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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

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:

    Image of Dr. Karla Dhungana-Sainju

    Dr. Karla Dhungana-Sainju (she/her), WIRC Chair and Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

     

    Image of Dr. Jana Abou Ziki

    Dr. Jana Abou-Ziki (she/her), Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science





    Image of Dr. Janette Hughes

    Dr. Janette Hughes (she/her), Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 2), Faculty of Education

     



    Image of Dr. Amy LeachDr. Amy Leach (she/her), Associate Dean and Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities

     

     

    Image of Dr. Carol RodgersDr. Carol Rodgers (she/her), Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences

     

     

    salmakarray.jpegDr. Salma Karray (she/her), Professor, Faculty of Business and IT

     

     

    meaghancharest.jpgDr. Meaghan Charest-Finn (she/her), Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

     



    jessica.jpegDr. Jessica Wong (she/her), Banting Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Faculty of Health Sciences



    Image of Eileen AdamsEileen Adams (she/her), EDI Project Co-ordinator, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

     

     

    Image of Victoria GinsleyVictoria 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

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Dr. Nonoyama, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

    Cassandre Dion Larivière, PhD Student, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Cassandre Dion Larivière, a PhD student in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities.

    Erin Giroux, Masters Student, Faculty of Science

     This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Erin Giroux, a Masters Student in the 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 career

    Women 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

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Dr. Agarwal, an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Science

    Astrid DeSouza, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Health Sciences

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Astrid DeSouza, a PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Health Sciences

    Kelly Wang, Masters Student and STEAM 3D-Maker Lab Research Assistant, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Kelly Wang, a Masters Student and STEAM 3D-Maker Lab Research Assistant in the Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education

     

    October 18, 2023

    Dr. Salma Karray, Professor, Faculty of Business and IT

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Dr. Karray, a Professor in the Faculty of Business and IT

    Vikki Ginsley, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Vikki Ginsley, a PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

    Saba Molazadeh, Masters Student, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Saba Molazadeh, a Masters Student in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

     

    October 11, 2023

    Dr. Nooshin Rotondi, Associate Teaching Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Dr. Nooshin Rotondi, an Associate Teaching Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences

    Erica Gavel, PhD Candidate, Paralympian, Faculty of Science

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Erica Gavel, a PhD Candidate and Paralympian, in the Faculty of Science

    Zahraa Bassyouni, Masters Student, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Zahraa Bassyouni, Masters Student in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

     

    October 4, 2023

    Dr. Jen Rinaldi, Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Dr. Jen Rinaldi, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

    Dr. Jessica Wong, Banting Post-Doctoral Fellow, Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Faculty of Health Sciences.

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Dr. Jessica Wong, a Banting Post-Doctoral Fellow of the Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, in the Faculty of Health Sciences

    Tess Butler-Ulrich, Doctor of Education Graduate Student, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Tess Butler-Ulrich, a Doctor of Education Graduate Student in the Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education

  • November Features

    November 29, 2023

    Dr. Annie Lee, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Dr. Annie Lee, an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Science.

    Jen Calver, PhD Student and Registered Practical Nurse, Faculty of Health Sciences

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Jen Calver, a PhD student in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

    Virginia Chiu, MSc Candidate, Faculty of Science

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Virginia Chiu, an MSc Candidate in the Faculty of Science.

    November 22, 2023

    Dr. Karolina Krystyniak, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Business & IT

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Karolina Krystyniak, an Assistant Professor, in the Faculty of Business and IT.

    Alana Tyner, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Science

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Alana Tyner, a PhD Candidate, in the Faculty of Science.

    Larissa Janssen, Masters Student and Research Assistant, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Larissa Janssen, a Masters Student, in the 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

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Dr. Leigh Harkins, a Professor in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

    Susan Yousufzai, Research Assistant with Dr. Barakat, Faculty of Health Sciences

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Susan Yousufzai, a Research Assistant in the Faculty of Health Sciences

    Adrianna Trifunovski, Masters Student, Faculty of Health Sciences

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Adrianna Trifunovski, a Masters Student in the Faculty of Health Sciences

     

    November 8, 2023

    Dr. Zeinab El-Sayegh, Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Dr. El-Sayegh, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

    Victoria Baker, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Victoria Baker, a PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

    Noor Khabbaz, Masters Student and Research Assistant, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Noor Khabbaz, a Masters Student and Research Assistant in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

     

    November 1, 2023

    Dr. Robyn Ruttenberg-Rozen, Assistant Professor, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Dr. Robyn Ruttenberg-Rozen, an Assistant Professor in the Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education

    Basak Cakmak, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Science

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Basak Cakmak, a PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Science

    Sarah Kirkpatrick, Masters Student, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

    This photo is a Women’s Wednesday feature of Sarah Kirkpatrick, a Masters Student in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

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