International Women’s Day is special to me in many ways – it’s a day I celebrate as a daughter, as a mother, as a colleague, friend and ally. It’s a day for me to pause and reflect on how far we’ve come as a society, and to look at the road ahead, one that leads to a brighter and more inclusive future for all women.

What I find to be one of the most important aspects of International Women's Day is its emphasis on unity. The day transcends borders to spotlight the global sisterhood that binds women and girls together.  

Throughout my career in post-secondary education, I have had the privilege of collaborating with incredible women from diverse backgrounds. I’ve learned a lot from each of them, and I value how they contribute a unique perspective to our shared goals. Together, we are breaking the glass ceiling and collectively dismantling the structures that reinforce gender inequalities.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day Inspire Inclusion is a call to action to foster a future where every woman can feel seen, heard, and valued, and that we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, to build a better world for all.  

When we inspire inclusion, we open doors to opportunity and possibility. To do that, we need to be intentional in our efforts to strengthen inclusion. It requires us taking an intersectional approach to gender equality, so that all women can develop a true sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. We need to create more spaces so that everyone can thrive and make a difference in their communities.

During my time in higher education, I have witnessed firsthand how powerful inclusion can be. When people feel included, they want to participate and become engaged. That has a myriad of benefits, particularly when it comes to learning.

That’s why at Humber we put significant emphasis on Inclusion and Belonging by integrating it into all parts of the institution – from student supports to classroom learning, and to celebrating our community’s rich diversity.

We are fortunate to have many remarkable women at Humber, including Shanell Roye, Chair of IGNITE’s Board of Directors. In addition to her leadership role, Shanell supports her fellow students as a program assistant with the Black Student Support and Engagement team all while working towards her Civil Engineering Technology Advanced Diploma.

I also applaud students Jessica Carrera, Juliana Villamizar, Sandra Daniela Gonzalez Vega and Huda Halawi for taking leadership in dismantling the stigma around mental health by sharing their stories, experiences and insights on mental well-being during a virtual panel discussion for Humber Let’s Talk, a week dedicated to mental health awareness and action.  

With the International Day of Women and Girls in Science happening last month, I want to highlight the incredible and meaningful research Humber’s women faculty are leading. I look to Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Machine Learning program coordinator and professor Parisa Pouladzadeh and the fascinating work she’s doing with the emerging technology - from finding valuable business applications for AI to a new project that will explore the use of AI to create an application for children with autism to help them communicate more effectively.

There’s also Heidi Siu and Frankie Burg-Feret, both of whom are registered nurses and professors in Humber’s Bachelor of Science - Nursing program. They are the principal investigator and co-investigator on the Partnering for Health Access: Developing an Innovative Health Clinic research project to create a faculty-supervised and student-led health clinic to serve vulnerable populations in Toronto. It resulted in the Health for All Partnership clinic that launched in September at two Toronto sites.

We also have incredible support staff such as Kaitlyn Nicole Chapman, who helped organize last year’s Walk for Reconciliation at Lakeshore Campus that helped spread awareness on the ongoing legacy of the residential school system in Canada.

These are just some of the many examples of how women at Humber are making a difference every day. The academic world is evolving, and it is heartening to witness the increasing representation of women in leadership roles. However, let’s remember that we have much more work to do, and we must use this momentum to propel ourselves forward. This is a time to be bold and courageous – to embrace opportunities, and to build a better future that will empower all women, and all learners in ways we could not have imagined - in curriculum, teaching and learning.   

I have learned two important lessons in empowering female voices. First, it is important for me as a leader to also be an ally and to amplify the voices and contributions of other women. Second, it has been critical for me to have allies on this journey. I celebrate and thank the men who have opened doors for me – starting with my father who was the first feminist in my life. In them, I have learned the value of inclusion and the role of allies in creating a more inclusive world.

My hope for 2024 is that our collective voice resonates louder than ever, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations. On this day, let's reflect on the progress made, acknowledge the challenges we still face, and inspire one another to continue shaping the leadership landscape.

Many women and girls around the world remain deprived of the fundamental rights that we often take for granted. I'm a firm believer in helping everyone gain access to high quality education and find meaningful career paths, all while having the freedom to live their lives as they choose.

Today and every day, let’s continue to work to build a more inclusive and welcoming world for all.  

Here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them and may we raise them! Achieving this starts with inclusion!

AMV