Women in Canadian PSE reflect on International Women’s Day

Several women academics and leaders in Canadian postsecondary education marked International Women’s Day by penning editorials and raising awareness. “The history of International Women’s Day is not an academic one,” said University of Northern British Columbia Associate Professor Dr Zoë Meletis. “[But] universities give us a place and a home to help mark it, and so we think it’s important.” Brandon University Dean of Science Bernadette Ardelli spoke to the Brandon Sun about her experience working in STEM and her efforts to encourage other STEM faculty to be role models for students. Institutional leaders such as Brock University President Lesley Rigg, York University President Rhonda Lenton, and York VP Equity, People & Culture Sheila Cote-Meek issued statements to their communities about the day’s importance. Rebecca Jaremko Bromwich of the University of Manitoba and Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant of Queen’s University each wrote editorials about International Women’s Day and gender inequality for The Conversation.