2022 Distinguished Academics Awards Recipients

The Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia (CUFA BC) announced the winners of the 2022 CUFA BC Distinguished Academics Awards:

• Early in Career Award: Dr. Travis Salway (Simon Fraser University)
• Ehor Boyanowsky Academic of the Year Award: Dr. Sarah Wright Cardinal (University of Victoria)
• Paz Buttedahl Career Achievement Award: Dr. Colin Bennett (University of Victoria)

At CUFA BC, we see first-hand the outstanding scholarship and public policy contributions of faculty at BC’s research universities. Every year since 1995, the CUFA BC Distinguished Academics Awards series has honoured faculty whose ideas contribute to the community beyond the university and whose scholarship demonstrates the necessity and vitality of university-based research in the public interest. “For twenty-eight years now, we have celebrated faculty who contribute in significant ways to our citizenry and democratic landscape, our intellectual life, and our economy,” says CUFA BC President Dr. Dan Laitsch. “The awards bring a welcome opportunity to recognize how much faculty research contributes to our communities.” Congratulations to the winners and all the nominees for these awards. The awards were presented at a gala reception at the Laurel Point Inn on April 13, 2022.  

Learn more about the winners of the CUFA BC 2022 Distinguished Academics Awards

Early in Career Award – Dr. Travis Salway, Simon Fraser University

Dr. Travis Salway, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, has been awarded the Early in Career Award, which recognizes contributions to the non-academic community made by faculty members who are at an early point in their academic careers. As a social epidemiologist, Dr. Salway investigates structural health inequities in the context of stigma, focusing on Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2S/LGBTQ) people. His research has resulted in an improved understanding of patterns and causes of mental health outcomes among 2S/LGBTQ people. He was also integral in providing evidence-based recommendations to strengthen Canada’s anti-conversion therapy legislation. Dr. Salway’s commitment to advance health equity and social justice exemplifies the academic citizenship recognized by the CUFA BC Distinguished Academics Awards. 

Toggle below to see more conversation with Dr. Travis Salway.

Ehor Boyanowsky Academic of the Year Award – Dr. Sarah Wright Cardinal, University of Victoria

Dr. Sarah Wright Cardinal, Assistant Professor in the School of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria, has been awarded the Ehor Boyanowsky Academic of the Year Award, which recognizes a specific and recent outstanding contribution to the community beyond the academy through research or other scholarly activity by an individual at any stage of their career. Dr. Wright Cardinal is a Cree educator from northern treaty 8 territory with Coast Salish, Dene, and Nuu-chah-nulth, extended family relations. Her work centres the importance of healing from colonial disruptions to Indigenous identities, and addresses these fractures with land, water and spirit-based teachings and practices that contribute to children, youth, and community wellness. In 2020, Dr. Wright Cardinal was awarded a SSRHC Partnership Development Grant entitled “Reclaiming Nuu-chah-nulth teachings to empower and strengthen the roles and responsibilities of Pacheedaht young men.” This two-year project involved documenting the carving of a 33-foot cedar dug-out canoe by a Master Carver and youth apprentices, as well as building language and cultural mentorship, and developing a youth wellness model for rural and remote Indigenous communities.

Toggle below to see more conversation with Dr. Sarah Wright Cardinal.

Paz Buttedahl Career Achievement Award – Dr. Colin Bennett, University of Victoria

Dr. Colin Bennett, Professor of Political Science at the University of Victoria, has been awarded the Paz Buttedahl Career Achievement Award, which is awarded to a faculty member who has shown sustained outstanding contributions to the community beyond the academy through research or other scholarly activities by an individual over the major portion of their career. Dr. Bennett is world renowned for his contributions to the global effort to protect privacy over the course of his thirty-plus year career. Dr. Bennett’s work reminds us that privacy is not just a legal and technical issue of interest to governmental and corporate elites, but an intrinsic human right under threat from a range of powerful institutional and technological forces. He regularly provides reports and expert testimony to provincial, national, and international governments, and has a reputation for independence and impartiality. While Dr. Bennett’s research addresses some of the most significant privacy issues of the day, his research methods involve extensive collaboration across twenty-five countries with leading scholars, public and private organizations, and civil society groups.

Toggle below to see more conversation with Dr. Colin Bennett.

Recognizing the Nominees

The Awards Selection Committee had the extremely difficult task of selecting award recipients from the many outstanding nominees, whose excellence is indicative of the high quality of British Columbia’s faculty and of their many contributions to the life in British Columbia. From one year to another, the nominees hail from different institutions and disciplines, and conduct research in very different domains. However different their work may be, they are united by their passion for rigorous and meaningful scholarship – and for research that contributes to the public good. We congratulate all of the nominees who have clearly earned the deep respect of their colleagues, both inside and outside of the academy.

Dr. Nancy Clark is Assistant Professor at the Department of Human and Social Development at the University of Victoria.  Dr. Clark was nominated for her work with refugee women, looking at their health and experience of integration in Canadian Society. Through her work, Dr. Clark aims to better the mental health and wellbeing of Canada’s newcomers and therefore strengthen the Canadian Society.

Dr. Theodore Cosco

Dr. Theodore Cosco is Assistant Professor of Mental Health & Aging at the Department of Gerontology at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Cosco was nominated for developing a unique and powerful research program in aging and health. His innovations have produced initiatives that connect research to practical health solutions in the community. Dr. Cosco has secured research funding in excess of $1 million, which has helped to develop meaningful relationships with a large network of partners from across healthcare, government, and business sectors.

Dr. Hany Fahmy

Dr. Hany Fahmy is Associate professor at the School of Business at Royal Roads University. Dr. Fahmy was nominated for his work on Energy Finance, Energy Economics and the Economics of climate change. Dr. Fahmy’s work demonstrates an outstanding research track and significant contributions to the global effort to mitigate climate change. He is an advocate for student mental health, particularly working to alleviate math anxiety for students. Dr. Fahmy is also recognized for contributing to the improvement of health care quality in Malawi and economic growth in Egypt, and for capacity building in rural and remote Indigenous communities in New Brunswick.

Dr. Katya Rhodes

Dr. Katya Rhodes is Assistant professor at the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria. Dr. Rhodes was nominated for her work on low-carbon economy transitions from the perspective of climate policy design. Her work draws on energy-economy models, statistical models, and comparative policy analysis methods. Dr. Rhodes prepares all-encompassing best practices that help reduce climate change while promoting policy acceptability, inclusivity, and reconciliation.

The following faculty members were nominated for the 2022 CUFA BC Ehor Boyanowsky Academic of the Year Award:

Dr. Catherine Costigan

Dr. Catherine Costigan is Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Victoria. Dr. Costigan was nominated for her research on immigrant and refugee families new to Canada, addressing issues like social inequalities and oppressive attitudes that create barriers for these newcomer families. Dr. Costigan’s research identifies risk and protective factors within these vulnerable families and the ecological contexts that shape trajectories of health and wellbeing.

Dr. Madjid Mohseni

Dr. Madjid Mohseni is Professor at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Mohseni was nominated for his work on advanced water treatment processes, specifically on physical-chemical treatment processes and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and oxidation technologies. He is the Co-founder f RESEAU-CMI, a non profit that has made significant efforts in the improvement of drinking water and community health in Indigenous and rural communities.

Dr. Catherine Nolin

Dr. Catherine Nolin is a Professor at the Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia. Dr. Nolin was nominated for her work on gendered, political, and social aspects of state-sponsored structural and social violence. Driven by the belief that people should be allowed to lead a life within society that reflects their common values and aspirations, in spite of differences and inequalities, Dr. Nolin illuminates human rights violations and aims to promote the preservation of human dignity.

Dr. Danuta Skowronski

Dr. Danuta Skowronski is the Epidemiology Lead of Influenza & Emerging Respiratory Pathogens at BCCDC, Clinical Professor in the UBC School of Population & Public Health and Principal Investigator, Canadian SPSN. Dr. Skowronski was nominated for her work understanding the effects of immunity on the epidemiology of respiratory viral diseases using influenza as a model. Dr. Skowronski’s research was instrumental in the global fight against COVID-19, informing public health recommendations that allowed BC and Canada maximize vaccine control and optimize reduction in mortality at a time when vaccine supplies were limited.   Dr. Jianbing Li Dr. Jianbing Li is a professor and professional engineer at the School of Engineering at the University of Northern British Columbia. Dr. Li was nominated for his work on marine oil spill cleanup and waste water treatment processes. He is the co-lead of the Decanting and Oily Waste Management program which has made significant strides in methods used to separate oil from water. Dr. Li also works on researching the development of an effective, low-cost, portable water treatment for remote and rural communities where the consumption of untreated water poses health risks.

Dr. Mary Jung Dr. Mary Jung is Associate Professor at the School of Health and Exercise Sciences at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Jung was nominated for her program with Kelowna YMCA, Small Steps for Big Changes, through the delivering of evidence based research, behaviour-change counselling and health coaching has helped people diagnosed with pre-diabetes reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This program has scaled to more than 12 communities in BC and across Canada and has demonstrable impact on the health and lives of people living with pre-diabetes.    Professor Hannah McGregor Professor Hannah McGregor is Assistant Professor of Publishing at Simon Fraser University. Professor McGregor was nominated for her contributions to transforming the landscape of public scholarship through the development of scholarly podcasts that engage thousands of listeners around the world. Co-creator of the Amplify Podcast Network, Canada’s first scholarly podcast network. Professor McGregor has emerged as a leader in areas of feminist theory, critical media, publishing, literary and gender studies. She is also the creator of Witch, Please, a feminist rereading of the Harry Potter series.

The following faculty members were nominated for the 2022 CUFA BC Paz Buttedahl Career Achievement Award:

Professor Henry Daniel

Professor Henry Daniel is Professor in the Department of Contemporary Arts at the Simon Fraser University. Professor Daniel was nominated for his use of performance arts to foster discussion about challenging social issues. Over the last twenty years, this prolific dancer, choreographer, and scholar has gained an international reputation in bridging performance and scholarship, and positioning artistic practice as a valid research enterprise. He has helped scholars and members of the public articulate and engage in some of the most challenging issues facing society. Professor Daniel proves through his work that art and performance can provide space for essential conversations about issues facing society and the academy today, including the role of scholars in political efforts to decolonize and indigenize their institutions.

Dr. Lee Gunderson

Dr. Lee Gunderson is Professor in Department of Language and Literary Education at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Gunderson was nominated for his work in promoting success and opportunity through literacy for immigrant students in Canada. Dr. Gunderson’s work saw to the development of his research-based literary teaching strategies for both ESL and non-ESL students, knowing that children’s ability to read and write is foundational to their educational success, integration to society and the future mental and social wellbeing. Dr. Gunderson was instrumental in developing strategies for public schools to support student learning, as well as developing policies and assessment practices that contributed to the success of students across British Columbia and elsewhere.

Professor Jonathan Moore

Dr. Jonathan Moore is Professor in Department of Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University. Professor Moore was nominated for his research in the conservation of BC’s aquatic eco-system, with a particular focus on BC’s salmon watersheds. Professor Moore has written more than 110 papers in top journals in the field, and he is widely seen as an international leader in the conservation and ecology of salmon ecosystems. Professor Moore contributed crucial research to support the conservation victories in the Skeena River estuary, where critical estuary habitat were protected from the proposed impacts of an LNG export terminal. Professor Moore connects his research discoveries beyond the scientific community to society, community leaders, and decision-makers through a strategic portfolio of science communication products, such as reports, press releases, op-eds, policy briefs, and presentations.

Dr. Faisal Khosa

Dr. Faisal Khosa, MD, MBA is Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Khosa was nominated for his work on gender and racial disparities in academia. His work helps to ensure a sustainable legacy of inclusive excellence in academia, increasing accessibility of higher education and achievement for underrepresented students. Dr. Khosa has shown exemplary initiative and leadership through actions that epitomize altruism, integrity, persistence, and perseverance in serving those in need. His research has catalyzed academic and social change.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS AND NOMINEES!