Original article written and published by the Daily Bulletin
In a memo circulated to University employees last Friday, President Vivek Goel and Vice-President, Academic & Provost James Rush announced that they have acted on recommendations from the Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion office review team to create two new organizational units led by Associate Vice-Presidents that will report to the Vice-President, Academic & Provost. These units replace two of the functions of the former Office of Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion. Both appointments are effective immediately.
The new Office of Indigenous Relations will be led by Jean Becker, who will take on the new title of Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Relations.
Jean Becker joined the University of Waterloo in January 2020 in the newly-created Senior Director, Indigenous Initiatives position, providing strategic leadership to articulate a University of Waterloo-specific response to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, and identifying systemic and systematic changes that move beyond the Calls to Action by creating a long-term vision for the University. She took on the role of interim associate vice-president of Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion in August 2020.
Becker, known for her work locally, provincially, and nationally, was Senior Advisor for Indigenous Initiatives at Wilfrid Laurier University prior to her appointment at Waterloo. Becker is Inuk and a member of the Nunatsiavut Territory of Labrador, and has a Master’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Guelph.
“I am delighted that the university has demonstrated the strength of the commitment to de-colonization, Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism with this action,” says Jean Becker. “I am confident that this is just the beginning of creating a more just, inclusive institution.”