Over the past couple of decades, April has marked both the end of the school year and OUSA’s Partners in Higher Education Dinner (PiHED). This annual event is our way of commemorating the hard work and dedication of students, educators, sector partners, and elected officials in higher education. We were delighted to host many guests for a lovely evening filled with laughter, food, and celebration of the folks working to improve students’ post-secondary experience.
Huge thank you to our sponsors who helped make this event possible! First, thank you to our Gold sponsor, ALUMO, for supporting the reception. Additional thanks to the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) for being our beverage sponsor, the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT), and alum Chris Yendt.
We kicked off the evening with opening remarks from the Honourable Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, who reflected on the impact of the dedicated educators who inspire curiosity in their students. An engaging keynote address was delivered by Dr. Malcolm Butler, President and CEO of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). Dr. Butler highlighted the importance of ensuring that post-secondary institutions remain places where students can foster their curiosity and enjoy the pursuit of knowledge while preparing them for the next steps in their lives, in a system facing increasing change. As an educator with a robust career, it was wonderful to hear Dr. Bulter’s insights from across his time in higher education, both from his time as a student and educator. Of course, much of the evening was dedicated to the awards!
Excellence in Student Advocacy Award
Recipient: Ruth Osunde
This award was created in honour of the late Stephanie Ye-Mowe, a former VP Finance at OUSA and executive at the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association. They were a brilliant and passionate student leader who ensured student voices were valued, heard, and respected.
Ruth Osunde is a student leader at Queen’s University who has been a consistent and powerful voice for equity, accessibility, and systemic change. In her time as Vice President of University Affairs, she did not allow student concerns to remain in conversations alone; she translated them into action and impact. As the founder of the non-profit, Amelyoba, she works to address issues of global health and gender equity, exemplifying her commitment to advocacy on local and global scales. The board selected Ruth as the recipient of this award as her thoughtful leadership and commitment to enacting meaningful change reflect the best of student advocacy.
Honoured Alumni Award
Recipients: Jasmine Irwin and Malika Dhanani
This award recognizes the incredible contributions of former staff and student leaders at OUSA who’ve done amazing work both during and after their time with us. This year, two alumni were acknowledged for their significant contributions to OUSA’s work and mission!
Jasmine Irwin was the Vice President Communications at Western's USC before joining OUSA as the Director of Communications from 2014-16. After her time at OUSA, she went on to work for the Deputy Premier and Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development. She is now a Director at Springboard Policy. During her time with OUSA, she made significant contributions that shaped our communications and policy strategies. Since then, she has provided countless government relations and PR training to past steering committees. She has always supported OUSA and student leaders with warmth and kindness, fostering an environment where students can ask questions and grow.
Malika Dhanani started as a Research and Policy Analyst, assisting students with the policy-writing process. A short while later, she served as Executive Director from 2023 to this January. Malika is now the Executive and Development Coordinator at the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). During her tenure as ED, Malika consistently provided student leaders and home office staff with supportive leadership to help them achieve their goals. Malika’s tenure saw numerous changes in the post-secondary sector, and throughout it all, she remained a calm guiding force. She is known for her thoughtful, student-focused advocacy, strong relationship building, and warm smile!
Teaching Excellence Awards
Recipients listed below.
These awards are voted on by students at our member institutions. These educators have been chosen for their genuine passion, kindness, approachability, and commitment to student success!
Dr. Jianbo Gao | Brock University
Dr. Gao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and a Chancellor’s Chair for Research Excellence at Brock University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Alberta, after which he conducted postdoctoral research at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). He subsequently served as a Research Associate in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining Brock University, Dr. Gao was an Assistant Professor at Clemson University (South Carolina, USA), where he founded and led the Ultrafast Photophysics of Quantum Devices research program. Dr. Gao’s research focuses on renewable energy, such as highly efficient and low-cost solar cell development, and novel quantum technology for next-generation communications. His work is highly interdisciplinary, operating at the interface of materials physics, materials science and engineering, electrical engineering, and chemistry, with strong emphasis on bridging fundamental ultrafast photophysics to real-world quantum and renewable technologies.
Professor Suzanne Lamothe | Laurentian University
Professor Suzanne Lamothe was a student at Laurentian University herself, beginning her Bachelor's studies in 1983 and later completing a Master's in Biology at the institution. In 2012, Suzanne returned to Laurentian to continue her career as an instructor and now holds the role of Master Lecturer in the School of Natural Sciences, specializing in Biomedical Biology and Zoology. She is highly regarded by her students, who consistently speak of her with admiration and appreciation, often describing her as inspiring, positive, and caring. Her impact also goes beyond the classroom. In 2021, Suzanne supported advocacy efforts to develop and expand French-language programs at Laurentian, advancing the University's bilingual and tri-cultural mandate through her work with Planif Sudbury. In addition, she works to bring a modern, technology-forward approach to her classroom. Recently, she and her colleagues brought an Anatomage virtual dissecting table to Laurentian, which was introduced to students studying health sciences in January 2025, helping them learn anatomy in an innovative and accessible way.
Dr. Colin Mang | McMaster University
Dr. Colin Mang is an economist at McMaster University, where he teaches Microeconomics and Canadian Public Policy. Dr. Mang uses data and current events to help students learn about economic principles and the world around them, and he is a strong advocate for the use of technology and skills development to ensure students are prepared for the world of work after graduation. Outside the classroom, he previously served as President of Stonegate Community Health Centre in west Toronto and is currently the Board Chair of the Central Etobicoke Community Hub Initiative, a not-for-profit organization that works to improve social services and community spaces. In addition, Dr. Mang is a regular contributor to local and national news outlets across the country, including CTV News Channel, CBC Radio One, CHCH TV, and many others, providing commentary on economic affairs and helping Canadians to better understand public policy issues.
Professor Amanda McEachern Gaudet | Ontario Tech University
Amanda McEachern Gaudet is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Business and Information Technology. She graduated from Ontario Tech with both a BCom and an MBA, giving her a unique perspective as both a graduate and current professor. Her decision to teach at the very same university where she once learned reflects her ongoing desire to support the next generation of Ontario Tech students. Prior to teaching at Ontario Tech, Amanda spent 15 years in supply chain management roles across the automotive and aerospace industries. She also worked as a part-time professor at Durham College, teaching courses such as Introduction to Supply Chain Management. Students describe Amanda as someone who combines traditional teaching methods with interactive activities to foster an engaging and effective learning environment. Her open-door policy adds to her approachability and demonstrates how much she cares for her students. In 2022, Amanda was awarded Ontario Tech’s Early Career Teaching Award, which recognizes innovation and excellence in teaching by individuals in the early stages of their teaching careers. In 2024, she also received the Faculty of Business and Information Technology (FBIT) Teaching Excellence Award at Ontario Tech University, further highlighting her dedication to delivering outstanding learning experiences for students.
Dr. Susanne Soederberg | Queen’s University
Professor Soederberg is a Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Just and Inclusive Cities in the Department of Global Development Studies with a cross-appointment in Political Studies, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Her scholarship spans issues of poverty, debt, housing, and global capitalism; areas that are not only academically rigorous but deeply relevant to the lived realities of students today. But what makes Professor Soederberg truly deserving of this award is not just what she studies; it is how she teaches. In her classroom, learning is not passive. It is active, critical, and often uncomfortable in the best way. She challenges students to question assumptions, interrogate systems of power, and connect theory to the world around them. Whether engaging with her award-winning works like Debt Fare States and the Poverty Industry or Urban Displacements in Global Capitalism, students are not simply absorbing information but developing the tools to think differently, ask better questions, and see structures that often go unnoticed.
Dr. Nour Hammami | Trent University Durham-GTA
Dr. Nour Hammami is an Assistant Professor in Child and Youth Studies at Trent University. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo and focuses her research on public health, social and structural inequalities in health, and improving outcomes for equity-deserving communities. Dr. Hammami’s work is dedicated to understanding how intersecting social factors affect the well-being of children and youth, and how research can inform more effective and equitable health policies. She has also contributed to important public conversations about youth mental health. For example, she was featured in the article "Ontario government commits to youth mental health services in Durham," where she advocated for making mental health services more accessible and responsive to the needs of young people and communities.
Dr. Ben Feng | University of Waterloo
Dr. Mingbin (Ben) Feng is an Associate Professor in Actuarial Science and the Director of the Master of Actuarial Science (MActSc) program at the University of Waterloo. He received his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from Northwestern University and holds professional designations as an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA) and a Certified Analytics Professional (CAP-X). His research interests lie at the intersection of simulation and optimization, with a focus on stochastic simulation design and analysis, nonlinear optimization, and their applications in finance and actuarial science. Dr. Feng is passionate about teaching and dedicated to transforming the classroom into an engaging, dynamic learning environment. He integrates hands-on social experiments and gamified activities to make complex actuarial concepts both accessible and enjoyable. By combining rigorous instruction with a genuine commitment to student mentorship, Dr. Feng creates a space where students feel involved, supported, and inspired to connect course material to broader life and career aspirations.
Dr. Adam Harmes | Western University
Dr. Harmes is an incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated professor whose passion for his field is clear in every lecture. He has a unique ability to connect what students are learning to the real world, whether that’s through discussions of political strategy, campaigning, or broader global issues, making his classes feel both relevant and impactful. His lectures are engaging, often filled with examples and personal insights that make complex ideas easier to understand and, honestly, a lot more interesting. What really stands out, though, is the environment he creates in the classroom. He encourages open discussion, welcomes different perspectives, and makes it clear that the goal is not just to understand the material, but to think critically and engage with it in a meaningful way. He’s also someone who is genuinely invested in his students. He’s approachable, supportive, and always willing to take the time to help students succeed. It’s clear that he cares deeply about what he does, and that makes a lasting impression.
Dr. Lisa Kuron | Wilfrid Laurier University
Dr. Lisa Kuron earned her PhD in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University. Prior to that, she completed her Master of Science in Management at Laurier and a Bachelor of Commerce with Minors in Statistics and Psychology at Carleton University. She currently holds a Professional Teaching Position within the Leadership program at Laurier and serves as a board member for the Collegiate Leadership Competition, where she remains actively engaged in the broader academic and professional community. Before joining the tenure track, she taught at both Laurier and the University of Guelph, and contributed to various consulting initiatives within and beyond post-secondary education.
Thank you to our lovely guests for joining us for an evening of celebration. We hope you had a great time! Congratulations to the award winners; thank you for your dedication and service! Finally, thank you to our generous sponsors! We hope to see you all at next year’s PiHED!
