The President's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (EDIAC) was established in fall 2020 with 15 members. This committee includes students and employees from across campus to bring a breadth of lived experiences and expertise.

The committee is made up of individuals from equity-deserving groups, allies and subject matter experts with knowledge and experience in equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA), anti-racism and related areas. Committee members bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives, including those from historically marginalized communities who have faced inequity and discrimination.

Under the leadership of the associate vice-president, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the committee’s mandate is to:

• provide advice and recommendations to the president that relate to Mount Royal University (MRU)’s activities, which may include strategic plans, university policies, procedures and practices;
• advise on an aspirational vision for EDIA at MRU that establishes actionable priorities to support meaningful change;
• promote a campus environment that is equitable, diverse and inclusive, nurturing a strong sense of belonging for all;
• support annual priorities and specific areas of focus as set out by the president each academic year;
• support the EDI Office through sub-committee work to adjudicate EDI Opportunity Fund applications and contribute to other institutional EDIA priorities and initiatives.

The committee will provide ongoing recommendations to the president and vice-chancellor within MRU’s evolving EDIA framework and the University Strategic Plan so that goals and actions can be developed, enacted, communicated and monitored.

By encouraging compassionate and empathic dialogue, the committee hopes to learn from the lived experiences of everyone in the MRU community. If you would like to reach out to the committee or have questions, please email EDI@mtroyal.ca.

 

 

 

Areas of focus and contribution 2023-24

• Support and provide feedback to the AVP EDI on strategic planning and MRU’s strategic plan goals related to EDI (goal 4), Indigenization and Decolonization (goal 5), and being an employer of choice (goal 6).
• Continue to oversee the EDI Opportunity Fund and advise on how it can be deployed for maximum impact in the MRU community.

 

 

Committee members (2024-25)

• Dr. Moussa Magassa (Chair)
• Dr. Michael Uzoka (Vice-Chair)
• Tala Abu Hayyaneh (Student)
• Fiona Chetty (Student)
• Anisa Tilston (Student)
• Logan Facette (Student)
• Tyler MacDougall (Student)
• Dr. Gloria Perez-Rivera (Employee)
• Dr. Uthpala Senarathne Tennakoon (Employee)
• Dr. Peter Choate (Employee)
• Annamaria Hopson (Employee)
• Dr. Jennifer Pettit (Employee)
• Lorna Ludwig (Employee)
• Svati Balaji (Employee)
• Michelle Dow (Employee)
• Arleen Gallo (Employee)
• Chris Rogerson (Employee)
• Valeria Dalidowicz (Employee)
• Andrea Hennel (Resource)
• John Fischer (Resource)
• Kit Turner (Resource)

Special projects advisors to the committee are:

• Mikayla Kardynal (Marketing and Communications)
• Feden Abeda (Office of Safe Disclosure)
• Genri Liclican (Student)