Tag: Convocation

Approved tag

Governor General Silver Medals for three York undergraduate students 

GG Silver medal winners 2022

Three undergraduate students at York University have earned the Governor General’s Silver Medal, an award that recognizes the outstanding scholastic achievements of undergraduate students in Canada.

Receiving the medals are changemakers Samuel Isaac Dreyzin, Robert Alexander Khatib and Rosie Giannone.  

Recipients are selected based on their academic averages. 

“It is a special pleasure for me to recognize the prestigious undergraduate Governor General’s Silver Medal award winners,” says Rhonda L. Lenton, York University president and vice-chancellor. “It is here, at this important moment that we can see the result of countless decisive steps that our talented students have taken to launch their extraordinary futures. Rosie, Samuel, and Robert are inspirational not only in their academic achievements at York, but in their desire to give back to their support networks and to the larger community. We are proud to note that they are each on their way to further studies in law and medicine. I am looking forward to hearing more about these amazing young people in the future.”   

Samuel Isaac Dreyzin 

Samuel Dreyzin
Samuel Dreyzin

Dreyzin is graduating from the Commerce program (BCom) in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS). In addition to receiving the Governor General Silver Medal, he is a recipient of the York University Faculty Association Scholarship for his achievement in earning the highest grade point average in LA&PS. Dreyzin has also been awarded the John A. Sheran Memorial Scholarship and HSBC Bank Canada Scholarship in Administrative Studies for having the highest average in the Commerce program.  

Dreyzin is passionate about law, finance and investment management, and says he was fortunate to learn from many finance-related courses in his final year of the Commerce program. 

“It is such an honour to be awarded the Governor General Silver Medal,” said Dreyzin. “In addition to representing all of the time and hard work I have put into my academics, I want to dedicate this award to everyone who has helped me along the way: my parents, family, girlfriend, friends,and faculty members who have all supported me throughout my undergraduate studies.” 

During his studies at York University, he says he was fortunate to meet many supportive professors and TAs who assisted him in his studies.  

“In particular, I want to thank my TA, Mr. Lee Danes, from my first-year class Law and Morality in Literature and Culture (HUMA 1825),” said Dreyzin. “Mr. Danes not only offered an immense amount of care and assistance for all of his students during our class, but also provided a lot of support to me during my more recent law school applications.” 

Dreyzin says he will be pursuing a law degree in the JD program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in the fall. 

Robert Alexander Khatib 

Robert Khatib
Robert Khatib

Khatib is graduating with a bachelor of science in biology. Throughout his studies, he worked to extend his education to beyond the classroom. In his third year at York, he became engaged in the York University STEM Fellowship undergraduate indicium research competition, and had the opportunity to collaborate with peers on a self-directed research project on the behavioural aggression of western honeybee castes under the supervision of a research mentor. 

During his fourth year, he offered support to prospective York University students through the Science Student Ambassador Program, and had the opportunity to give incoming students the tools and information necessary to succeed at York University. 

“I am honoured to be a recipient of the Governor General’s Silver Medal. I believe that the Governor General’s medal represents a recipient’s passion and resilience during the learning process. Despite the challenges that I have faced during this process, I remained driven by my strong sense of passion for biology and community service. I dedicate this achievement to my amazing network of family, friends, and mentors that have provided support and guidance throughout my journey,” said Khatib. 

Khatib says he chose to study biology at York University because of the countless available academic resources and the rich social atmosphere on the campus. As well, he discovered that science programs at York University placed a unique emphasis on peer support through regularly hosted PASS sessions and the abundance of passionate mentors, which he says were “pivotal” to his achievements at York.   

This coming fall, Khatib will study medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (Western University).  

Rosie Giannone 

Rosie Giannone
Rosie Giannone

Giannone is graduating from York University with an honours bachelor of arts degree majoring in law and society and minoring in art history.  

Her coursework in law and society concentrated primarily on how laws and policies attempt to resolve, but sometimes promote various forms of discrimination. Giannone conducted a literature review in a fourth-year seminar led by Assistant Professor Laura Kwak to determine whether the term genocide is used in interdisciplinary scholarship to describe the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in accordance with the findings of the 2019 national inquiry.  

Studying art history allowed her to explore her interests in human creativity and expression with a focus on the social and legal issues that impact the art world. Giannone won an Art History Essay Award for an essay entitled “The Holy Virgin Mary and Sensation: Issues in Censorship, Sponsorship, and Artisanship.” With the support of Associate Professor Dan Adler, Giannone explored concerns over museum censorship, financial ethics, and the exclusivity of the Western art canon. 

“For me, receiving the Governor General Silver Medal is a recognition of the hard work, dedication, and passion I have put into my studies,” she said. “I am incredibly thankful for my brilliant professors who have fostered my talents by giving me the confidence to share my ideas and opinions in class and encouraging me to continue to refine my writing skills. I am also indebted to my family whose love and support have made it possible for me to put forth my best efforts, making my undergraduate education a tremendously rewarding experience.”  

Giannone’s passion for academics led her to volunteer as a peer note sharer with Student Accessibility Services throughout her undergraduate studies, helping students with disabilities overcome barriers to accessible education. She also held a work-study position as a student leader for the McLaughlin College Peer Mentors Network, providing first-year Law & Society Program students with academic resources, ensuring they have equal opportunity to succeed in university. 

Her passion for mentorship earned her the College Life Academic Coordinator Award for Outstanding Contribution and Leadership in McLaughlin College Peer Mentor Program. 

In September, Giannone looks forward to attending Osgoode Hall Law School on the Honourable William G.C. Howland Award of Excellence Entrance Scholarship.   

More about the Governor General’s Academic Medals 

For more than 140 years, the Governor General’s Academic Medals have recognized the outstanding scholastic achievements of students in Canada. They are awarded to the student graduating with the highest average from a high school, as well as from approved college or university programs. Pierre Trudeau, Tommy Douglas, Kim Campbell, Robert Bourassa, Robert Stanfield and Gabrielle Roy are just some of the more than 50,000 people who have received the Governor General’s Academic Medal as the start of a life of accomplishment. 

Today, the Governor General’s Academic Medals are awarded at four distinct levels: Bronze, at the secondary school level; Collegiate Bronze, at the post-secondary, diploma level; Silver, at the undergraduate level; and Gold, at the graduate level. Medals are presented on behalf of the Governor General by participating educational institutions, along with personalized certificates signed by the Governor General. There is no monetary award associated with the medal. 

Psychology has positive impact on the world, says Dr. Steven Stein

Steven Stein and President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton

By Ashley Goodfellow Craig

Think about how you can change the world, York University’s graduating psychology students, from the Faculty of Health, heard from honorary degree recipient Dr. Steven Stein during the convocation ceremony held June 13.

Stein, a clinical psychologist, former Chair of the Psychology Foundation of Canada, a current Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association and former instructor teaching Personality and Abnormal Psychology courses in York’s Psychology department from 1982-92, received an honorary doctor of laws.

With expertise in psychological assessment and emotional intelligence, Stein has become a prominent consultant and commentator on the field of psychology and shared with graduands the pillars of his career choices, which led to his success with his company Multi-Health Systems. It is an organization focused on psychology and psychological principles and has positively influenced the lives of tens of millions of people around the world. 

Honorary doctorate recipient Steven Stein
Honorary doctor of laws recipient Steven Stein

Remarking on York University as an “excellent training ground for psychology and other health related disciplines,” he urged the Class of 2022 to consider the “four Ps” – passion, pivot, positivity and purpose – as they move forward in their studies and their careers.

He shared the moment he discovered a passion for psychology at age 13 when he picked up his older brother’s copy of Freud’s General Introduction to Psychoanalysis and couldn’t put it down.

“I stayed up all night captivated by it. I then read Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams and followed up with other of his writings. Now, I’ve moved on from that school of thought long ago, but it was the passion of the concepts that stays with me,” he said.

This led to an undergrad, a master’s and a doctorate in psychology, during which time he learned that psychology could go beyond theory and academia and can have a positive impact on the world.

“This only increased my passion,” he said, adding that now, many of his peers in other professions have retired or are close to retirement, but his own passion for psychology persists. “It was the passion of psychology and the different areas it influences that has driven me along this path. My advice to you is to find something in your chosen career that you can be passionate about.”

Being open to change and opportunity is also key to success, and within that, the ability to pivot. The world today is changing more rapidly than ever before, he said, and we don’t really know where our career interests can lead us. The whole nature of work is shifting, so be open to new directions and don’t be afraid to pivot. 

The third “P” is positivity, and something that is often overlooked in the field of psychology, he said. In his own career in the early 90s as a clinical psychologist, he was investigating ways to start measuring positive attributes and the strengths that differentiate people who do well in life.

“At that time all of our assessments focused on the traditional disorders in psychology – depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, and so on – the negatives. I had been looking for a way to start measuring positive attributes, those things that were instrumental in peoples’ life successes.”

He partnered with psychologist Reuven Bar-On, and together they pioneered and published a tool to measure emotional intelligence.

“Focusing on positive attributes can be very rewarding and impactful,” he said.

Which leads to the fourth “P” – purpose.

“It’s really important to aim for something that’s bigger than yourself. Ideally something that benefits others – whether in your community, your country, or the world. Innocently, I aimed for the world. Amazingly I believe I’m succeeding.”

Psychology has enabled him to have experiences working with or impacting programs that include some of the most in need in our communities, people with severe mental health challenges, homeless women, serious multiple offenders, victims of offenders, and people struggling through poverty.  

“I had no idea of how limitless psychology could be. Psychology touches everything about being human,” said Stein. “So, as you start the next stage of your life, your career, keep in mind these four Ps. Think of how you can apply passion, pivot, positivity, and purpose to change the world and make it a better place.”

Honorary doctorate recipient Steven Lewis tells students to laugh often and stray from boredom  

Steven Lewis and Rhonda Lenton

By Alysia Burdi 

At York University’s 16th spring convocation ceremony, held on Monday, June 13, honorary doctor of laws degree recipient Steven Lewis told Faculty of Health graduating students there is little room for boredom and much room for laughter in the workplace.

Making light of the “disorientation and weirdness” of learning through the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewis acknowledged the creativity, agility and discipline each student has acquired since beginning their journey at York.  

“You’ve done it, you’ve made it, you’re through the tunnel and out into the light and ready to rock the world,” said Lewis. 

Honorary doctor of laws recipient Steven Lewis

Acknowledging his “irregular career path” and upbringing in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Lewis recalled the day he received a call from Rhonda Lenton, York University president and vice-chancellor’s office about receiving an honorary degree. In his address to the convocation, Lewis referenced his namesake, former Canadian Ambassador to the UN, Stephen Lewis and joked if students also share a name with someone like Beyonce Knowles or Nelson Mandela, they share his pain.  

However, despite sharing a name, a strong tie to the University and a shared connection to honour their work and society, there are differences the individuals have in their career paths.

The honorary degree recipient, Lewis is a profoundly articulate and persuasive communicator with a strong commitment to social justice and equity. For more than three decades, his ideas and perspectives have been sought by prime ministers, premiers, senior civil servants, and health professional associations all across Canada. 

“York honoured my illustrious namesake 36 years ago. I was assured President Lenton actually wanted to speak to me and now the celebrated Stephen Lewis and I are forever joined in confusion in the folklore of York University. It’s a much better deal for me than for him, and I am grateful for it,” Lewis bantered.  

Speaking to neuroscience, psychology, kinesiology, nursing, policy, management, informatics, disability studies and global health graduates, Lewis noted “your field spans from the cell to the planet. What unites them, as President Lenton said, is the intimate connection between health and social justice.” Lewis further stated, “York’s founding ethos was and is social justice. The world desperately needs more of it and your understanding of what it means for health is not only great grounding for your careers but is great grounding for your role in the wider world as well.” 

After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a master’s in political science, Lewis built a reputation as an innovative and inspiring public servant through roles such as the executive director of the Saskatchewan Health Research Board, director of the Indian Health Services at Health Canada, and CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Services Utilization and Research Commission. He has been the full-time president of his own health care consulting firm since 1999, and an adjunct professor of health policy at Simon Fraser University since 2007. In his capacity as a health services thought leader and consultant, Lewis served as an external advisor to York University in 1998. His contributions led directly to the establishment of the School of Health Policy and Management. 

Twenty years later the school is host to more than 1,100 students studying health policy, health management, health studies, health informatics, and critical disabilities. He is widely recognized as one of Canada’s most influential and distinguished health system consultants, innovators, and researchers. 

Lewis noted formal education and newly minted degrees are springboards to a life of service.  

“Every week heralds another scientific and technological achievement that are truly wondrous, and yet the planet is endangered, life expectancy has declined for the first time in centuries, and international relations are frayed. These problems are not technical; they are political. Durable and just solutions require deliberation, ingenuity and collective action grounded in human solidarity. Health – who has it, who doesn’t, what we invest in, what we ignore – is fundamentally political.” 

Lewis expressed he is uplifted and sometimes “blown away” by the energy and commitment of younger generations, and their willingness to experiment and adapt. He encouraged graduates to “step up, lead and nudge my generation out of the way and all will be better.” He went on to offer some gentle advice to the graduates – values that he too tries to follow in his everyday life. “Never stay in a job where you are bored. Bored people don’t make the world better… No job is a thrill a minute, but if you find yourselves bored for a few months, move on, there’s lots to do.”  

Lewis also encouraged graduates to work where people laugh.  

“Laughter doesn’t just soothe the soul, it’s much more than that,” he said. “President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine is a comedian. Many think that’s an odd background for a politician. I think it’s the source of his political genius and courage. Good comedy is a lens on our humanity… Comedy makes us see truths we might otherwise not see.” 

Lewis’ final note to graduates was to discover, apply, help people, repair politics, create community, seek justice, and save the planet. Acknowledging how tall of an order it may seem, he encouraged graduates to laugh at how big it is, to laugh often as they take on challenges throughout their future endeavours, to move on when bored and to learn from comedy.  

“If you can manage that, the burdens will not seem so heavy, the triumphs will be sweeter, and you will thrive. And through your efforts, so will the world.” 

Three York graduate students earn Governor General Gold Medals  

Three York graduates recipients of Governor General’s gold medals

Three York University graduates received this year’s Governor General Gold Medals, which recognize the outstanding scholastic achievements of graduate students in Canada. The 2022 recipients are Signy Lynch, Ilana Shiff and Allison Taylor. 

“We are incredibly proud of our talented York graduate students who have won the Governor General’s Academic Gold Medals this year. They join a rare and prestigious group of exceptional Canadian scholars who have gone on to high impact leadership in a variety of careers,” says Rhonda L. Lenton, York University president and vice-chancellor. “The two PhD recipients and one doctoral candidate are now recognized nation-wide for achieving the top levels of their graduate studies at York. Their academic journeys are just getting launched, and we can’t wait to see what they have planned for their future contributions.”    

Signy Lynch 

Signy Lynch

Lynch earned a PhD in Theatre & Performance Studies at York University under the supervision of Associate Professor Laura Levin. Her areas of research specialization include contemporary theatre in Canada, audience research, and theatre criticism. Lynch’s dissertation, “Intercultural relations: direct audience address in contemporary theatre in Canada,” examines how theatremakers construct performer-audience relationships to facilitate ethical exchange, intercultural understanding, and to affect social change. Her work on theatre criticism, which includes developing programs for the Toronto Fringe, challenges conventional approaches to imagine critical and creative practices that can reflect digital and intercultural present and futures. Her work in audience research has involved exploring new methodological approaches that seek to better understand difference in audience response, including the experiences of minoritized spectators. She has presented her work at national and international conferences, and has been published in a variety of journals and edited collections.  

“I am honoured to have been put forward for and chosen to receive this medal. I am grateful for the encouragement of my many mentors and of my colleagues, fellow PhD students whose support and friendship were essential to me throughout my PhD journey. I was drawn to York by my program’s (and the broader School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design’s) interdisciplinary approach, which has been an asset to my research and to my development as a scholar and a human being,” said Lynch. 

Lynch is the incoming co-director of the Centre for Spectatorship and Audience Research at Queen’s University and will soon begin a postdoctoral research fellowship contract at the University of Toronto Mississauga. 

Ilana Shiff 

Ilana Shiff

Shiff earned a master’s degree from the Clinical Developmental Psychology program at York University. Her research focused on the interactions between preschool children and their caregivers during child vaccinations. Specifically, she examined child and caregiver factors associated with patterns of increased distress during vaccination. This research has important implications for developing guidance for families and healthcare providers to support young children during painful procedures. 

“It is an incredible honour to receive the Governor General Gold Medal for the work I completed during my master’s degree. This award would not be possible without the unwavering support and mentorship I received from my supervisor, Professor Rebecca Pillai Riddell,” said Shiff. 

Shiff chose to pursue her graduate studies at York University because of its renowned and well-established Psychology Department, and specifically to work under the supervision of Riddell in the Opportunities to Understand Childhood Hurt (OUCH) Laboratory. Shiff notes she is thrilled by the research, academic and clinical opportunities afforded to her through her studies at the University. 

Shiff is currently a PhD student in the OUCH Laboratory at York University. Her doctoral research will focus on maternal-infant interactions in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 

Allison Taylor 

Allison Taylor

Taylor earned her Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)-funded PhD in Gender, Feminist & Women’s Studies at York University. Her dissertation, titled “Fattening Queer Femininities: The Pitfalls, Politics, and Promises of Queer Fat Femme Embodiment,” explored queer fat femme identities, embodiments and negotiations of oppressions. During her PhD she published in the areas of fat studies, queer theory, and critical femininities. Her work can be found in: the Journal of Lesbian Studies; Fat Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Body Weight and Society; Psychology & Sexuality; and The Routledge International Handbook of Fat Studies.   

“I am honoured and thrilled to receive this award. I hope that this award, in recognizing my research and the research of my colleagues, brings attention to the intense marginalization fat people experience, especially racialized, queer, trans, disabled and other multiply marginalized fat people, and demonstrates the importance of and critical need for fat studies scholarship,” said Taylor.  

Taylor came to York University to work with Allyson Mitchell, graduate program director and associate professor in the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. As her supervisor, Mitchell provided Taylor with support, opportunities for growth, and mentorship. Taylor also worked with Faculty of Education Associate Professor Chloë Brushwood Rose and Toronto Metropolitan University Professor May Friedman. Taylor notes her journey to completing her PhD is thanks to the support she received from both mentors, as well as from the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Graduate Program Administrator Yemi Adebisi, and her community of fellow graduate students and colleagues. 

Taylor is currently a SSHRC postdoctoral Fellow working under the supervision of Academic Director Carla Rice at Re•Vision: The Centre for Art and Social Justice.  

About the awards  

For nearly 150 years, the Governor General’s Academic Medals have recognized the outstanding scholastic achievements of students in Canada. They are awarded to the student graduating with the highest average from a high school, as well as from approved college or university programs. Pierre Trudeau, Tommy Douglas, Kim Campbell, Robert Bourassa, Robert Stanfield and Gabrielle Roy are just some of the more than 50,000 people who have received the Governor General’s Academic Medal as the start of a life of accomplishment. 

Today, the Governor General’s Academic Medals are awarded at four distinct levels: Bronze at the secondary school level; Collegiate Bronze at the post-secondary, diploma level; Silver at the undergraduate level; and Gold at the graduate level. Medals are presented on behalf of the Governor General by participating educational institutions, along with personalized certificates signed by the Governor General. There is no monetary award associated with the medal. 

‘Your difference is the difference,’ honorary doctorate recipient Frank Vettese tells Schulich grads

Chancellor Greg Sorbara, Frank Vettese, and President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton

By Ashley Goodfellow Craig

The first convocation ceremony for York University’s Class of 2022, held in person on June 10 at the Sobeys Stadium, addressed graduands of the Schulich School of Business with the inspirational message that “your difference is the difference.”

Frank Vettese, CEO emeritus of Deloitte Canada and two-time Schulich School of Business alumni (BBA and MBA), delivered a speech to graduands, their families and friends, after receiving his third degree from York University: an honorary doctor of laws.

Vettese served as longtime managing partner and chief executive at Deloitte, and also as the firm’s chief inclusion officer. He was also the first Canadian CEO to be recognized by the UN for commitment to the advancement of women in the workplace.

Frank Vettese
Honorary doctor of laws recipient Frank Vettese

A student at this University 40 years ago, Vettese recalled taking business school classes in a basement with no windows. The University, he said, was in its formative stage and not equipped with the leading-edge infrastructure it has today.

“But, I loved every minute of it,” he said.

Looking back on his education and career, he shared his observations on studying and working as an Italian – and how his ethnicity shaped his success in business.

“In my first year post BBA, a very senior businessperson commented that people from my ethnicity don’t progress through to the senior ranks of large public accounting firms. And you know, I wasn’t particularly offended it as actually offered as a simple observation,” he said. “I realize that today, my personal profile and attributes might be seen as anything but part of a minority, perhaps instead as core to the business establishment. It’s within this contrast that I see our inherit opportunity and hope for our future, notwithstanding that we are not yet where we need to be.”

He described his first job in construction, at age 14, as being “pretty true to the stereotype for the sons of Italians,” and said the experience taught him about taking pride in your work and offered an important life lesson that he still reflects on: that whatever you are doing, whether a summer job or your life’s dream, you need to be all in.

“Look for what contribution you can make, and own it,” he said. 

It’s also important, he told graduands, to have the courage to choose their pathways and to make those choices with conviction.

“Beyond family, this school, this University has been a cornerstone in my life and career,” he said. “It set in motion my personal path for decades to follow.”

As a student, he became familiar with York’s motto: Tentanda Via – the way must be tried, and shared that he didn’t fully understand it until later in life.

“Today I understand it to be the particular gift of this institution – a philosophy that was built for today’s world. Well beyond disseminating technical knowledge. To me, the motto is about mindset; about inclusion; about being nimble and about accessibility. Transcending barriers in our own unique ways. A deliberate shift from merely observing from outside the perimeter to catalyzing progress from within the core,” he said. 

As Deloitte’s inaugural chief inclusion officer, Vettese said he developed an unbridled optimism for the business community and society. He witnessed real progress in diversity and inclusion at the company that led to a culture of belonging, and shift in his own approach to his career personality.

Vettese encouraged graduands to embrace opportunities, approach careers with excitement and passion, and pay it forward. Dreams can come true, he said, in unexpected ways.

“Business is personal. Deeply personal; don’t ever let anyone suggest otherwise, and relationships truly matter. Talent, intelligence and knowledge are wonderful things to have. But how you treat, how you care for, how you make room for, and how you empower others matters the most,” he said. “We are not bound only by what we can see. Achieving our aspirations requires us to have courage, to be generous, be empathetic and to truly, not only embrace, but enthusiastically create change. For me, this is the way that must be tried.

“I wish you every success in business and in life. I want you to understand, and really feel that this community, this University, and your family have uniquely prepared you for anything you choose to take on. And always remember that your difference is the difference.”

Vettese also announced the establishment of a new endowment at York University in his honour of his parents-in-law, who he spoke highly of during his speech. The Andrighetti Community Scholarship will be a needs-based endowment for a female student committed to public service.

Elder Duke Redbird draws on the wisdom of Mother Earth

Elder Duke Redbird

By Jenny Pitt-Clark

During the Faculty of Education convocation ceremony for the Class of 2022 that took place on June 10, Indigenous Elder Duke Redbird delivered a moving and passionate address about Mother Earth, strawberries and universities, and the enduring spirit of a mentor.

The month of June is National Indigenous History Month and in the Indigenous calendar it is also Ode Miin Giizus or Strawberry Moon. June is also a time of new beginnings for York University students as they receive their degrees and embark on the next stage in their lives.

So it was fitting that during Ode Miin Giizus, the renowned poet, actor, journalist and Indigenous Elder, Duke Redbird (MA ’78), returned to York University to receive an honorary doctor of laws degree. In his convocation address that he delivered through poetry and a story, Elder Redbird spoke of the importance of strawberries, universities, the nourishment that knowledge provides and the enduring spirit of a mentor to a young strawberry heart.

Above, from left: York University Chancellor Gregory Sorbara, Elder Duke Redbird, and York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton

Elder Redbird began by reciting his celebrated poem “Our Mother The Earth,” which speaks to the essential sustenance and love that Mother Earth provides to all living creatures and the importance of sustaining and protecting her against the perils of climate change. With this poetic setting in place, Elder Redbird, in acknowledgement of Ode Miin Giizus, observed that “the strawberry is shaped like a heart. This fruit is associated with the teaching of ‘truth.’ And unlike every other fruit, the seeds of the strawberries are on the surface, and we humans, like these seeds, occupy the surface of the Earth.”

He noted that universities could also be described as strawberries of knowledge “that require the human heart with the desire for the truth to be nourishing and successful.”

Referring to his own strawberry heart, he told the story of how in 1975, he was interviewed by York University politics Professor Ed Dosman (now professor emeritus) for his research on Indigenous life and culture. For the young Redbird, who was then 36 years old, Dosman’s interview was one of many he had completed with academics who were researching Indigenous Peoples. “I was regarded as a primitive source at the worst, and a layman without a formal education at best,” said Elder Redbird, noting the interviews that quoted him were then used by researchers to acquire degrees and publish papers and yet his knowledge, which was so freely and truthfully shared, was not credited or cited as a source, a visceral concern he relayed to Dosman.

After this conversation, Dosman introduced Redbird to David Bell, then a professor in both political science and environmental studies at York University and a globally recognized expert in learning for a sustainable future. Dosman and Bell offered to sponsor Redbird as a mature student to pursue a master’s degree. “With the support of Professor Christopher Innis, the founder of the master’s degree program in Interdisciplinary Studies at York University, I was accepted as a candidate,” he said.

In the years that followed, enriched with the gifts of knowledge, friendship and mentorship from Bell, the young Redbird’s strawberry heart was nourished and ripened. “On a June day, much like today in 1978, 44 years ago, I was the only recipient of a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from York University,” said Elder Redbird.

Decades later, it was with a full strawberry heart that Elder Redbird once again turned to Bell. “Dr. David Bell passed in 2017. I wrote ‘Our Mother The Earth’ in 2020 during COVID-19. In my heart of hearts, I choose to believe that my friend David Bell co-authored the poem with me and was there in spirit when I recited it to a global audience last fall at the COP26 conference on Global Warming.” Poetry like science share many of the same insights and create new ways of thinking about the world, said Elder Redbird, who credited the theoretical physicist Carlos Rovelli with the original comparison. Elder Redbird asked the graduands to nourish their own hearts and minds by thinking of “nature as an Earth verse, like the Universe written by the Creator as beautiful, epic poem to embrace our spirits with love throughout our lifetimes.”

Elder Duke Redbird delivers his convocation address to graduands of the Faculty of Education
Elder Duke Redbird delivers his convocation address to graduands of the Faculty of Education

In closing his graceful story, Elder Redbird reminded all gathered for the convocation ceremony to continue to feed their own quest for knowledge because they too would eventually become ancestors. “Seven generations from now, the grandchildren of your grandchildren will be seeking the wisdom that you have learned and passed on in your lifetime,” he said. “I want to wish you every conceivable success as you continue to harvest the fruits of your enlightenment that may not have been tasted yet.”

Five faculty members receive 2022 President’s University-Wide Teaching Awards  

Vari Hall

Five individuals who have considerably enhanced the quality of learning for York students are recipients of the 2022 President’s University-wide Teaching Awards.  

The faculty members who will receive an award at the 2022 Spring Convocation Ceremonies include: Faculty of Health Professor Michael Connor, recipient in the senior full-time category; Faculty of Education Professor Susan D. Dion, recipient of the senior-full-time category; Lassonde School of Engineering Professor Andrew Maxwell, recipient of the full-time faculty category; Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) Professor Carolyn Steele, recipient of the contract and adjunct faculty category; and Janice Anderson of LA&PS, recipient of the teaching assistant category. 

Rhonda Lenton
Rhonda L Lenton

The purpose of the awards is to provide significant recognition for excellence in teaching, to encourage its pursuit, to publicize such excellence when achieved across the University and in the wider community, and to promote informed discussion of teaching and its improvement.  

“York University has a well-established reputation for high quality teaching,” says York University President and Vice Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton. “This past year was no exception, despite on-going challenges associated with the pandemic, as evident in the foundational work of our five extraordinary award recipients who found innovative ways to incorporate international activities, experiential education and technology-enhanced learning to inspire another generation of students to drive positive change in their communities and in the world. We are deeply grateful for the superb contributions of this year’s recipients as well as of all our course directors.” 

The awards demonstrate the value York University attaches to teaching and recognizes individuals who, through innovation and commitment, have significantly enhanced the quality of learning for York students. The recipients are selected by the Senate Committee on Awards. Recipients receive $3,000, have their names engraved on the University-Wide Teaching Award plaques in Vari Hall and are recognized at convocation ceremonies. 

The President’s University-Wide Teaching Award recipients are:

Full-time tenured faculty with 10 or more years full-time teaching experience 

Michael Connor

Professor Michael Connor was selected as a recipient in the senior full-time category. The nomination file prepared by Professor Angelo Belcastro speaks eloquently to Connor’s achievements in providing excellence towards student learning, in supporting teaching development, and in his dedication to program and curricular development as undergraduate program director (UPD) in the School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. Connor has been influential in his role as UPD in ensuring excellence, quality, and exemplary service in leading the undergraduate program. Maintaining the quality of such a large program is time intensive, and yet Connor is noted to tirelessly make himself available to listen to, and address each student’s concern, no matter the request. A core feature to Connor’s teaching strategies has been to employ multiple teaching approaches such as technology-enhanced learning, critical thinking assignments, and experiential education which are all complemented by his clear passion for teaching.  

Connor also strives to make course content relatable and meaningful to students, and to make each student’s voice heard by creating a safe and inclusive environment to ask questions. In addition to his role as course director for two demanding courses, and his responsibilities as UPD, Connor has been recognized as an outstanding mentor to undergraduate and graduate students, having taken the time to supervise 23 undergraduate students for independent research studies (including two summer Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Awards (NSERC USRA) students) and 17 MSc and PhD graduate students thus far. Connor serves as Chair on the Faculty of Health Committee on Examinations and Academic Standards, and as a member of the Faculty of Health Committee on General Education Requirements where he has been on the task force for developing effective teaching and learning practices at the faculty level.  

Full-time tenured faculty with 10 or more years full-time teaching experience 

Susan D. Dion

Professor Susan D. Dion was selected as a recipient in the senior full-time category. The nomination file prepared by Professor Sean Hillier describes Dion as a shining example as an educator, scholar and community advocate. Dion is also an internationally recognized Indigenous educational scholar at the cutting edge of the field. The letters of support for her nomination consistently referred to Dion’s teaching style as clear, respectful, kind and supportive, always asking the best of her students and making accommodations for those who need time to develop their thoughts allowing all to think deeply and authentically. Dion is noted for thinking and writing about her scholarship, teaching and service contributions as inextricably interwoven, and works to embody her life as a University professor through the themes of community, story, cultural practice and ceremony.  

Dion sees cultivating relationships between the University and Indigenous Peoples is part of her responsibility. She has a particular focus on both what and how teachers teach and ways that systems operate regarding Indigenous education and on hearing and learning from the voices of Indigenous Peoples and their encounters within systems of education. During her 19 years at York University, she has worked with colleagues in the Faculty of Education, across the University and at universities across the country sharing stories of land, history and Indigenous perspectives. While she is committed to teaching non-Indigenous educators how to represent the humanity and diversity of Indigenous people’s experiences and perspectives, she is equally committed to creating opportunities for Indigenous students to access postsecondary education, and specifically to access programs that are relevant to their experiences, perspectives and needs. 

Full-time faculty (tenured/tenure stream/CLA) with less than 10 years teaching experience 

Andrew Maxwell

Professor Andrew Maxwell was selected as the recipient in the full-time faculty category. The nomination file prepared by Professor Alex Czekanski highlights Maxwell has played an active role on the undergraduate curriculum committee since joining Lassonde and has worked with many colleagues to enhance their course proposals and design. He is a leader in the deployment of new technologies in the classroom and online, including using TopHat, iClicker, PolleV, and Peer Scholar. His deep links in the community, both locally and internationally, have enabled him to invite multiple guests to the school, to stimulate student engagement, and inspire the next generation of engineers. In addition to mentoring undergraduate students and supporting graduate students, Maxwell’s role in the Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Techology (BEST) Lab allows him to mentor and support over 20 budding technology entrepreneurs from Lassonde, the Faculty of Science and Schulich School of Business. He is also the mentor for Lassonde Engineering Society, Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), Lassonde Renaissance Engineering, and several other student activities.  

Maxwell pioneers new approaches to student learning, such as encouraging first-year engineering students to participate in non-engineering activities across campus, and through active promotion of, and participation in activities such as StartUp Weekend, Engineering Competition, ElleHacks and Engineers Without Borders. Specifically, he has transformed the annual Mercier lecture to a bi-monthly Mercier seminar, so that over 1,000 students a year can meet with visiting guests. This activity is complimented by his active role in the community, where he has videotaped 500 guest lectures, which he not only shows in his classes, but shares with the broader academic community. Maxwell is a member of the evaluation committee for the Academy of Management’s Entrepreneurship Pedagogy Award, where he provides feedback and guidance to those developing new entrepreneurship pedagogies. He is also a member of the Entrepreneurial Engineering Consortium, focusing on integrating aspects of the engineering and entrepreneurship curriculum. 

Contract and adjunct faculty 

Carolyn Steele

Professor Carolyn Steele is the recipient in the contract and adjunct faculty category. The nomination file prepared by Professor Bridget Cauthery speaks to Steele’s many achievements including developing new courses, consulting on curricular change, mentoring hundreds of students and stewarding numerous projects that have fundamentally shifted and reinvigorated teaching and learning at York University. She is also the recipient of many faculty teaching awards. In 2020, Steele received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching for LA&PS and the Department of Humanities Award for Teaching Excellence. Since 2019, she has been a member of the Research and Innovation in Teaching and Learning Subcommittee convened by the associate dean as part of the Teaching and Learning Council. Currently, Steele is part of the leadership team on a proposed three-year University-wide Academic Innovation Fund project to embed Sustainable Development Goals into York’s curricular vision at all levels. In each of these capacities, Steele is recognized as a pioneering educator with a strong vision for curricular change. It is Steele’s commitment to teaching boldly, to supporting students in developing a growth mindset, to championing work-integrated learning, and to developing innovative yet sound teaching and pedagogical practice through her scholarship of teaching and learning and greater University service that distinguishes her as an innovative faculty member.  

This is further demonstrated in a letter of support provided by student Carolyn White which states, “Professor Steele’s approach to teaching and learning has contributed to my development in essential skills that will positively influence my future career, qualities such as critical reasoning, problem-solving and daring to take creative approaches to problems… In my view, she is exceptional as a teacher and a mentor in every aspect.”  

Teaching assistants 

Janice Anderson

Janice Anderson was selected as the recipient in the teaching assistant category. The nomination file, prepared by York University alumnus Zamani Ra speaks to Anderson’s impactful and innovative practices which directly contribute to the enhancement of student success. Anderson listens to the immediate needs of her students through one-on-one and office hour sessions, advocates for necessary support, and develops individual plans of action for student success. Anderson’s practices informed skills development in student writing, the implementation of course-wide critical reading sheets, and support for colleagues and students navigating university systems during the emergence of major institutional changes due to COVID-19. Recognizing the different learning abilities of students, Anderson pivoted to uncommon methods of engagement to maintain student interest and support critical thinking to the students’ own amazement. 

In a letter of support, student Chantelle Afriyie describes Anderson’s teaching approach as follows: “Care [is] an integral part of her teaching pedagogy. Students are encouraged to see themselves as valuable contributors to humanity first and foremost who have been afforded the privilege to share communal space in a university classroom and participate with their ‘whole self.’” Anderson created a recycling course material program that connected former students with new students. At the beginning of the semester, she held a raffle for new books and set students on a path to pay the learning forward by opting into a shared book/give back program which demonstrates true community building with other equity-seeking groups across intersectional lines. Highlighted in the letters of support in the nomination file is Anderson’s innate ability to safely engage emergent ideas from students and ensure they know their value in world-making practices. 

In previous years, four awards are offered each year in the noted categories. Following on past practice, the Committee came to the decision that two professors would share the award for full-time tenured faculty this year. The Committee found the nomination files for this category to be particularly strong and determined that both nominees are equally deserving of the award. 

In keeping with the committee’s commitment to valuing diversity and equity within the York community, the committee made sure to discuss these values during the adjudication process. 

York’s Convocation celebrates 2020 and 2021 graduates with special alumni ceremonies

Spring Convocation 2022 alumni ceremony

Spring Convocation at York University began on June 3 with special alumni ceremonies to celebrate Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 graduates.

The alumni ceremonies, held at the Sobeys Stadium (formerly the Aviva Centre), continued through to the morning of June 9, with one final alumni celebration for Glendon graduates taking place on June 18 at Glendon Campus. Class of 2020 graduands will be celebrated at ceremonies from June 9 (afternoon) to June 18.

The addition of alumni ceremonies gave students who graduated virtually during the pandemic an opportunity celebrate their milestones in person, with family and friends.

With 26 ceremonies in total running from June 3 to 18, the 2022 Spring Convocation is the largest in the University’s history.

View photos from the alumni ceremonies below:

45
Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 graduands were celebrated during York University’s Spring Convocation ceremonies from June 3 to 8 (Photos by Gary Beechey)

AMPD launches graduation preparation podcast  

Final Mile Podcast banner

York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD) launched a graduation preparation podcast series, The Final Mile Club (FMC). Hosted by Dean Sarah Bay-Cheng, the podcast features industry guests including former Canadian Academy of Cinema & Television CEO Beth Janson, Hollywood set decorator Carolyn Loucks, and Marvel Studios voice actor Isaac Robinson-Smith. 

Just in time for the University’s Convocation ceremonies, the podcast discusses topics on how to score success in interviews, master a cold call and find enjoyment in exploring unexpected career pathways. Though designed for graduating students, the series can provide helpful advice for creatives at any stage in their artistic journey.  

“The transition from the university to industry is challenging, but AMPD graduates have the talent and drive to succeed. This program is a way to build support and awareness as they get started and learn how their skills apply to a range of opportunities,” says Dean Bay-Cheng. “I’m grateful to our alumni, supporters, and the arts and cultural leaders who are willing to share their expertise and experiences with our students. We are grateful for the funding to launch this and look forward to growing the program in the years to come.” 

The series is hosted on the AMPD Podcast website and is widely available across podcast platforms, including Spotify. 

Episode overview 

Combining Passion with Meaningful Work – Carolyn Loucks   
Explore how to expand your creative career path with Hollywood set decorator Carolyn Loucks. Her work on Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, Robocop and The Incredible Hulk are just some of the career highlights throughout her more than 25-year career. Loucks discusses the importance of continuous education, work-life balance, and how first gigs out of school can lead to the unexpected. 

Finding Your Voice: Auditions, Practice, and Finding Your Own Path – Isaac Robinson-Smith   
Perfect the art of auditing with Los Angeles’ rising voiceover star Isaac Robinson-Smith who has nabbed roles in Marvel Studios’ What If…? and Black Panther: War for Wakanda. Discover how new graduates can gain confidence through audition preparation, performer community versus competition and finding relatable side-hustles that build toward a successful career.   

Getting Started in the Arts – Beth Janson   
Master the art of the cold call with Beth Janson, former CEO of the Canadian Academy of Cinema & Television and the current COO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). With more than two decades of experience in film and television across North America, Janson offers practical advice for the first steps in transitioning from university to the working world.  

Carolyn Loucks   
Isaac Robinson-Smith   
Beth Janson   

FMC prepares emerging artists, makers, performers, and designers for life after graduation. The podcast examines creatives unique challenges through conversations with prominent alumni and industry experts.

There will be two additional episodes released in July and August. Season two of the podcast will be filmed in Fall 2022/Winter 2023. Tune in online.

York University to confer 12 honorary degrees during Spring Convocation

convocation students facing stage

Spring Convocation celebrations will take place from June 9 to 18 and will be the first in-person Convocation on the University’s campuses since the beginning of COVID-19. Throughout the ceremonies, 12 honorary degrees will be awarded.

Rhonda Lenton
Rhonda Lenton

“Convocation is one of the proudest events in the academic year, for students and their families, as well as faculty and staff,” says Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor of York University. “I continue to be inspired by our students’ desire to drive positive change both locally and globally. In York’s largest convocation ceremonies in history, I look forward to recognizing the academic achievements of our 2020, 2021 and 2022 graduates and graduands, and extending my heartfelt congratulations to them in person.”

This year’s Convocation is preceded by a week-long alumni celebration, during which all 2020 and 2021 graduates who attended virtual ceremonies are being welcomed back to campus in celebration of their degrees. The Alumni Ceremonies at Keele Campus began Friday, June 3 and run until Thursday, June 9. Glendon alumni will attend the campus’s main ceremony on June 18 (full schedule here).

Convocation ceremonies for the Class of 2022 will take place from Thursday, June 9, to Friday, June 18 (full schedule here). Keele Campus ceremonies will be held at the Convocation Pavilion at Sobeys Stadium (formerly Aviva Centre), located at 1 Shoreham Dr. Glendon Campus ceremonies will be held at Glendon Green, located at 2275 Bayview Ave.

Total attendance is expected to top 25,000, including more than 9,000 graduates from all three graduating classes, and their guests.

This year’s honorary degrees recognize outstanding contributions to community building, social justice, mental health advocacy and Indigenous rights.

“The individuals we are celebrating with honorary degrees represent the best of what York University stands for – our commitment to enhancing the well-being of the communities we serve – toward reconciliation, human rights, social justice, and more,” notes Lenton. “Their remarkable accomplishments serve as inspiration for York’s newest graduates and for all of us.”

Below are the honorary degree recipients in order of the ceremonies at which they will be honoured:

Frank Vettese (Schulich School of Business, Friday, June 10, 10:30 a.m.)
Frank Vettese is CEO Emeritus of Deloitte Canada, where from 2012 he served as managing partner and chief executive. He also served as the firm’s chief inclusion officer and was the first Canadian CEO to be recognized by the UN for commitment to the advancement of women in the workplace.

Elder Duke Redbird (Faculty of Education, Friday, June 10, 3:30 p.m.)
Elder Duke Redbird is a multifaceted artist, practising a variety of disciplines including literature, painting, theatre, cinema and most recently rap poetry. His 1978 York master’s thesis, We Are Métis, continues to be a seminal text on the Métis people.

Dr. Steven Stein (Faculty of Health, Monday, June 13, 10:30 a.m.)
Dr. Steven Stein is clinical psychologist whose expertise in psychological assessment and emotional intelligence has made him a prominent consultant and commentator. He is former Chair of the Psychology Foundation of Canada, and currently a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association.

Steven Lewis (Faculty of Health, Monday, June 13, 3:30 p.m.)
Steven Lewis is a health-services expert and consultant who played a key advisory role in the establishment of York’s School of Health Policy and Management. He has been a member of the National Forum on Health, the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Health Council of Canada, among other organizations.

Silken Laumann (Faculty of Health, Tuesday, June 14, 10:30 a.m.)
Silken Laumann won three Olympic medals in rowing, including a bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Games, only three months after suffering a career-threatening injury. She is now a motivational speaker and life coach who uses her unique experiences to promote mental, physical and spiritual health.

Terri Lyne Carrington (School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, Tuesday, June 14, 3:30 p.m.)
Terri Lyne Carrington is a professor and multi-Grammy-winning jazz drummer who has performed with such famous musicians as Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz and Wayne Shorter. She was the first woman to win a Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

Olive Senior (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Wednesday, June 15, 10:30 a.m.)
Olive Senior is an award-winning Canadian writer and public intellectual of Jamaican heritage. Her work has been translated into multiple languages, and her Encyclopedia of Jamaican Heritage is a widely read and cited reference text.

Anna Porter (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Wednesday, June 15, 3:30 p.m.)
Anna Porter is a publisher, novelist, memoirist, historian, and cultural and political analyst. Her tenures as editor and then publisher with McClelland and Stewart as well as founder of Key Porter books, helped foster an explosion in Canadian literature that began in the 1970s and continues today.

David Miller (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Thursday, June 16, 10:30 p.m.)
David Miller is a lawyer, professor, international environmental activist, and former mayor of Toronto. His two-term administration emphasized waterfront renewal, public transit and municipal reform, and community safety.

Neil Shubin (Faculty of Science & Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change, Friday, June 17, 10:30 a.m.)
Neil Shubin is a paleontologist, evolutionary biologist and fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. His discovery of a Tiktaalik Roseae fossil skeleton on Ellesmere Island in 2004 is among the most important paleontological finds of the 21st century.

Constance Backhouse (Osgoode Hall Law School, Friday, June 17, 3:30 p.m.)
Constance Backhouse is multi-disciplinary scholar, social activist and cultural critic. Her extensive writing on such subjects as reproduction, family, sexual harassment and the legal profession has influenced government policy.

John Van Burek (Glendon, Saturday, June 18, 2 p.m.)
John Van Burek is a world-renowned theatre producer and translator with some 50 works to his credit. He founded Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre and le Théâtre français de Toronto and has taught at universities in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.

More details on Spring Convocation are available online.