and Learning Lab.

Dr. Diehl

Dr. Lindsay Diehl joins the Department of English, Theatre, Film & Media as Assistant Professor. She received her PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of British Colombia, Okanagan campus. Her areas of expertise include Canadian literature, Asian Canadian studies, postcolonial theory and transnational feminism. As a creative writer and critical scholar, Dr. Diehl often blends scholarly and creative methodologies to explore intersecting issues of nationalism, settler-colonialism, race, gender and identity. She is particularly interested in how storytelling allows for personal, emotional and affective elements frequently overlooked in conventional forms of criticism. 

Dr. Gadzala

Dr. Krysteena Gadzala joins the Department of French, Spanish and Italian as a French Instructor. She earned a BEd from Nipissing University as well as a BA, MA and PhD from the University of Waterloo. Her research focused on child loss in 21^st century French literature as experienced by fathers. She specifically looked at the rituals, material culture and the writing process as they relate to the loss of a child. She has been teaching in universities across Canada and in France since 2012.  

Dr. Goulet

Dr. Nicole Goulet joins the Department of Religion as an Instructor. After completing her PhD in Religion at UM, she went to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she became Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies, and was Acting Director for Women’s and Gender Studies. Her research focuses on representations of race, class, gender and sexuality in religion, with a primary focus on Hinduism. Some topics of publication include how people use religion to fight gender-based violence and how to teach World Religions with attention paid to race, class, gender, and sexuality. At UM, Dr. Goulet’s teaching focuses on introductory and themed religion courses, as well as Eastern religions specifically.

Dr. Jenner

Dr. Jonathan Jenner joins the Department of Economics (Economics & Society stream) and the Global Political Economy Program as Assistant Professor. He received his PhD in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Prior to arriving at UM, Dr. Jenner completed a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Johannesburg. His research, situated in the political economy tradition, explores the roots and effects of colonial labour regimes, particularly in East Africa. Dr. Jenner is also a member of the Center for Popular Economics, an instructor at the Center for Justice & Peacebuilding in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and a Senior Researcher at the South African Research Chair (SARChI) in Industrial Development at the University of Johannesburg. He is excited to continue researching, teaching and learning at the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Murchison

Dr. Melanie Janelle Murchison has joined the Department of Sociology and Criminology as an Instructor and is happy to be back in Winnipeg. After earning her PhD in Law from Queen’s University Belfast in 2016, Melanie then spent six years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a Lecturer in Legal Studies. She recently held a British Academy Leverhulme Grant as a Co-Investigator with Dr. Alex Schwartz on Ethnic Voting Behaviour on the Constitutional Court in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Melanie’s recent work has been with Dean Jochelson (Law) and Assistant Professor Ireland (Law) on legal pedagogy in the pandemic.

Dr. Nijdam-Jones

Dr. Alicia Nijdam-Jones joins the Psychology Department as Assistant Professor. She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology (forensic specialization) from Fordham University and has an MA in Criminology from Simon Fraser University. After her doctoral studies, she completed a clinical psychology postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Nijdam-Jones specializes in the area of violence risk assessment, malingering assessment, stalking, and the use of forensic assessment measures with linguistically, ethnically, and culturally diverse samples.  At UM, she is starting the Cross-Cultural Forensic psychology lab. 

Dr. Paris

Dr. Jamie Paris joins the department of English, Theatre, Film & Media as an Instructor. He is a mixed-race scholar from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He received his PhD in English from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver in 2015. Before coming to UM, Dr. Paris was an associate professor of English for Corpus Christi College at UBC. Dr. Paris works primarily in the field of premodern critical race studies, where his research focuses on the representation of whiteness in the work of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries. His secondary field is Canadian literature and culture, with a focus on non-dominative Black and Indigenous masculinities. Dr. Paris has published scholarly articles in Digital Studies, Canadian Literature, Renaissance and Reformation, Early Theatre, and the Journal for Early Modern Cultural Studies. He is in the process of completing a book on whiteness and racial crossdressing in early modern drama.

Dr. Schnerch

Dr. Gabe Schnerch joins the Department of Psychology as an Instructor. He has a range of teaching experience in undergraduate and graduate psychology courses across numerous institutions, both as a sessional instructor and as an assistant professor. He is UM alumni, having received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Manitoba. He completed his pre-doctoral residency/internship in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. His primary areas of teaching include ethics and assessment in school and clinical psychology. His areas of current research interest include the intersectionality of neurodivergent (e.g., autistic) and trans experiences; autistic-prioritized outcomes in therapy; and operant learning relating to infant and early childhood development.

Dr. Shaw

Dr. Kris Shaw joins the Department of Economics as Assistant Professor in the Economics & Econometrics stream. He grew up in Winnipeg and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Winnipeg. After earning an MA from Queen’s University and working for several years in economic forecasting, he entered the PhD program at the University of Pennsylvania and successfully defended his dissertation last spring. His job market paper studied the macroeconomic implications of replacing a progressive labour income tax with a progressive consumption tax. His research interests span the areas of public finance, labour economics and quantitative macroeconomics. At UM, Dr. Shaw will be teaching macroeconomic theory at the advanced undergraduate and graduate level.

Dr. Weinberg

Dr. Erin Weinberg is a new Instructor in the Department of English, Theatre, Film & Media. She has taught at Queen’s University, Brandon University, University of Alberta Augustana and Royal Military College. She earned her PhD from Queen’s in 2017, where she researched the emotions in Shakespearean comedy. She has showcased that work internationally, including a presentation at Shakespeare’s Globe and articles in New Statesman and Early Modern Literary Studies. She is passionate about teaching and learning and intends to dedicate her time to mentoring and collaborating with the CATL. Erin teaches entirely first-year English courses; her contagious enthusiasm has influenced a number of students to take further English courses, major in English and pursue graduate study. 

Dr. Yadav

Dr. Srishti Yadav joins the Department of Economics as an Instructor for the Economics & Society stream. She has a PhD in Economics from The New School in New York. Her dissertation research focuses on the political economy of development in India, investing the relationship between agrarian change and structural transformation through the framework of the Agrarian Question. Her ongoing research examines changing agrarian class relations in the face of growing rural-urban migration and the caste- and gender-based dynamics of this process through fieldwork. Her teaching interests are in Marxian Political Economy and Development Economics. 

The team, led by Laura Funk, a professor of sociology and criminology and Jamie Penner, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing, and students Lisette Dansereau and Kaitlyn Kuryk, opened a survey in late 2020 asking caregivers about their experiences during the pandemic. Nearly 200 respondents provided insights.

Some of the highlights from the new report, “Caregiving during COVID in Manitoba: Report of Survey Findings”, include:

• 57% of respondents reported declines in mental health and 52% reported declines in physical health.
• Respondents expressed grave concerns about the impact of pandemic-related service pauses and physical/social distancing on the persons they were supporting: 66% believed the well-being of the person had deteriorated.
• 56% of respondents said care recipients were receiving fewer publicly-funded supports/services, and 54% of respondents reported receiving less help from other family, friends and neighbours (due to concern about contagion, household lockdown, or visitor restrictions).
• Even where increased support from family/friends was available, this did not necessarily fill gaps, and 60% of respondents were themselves providing more hours of care since the pandemic. Some described financial strain from purchasing private sources of help.
• The nature of caregiving often shifted and became more logistically and emotionally challenging during the pandemic. Pre-existing challenges with navigating health and social care systems were exacerbated.
• Respondents caring for persons living in congregate settings expressed heightened concern for the person they were supporting during periods of visitor restrictions, exacerbated by concerns about quality of care, and confusion and frustration arising from poor, mixed or frequently shifting communication from facilities and/or government.
• There was a sense of uncertainty and concern among many respondents about when (or if) needed supports and services might be reinstated.

The last large-scale survey of caregivers done in Manitoba was in 2012 (by Funk). Back then, the largest concern was in navigating various agencies to obtain information to access programs and services and 43.5% reported needing either ‘a lot’ or ‘quite a bit’ more help managing the impact of care provision on their own mental or emotional well-being.

“The pandemic has clearly highlighted what we had learned from the 2012 survey: that quality funded services and supports that addresses peoples’ holistic needs are essential not only for the health of those directly receiving these services, but also for the health of family/friend caregivers,” Funk says. “In addition, many caregivers may have their own needs – for support, and for some life outside of the caregiving role, which are largely unaddressed in practice or policy. Caregivers need to be involved in future pandemic response planning and in health care system governance and improvement initiatives.”

The new report provides many recommendations, chiefly:

• Future pandemic responses need to recognize the importance of social and emotional well-being and human connection, as well as the need for families to trust that risks will be reasonably mitigated to ensure safety.
• Both caregivers and persons they are supporting need access to affordable mental health programming and counselling
• Not only workplace accommodations, but paid care leaves and other supports can assist caregivers working in paid employment or attending school/university.
• Promptly but safely reinstate and strengthen access to formal programs and services for care recipients.
• Family caregivers’ needs should be addressed within health care service interactions, as well as in system governance.
• Efforts to strengthen public care infrastructure should be informed by caregiver input and recommendations within previous reports and legislation.

Banting postdoctoral fellows are the best postdocs in the world. The recipients are top-tier postdoctoral talent, nationally and internationally. This award positions Banting Fellows to succeed as research leaders. Only seventy fellowships are awarded across Canada annually, valued at $140,000 over two years.

“We are excited and proud to welcome two Banting Fellows to the research community at UM,” says Dr. Digvir Jayas, Vice-President (Research and International) and Distinguished Professor. “The ability to attract Banting Fellows is very much due to the stellar calibre of our faculty members, who will be developing them for the next stage of their careers.”

The two Banting Fellows are:

Dr. Phil Grayson will undertake research titled “The functional and evolutionary consequences of within-species variability in DNA composition of an ancient jawless fish.” He completed his PhD in Biology (Organismic and Evolutionary Biology) at Harvard University, graduating in 2019. He will be working with Dr. Margaret Docker in the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science. Graysons’ Banting Fellowship is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Dr. Lauren Kepkiewicz will undertake research titled “Building relations across difference through food sovereignty in the Canadian Rockies.” She completed her PhD in Human Geography at the University of Toronto, graduating in 2018. She will be working with Dr. Annette Desmarais, Canada Research Chair in Human Rights, Social Justice and Food Sovereignty; in the Department of Sociology and Criminology, Faculty of Arts. Kepkiewicz’s Banting Fellowship is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Vanier Scholarships are awarded to Canada’s top doctoral students, each receiving $150,000 over three years towards their research.

“I was delighted to hear about the success of these four doctoral students in being awarded the Vanier scholarship. They competed at a national level against their peers and were recognized for their amazing achievements. I send my congratulations to them, as they continue to demonstrate their research excellence at UM.” says Dr. Kelley Main, Acting Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies. “I would also like to thank the faculty members who are part of the doctoral programs of these students for their support of the UM Vanier scholars.” 

The four Vanier Scholars are:

Daniel Schwade Arujo, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, will undertake a PhD in Applied Health Sciences. His research examines the metabolomics of frailty and cardiovascular health in older females, supervised by Dr. Todd Duhamel, with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Anne Manson, Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, will study how dietary fat influences sex differences in the formation of bioactive molecules in the heart, supervised by Dr. Harold Aukema, with funding from NSERC.

Felicia Masenu, Anthropology, Faculty of Arts, will study gender (in)equality and women’s movements in Ghana, supervised by Distinguished Professor Ellen Judd, with funding from SSHRC.

Karli Rapinda, Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Arts, will examine how language and type of substance impact substance use stigma and blame, supervised by Drs. Matthew Keough and Harold Wallbridge, with funding from SSHRC.

These four new Vanier Scholars join 37 others who have been awarded to UM doctoral students over the past 13 years, bringing the total to 41 UM Vanier Scholars. The scholarships are administered by Canada’s three federal granting agencies: CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC.

The Vanier program honours distinguished Canadian soldier and diplomat Major-General the Right Honourable Georges Philias Vanier (1888-1967), who served as Governor General of Canada from 1959 to 1967.

The Banting Fellowship honours Nobel Laureate Sir Frederick Banting, who discovered insulin, enabling people with diabetes to live long and healthy lives.

Fast forward to today, and Appah [BA (Hons)/2018] is a finalist in the University of Manitoba Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition. On April 21, she’ll be presenting her research on Nationalism and integration policy: A comparative cross-national examination and attempting to earn a spot in the national competition.

By analyzing the immigration policies of Canada, Hungary and Sweden, Appah’s research provides recommendations for policies to better support the integration of newcomers. “Integration is the key to making individuals feel they belong and are respected parts of a country,” says Appah. “Social phenomenon such as nationalism can negatively impact immigration and integration policies. By understanding how nationalism alters these policies, I am better able to provide tangible recommendations to improve the lived experiences of immigrants.”

“Societies are strongest when there are policies in place that ensure individuals feel they are valued members who belong.” 

Appah is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in sociology. “I am endlessly fascinated by people, their differences and their ability to change societies in remarkable ways,” says Appah about her enthusiasm for her studies. “Through sociology, I can use what I’ve learned to advocate for others and support change that lasts.”

As an immigrant herself, Appah recalls experiencing first-hand the barriers and limitations that exist in immigration policies. Those barriers her parents faced back in 2001 are still the reality for many newcomers to Canada. “Reworking the current approach to foreign credentials in Canada would make the integration of newcomers more successful,” she says. “Nothing makes people feel they don’t belong like being unable to contribute after the promise that they would.”

She feels fortunate to pursue studies in a field and at a university that is “eager to explore ways to change the traditional ways of doing that which we’ve become accustomed to.”

“I’ve learned through my research that there is nationalism in the immigration policies of each country I’ve studied, even Canada,” she adds. “This might seem discouraging, but it also means that there is ample opportunity to create a better system and country.”

Appah describes 3MT as a fun, nerve-wracking and rewarding experience all-in-one. She acknowledges that the competition provides the opportunity for graduate students to strengthen their research communication skills in front of a variety of audiences, which also helps in her current work at the Social Innovation Office for the Government of Manitoba. After her degree, Appah looks forward to “continuing learning, advocating and working toward making Manitoba stronger as a future Policy Analyst.”

During the finals, Appah hopes she’ll be able to follow research supervisor Dr. Lori Wilkinson’s advice to be confident, speak passionately about her research and, above all, enjoy the experience.

What message does she hope she can leave the judges and audience with after her virtual presentation? Appah says, “societies are strongest when there are policies in place that ensure individuals feel they are valued members who belong. When everyone feels valued that is when a country can thrive!”

Catch Appah and the other eleven finalists livestreamed via YouTube on April 21 starting at 7:00 p.m. as they present their thesis research in just three minutes.