President’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee
The President’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee was set up in fall 2020. Its membership is made up of students, faculty and staff from across campus to bring a breadth of lived experiences and expertise together.
The committee provides ongoing recommendations to the president and vice-chancellor within the University’s evolving EDI framework of activities, policies and procedures so that tactical goals and actions can be developed, enacted, communicated and monitored.
If you have an EDI initiative you would like to share with the committee or have questions, please email EDIadvisory@mtroyal.ca.
The 2023-24 committee members are:
| Dr. Moussa Magassa Joseph Nguyen Yasmin Ahmed Dr. Michael Uzoka Dr. Israel Dunmade |
Dr. Peter Choate Michelle Dow Arleen Gallo Feden Abeda Dr. Uthpala Senarathne Tennakoon Jessica Havens |
Dr. Ana Pardo Chris Rogerson Tala Abu Hayyaneh Pamela Malec Prabhjit Grewal Annamaria Hopson |
Anisa Tilston Isha Thompson Kit Campbell Dr. Jennifer Pettit John Fischer Andrea Hennel |
Mount Royal University signs on to Scarborough Charter
Mount Royal University joined more than 40 post-secondaries across Canada on November 18, 2021 in signing on to the Scarborough Charter on anti-Black racism and Black inclusion in Canadian higher education. Mount Royal is committed to continuing to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives and address all forms of systemic racism on our campuses and in our communities. We recognize there is more work to be done and will continue to engage with the campus community.We believe that working collaboratively with the other signatories of the Scarborough Charter will help combat anti-Black racism to advance a more diverse and equitable post-secondary sector. We are proud to join the other institutions across Canada that continue to learn and make this a priority.
We commend the members of the Inter-Institutional Advisory Committee that developed the charter for its dedication and commitment to addressing anti-Black racism and effecting positive change in the higher education sector.
MRU hires first AVP, Equity Diversity and Inclusion
In March 2022, MRU was proud to announce Dr. Moussa Magassa as the first associate vice-president, equity, diversity and inclusion. Magassa earned a PhD in curriculum and instruction from the University of Victoria, a Master of Arts in human security and peacebuilding from Royal Roads University, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in conflict resolution and peace studies from KwaZulu Natal University in South Africa. Through education and experience he has observed that there are many misconceptions around EDI work, including that it is something done to help others, but Magassa asserts that every person benefits when people with different perspectives, lived experiences, backgrounds, and identities are invited to participate and share what they have to offer.
Read the announcement
EDI Opportunity Fund
In Ocotber 2022, The Office of the President created the EDI Opportunity Fund under the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. The fund provides financial support of up to $15,000 to propel initiatives that identify and remove systemic barriers on campus. The fund can be used as financial support for a guest speaker, curriculum changes, special events, training, creative showcases, space enhancements that incorporate universal design, and so much more.
The EDI Opportunity Fund is available to support:
- new initiatives;
- enhancement of existing programs, services, and offerings;
- updated features or redesign of spaces and physical resources for better accessibility;
- conferences or training on campus that would be available to students, faculty, staff, and administrators free of charge;
- guest speakers who specialize in areas of interest not covered by the expertise of MRU faculty and staff;
- student research initiatives that centre EDI and/or contribute to related on-campus opportunities; and
- activities or items that would enhance the curriculum.