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    Principal Deane to serve a second term as Queen’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor

    Board of Trustees re-appoints Patrick Deane for new five-year term, beginning July 2024.

    Principal Patrick Deane

    Queen’s Board of Trustees has re-appointed Patrick Deane to a second term as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the university. The board’s decision follows the joint Board-Senate Principalship Review Committee’s recommendation to renew his tenure for another five years, from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2029.

    “Principal Deane guided the university through an incredibly difficult period during his first term, as the global pandemic posed significant safety and operational challenges,” says Mary Wilson Trider, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Despite this, he led the development of a new Queen’s Strategy that positions our university as an inclusive, research-intense institution conducting work with global impact. We look forward to his guidance of Queen’s towards the realization of these aspirations into his second term.”

    The joint committee’s recommendation was informed by a consultation that sought input from campus community members, and external partners and stakeholders, regarding the present state and future development of the university and on the principalship. The committee’s consultation work ran from November 2022 to February 2023, and gathered feedback from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and many other stakeholders.

    “I’d like to express my gratitude to members of the Board-Senate committee who worked diligently to consult with our campus community,” says Chancellor Murray Sinclair, who chaired the group. “The insights gathered through this process informed the committee’s strong recommendation to our Trustees that Principal Deane’s leadership continue for a second term. I’m pleased that our recommendation was met with their support.”

    During his first term, Principal Deane successfully directed the university’s COVID-19 response, committed Queen’s to major equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenization initiatives, and increased the institution’s international profile, including through personal engagements—having taken on the role of President of the Governing Council with Magna Charta Observatory, and, most recently, becoming Vice-President for the Americas with the International Association of Universities’ governance board.

    Principal Deane also led the creation of an institutional-wide strategy detailing new goals and priorities for the university during his first term— a strategy aimed at boosting research-intensity, student learning, and global impact.

    “I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving as the principal of this important institution for a second term,” says Principal Deane. “Since assuming the role, I’ve witnessed our campus community exhibit remarkable dedication, resilience, and excellence—through good times and hard times—and I look forward to our next chapter together.”

    Principal Deane became Queen’s 21st Principal and Vice-Chancellor in July 2019, having previously served almost two terms as President of McMaster University.

    Originally from South Africa, Dr. Deane earned his baccalaureate at Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand, before immigrating to Canada where he completed a master’s degree and PhD in English at the University of Western Ontario.

    He went on to serve as a faculty member at the University of Toronto, and then the University of Western Ontario, where he became Chair of the English department. In 2001, Dr. Deane moved to the University of Winnipeg where he was appointed Vice-President (Academic) and served as acting president from 2003 to 2004, after which he served as Queen’s University’s Vice-Principal (Academic) from 2005-2010.

    Read more about Principal Deane’s reappointment on the University Secretariat’s website.

    Library website being redesigned

    To advance the institution’s strategic research, teaching, and learning priorities, and accelerate the success of students, faculty, and staff, Queen’s University Library (QUL) is undertaking a project in 2023 to fully redesign and optimize its website.

    Library leadership together with the website redesign team look forward to sharing additional updates in future, while also incorporating valuable input from the campus community throughout the redesign and launch process.

    Learn more about the project and how you can participate to help shape the QUL website of the future.

    Indigenous identity interim policy announced

    Queen’s has today released details on its Interim Policy for Hiring of Indigenous-Specific Positions.

    Over the past year, Queen’s University has been reviewing and re-evaluating its hiring policies, procedures, and practices related to Indigenous identity. The new interim policy is based upon current best practices and involves ensuring rigorous review of appropriate documentation to verify the identity and lived experience of applicants who identify as Indigenous persons. 

    In response to Queen’s acceptance in principle of the July 2022 Queen’s University Indigenous Identity Project Final Report: ‘Gii-Ikidonaaniwan’ • ‘It has been said’, Queen’s initiated an Indigenous Oversight Council. Appointments to the Council are currently underway and once fully constituted, the IOC will review the Interim policy and advise the university if revisions to it are recommended. The policy will not be retroactively applied to existing staff or faculty. 

    As a university, we are committed to our role in reconciliation, and are determined to be transparent and open through this process. To that end, we will continue to provide updates on the Office of Indigenous Initiatives website.

    Reaching out to the community

    Students in the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society are collectively volunteering thousands of hours to help Kingston non-profits improve lives.

    Aerial photograph of City of Kingston

    Queen’s students call Kingston home for several years while they work toward their degree, and many become embedded in the local community at the same time, finding numerous ways to give back and get involved. The Community Outreach Commission of the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) plays a major role in helping students from their faculty connect with community organizations looking for help and make meaningful contributions to the community. More than 300 students volunteer with the commission each year and collectively dedicate thousands of hours to helping Kingston non-profit organizations advance their missions.

    “So many Queen’s students are eager to get personally involved in the Kingston community and spend their time doing hands-on work with local organizations,” says Emma Farrell, vice president of society affairs for ASUS. “We provide students with avenues for volunteering in ways that help them make connections to Kingston and make a difference at the same time.”

    The commission is organized into 10 different committees, each partnered with a local non-profit organization that focuses on issues such as youth mentorship, health and wellness, and animal welfare. Students on these committees volunteer with the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston, Pathways to Education, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Community Living Kingston, the Kingston Humane Society, and other groups making direct contributions to community members.

    The Community Outreach Commission also runs initiatives that help gather donations for local organizations. Over the summer, students maintain the ASUS Garden, which grows vegetables that they donate to Kingston food banks. The commission also selects one local organization as their Charity of the Year, which they fundraise for through their Supper Series, a collaboration with Kingston restaurant Tommy’s. Student volunteers deliver Tommy’s meals for free several evenings each term, and a portion of the proceeds and all tips are directed toward the designated non-profit. This year, the commission is raising funds for Dawn House, a local organization supporting women in need.

    The commission has organized a number of fundraising drives so far this academic year. In November, the Alzheimer’s Outreach committee held their annual 5k run/walk event and raised more than $1,800 for the Alzheimer’s Society of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington. The Kids 4 Kids committee ran a toy drive for children in the pediatric ward at Kingston General Hospital. The commission also teamed up with the rest of ASUS to hold the inaugural ArtSci Cup basketball game, a charity event that raised more than $20,000 along with a matching donation for the Canadian Cancer Society.

    Fostering city engagement

    Outside the Community Outreach Commission, ASUS offers additional opportunities for arts and science students to get involved with the community.

    Each year, ASUS offers summer camps for Kingston youth ages four to eight. In 2022, ASUS Camps hosted more than 400 campers and provided roughly $5,000 in bursaries to Kingston families to help offer an affordable camping experience for all.

    The ASUS Sidewalk Sale is an annual highlight of fall orientation. The event, featuring more than 300 booths, including Queen’s clubs and departments, as well as local, national, and international organizations and businesses, is an opportunity for students to make connections within the Queen’s and Kingston communities. The Sidewalk Sale annually raises close to $100,000 in support of Kingston charities.

    The ASUS City Engagement Program is an initiative in its second year that gives students the chance to partner with the City of Kingston to develop a project and gain practical skills. Student participants have initiated projects that touch on a range of areas important to the city, including business support, community engagement, and heritage services.

    Student impact on the community

    These initiatives make up part of Queen’s social and economic impact on the Kingston community, which has been measured in a study conducted by Deloitte. That study found that Queen’s students, faculty, and staff annually raise more than $1M to support local causes. It also found that Queen’s students work thousands of volunteer hours for local causes.

    Learn more about the community and economic impact of Queen’s students and read the full study on the Queen’s Economic and Community Impact website.  

    Building Community Together

    This story is part of an ongoing series highlighting how students across Queen’s are building community together through meaningful volunteer and fundraising efforts.

    Four students receive Tricolour Award

    Troclour Awards handed out in Grant Hall

    The Tricolour Society has four new members as Laura Devenny (Artsci’23), Samara Lijiam (Artsci’23), Jane Mao (Artsci’21, MEd’23), and Nishana Ramsawak (PhD’24), have been named recipients of the 2023 Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Award.  

    One of the most prestigious student honours at Queen’s, the Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Award is given annually by the Office of the Rector to students “for valued and distinguished service, leadership, character, and community impact.” 

    This year’s recipients will be officially inducted into the Tricolour Society during a ceremony on June 17. 

    “The impact the recipients have had on the Queen’s community – through their volunteerism, their leadership, and their commitment to their fellow students is exceptional,” notes Rector Owen Crawford-Lem. “Laura, Samara, Jane, and Nishana embody the best aspects of the Queen’s community and their compassion and care serve as examples for all students.” 

    Laura DevennyLaura Devenny

    Devenny has served students in various leadership roles with the Alma Mater Society (AMS), including chief electoral officer, secretary of internal affairs, and most recently as chair of the Board of Directors. The fifth-year political studies major helped create a more accessible and engaging student government with compassionate and inclusive leadership.  

    Samara LijiamSamara Lijiam

    A passionate advocate for equity and social change, Lijiam's campus involvement includes the Social Issues Commission, the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS), the Queen's Black Academic Society (QBAS), and the Queen's Student Alumni Association (QUAA), where Lijiam currently serves as president. 

    Jane MaoJane Mao

    As a Master of Education candidate, Mao creates spaces of joy for marginalized students to thrive. As the founder of the Gender Affirming Assistance Project, equity commissioner with the Society for Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS), co-chair of the Social Healing and Reconciliatory Education research cluster, and more, Mao's personal and professional work is characterized by direct action, mutual aid, and compassion.

    Nishana Ramsawak Nishana Ramsawak

    Ramsawak is a fourth-year civil engineering PhD candidate researching factors affecting water quality degradation in drinking-water distribution systems. Ramsawak has contributed to the enhancement of equity, diversity, and inclusivity on campus as one of the first Graduate Inclusivity Fellows and as an instructor for Black youth in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), where Ramsawak helps create a safe space for racialized children to learn about STEM. Ramsawak is also the founder of a charity drive called Helping Handbags, Kingston, which provides feminine and essential items for vulnerable homes in the area.  

    First awarded in 1940, the Tricolour Award has a long history at Queen’s and boasts an impressive list of alumni among its members. Past recipients include Dragons’ Den TV star Michele Romanow (Sc’07, MBA’08); architect of the Canadian flag and Order of Canada John Matheson (Arts’40, LLD’84); and former Bank of Canada governor and Queen’s Chancellor Emeritus David Dodge (Arts'65, LLD’02). For more information about the Tricolour Award and this year’s celebration, visit the Office of the Rector website.

    Celebrating staff achievements

    Two teams and six individual staff members are being celebrated for their excellent work and accomplishments at Queen’s.

    The 2022 Special Recognition for Staff Awards recognize staff, nominated by colleagues, who have gone above and beyond their day-to-day activities to have a lasting positive impact.

    Award recipients and their guests are invited to a private reception in late April.

    “These awards recognize our outstanding colleagues who have exceeded expectations by doing remarkable things,” says Principal and Vice-Chancellor Deane. “I want to sincerely thank everyone for your significant contributions and commitment to your work at Queen’s.”

    The recipients of the 2022 Special Recognition for Staff Awards are:

    Classroom Working Group (Team Award)

    • Steve Alexander, Manager of Digital Classrooms/AV Technology, Information Technology Services
    • Joanne Brett, Manager, Timetabling, Office of the University Registrar, Student Affairs
    • Cheyenne Deschamplain, Assistant Project Manager/Designer, Facilities
    • Tony Gkotsis, Director, Campus Planning and Real Estate, Facilities
    • Erik Harmsen, Project Manager, Facilities
    • Nadia Jagar, Associate Director, Finance and Operations, Office of the Provost and VP (Academic)
    • Kaitlin McDonald, Department Assistant, Centre for Teaching and Learning
    • Karalyn McRae, Educational Developer, Centre for Teaching and Learning
    • Kathy Newstead, Operations Manager, Event Services, Housing and Ancillary Services, Student Affairs

    Formed nearly a decade ago, the Classroom Working Group develops strategies for creating active learning classrooms to serve new as well as traditional teaching practices. To date, the group has designed and developed 22 active-learning spaces and several modern lecture halls, one of the largest inventories of its kind in the country. During the early stages of the pandemic, their expertise was especially in demand and the group expanded its mandate, creating safe teaching spaces for several programs including Medicine, Nursing and Rehabilitation Therapy, where in-person learning was the only option. Members also provided guidance and planning for clinical teaching space for Queen’s Health Sciences and student study space in Mackintosh-Corry Hall. To prepare for the university’s safe return to on-campus learning, the group contributed to guidelines, determined appropriate classrooms, seating plans and capacities, and set up markers, plexiglass, signage, and cleaning supplies. The group also consults with other universities to share innovations and to promote best practices.

    Queen’s Career Gateway Program (Team Award)

    • Samuel Whyte, Director, Facilities Operations and Maintenance, Facilities
    • Lisa Crosbie-Larmon, Director, Human Resources, Facilities
    • Karen Burkett, Director, Queen’s School of English, Faculty of Education
    • Jessica Della-Latta, Executive Director, Continuing Teacher Education, Professional Studies, and Queen’s School of English, Faculty of Education
    • Sherri Ferris, Custodian and CUPE Local 229 President, Facilities
    • Oonagh Maley, Manager, Special Projects, Office of the VP (Finance and Administration)
    • Supriya Venigalla, Special Projects Officer, Office of the VP (Finance and Administration)
    • Justine Macdonald, Instructor, Queen’s School of English, Faculty of Education
    • Heidi Penning, Equity Advisor, Human Rights and Equity Office
    • Katherine Smith, Recruitment Support Representative, Human Resources

    Launched in 2021 and sponsored by the Office of the Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration), the Queen’s Career Gateway Program is designed for equity-deserving individuals, including newcomers to Kingston and refugees, to secure employment at Queen’s while receiving English-language training. Through community partners including ReStart Employment Services and Immigrant Services Kingston, team members learned about potential barriers and explored novel ways for Queen’s to recruit and support diverse talent. For example, meeting in the same classroom for each session helped participants to develop a sense of belonging and increased their engagement with each other, the instructor, and the subject matter. Team members attended regularly and offered their experiences as guest speakers. The seven participants who completed the program obtained positions on the Queen’s Custodial Support Services team, positioning them as viable candidates for future opportunities. This year’s program includes inventive recruitment strategies to embed the program more deeply in the Kingston newcomer community. Participants of the first cohort were eager to serve as mentors, which will only help this worthy initiative to grow.

    • Erik Bigras, Course Production and Delivery Lead, Faculty of Arts and Science Online

    As Course Production and Delivery Lead, Erik manages the Learning Management Systems specialists team and coordinates online course development. As a leader in technology innovation, his skill and judgement are respected faculty wide, and he mentors others as he learns the most effective ways to adopt and implement technologies. He has a gift of taking complex problems and technologies, understanding the limitations and opportunities, and operationalizing them with very reasoned, well-communicated and thoughtful strategies to ensure success. In the early days of the pandemic, when Arts and Science Online was asked to pivot to support all faculty exams, he was a calm voice as things rapidly shifted online and to new technology. He designed systems to ensure that students were in the right virtual place to write their exams, and at the right time, given so many time zones were involved. Erik’s plans centre on students, are considerate of staff, supportive of faculty, efficient, cost effective and sustainable.

    • Sarah Bunting, Academic Advisor and Academic Consideration Coordinator, Student Services, Faculty of Arts and Science

    Since arriving at Queen’s six years ago, Sarah has been a tireless advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion and this passionate advocacy and strong leadership skills are key to ensuring that social events happen, funding is secured, newsletters go out, and that senior leadership is made aware of and supported in meeting the needs of equity-deserving groups. As a staff senator on the Senate Educational Equity Committee, Sarah was involved in language and policy updates and reviewed the 2018 USW 2010 Collective Agreement to recommend language changes to reflect its diverse membership and supports for mental wellbeing and work-life balance. Sarah is an organizing member of the Queen’s Women’s Network (QWN) and Queen’s University Association of Queer Employees, two of the university’s oldest Employee Resource Groups (ERGS). In addition to writing communications, Sarah oversees training and support for QWN’s mentorship program and is working to revive EquiTEA, a group of members from all the ERGs, to enable them to coordinate and collectively build solidarity and community across the university.

    • Margaret Goslin, Manager, Operations, Human Resources

    Margaret Goslin is known for her commitment, hard work, and positive attitude. Her Human Resources coworkers rely on her institutional knowledge about systems and processes, gained through her 20-plus years of experience in working in Administration, Client Services and Employee Relations. Her work affects all Queen’s staff members as she ensures that they are paid on time and correctly, that they have a seamless transition to a leave of absence, or that they have the information they need to decide about benefits. Margaret mentors HR professionals starting their careers and under her leadership, these employees have expanded their knowledge and have been rewarded with new opportunities. She brings fun into the workplace for great causes, including the Heart and Stroke Foundation Big Bike Ride. Over the years, her efforts have brought in thousands of dollars to the community through friendly competition. She is living proof that there are people who make work a little more fun, a little more fulfilling and who inspire us to be better employees and colleagues. Margaret is that person you will always remember – years after she has left an impression on you.

    • Keith Harper, General Technician, Department of Biology

    As general technician in the Department of Biology, Keith Harper is a skilled problem solver, community leader, and jack-of-all-trades. His creativity and dedication advance Biology's research impact, sustainability, and student learning experience. Keith is always willing to lend a helping hand, no matter the job and he provides innovative and sustainable solutions. He learns new ways to re-purpose, fix, and retrofit existing equipment. For example, he has saved furniture from landfills by sourcing new upholstery and replacing worn-out casters on chairs. He has updated cabinets with new hardware and fresh paint, and restored sinks to look like new. Keith knows local suppliers and recommends purchases and stays current with health and safety guidelines to appropriately dispose of hazardous waste. His ongoing efforts have decreased costs as well as Queen's environmental footprint. When an emergency arises at any time of day – or night – Keith is there. He has saved projects, samples, equipment, and irreplaceable specimens. When a large walk-in freezer malfunctioned on a Sunday, Keith spent the day and well into the evening dispersing contents into freezers around the building. Keith fosters a sense of community in the department by organizing annual barbecues and pancake breakfasts, encouraging other maple-syrup makers to join in a friendly competition to crown the best maple syrup of the year!

    • Kelly Sedore, Chemical Technologist, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

    Kelly Sedore is a big reason why Chemical Engineering has the highest safety standards in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and are among the highest university wide. She oversees the safety training of all who use the department laboratories and supports undergraduate labs, maintaining twenty-three experiment projects. In the early days of the pandemic, Kelly ran a hand-sanitizer production operation that supplied medical-grade hand disinfectant to Kingston Health Sciences Centre and ensured adequate supplies for building operations. This was featured in Behind the Mask, a collection of stories from Kingston front-line workers. Also in 2020, she ran labs remotely by filming videos of experiment demonstrations and the use of equipment. Additionally, Kelly is a department safety officer, co-chair of the faculty’s Joint Health and Safety committee, and the Return to Work and Accommodation representative for CUPE Local 254. Outside the lab, Kelly attends open houses, homecoming weekends, first-year orientation, and many other events. She keeps in touch with graduates and never passes up an opportunity to reunite with alumni.

    • Anna van der Meulen, Department Manager and Undergraduate Chair, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies (SKHS)

    As department manager and undergraduate chair in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies (SKHS), Anna van der Meulen is a first point of contact for faculty, staff, and students. She oversees curriculum, hires teaching assistants, and manages staff. Her mission is to ensure that the school is an effective, efficient, and happy place to work. To this end, she is committed to the Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism and Accessibility principles (I-EDI-AA) and works tirelessly to ensure that they are embedded in the school. Anna strives to meet the needs of students individually and collectively and facilitates regular, quality interactions between students and faculty through small seminars, research internships, and independent study opportunities. Constant curriculum innovation is on Anna’s radar as she focuses on gaps and opportunities and strategizes about how to address them years in advance. Recently, Anna was involved in all phases of creating an undergraduate kinesiology laboratory that has transformed students’ hands-on experience. This included securing the funding, renovating the space, and purchasing the equipment to meet the needs of faculty across a range of disciplines.

    Roof replacement work scheduled for Donald Gordon Hotel and Conference Centre

    The Donald Gordon Hotel and Conference Centre will be getting a new roof beginning in March. Work is expected to be completed by mid-August.

    Work on the new roof is expected to begin on March 20, with construction taking place daily, Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., through to the beginning of May.

    Tarring of the roof will follow in mid-June and is expected to take roughly two months to complete. Nearby residents are likely to notice a tar odour at times throughout this period. It will likely persist for a few days after the work is complete.

    The Donald Gordon Hotel and Conference Centre is located at 421 Union St., in Kingston. It includes 15 conference rooms and meeting spaces, and 80 hotel rooms and professional hospitality services.

    Supporting student refugees

    A longstanding Queen’s student group is recognized with a national award for its work to support students driven from their homes by conflicts around the world.

    Photograph of students in the Queen's-WUSC Local Committee with students in the WUSC Student Refugee Program and Teresa Alm, who supported the program as Associate Registrar
    Students in the Queen's-WUSC Local Committee with students in the WUSC Student Refugee Program and Teresa Alm (far left of front row), who supported the program as associate registrar, at the recent Student Recognition Awards reception.

    For the past 34 years, Queen’s students have been committed to supporting a group of their peers who may have more difficulties adjusting to campus than other students: refugees who are pursuing their education in Canada through the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program. Students serving on the Queen’s-WUSC Local Committee volunteer time each year to help forcibly displaced students set up lives in Canada, acclimate to their new surroundings, and get their bearings as new university students.

    Since 1989, they have welcomed and supported 36 refugee students. Now, the WUSC National Office is recognizing the longstanding commitment of the Queen’s local committee by presenting the group with its annual award for Outstanding Contribution to the Student Refugee Program.

    “The students who come to Queen’s through the WUSC program are experiencing an enormous change most of us can’t imagine,” says Aidan Sander, chair of the Queen’s-WUSC Local Committee and a student in the MD program. “Our local committee at Queen’s works hard to make their adjustment as smooth as possible. We help them set up Canadian bank accounts, teach them how to buy food in Canada, make sure they’re connected with their academic advisors, and anything else they might need. These students are on an incredible trajectory, and it’s an honour to be recognized by WUSC for our efforts to help them.”

    When these students arrive at Queen’s, the WUSC local committee connects them with a student mentor who becomes a go-to resource for getting established at Queen’s and in Canada. This can include anything from helping them set up wi-fi to teaching them how to access the Canadian health system. The local committee also builds a sense of community for these students by holding periodic social events throughout the year.

    Queen’s and the local committee working together

    Students established the Queen’s-WUSC Local Committee in 1989 and typically supported one student every other year through a student activity fee. In 2007, the university joined the effort and agreed to fund tuition, fees, and residence for refugee students in their first year. Then in 2013, Alfred Bader established the Principal Wallace Freedom of Opportunity Fund, which further supplements the financial support for the students. Today, the funding packaged provided to WUSC students is comprised of a combination of funds from the AMS and SGPS student activity fees, the Principal Wallace Freedom of Opportunity fund, and financial aid resources from the university.

    The four-year financial package covers all tuition and fees and provides funds for living expenses as well as items needed for academics and life in Canada, such as a computer and winter clothing. Queen’s generally supports one student in odd years and two students in even years. In 2016, the university sponsored five additional students from Syria, and in 2021 it committed to sponsoring five additional students from Afghanistan.

    The WUSC National Office facilitates the process of placing refugee students in a Canadian university, college, or CEGEP. They work with international agencies to find the students and with the Government of Canada to secure permanent residency for the students. They then coordinate with the local committees of different learning institutions to ensure plans are in place to support students.

    “Students who come to Canada through the WUSC program see a university education as a pathway to a better life for themselves and their families,” says Teresa Alm, recently retired associate registrar who was closely involved with planning for WUSC students for years. “Queen’s provides support so these remarkable individuals have time and space to work toward their dreams. They also bring an eye-opening perspective to campus that teaches many of us a lot about the experiences of people around the world who have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to conflicts.”

    Alm recently earned the Michael Condra Outstanding Student Service Award for her years of work supporting the WUSC Student Refugee Program at Queen’s. At the same ceremony, the students in the Queen’s-WUSC Local Committee were presented with the Peer Leadership Award.

    The impact of education

    Bassam Hashem, ArtSci’20 and MPA’21, is an alumnus from Iraq who came to Queen’s through the WUSC program and was funded by the Principal Wallace Freedom of Opportunity Fund.

    “When I learned about this, it was honestly a miracle,” says Hashem, speaking in a 2021 video of learning he would be a part of the program. “It was the two things I wanted at the same time—traveling to build a better future but also getting an education.”

    See the full video below or on the Queen’s Alumni website. Learn more about the WUSC Outstanding Contribution to the Student Refugee Program award on the WUSC website.

    Vice-Provost and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs reappointed

    Fahim Quadir, Vice-Provost and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
    Fahim Quadir has been appointed to a second five-year term as Vice-Provost and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.

    Fahim Quadir, Vice-Provost and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA), has been reappointed for a five-year term, effective July 1, 2023.

    During his first term as Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, Dr. Quadir articulated a vision and established core strategic priorities for graduate education and postdoctoral training aiming to reorient graduate training toward student success and civic engagement. With a commitment to Principal Deane’s six strategic priorities, he has strived to foster excellence and innovation in graduate education, intensify a culture of graduate and postdoctoral research, and expand professional skills and experiential learning opportunities. He has also worked to enhance the graduate student experience, promote equity, diversity, and Indigenization, develop a Strategic Graduate Enrolment Management (SGEM) protocol, and build a framework of global engagement. In 2019, he established the Working Group on Graduate Student Funding, which successfully announced the removal of differential fees for international PhD students to match those of domestic students. This groundbreaking initiative not only supports Queen’s research mission, but also enriches the University’s cultural diversity.

    Cultivating a culture of inclusion has been a focal point of his leadership during the last five years. Dr. Quadir collaborated with different stakeholders to implement several initiatives, including the adoption of an Indigenous Admissions Policy, the establishment of Indigenous Community-Based Research Funds, the creation of a significant award (Teyonkwayenawá:kon) for Indigenous scholars, and the formation of a team of Graduate Inclusivity Fellows. In 2022, the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs underwent a rebranding, as part of a broader strategy to elevate the visibility and experiences of postdoctoral scholars, who are integral to the University's research and teaching endeavors.

    During his second term, Dr. Quadir plans to continue remapping the landscape of graduate education in a dynamic environment that features both a new generation of students and promising opportunities for post-pandemic adaptation and reinvention.

    Vice-Provost and Dean Quadir specializes in International Development, International Relations and International Political Economy. He has edited/co-edited five books and published extensively in various international peer reviewed journals relating to Civil Society, South-South cooperation, emerging donors, aid effectiveness, good governance, democratic consolidation, transnational social movements, human security and regional development. The recipient of many awards and fellowships, including Fulbright, Killam, SSRC, and SSHRC, Dr. Quadir held academic positions at several other universities in the U.S., Canada, and Bangladesh.

    He currently holds the position of President Elect and Vice President of Canadian Association of Graduate Schools and has previously served as Chair of the Ontario Council of Graduate Studies (OCGS).

    Principal Patrick Deane and Interim Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Teri Shearer wish to extend their sincere thanks to the members of the Principal’s Advisory Committee for their exceptional commitment and sound advice.

    COMMITTEE MEMBERS

    • Teri Shearer, Interim Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) (Chair)
    • Dre Choi, Equity Advisor, Human Rights and Equity Office
    • Sandra den Otter, Vice-Provost (International)
    • Amir Fam, Professor and Vice-Dean (Research), Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
    • Kanonhsyonne (Janice Hill), Associate Vice-Principal (Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation)
    • Emils Matiss, Graduate Student Representative and Graduate Student Senator
    • Carlyn McQueen, Communications and Projects Manager, Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)
    • Lynnette Purda, Professor and Associate Dean (Graduate Programs), Smith School of Business
    • Steven Smith, Deputy Vice-Principal Research for Health Research, Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
    • Colette Steer, Manager, Graduate Experience, School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
    • Stefanie von Hlatky, Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Arts & Science
    • Mark Walters, Dean, Faculty of Law

    Queen’s community remembers Allan Douglas

    Allan DouglasThe Queen’s community is remembering Allan Douglas a long-time staff member of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, who died March 8 at the age of 86.

    Douglas started his career as a lab technician at Queen’s in 1956 at the age of 20 and spent his entire 40-year career with the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. In his work he provided media and supplies for the department’s labs. When he retired in 1996 he was recognized for his four decades of service, an honour he greatly appreciated.

    During his time at the university, Douglas also met, in 1964, his future-wife Mary Ellen, who also worked as a lab technician at the department. They dated, fell in love, were married in 1969 and had five children together.

    During his later years before retirement, Douglas found the time to audit a few courses in the Department of History to satisfy his deep love of history. This was a great opportunity since he had left high school to help his widowed mother. As well as history, he also loved philosophy, religion and fiction. He was an avid reader of books on the subjects. He was also a stamp collector from the time he was ten years old and especially collected the countries whose history he followed. He was honoured by the Kingston stamp club recently as the current oldest long-time member of their club.

    Woodworking was another hobby he enjoyed in his younger years and crafted rocking horses and other toys for his beloved children and grandchildren.

    Allan Douglas was a strong, quiet man of faith, a good husband, father and grandfather. He had a strong work ethic and always carried out his work with the same loyalty and commitment. His longstanding career in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology created many life-long friends and he will be remembered and missed by many.

    Written with files from Mary Ellen Douglas.

    A family obituary is available online.

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