Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is celebrating four social justice leaders for their commitment to building an inclusive university community.
Dr. Alan Davis, KPU’s president and vice-chancellor, presented the annual Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Awards at a ceremony April 28 at the university’s Surrey campus.
Recipients of the 2023 awards: Dr. Asma Sayed, Canada Research Chair in South Asian Literary and Cultural Studies; Dr. Jennifer Hardwick, an instructor in KPU’s English department and chair of policy studies; Dr. Tara Lyons, a criminology instructor and chair of the KPU Research Ethics Board; and Kayla Garvin, a student and advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities at KPU.
“We are grateful for the dedication and commitment of these leaders for not only making our university an inclusive place to work and study, but for ensuring our employees and students feel accepted and valued for who they are. Building a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion at KPU makes us stronger,” says Davis.
Dr. Sayed served as chair of KPU’s Task Force on Anti-Racism, which led to the creation of the university’s Office of Anti-Racism. Sayed now leads the office as associate vice-president, anti-racism.
“As we move proactively towards making post-secondary institutions more just and inclusive, we need to recognize the labour that many people, especially those with lived experiences of marginalization and discrimination, are putting into this work. I am humbled to receive this award as I continue to challenge systemic and structural barriers through my research and activism,” says Sayed.
Dr. Hardwick has worked tirelessly to support equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives at KPU, along with decolonization and anti-racism efforts at the university.
“It feels a little odd to be acknowledged as an individual because building a just and inclusive institution is always a collaborative process, and I’m deeply indebted to so many colleagues, students, and community partners for leading the way. That said, I’m very grateful for the award – it is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the work completed and the work ahead – and I’m particularly honoured to be added to a list of past and present recipients that I greatly admire,” says Hardwick.
Dr. Lyons, recognized for promoting social change in areas of research, policy, and teaching, is also an active member of KPU’s Pride Advocacy Group. In a recent exploratory research study, Lyons led a team of student researchers in examining the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ students at KPU with an aim to create safer classrooms and more inclusive access to services.
“I’m incredibly proud of the student researchers on my team. They have been instrumental in the project and continue to work hard to ensure our research findings contribute to meaningful and tangible improvements for 2SLGBTQIA+ KPU students,” says Lyons.
As a Pride Advocacy Group student representative, Garvin has played a key role in many of its initiatives. Garvin also established the student-run KPU Pride Society, and is a member of Lyons’ research team.
“Over the last year I’ve been privileged to work with other amazing students in building a 2SLGBTQIA+ community on campus. This has been the highlight of my time at KPU, and I hope this community continues to flourish,” says Garvin.