Jen Parks receives a 2024 Equity and Inclusivity Award
By Vanessa Parks
Internal Communications and Engagement Specialist
For Jen Parks, being equitable isn’t something you do, it’s how you think – a mindset that has earned her a 2024 Equity and Inclusivity Award. Parks received the award at a ceremony held on campus at the end of January.
“Jen is someone whose everyday actions and interactions embody what it means to be inclusive and equitable,” says Andrea Brookfield, Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science (EES), who nominated Parks for this award. “She isn’t someone who is doing these actions because it is expected of them, rather it is core to who she is and how she approaches our community and the world.”
Parks has held several roles at Waterloo, and she has brought her passion for equity to every one. She has been an instructor and academic advisor in EES since 2012 and also sits on the department’s EDI-R committee. She is invested in creating a safe and accessible teaching environment and providing all students with an equitable opportunity to succeed.
From March 2021 to February 2024, she served as the Director of the Geological Engineering program. She appeared on the cover of the June/July 2021 issue of CIM (Canadian Institute of Mining) Magazine and was featured in an article highlighting her as the first woman in this role. In this article, she reflected on her goal of increasing the diversity of students in the program from a male-female perspective, in terms of LGBTQ+ and racialized students, and to include more Indigenous youth.
Parks is now the inaugural Associate Dean for Diverse, Inclusive and Safe Science in the Faculty of Science, a position she’s held since January 2024. Among her many equity-focused objectives, she has started an EDI-R talk series and created scholarships for equity-deserving youth. Recently, she worked to make the Methods in Geological Mapping field study course accessible to students with mobility and accessibility needs. She has also developed alternative assessment methods for students recovering from concussions who could not use light microscopes in the Introductory to Petrography course.
Several of her colleagues have noted Parks’ unique ability to connect with students. “Jen’s approachable, open, and welcoming manner makes her the person that students will go to for help, regardless of whether they are currently in her course,” says Brookfield. And it’s possibly the endorsement of these students that speak the loudest to her commitment to equity at Waterloo.
“Quietly confident, infinitely understanding, and kind to a fault, she brings out the best in her students and everyone else around her,” says a former student who benefited from Parks’ mentorship during her time as a Waterloo undergrad. “She advocates for an improved student experience and the importance of mental health, making the University of Waterloo a better place for everyone in the process.”
“As an LGBTQ+ student, I have been fortunate to have Jen as an instructor who actively campaigns for the increased enrollment of LGBTQ+ students and women in STEM,” says another student who worked with Parks as both an undergraduate and graduate. “Her efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity in the scientific community have made me feel part of a community.”
A warm congratulations to Parks for this acknowledgement of her important work in the Faculty of Science!