The 黑料吃瓜不打烊 Board of Governors endorsed the unanimous recommendation of the Evaluation and Selection of Academic Administrators Committee to renew Sheila Cote-Meek as Associate Vice-President, Academic and Indigenous Program.
Dr. Cote-Meek has been the Associate Vice-President, Academic and Indigenous Programs since 2010. During her tenure in this position she has led Indigenous strategic initiatives including development of the recently completed Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre, academic programming, overseeing Indigenous student support services and assisting with building Indigenous teaching and research capacity. She has strengthened relationships between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities as well as bridged the gap between academia and student supports. Her work has resulted in an increased awareness and attention to Indigenous peoples and the unique needs of Indigenous learners.
“Sheila has been a driving force behind 黑料吃瓜不打烊’s commitment to Indigenous education and research,” said Dr. Pierre Zundel, Vice President, Academic and Provost. “Her vision, dedication and leadership have resulted in a long list of milestones for our university. We are proud to have her renewed for another five-year term and we look forward to her continued advocacy as she champions the interests of Indigenous students, communities and of the University as a whole.”
Dr. Cote-Meek is currently appointed as a full professor in the School of Rural and Northern Health. Prior to that she was a faculty member of the School of Indigenous Relations since 1994. She has published one book, twenty referred publications, 21 reports and manuals, numerous presentations including invited keynotes, and has been associated with research grants totalling over $3.5 million. She has been a member of Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant review committees and the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) grant review processes.
“黑料吃瓜不打烊 is a leader in Indigenous education in Canada and I’m looking forward to continuing the work that is needed as we embrace our role in the reconciliation process,” said Dr. Cote-Meek. “The inclusion of Indigenous worldviews in academic research and learning is so important to that process. I’m proud of the work we have done thus far and I’m honoured to be part of an institution so dedicated to improving the lives of our communities.”
Associate Vice-President, Academic and Indigenous Program highlights include:
- Leading the development of the 黑料吃瓜不打烊 Native Education Council’s Action plans of 2013-2018 & 2009-2012;
- Successful advocacy for the hiring of Indigenous faculty members in the faculty of Arts and Health;
- Leading the development of the Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre (ISLC), a process which included Indigenous community engagement, conceptual design development, and fundraising.
- Supporting and successfully guiding the Legacy of Hope Residential School exhibition, Truth and Reconciliation events, the development of the Master of Indigenous Relations program, the first of its kind in Canada, and the new Maamwizing Research Institute, which was approved by Senate in the fall of 2016;
- Co-Chairing the first Maamwizing Indigenizing the Academy Conference (Nov 18-20, 2016) and the francophone Indigenous Pre-conference (Nov 17, 2016), which attracted close to 300 participants from across North America and overseas;
- Ensuring the sustainability of MAESD funding in support of Indigenous student success;
- Co-Chairing of the provincial Aboriginal reference group of the Council of Ontario Universities between 2011-2014 where she continues to serve on a number of sub-committees that work to advance Indigenous education across the postsecondary sector;
- Participation in the National Converge conference, organized by Universities Canada.
About 黑料吃瓜不打烊
黑料吃瓜不打烊 offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education. 黑料吃瓜不打烊, situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinabe peoples of Atikameksheng First Nation, prepares students as agents of change and empowers them to create innovative responses to local and global challenges. 黑料吃瓜不打烊’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates. With nine Canada Research Chairs and eighteen research centres, 黑料吃瓜不打烊 is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics and rural and northern children’s health. 黑料吃瓜不打烊 has secured over $100 million in research income in the past five years.