As part of MacEwan’s University’s annual Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Week, we recognize Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (I.D.E.A.) Leaders who go above and beyond to champion human rights on campus and in the community.

The initiative from the Office of Human Rights, Diversity and Equity (OHRDE) recognizes alumni, students, staff and faculty for advancing and promoting equity, inclusion and human rights on campus or in the community. The work of equity, diversity and inclusion isn’t something done solely by the OHRDE. It’s a collective, shared responsibility.

“Creating inclusive excellence across our university requires action from all of us,” says. Dr. Annette Trimbee, MacEwan’s president and vice-chancellor. “I am so proud of our I.D.E.A. winners, Amanda, Ryan, Alim, Linh and Dr. Annett. Through their leadership we continue to build a more diverse and inclusive community, advancing the promise of the O-day’min way in our strategic vision."

This year's I.D.E.A. Leader Award recipients represent advocacy in many forms, and are making a difference in the community in their own unique ways.

Student Recipient

Amanda Dubrule
Bachelor of Arts student and Event Coordinator, HuRDE @ MacEwan

Creating community events, film screenings, awareness campaigns and student-led discussions is the focus of Amanda Dubrule’s work as an event coordinator for the HuRDE @ MacEwan student group, which aims to connect and engage students around the principles of human rights, diversity and equity on campus. Dubrule is also a volunteer with the university’s Champions of Diversity and Equity (C.O.D.E.) program.

Alumni Recipients

Ryan Nealon
Bachelor of Commerce ’16, Correctional Services ’18 Certificate of Achievement with support from Inclusive Post-Secondary Education

When Ryan Nealon, who attended MacEwan through a partnership with Inclusion Alberta, discovered that graduates from his program weren’t able to access the benefits and privileges available to MacEwan alumni, he decided to do something about it. Through his advocacy work, the university changed its policy to officially recognize MacEwan students who complete inclusive post-secondary education as alumni. Nealon continues to challenge the stigma, bias, and barriers that he and many others with disabilities experience by engaging organizations and government officials to push for meaningful change. 

Alim Tharani
Bachelor of Arts ’21

As a senior volunteer for the C.O.D.E. program, Alim Tharani led student-focused events for Black History Month, EDI Week and World Human Rights Day. He was instrumental in creating a virtual summit to address racism in hockey and, as a result, became project coordinator and co-founder of Grow the Game, an anti-racism in hockey resource hub. Throughout his time as a student at MacEwan, he worked passionately to create spaces for dialogue, facilitate learning, encourage reflection and take action on human rights.

Faculty recipient

Dr. Mike Annett
Associate Professor, School of Business

Dr. Annett advocates for effective and socially responsible management practices. His research targets the issues that human resources professionals face when striving to increase workplace inclusion, including hiring persons with disabilities and issues connected to long-term disability and return to work. He aims to create new knowledge that helps make sense of organizational and supervisor concerns and identifies pathways forward. Dr. Annett recently developed a course on workforce diversity and inclusion for the School of Business and models universal design in all of his courses.

Staff recipient

Linh Pham
Marketing Manager, School of Continuing Education

Two years ago, Linh Pham suggested that a group of employees get together regularly to talk about inclusion, diversity and equity in a safe environment that would foster sharing and reflection. It was the beginning of the School of Continuing Education’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. As committee chair, Pham shares presentations on EDI and supports individual committee members in developing presentations to share with the group. Together, the committee is developing skills to discuss and address inequity within their own personal and professional spheres of influence.