Professor Tizazu Mekonnen wins the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo Equity & Inclusivity Award
Professor Tizazu Mekonnen ( centre) and his research group
Professor Tizazu Mekonnen has been awarded the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo Equity & Inclusivity Award for his work as the inaugural director of the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) PhD Project.
Championing Diversity in Academia
Diversity is recognized as a critical driver for innovation and growth across all sectors. Yet, at the highest levels of academia—especially within STEM disciplines—there remains a concerning underrepresentation of Black and Indigenous scholars. IBET launched by the University of Waterloo's Faculties of Engineering and Mathematics in January 2021, is addressing this disparity head-on.
IBET Fellows receive $30,000 annually for four years while pursuing their doctoral degrees. This funding is critical in alleviating the financial burden of engaging in PhD studies, allowing students to focus entirely on their research.
Mekonnen has been the director since the program's inception in 2021. Under Mekonnen’s leadership, the initiative has grown from having five Canadian engineering faculties to include 19 universities and has more than 55 fellows enrolled. Mekonnen was recently unanimously re-elected to continue his directorship through 2025.
Creating a path forward for future leaders
The IBET PhD Project is more than just an academic initiative; it is a transformative effort to reshape the landscape of Canadian higher education and engineering sectors. As well as financial support, IBET fellows are fostered with academic and industrial mentorship, providing valuable connections and guidance in navigating the challenges in academia and the business world. There is also a community-building aspect integrated within the program and at an annual conference the fellows can connect and build professional networks.
By creating pathways for Black and Indigenous scholars, the program is ensuring that future research and innovation are informed by diverse perspectives. The hope is that IBET Fellows' unique cultural backgrounds and lived experiences will inform and expand research to include issues that have historically been overlooked.
“Until you walk in those shoes, you don’t know what the problems are in those areas that need solving,” says Mekonnen. “By diversifying the researchers and engineers entering these fields, we are expanding the range of research questions asked and solutions found. It is not just about adding numbers; it is about enriching the entire research ecosystem.”
Fostering a supportive environment for growth
IBET recently received a grant of CAD 225,000 over three years from the McCall McBain Foundation to support conferences, workshops and recruitment efforts. Under Mekonnen’s direction, IBET has built a partnership with Mitacs, allowing fellows to gain experience through industry, community and government internships. The collaboration with Mitacs has recently been expanded to include additional financial support for fellows to travel to IBET partner institutions to conduct research.
Naomi Paul is an IBET PhD fellow in Systems Design Engineering. Her thesis will look at digital storytelling as a method of weaving Indigenous ways of knowing into post-secondary STEM Education.
"I've been a fellow in the IBET PhD Project for just over a year, and it's had a huge impact on my studies. The funding that IBET provides allows me to pursue my own research interests, without needing to fit my ideas into a box of topics that is funded by other grants,” says Paul.
Mekonnen’s work as director of the IBET PhD Project is about more than just academic diversity—it is about changing deeply rooted mindsets and creating new opportunities. The presence of Black and Indigenous scholars in engineering classrooms directly challenges stereotypes that have long prevailed.
“IBET also matched me with a mentor for the year who has been able to offer some tips on building a committee and completing a thesis project that thinks outside the box. I'm looking forward to meeting a new mentor every year who can support me with whatever challenges I am facing and help celebrate my successes. The IBET conference I attended last fall allowed me to meet and chat with other IBET fellows across the country, giving each of us a chance to be supported by and support others. Overall, at least for me, it's making a PhD more community-based."