Awad Ibrahim

Air Canada Professor on Anti-Racism

Anti-racism work is a foundational element of our raison d’être as a Faculty of Education and a keystone principle that guides our approach to preparing future teachers, researchers, and education professionals.

Advancing equity and inclusion

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.”

Awad Ibrahaim sitting in office

“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

February 6, 2025 | EDI in 2025: Black History Month as a call to action | University of Ottawa

May 21, 2024 | L’éducation postsecondaire dans une période de turbulences : promouvoir l’équité, la diversité, l’inclusion et l’autochtonisation | SAEA

March 27, 2024 | Démystifier l'Islamaphobie , Construire une compréhension Commune| Faculty of Education

March 21, 2024 |Conversation Courageuse : L'antisémitisme dans les soins de santé, à l'université et dans la societé| Faculty of Education

1February 5, 2024 | Hip-Hop celebration| Faculty of Education

February 14, 2024 | Une conversation poétique avec Elamin Abdelmahmoud et Awad Ibrahim | Faculty of Education

February 8, 2024 | Black History Month, yes but what is next?| Faculty of Education

Legs of someone hip hop dancing with color splash
Feb 15

Hip-Hop celebration

As part of its Black History Month activities, the holder of Air Canada Professorship in Anti-Racism is organizing a celebration of the local hip-hop …

drawing of multiple faces silhouettes in different colors
Feb 8

Black History Month, yes but what is next?

Join CARFfI for a discussion organized by GaCran (Groupe d'action contre le racisme antinoirEs) entitled 'Black History Month, yes but what is next?',…

Businessman hold of global structure customer network technology
Mar 8

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 …

Collage of faces parts from all ethnic origins
Feb 27

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…

Collage of faces parts from all ethnic origins
Feb 9

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…

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Nov 2

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…

In the news

2024 | Best Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace in Canada | HRReporter

July 2, 2024 | Amid calls for ‘MEI’ not DEI, are HR leaders still committed to diversity? | HRReporter

February 14, 2024 | Le Mois de l’histoire des Noir.e.s : un mois à réviser ? | La Rotonde

February 8, 2024 | An interview with professor Awad Ibrahim on Black History Month, equity, and our ongoing journey of inclusion | Faculty of Education

January 24, 2024 | A deeper understanding | uOttawa Gazette

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

October 26, 2023 | Awad Ibrahim is building capacity for EDI through courageous conversations | uOttawa Gazette

November 22 |Millions displaced amid mounting crisis in Sudan | CBC

Awad Ibrahim

Awad Ibrahim is building capacity for EDI through courageous conversations

At a time when universities are working to ensure the success and wellbeing of increasingly diverse populations, Awad Ibrahim is an unyielding champio…
Black History Month illustration of people

Conversations on Black History Month and education

“What is Blackness and why is the study of Blackness so critical, particularly at this historical juncture?” asks education scholar George J. Sefa Dei…
Diverse group of people walking on street, blurred view

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

The Faculty of Education is proud to announce the appointment of Professor Awad Ibrahim as the first professor to hold the new Air Canada Professorshi…

Photo Gallery

People sitting in chairs on a stage

Beyond box checking

As a panelist on this October 3, 2022, uO Homecoming event on equity, diversity, and inclusion, Professor Ibrahim stated “EDI and anti-racist work require a doing away almost with this idea of creating ‘safe spaces.’ It requires us to move to courageous spaces.”
Group of People posing for photo

Black Excellence Flight for Air Canada

Professor Ibrahim was aboard the second annual Black History celebratory flight from Montreal to Halifax. Held on February 28, 2023, the journey was planned and operated by Black pilots, flight attendants, managers, and ground crew.
People listening to speakers in an auditorium.

APUO Panel: Racism, antiracism and unions

Professor Ibrahim joined Gertrude Mianda, Director of the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on Africa and its Diasporas, for a Black History Month panel hosted by the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa.
Panel discussion on stage

Panel: What has the Decade Meant to Us?

Professor Ibrahim and Richard Barwell, Dean of the Faculty of Education, in conversation with other experts on the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, held on November 25, 2023, at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.
Professor Awad Ibrahim

Creating safe spaces

"I have the privilege and the awesome obligation of being named as the inaugural Vice-Provost equity, diversity and inclusive excellence"

Research profile and social media

Professor Awad Ibrahim

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. 

Learn more about the Indigenous Affirmation.