Alan Shepard EDI Awards

Alacea Yerxa is a fourth year Biomedical Sciences student in the Faculty of Science from Couchiching First Nation who exemplifies outstanding leadership, cultural advocacy and innovation engaging Indigenous students. Alacea has led impactful programming for Pow Wows and Indigenous Education Week that advocate for accessibility and cultural representation. Alacea also empowers Indigenous students through her leadership roles as Vice-President of TMU’s Indigenous Students Association, organizing culturally significant workshops and events. A founding member of the Indigenous Students in Science Advisory Circle, she addresses systemic barriers, advocating for meaningful, inclusive changes. 

Alacea’s work extends outside of campus, where she spends time as a teacher at Kapapamahchakwew/Wandering Spirit School, helping to shape STEM programming that resonates with Indigenous students. As the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science Indigenous Outreach Specialist, she developed culturally relevant STEM programs to address systemic barriers faced by Indigenous youth. Drawing from her knowledge of traditional Indigenous teachings she introduced students to engineering concepts during a canoe workshop, while her robotics program introduced students to coding by animating sacred animals and dances. During a case competition she helped coordinate, students created a Pow Wow arbor using engineering principles and were able to present their designs to Indigenous leaders in STEM. Through her efforts, Alacea has helped build a bridge between STEM and cultural knowledge. Her contributions have been invaluable in shaping Indigenous STEM education both at TMU and in the broader community. In addition to all these contributions, Alacea is a Jingle Dress Dancer, celebrating her heritage and community at Couchiching First Nation.

Humna is a fourth year Criminology and Politics and Governance student in the Faculty of Arts, whose leadership is dedicated to fostering community and student empowerment. As Vice-President of Student Life and Events for TMU’s Politics and Governance Student Association, she spearheaded initiatives such as Chai + Chat with Professors, bridging the gap between students and faculty and Mocktails and Mentorship, where women of color in law shared career insights with aspiring students.

Her impact extends to large-scale campus programming, including TMU’s Central Orientation. She planned over 20 events, such as the Muslim Women’s High-Tea, designed to create a safe and welcoming space for racialized Muslim women to connect. In 2024, as a Transition and Events Assistant, she led TMU’s Culture Fest, engaging diverse student communities and directly impacting over 400 students. She also played a key role in organizing the Fiesta del Fuego concert, ensuring student safety and accessibility through collaboration with campus partners like Consent Comes First. 

Beyond events, Humna is a vocal advocate for institutional change. She spoke alongside TMU’s President Lachemi at the 2022 National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, amplifying student experiences and calling for policy reform. Her efforts earned her the 2024 Community Development Award, recognizing her commitment to student mentorship and inclusion. Balancing multiple leadership roles, Humna has built a culture of support at TMU, using advocacy and action to uplift underrepresented voices, foster mentorship opportunities and create meaningful change within TMU. 

Yew-Thong Leong is a professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science and a dedicated advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion at TMU, championing accessibility, representation and cultural awareness in architectural education. Through his leadership on various faculty and university committees, he has actively shaped policies that promote fairness in hiring, awards and curriculum development. A strong proponent of inclusive pedagogy, Professor Leong integrates EDI principles into his design studios, ensuring students engage with issues such as physical and neurodivergent accessibility. His mentorship extends beyond the classroom, as he dedicates time outside of class hours to support students with diverse learning needs. His commitment to eliminating systemic barriers is evident in his work to make global architecture education financially and culturally accessible for students. Through partnerships with institutions in Germany, France and the United States, he has led annual design studio field trips, ensuring underrepresented students can participate in transformative learning experiences.

Outside of academia, Professor Leong actively serves the community, from organizing winter clothing drives for Indigenous populations in downtown Toronto to supporting Syrian and Iraqi newcomers in accessing architectural careers. His contributions to cultural preservation include designing the Chinese Exclusion Act Memorial and supporting the Asian Garden project at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto. Professor Leong’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment at TMU continues to advance equity, ensuring that all students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to thrive.

Zena Alrawdah has been a dedicated advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion at TMU for over two decades.

Her commitment to systemic change is evident in her efforts to identify and remove institutional barriers. She develops student-centered solutions and uses referrals to ensure students receive necessary support without unnecessary obstacles. In meetings and committees, she consistently speaks up, often being the first to address inequities and creating space for others to follow. 

Colleagues admire her courage and reliability, knowing she will always advocate for those who feel unheard. Zena’s influence extends beyond direct student interactions. She amplifies underrepresented voices and advocates for sustainable solutions, making TMU a more inclusive institution. Through her leadership, courage and dedication, she continues to shape policies and practices that foster equity and belonging for all.

A programming partner to support and resources, collaborating with valuable across campus resources, she has built a reputation for creating spaces where students feel truly seen and supported. Many recognize her not just as a resource but as someone who understands their experiences—particularly those from marginalized backgrounds. Drawing from her own journey as a racialized single parent, Zena fosters belonging through mentorship and advocacy.

A co-creator of the Advising Community of Practice, OPSEU Learning and Wellness initiatives and has championed employee wellness and professional development. Through her work on a number of health and wellness committees and advisory, she has shaped inclusive training programs that prioritize accessibility and representation. Beyond policy, Zena’s impact is deeply personal. 

Zena is a proud Alumni of TMU's Bachelor of Health Administration and the Chang School, Aging and Gerontology Certificate; she is also in her last year at the Gestalt Institute of Toronto which has been a great support in her capacity and stand for students and colleagues.

Jennifer Alefounder (Director, Workplace Wellbeing Services, Human Resources) and Kayla Persaud (Campus Mental Health Specialist, Student Wellbeing and Workplace Wellbeing Services, Human Resources)

Through the development and delivery of the “Navigating Menopause in the Workplace” series, Jennifer Alefounder, Director of Workplace Wellbeing Services and Kayla Persaud, Campus Mental Health Specialist, created an innovative and impactful initiative to advance workplace inclusivity and empower individual advocacy. Their work has addressed a critical yet often overlooked issue—menopause—which affects nearly 50% of the population but remains underrepresented in workplace policies, often leading to stigma, misdiagnosis and lack of support. Alarmingly, one in ten women and gender-diverse individuals leave the workforce due to menopause-related symptoms, while many others struggle in silence, uncertain of where to turn for guidance and support.

In 2024, Jen and Kayla organized two series (3 to 4 sessions per series) aligning with International Women’s Day in March and International Menopause Awareness Month and TMU’s Wellbeing Week in October. These sessions not only provided critical education and resources but also fostered a culture of openness, validating the experiences of those navigating menopause at work. 

Recognizing that menopause is understood and experienced differently in many cultures, Jen and Kayla arranged a diverse panel of experts to share their experiences with menopause from a cultural lens in a panel called ‘Diverse Perspectives in Menopause’. This event took place during TMU’s Wellbeing Week, which had the theme of ‘Power of Connection’. This panel highlighted that a one-size-fits-all approach fails to meet diverse health needs. Instead, it underscored the importance of intersectionality in addressing systemic barriers and providing equitable, individualized support and, most importantly, encouraging open, trusted conversations.

As a result of the menopause series and overwhelming community feedback, TMU’s first Menopause Resource Group was established to provide a sustainable platform for ongoing support and advocacy. Additionally, they designed specialized sessions for workplace leaders, including those who will not experience menopause or may not be familiar with menopause, ensuring that all leaders are equipped to foster inclusivity, address stigma and create psychologically safe spaces.

The success of the “Navigating Menopause in the Workplace” series has filled a critical gap in TMU’s workplace wellbeing landscape, helping to normalize menopause as a workplace issue rather than an individual struggle.