Parry has collaboratively and creatively developed initiatives that have transformed Waterloo’s campus by bringing greater visibility to women’s and gender issues, and addressing equity across campus, while developing a shared vision for gender equity. Her role is to be the strategic and academic champion across campus in the domains of human rights, equity and inclusion.
Parry is the campus lead for the United Nations (UN) Women’s HeForShe campaign, a global initiative to engage boys and men in addressing gender equity. Working with Waterloo’s diverse campus communities, she has assisted with the development of HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 scholarships and research funds, and the establishment of a HeForShe Faculty Advocate network who engage students, staff, faculty and alumni to foster a more gender equitable faculty and campus.
As part of her mandate, Parry leads Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion (HREI). This academic support unit builds and strengthens relationships across the University of Waterloo and beyond to facilitate understanding, address discrimination and harm, influence and advance systemic changes towards making the campus an equitable and safer place where everyone thrives.
This award is given by the Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada (SWAAC). The organization was founded in 1987 to provide a forum and a collective voice for those who identify as women in senior administrative ranks in Canadian universities, colleges, and technical institutes.
The award was presented on March 5 at the gala dinner of the annual conference, hosted by the University of Regina.