As the inaugural holder of the Air Canada Professorship on Anti-racism, Professor Awad Ibrahim leads the Faculty's work on anti-racism through academic and community activities, building our expertise and vision for equity, diversity, and inclusion in education. This position—the first of its kind at the University of Ottawa—was established through a generous gift from Air Canada in honour of Calin Rovinescu, who served as the University’s chancellor from 2015 to 2022. Professor Ibrahim also serves as the University of Ottawa's Vice-Provost, Equity, Diversity and Inclusive Excellence (EDI).
"The work of anti-racism," according to Professor Ibrahim "is to enable people to critically situate themselves in time and space and at the same time, question the adequacy of that location, to fully humanize themselves and others, to open cracks so that a better, environmentally friendly, peaceful, wide-awake and fully conscious future is brought into existence.”

Air Canada Professor on Anti-Racism
Advancing equity and inclusion

“The work of anti-racism is to enable people to critically situate themselves in time and space and at the same time, question the adequacy of that location, to fully humanize themselves and others...”
Awad Ibrahim
— Holder of the Air Canada Professorship on Anti-racism
Events
October 3, 2022 | Beyond box checking: Homecoming panel discussion offers meaningful guidance on equity, diversity, and inclusion | Alumni Relations Office
November 2, 2022 | Official Inauguration of the Air Canada Professorship on Anti-racism | Faculty of Education
February 9, 2023 | An Anti-Racist and Decolonial Conversation | Faculty of Education
February 11, 2023 | Black Canada, Black Excellence: Note on Black History and Black Education | Black History Ottawa
February 14, 2023 | APUO Panel Discussion: Racism, Anti-Racism, and the Role of Unions | Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa
February 21, 2023 | Anti-racism: What everyone should know about it | Faculty of Medicine, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
February 23, 2023 | Black History Month, yes but what is next? | Groupe d'action contre le racisme antinoirEs (GaCran)
February 23, 2023 | Anti-racism: What everyone should know about it | Faculty of Health Sciences, Governance
February 27, 2023 | Let's talk about diversity within the Francophone minority | Faculty of Education
March 8, 2023 | Embedding data equity into practice: The OCDSB's experience of collecting and using identity data to dismantle systemic barriers for students | Faculty of Education
June 7, 2023 | Sixth Annual Black Youth Forum | OCDSB, Faculty of Education

Official inauguration of the Air Canada Professorship on Anti-Racism
The Faculty of Education invites alumni, friends, and members of the University community to join us, in person or virtually, for the official inaugur…

An Anti-Racist and Decolonial Conversation
As part of its Black History Month activities, the Air Canada Professorship in Anti-Racism is organizing a series of events to discuss the topics of a…

Let's talk about diversity within the Francophone minority
As part of its Black History Month activities, the holder of Air Canada Professorship in Anti-Racism is organizing a series of events to discuss the t…

Embedding data equity into practice:
Join us for a special event, sponsored by the holder of the Air Canada Professorship on Anti-Racism, which will take place on March 8, between 1-2:30 …
In the news
January 31, 2022 | The Faculty of Education announces new Air Canada Professorship on Anti-Racism | Faculty of Education
September 21, 2022 | Awad Ibrahim named as the first to hold the Air Canada Professorship on Anti-Racism | Faculty of Education
November 2, 2022 | Ibrahim appointed Anti-Racism professor | Ottawa Black Scene
February 10, 2023 | Une longue histoire noire à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard | La Voix Acadienne
February 27, 2023 | Outreach programs help Black students adjust to university | CBC News
February 28, 2023 | Air Canada Proudly Salutes its Black Employees, Wraps Black History Month with Celebration Flight | Air Canada Media Room
June 16, 2023 | Grants to highlight research insights and identify knowledge gaps on dynamics of privilege and marginalization | Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council News Room (Co-applicant for research project: Addressing Racisms and Anti-Racisms in Science and Teacher Education Research)
August 14, 2023 | Why are African international students rejected so often for Canadian visas? | Toronto Star

Awad Ibrahim named as the first to hold the Air Canada Professorship on Anti-Racism

Conversations on Black History Month and education
Photo Gallery

Beyond box checking

Black Excellence Flight for Air Canada

APUO Panel: Racism, antiracism and unions
Research profile and social media
Indigenous affirmation
We pay respect to the Algonquin people, who are the traditional guardians of this land. We acknowledge their longstanding relationship with this territory, which remains unceded.
We pay respect to all Indigenous people in this region, from all nations across Canada, who call Ottawa home.
We acknowledge the traditional knowledge keepers, both young and old. And we honour their courageous leaders: past, present, and future.