Brian Weishar, Contract Lecturer and Faculty Advisor at the Orillia campus, has been awarded a Contribution to Teaching Award for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The Senate Teaching and Learning Committee commended Brian for his commitment to fostering a collaborative and student-centered learning environment. His emphasis on meaningful social interaction among students, along with his practice of actively seeking students’ feedback, reflects a thoughtful and responsive approach to teaching. The Committee also highlighted Brian’s dedication to regular communication—through D2L check-ins, direct conversations, and instructional videos outlining teaching plans and offering advice—as further evidence of his proactive commitment to helping students succeed. His consistently high teaching scores further underscore this commitment.

"I certainly try to provide teacher candidates with learning experiences I think will be relevant to their own practice. It was very sweet of students to take the time to nominate me. It is such a gift to have the chance to work with teacher candidates—I learn a great deal from them."

Congratulations, Brian!

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!

The Faculty of Education is proud to share that Gisella Scalese, Education Librarian (Thunder Bay campus) has received the Academic Librarianship Award from the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA).

This prestigious award recognizes Gisella’s outstanding contributions and leadership in librarianship. As noted on the by OCUFA website, the award "embraces all aspects of librarianship that contribute to the scholarly achievement of all members of the university community."

Gisella has served as the Education Librarian since 2002. Her award nomination, led by Dr. Gerald Walton (Professor, Education), included letters of support from faculty, staff, and students that praised her dedication, her student-centered approach, and her advocacy for equity, diversity, and inclusion.  

Gisella’s work has earned widespread admiration. Lakehead University President Dr. Gillian Siddall commended Gisella’s alignment with the university’s commitment to social justice, while the Lakehead University Students’ Union (LUSU) praised her support for international, Indigenous, and marginalized students. Faculty members also highlighted her collaborative approach, pedagogical insight, and the welcoming, inclusive learning environment she fosters. Here are some highlights of Gisella’s accomplishments that earned her this award.

Co-leading the Anishinaabemowik – Indigenous Languages Program Historical Documents Digital Archive

In 2023, Gisella co-led the creation of a digital archive dedicated to preserving teaching resources and documents from the Native Language Instructors Program, dating back to the 1970s. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Anishinaabemowik Program Coordinator and Lakehead’s archivist, includes materials from longtime instructor Tom Beardy, whose family gave their blessing for the project. The archive now serves as a vital resource for those teaching Ojibway and Oji-Cree.

Enhancing Community in the Education Library, Thunder Bay

In 2016, Gisella initiated a reorganization of the education library space at the Thunder Bay campus in consultation with faculty, staff, and students. Her vision reshaped the physical space of the library into a vibrant, collaborative environment that supports academic and emotional well-being. Events like therapy dog sessions, craft nights, movie screenings, Lunar New Year celebrations, and Drag Storytime have brought students together, fostering a sense of community and belonging. Significantly, the redesign was accomplished with no additional expenditures beyond the existing library budget.

Hosting Drag Storytime and Building 2SLGBTQIA+ Resources

Gisella introduced Drag Storytime events at the Thunder Bay campus. In partnership with the Pride & Gender Equity Centre, she has curated an expansive collection of Pride resources including picture books, young adult fiction, non-fiction, and teaching materials on gender expression, Two-Spirit identity, and inclusive education. Inclusive signage and Pride flags greet visitors at the library entrance, offering a visible sign of support of diversity and inclusion.

Supporting Research and Teaching Excellence

Gisella has developed over 40 specialized library guides on topics such as Indigenous education, language instruction, and social justice literature, directly supporting teacher candidates, graduate students, and faculty. She has taken a leadership role in exploring the implications of AI in education, developing workshops and surveys to help the university community adapt to emerging tools.

Her award nomination was supported by 61 students who shared their experiences through a survey. Their testimonials speak to impact Gisella has had on their experience at Lakehead:

• Gisella is genuinely interested in hearing about my research and always asks for updates. She also reaches out when she comes across a potential research paper that I may find helpful.
• Every time I am at one of the traditional First Nations ceremonies that are hosted in the Faculty of Education, Gisella is there. I believe this speaks volumes to the person they are and their willingness to learn, support, and advocate for First Nations culture.
• She is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that we have all of the tools we need to be successful as researchers.
• Gisella brought my attention to modern research technologies that have helped tremendously with my grad school research. [She] did this in a way that made me feel heard, empowered, and supported.
• Gisella puts on amazing events that bond our school community. She works so hard to provide us with the best resources, teaches us about the various tech we have access to, and is always a friendly and caring presence. If anyone deserves this award, it is her!

These comments speak to depth of Gisella’s influence—not just as a librarian, but as a mentor, advocate, and community builder. This well-deserved award honours both her remarkable career to date and the transformative power of libraries as community spaces that support teaching and learning.

Dr. Pauline Sameshima (Professor, Faculty of Education) is part of an innovative, First Nations-led research initiative that aims to enhance health and wellbeing through arts integrated Indigenous research methods.

The five-year project, titled Dandhigu Yimbana: Listening on Country for Social and Emotional Wellbeing, has received a funding grant of $868,000 AUD through the Australian Research Council’s 2025 Discovery Indigenous grant scheme.

The research applies Arts-Informed Indigenist Research (AIIR) methods to explore how Indigenous arts and culturally grounded research practices can address epistemic violence, support healing, and foster culturally safe research environments that promote health equity. The team will work closely with communities engaged in Indigenous health and wellbeing research, aiming to shape how social and emotional wellbeing is understood and studied in Indigenous contexts.

The project is led by Dr. Vicki Saunders, a Gunggari researcher at CQUniversity’s Jawun Research Institute in Australia.Central to the research is the Gunggari concept of Dandhigu Yimbana that emphasizes deep listening with respect, on, for and with Country, a practice vital to both community and environmental wellbeing and to research integrity. 

This research is expected to contribute significantly to Indigenous scholarship and influence global conversations around arts, health, and decolonizing research practices.

Below:

The visual depiction of the research project is represented in the artwork called Idiwirra: nung Ulamai, which translates to Secret Business: Let us dance/do ceremony (Alngith language). The artwork was made by Dr. Fiona Wirrer-George Oochunyung. The artwork represents 5 different projects coming together, held by lore, symbolized by two green (new) quarter moon shapes. The work illustrates flow, interconnectedness and unfolding as offerings. 

Idiwirra: nung Ulamai (2025). Artist Fiona Wirrer-George Oochunyung

AJ Keene, Lakehead Faculty of Education alumnus (BEd, 1994) has been appointed as Director of Education for the Bluewater District School Board.

He previously served as Superintendent of Education with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and prior to that position he spent many years at Lakehead District School Board in Thunder Bay as Superintendent of Education, Board Math Lead, Early Years and Program Principal, and a school administrator.

For further details, please see this link: Bluewater School Board Appoints New Director of Education.

For a profile of AJ Keene, please see our January 2024 issue of Education Exchange newsletter.

Congratulations to Dr. Pauline Sameshima (Professor, Thunder Bay campus) for receiving the inaugural Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Award for her Community Arts-Integrated Research in the HOPE (HIV Obstruction by Programmed Epigenetics) Collaboratory.

This award was presented during Lakehead University’s 20th annual Research and Innovation Awards ceremony, which celebrated outstanding contributions to research and knowledge exchange.

HOPE is an innovative global research initiative focused on developing a cure for HIV. Supported by a $26.5 million grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the project unites researchers from multiple institutions in developing a "block-lock-stop" approach to curing HIV (Block the virus from reactivating; Lock it in a dormant state; and Stop the virus by making it permanently ineffective through gene editing).

Community Arts-Integrated Research

A key component of HOPE’s mission—and a central focus of Dr. Sameshima’s contributions—is strong community engagement, in which the Community Arts-Integrated Research program plays an important role.

This creative approach facilitates dialogue between scientists and communities affected by HIV, ensuring that diverse voices shape the research process. CAIR activities include developing culturally relevant curricula, creating artistic and literary works to educate the public about HIV cure research, and organizing events to share findings.

Dr. Sameshima leads the Community Arts Integrated Research (CAIR) team alongside Dr. Patricia Defechereux (Community Engagement Coordinator, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco), Sydney Norman (HOPE Collaboratory Program & Community Development Coordinator, Gladstone Institues, San Francisco), Ebony Gordon (San Francisco AIDS Foundation Representative), the HOPE Community Advisory Board, representatives from Brazil and Uganda, as well as community advocates and student researchers.

Working closely with scientists and community members, the team gathers insights, raises awareness about HIV cure strategies, and prepares the public for potential new treatments. The CAIR work also addresses crucial issues of acceptability, cultural safety, and ethics, ensuring research outcomes align with the needs of diverse populations.

Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Research

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Research Award recognizes projects that effectively integrate EDI principles and actively involve historically underrepresented groups in research. HOPE exemplifies this commitment through its global partnerships, including:

• one of the largest transgender participant groups in HIV research history (Brazil team)
• focus groups hosted by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s Black Health Program and the Elizabeth Taylor 50 Plus Network
• collaborative efforts with researchers from 16 institutions worldwide to ensure a wide range of perspectives and cultural considerations inform the research.

Dr. Sameshima emphasizes that fostering trust, addressing power imbalances, reducing stigma, and integrating diverse perspectives are crucial to the team’s success. She also highlights the importance of continuing EDI efforts: “As Canadians, we stand and celebrate EDI. We will continue to build a world where everyone matters!”

Below, left to right: Dr. Pauline Sameshima accepts the award with three members of the research team: Tashya Orasi (PhD candidate), Colin Kutchyera (PhD student), and Emma Wurdemann-Stam (post-MEd Graduate Assistant).  

Congratulations to Sarah Tassone, a Bachelor of Education (BEd) teacher candidate in the Intermediate/Senior division at the Thunder Bay campus, for receiving the Ontario Modern Language Teachers’ Association’s Helen G. Mitchell Award.

This award recognizes one graduating student from each Faculty of Education in Ontario who exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding French as a Second Language teacher.

Sarah was nominated by James Steele, a Contract Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, with additional support from Mike Filipetti, Placement Experience Coordinator. Her nominations highlighted her excellence in BEd program courses and practicums, as well as her ability to apply effective second-language teaching methodologies that foster student success.

Sarah’s first teachable subject is French, which was also the focus of her undergraduate degree at Lakehead University.

Set to graduate in June, Sarah shared: "I have always been passionate about languages, and have been particularly dedicated to the French language for the past decade. Receiving this award is an incredible honour. As both a student and a future French teacher, I recognize the lack of resources available for French-as-a-Second-Language learners. I can’t wait to change that and make a meaningful impact on the next generation of language learners!"

Congratulations, Sarah!

Congratulations to Dr. Lisa Korteweg (Associate Professor, Thunder Bay) on being named Chair of the Robbins-Olivier Award for Excellence in Equity committee, administered by the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program.

This prestigious award, launched by Canada’s three federal research funding agencies—CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC—supports bold initiatives that address systemic barriers, and promote equity in academia. 

The award honours the contributions of eight academics (Marjorie Griffin Cohen, Louise Forsyth, Glenis Joyce, Audrey Kobayashi, Shree Mulay, Susan Prentice, Michèle Ollivier and Wendy Robbins) whose 2003 Canadian Human Rights complaints led to a 2006 Settlement Agreement and its 2019 addendum, advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the CRC program and Canada’s research ecosystem. 

The Robbins-Ollivier Award, named after two of the original complainants—the late Michèle Ollivier and Wendy Robbins—provides $100,000 to faculty-led projects that boldly challenge institutional barriers and spark long-term change. The funding supports initiatives that enhance understanding of systemic inequities, and drive innovative solutions within academic institutions. 

Lisa notes that "it is a great honour to be appointed Chair of the Robbins-Ollivier equity award committee, which plays a crucial role in challenging systemic barriers and advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within academia and Canada's universities. Despite decades of effort, persistent inequities continue to disproportionately affect racialized individuals, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, women, and individuals from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community; thus, this new award is essential for funding bold, transformative initiatives that disrupt the status quo and create lasting institutional change."