Tuesday, May 27, 2025

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• Alumni, employees and students named Women of the Year
• How Inclusive and Accessible Design is shaping our campus spaces
• Our values in action: mindful doodling at the Waterloo Staff Conference

• Champions of change

Alumni, employees and students named Women of the Year

By Jennifer Ferguson. This is an excerpt of an article that appeared on Waterloo News.

University of Waterloo alumni, employees and students are among the winners of the 2025 Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year awards.

For 50 years, the organization has recognized exceptional leaders for their contributions to the local community. The awards were given out at a ceremony on May 22, 2025, and several of the recipients have connections to the University.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM): Dr. Charmaine Dean (MMath ’84, PhD ’88)

Dr. Charmaine Dean is an acclaimed academic leader, statistician and advocate for equity with more than 35 years of impact. As vice-president, Research and International at the University of Waterloo, she has led nearly $1 billion in research funding and forged transformative partnerships. She chaired the President’s Anti-Racism Taskforce, embedding systemic change through 88 strategic recommendations. Internationally recognized with honours like the SSC Gold Medal and France’s Order of Academic Palms, Dean’s legacy lies in bridging research excellence with bold, inclusive leadership. Her career exemplifies the highest standards of impact, service and lasting contribution to Canadian society and beyond.

Arts & Culture: Dr. Kathryn Ladano (BA ’99)

Dr. Kathryn Ladano is a visionary Canadian bass clarinetist who has redefined the instrument through a blend of traditional and experimental techniques. With degrees from the University of Waterloo, University of Calgary and York University and mentorship from renowned musicians, Ladano has captivated audiences worldwide. A dedicated educator, she’s served as artistic director for NUMUS, taught at Wilfrid Laurier University and currently instructs at the University of Waterloo. Her discography includes three solo albums and one duo release. After a traumatic brain injury in 2020, Ladano now uses her music to raise awareness about brain injuries and advocate for fellow survivors.

Community Service: Marjorie Knight (BSW ’17)

Marjorie Knight has dedicated her time as an anti-poverty advocate and community outreach worker for more than 24 years. She has represented Cambridge three times as the MPP candidate. In addition to her work as a family outreach worker with the House of Friendship in Cambridge, she serves on the boards of The Cambridge Shelter Corp. and the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area (ACCKWA). A collaborator at heart, Knight is also the founder of Rhythm and Blues, an organization that advocates for the Black community in Cambridge.

Read the full story on Waterloo News.

How Inclusive and Accessible Design is shaping our campus spaces

A message from the Office of the Associate Provost, Campus Support and Accessibility.

It is National AccessAbility Week (NAAW), a time to recognize the contributions of Canadians with disabilities and raise awareness about the critical need for accessibility and inclusion in our communities.  Each day this week, we are featuring a different University initiative that demonstrates a commitment to advancing accessibility and disability inclusion. Today, we are celebrating accessibility initiatives that are being led within the University of Waterloo’s Plant Operations. 

Plant Operations is advancing accessibility across our campuses by championing thoughtful, inclusive design in built environments. Melissa Moogk-Soulis is Plant Operation’s Physical Accessibility Specialist, a role that supports diverse projects to achieve accessibility compliance and create meaningfully inclusive campus experiences.

A standout example of Plant Operations’ commitment to accessibility is the new Campus Housing residence building. Plant Operations worked collaboratively with Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated to embed accessibility into the design process. The project was reviewed using the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification^TM (RHFAC) rating survey criteria to ensure a meaningful, barrier-free experience for future residents. The new residence building includes barrier-free washrooms for both public use and in accessible suites, colour contrasted finishes to improve visual clarity and navigation, and clear wayfinding signage. This project highlights how integrating accessibility early and throughout design and construction doesn’t increase costs but significantly enhances usability for all.

Beyond supporting the design of new buildings, the Physical Accessibility Specialist also reviews internal Plant Operations projects to drive continuous improvements and updates in existing spaces. Accessibility is not always a fixed goal post – it requires continuous reimagining and redesigning to meet the needs of our campus community in accessible and inclusive ways. Plant Operations is an essential part of this process. 

National AccessAbility Week is just one opportunity to learn about accessibility and disability inclusion initiatives at the University of Waterloo. Join the Accessibility Ally Network Microsoft Teams channel or connect with aoda@uwaterloo.ca for more information.

Our values in action: mindful doodling at the Waterloo Staff Conference

Participants enjoy a mindful doodling workshop at the 17^th annual Waterloo Staff Conference.

A message from Organizational and Human Development (OHD).

Throughout two workshops on April 8, nearly 180 employees came together at the 2025 Waterloo Staff Conference, hosted by Human Resource’s Organizational and Human Development team. These unique, art-filled workshops, led by the talented artist Zack Sandor-Kerr, explored a “reverse-colouring” activity where participants unleashed their creativity by doodling and drawing over vibrant, abstract watercolour shapes. Participants then transformed these shapes into stunning visual representations of the Waterloo values. 

Three of the completed artworks.

The result? Five magnificent canvases that will soon be displayed across the University campuses, serving as a colourful reminder of the values and Waterloo’s broader commitment to leadership in education, scholarship, innovation, and entrepreneurship. One participant shared, “Absolutely love how the values came to life in collaborative and meaningful ways!”

If you would like to showcase one of the five art pieces in your team’s workspace, reach out to Susan Willsie for details.

Champions of change

PhD candidate Haley Baxter.

This is the latest in a series of stories published in the 2025 Waterloo Magazine.

From tackling climate change risks in tourism to pioneering research for Paralympic athletes, meet six world-class researchers, alumni and students who are applying boundary-breaking approaches to redefine sports, recreation and tourism.

• Dr. Michelle Rutty (MES ’10, PhD ’14) harnesses virtual reality to help communities visualize climate risks and their impact on tourism.
• Greg Mittler (BA ’14), Canada’s first full-time esports coordinator, is building an inclusive program for athletes to compete at the collegiate level across North America.
• Christina Sullivan (BASc ’23) was introduced to the world of Formula 1 (F1) by her sister. Today, she is leading the electrical design of the new wind tunnel model that Williams will test for the 2026 F1 season.  
• Dr. Daniel Scott (MA ’93) is a champion of shifting tourism to a low-carbon economy in the face of climate change. His research has been cited in more than 550 policy documents in more than 30 countries. 
• Haley Baxter’s PhD research highlights the need for better recruitment and support to boost women’s participation in volunteer sports coaching.
• Dr. Kristine Dalton (OD ’07, MSc ’10) is a distinguished leader in sports vision and concussion rehabilitation. She changed our understanding of how athletes use their vision to ski, and revolutionized classification rules for Para Alpine and Para Nordic skiing.

Read more about how these six researchers, alumni and students are changing the game in tourism, recreation and sports.