Women in Research Council
In keeping with Ontario Tech University’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and the Office of Research Services (ORS) are launching the Ontario Tech University Women in Research Council (WIRC). The specific mandate of the Council is to develop and implement initiatives to invest in gender equity at Ontario Tech by helping to actively nurture and retain talented women who can help advance and lead the university in research, teaching and beyond.
*Anytime we refer to “women”, we are referring to all women, which includes, but is not limited to trans women, gender non-conforming women, non-binary women, individuals who are feminine of centre, femmes and cisgender women.
The funding for this program is provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Institutional Grant program.
-
Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee is invested in the development and implementation of WIRC initiatives at Ontario Tech University. The Committee is dedicated to nurturing and retaining talented women faculty, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students. The WIRC Advisory Committee is comprised of:
Dr. Karla Dhungana-Sainju (she/her), WIRC Chair and Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Dr. Jana Abou-Ziki (she/her), Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Dr. Janette Hughes (she/her), Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 2), Faculty of Education
Dr. Amy Leach (she/her), Associate Dean and Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Dr. Carol Rodgers (she/her), Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences
Dr. Salma Karray (she/her), Professor, Faculty of Business and IT
Dr. Meaghan Charest-Finn (she/her), Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Dr. Jessica Wong (she/her), Banting Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Faculty of Health Sciences
- Jennifer Freeman (she/her), Executive Director, Office of Research Services
Eileen Adams (she/her), EDI Project Co-ordinator, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Victoria Ginsley (she/her), PhD Student (Criminology and Justice), Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
-
Women's Wednesday Features (Current Month)
Each Wednesday, the WIRC will highlight faculty, post-docs and students from across our university to recognize the incredible #WomenOfOntarioTech
December 6, 2023
Dr. Mika Nonoyama, Associate Professor and Registered Respiratory Therapist, Faculty of Health Sciences
Cassandre Dion Larivière, PhD Student, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Erin Giroux, Masters Student, Faculty of Science
-
Women In... at Ontario Tech
Women in.... at Ontario Tech!
The WIRC would like to highlight other women-centered groups at Ontario Tech. There are incredible student-led groups, as well as non-profit organizations, dedicated to nurturing and expanding the role of women in various industries. They promote the inclusion and promotion of women identified students and faculty members. Below are a selection of the incredible groups at Ontario Tech.
Women in Business
Ontario Tech Women in Business Association's goal is to provide resources to women on their corporate and entrepreneurial journey with our exclusive events. Women in Business want to educate, create, and inspire! They aim to provide learning opportunities for both the student population and faculty, addressing common obstacles women face in all areas of the business world. They create a fun and safe environment for students to receive resources and provide opportunities for them to thrive in both an entrepreneurial and corporate careerWomen in IT
WIT is a student-run sub-association (within the Business & IT department) that is committed to empowering and improving the experience of females in IT fields, both inside and outside Ontario Tech University. Past events include a Women in the Workplace conference, Women in Leadership events, game nights, movie nights and equity talks!Women in Engineering
Founded in 2004, the Women in Engineering Society at Ontario Tech University, is a non-profit organization within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. It was created by a female engineering professor and an engineering advisor to address the issue of a lack of female engineers within the faculty. Since its creation, Women in Engineering has grown to include over 100 female engineering students. They also run a mentorship program for upper year engineering students, matching them with women in the engineering field!ACM-W Student Chapter
The Association for Computing Machinery's Women in Computing (ACM-W) Student Chapter was founded in 2016. It aims to connect students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and STEM-related fields. It also acknowledges women are a minority in STEM fields, especially in computing. The chapter focuses on career development, professional networking and educational support. It hosts a number of annual events to help students develop both personal and professional skills. Furthermore, the student chapter strives to bring awareness to common issues women face in the professional world, and provide them with support, encouragement and a voice on campus. The ACM-W Student Chapter is open to all students who support women in computing! The chapter invites membership from all students who share STEM-related interests, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or gender.Women in STEM
Ontario Tech University's Women for STEM program provides opportunities for female students to fulfill their potential in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-based fields. Women for STEM is built on three pillars to engage and empower women: Mentorship and networking opportunities; Scholarships for women in STEM fields of study; Celebrating the achievements of women as innovators, entrepreneurs and change agents. Their goal is to raise $2 million dollars to provide 200 entrance scholarships and 600 in-course scholarships to Ontario Tech students over a 10-year period.SHE LEADS
She Leads was created when our team was identifying certain needs on our campus and in our larger social environment and we noticed a lack of female empowerment opportunities. A female’s voice is just the thing that is needed in this day and age to make a long-lasting impact throughout communities. We can accomplish a lot with the right platform and an everlasting ambition. With every project we initiate, we strive to connect females within our community so that, as per our slogan, She Leads, She Empowers, and She Succeeds.Stay tuned for more features to come!
Previous Month's Women's Wednesday
-
October Features
October 25, 2023
Dr. Nisha Rani Agarwal, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science
Astrid DeSouza, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Health Sciences
Kelly Wang, Masters Student and STEAM 3D-Maker Lab Research Assistant, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
October 18, 2023
Dr. Salma Karray, Professor, Faculty of Business and IT
Vikki Ginsley, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Saba Molazadeh, Masters Student, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
October 11, 2023
Dr. Nooshin Rotondi, Associate Teaching Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Erica Gavel, PhD Candidate, Paralympian, Faculty of Science
Zahraa Bassyouni, Masters Student, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
October 4, 2023
Dr. Jen Rinaldi, Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Dr. Jessica Wong, Banting Post-Doctoral Fellow, Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Faculty of Health Sciences.
Tess Butler-Ulrich, Doctor of Education Graduate Student, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
-
November Features
November 29, 2023
Dr. Annie Lee, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science
Jen Calver, PhD Student and Registered Practical Nurse, Faculty of Health Sciences
Virginia Chiu, MSc Candidate, Faculty of Science
November 22, 2023
Dr. Karolina Krystyniak, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Business & IT
Alana Tyner, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Science
Larissa Janssen, Masters Student and Research Assistant, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
November 15, 2023
Dr. Leigh Harkins, Professor, Graduate Program Director of Forensic Psychology, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Susan Yousufzai, Research Assistant with Dr. Barakat, Faculty of Health Sciences
Adrianna Trifunovski, Masters Student, Faculty of Health Sciences
November 8, 2023
Dr. Zeinab El-Sayegh, Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Victoria Baker, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Noor Khabbaz, Masters Student and Research Assistant, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
November 1, 2023
Dr. Robyn Ruttenberg-Rozen, Assistant Professor, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education
Basak Cakmak, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Science
Sarah Kirkpatrick, Masters Student, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities