Mohit Dudeja Honoured with Lakehead Leader Award

The Lakehead Leader Recognition Program celebrates exceptional students who have made valuable contributions within the university and beyond. This year, Mohit Dudeja, a PhD student and Contract Lecturer, was a recipient of a Lakehead Leader Award.

Mohit was nominated by two individuals: his doctoral supervisor Dr. Gerald Walton, and a colleague who wished to remain anonymous.

Gerald noted that since Mohit began his studies in the Joint PhD in Educational Studies program in 2022, he has “excelled academically while also launching community programs at Lakehead and beyond. He is the recipient of ten monetary and four non-monetary awards, including the prestigious CSSE Congress Graduate Merit Award and the Henry Mandelbaum Graduate Fellowship for Excellence in Social Sciences, Humanities, or Arts. Demonstrating exceptional leadership, Mohit founded and leads campus-wide initiatives such as the Queer Graduate Circle and expanded his India-based non-profit organization (Mendlife Foundation) to Canada, providing vital support to Queer and BIPOC students in Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay Counselling, Family Service Ontario, and Research with International Students have all benefitted from his volunteer service.”

Mohit’s colleague added that “it would be justified to say that Mohit is a go-to person for international students in Thunder Bay. Be it navigating campus organizations, finding a job in Thunder Bay, or seeking peer support for mental health, Mohit is the answer that many students on campus will give. Arriving in Thunder Bay, struggling to adjust, I almost lost hope until someone recommended, I reach out to Mohit… his support alleviated academic pressure and provided long-term mental health resources, creating a sense of belonging and safety during a difficult transition.”

Gerald adds that Mohit’s “initiatives and active participation in campus groups have gained media attention … his commitment to academic excellence, community engagement, diversity, inclusion, and social change sets him apart.”

Congratulations, Mohit!