No matter where you are in the world, you were affected by the pandemic in one way or another. Since the advent of the crisis, we have all had to adjust: new ways of teaching and learning, being furloughed or laid off, working from home with kids, grieving the loss of loved ones from a distance — and on it goes.
The pandemic challenged our sense of normalcy and our ability to live with the unknown. For Nadia Chaudhri, different circumstances forced her to recalibrate. In 2020, the Department of Psychology professor was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer.
Rather than focus on the negative, she directed her energy toward creating a positive impact for the next generation by establishing the Nadia Chaudhri Wingspan Award at Concordia. The award will provide crucial funding to behavioural neuroscientists unable to participate fully in the field due to prejudice and other systemic barriers.
Chaudhri, who was born in Pakistan and studied in the United States before joining Concordia as a researcher, faced her own career hurdles simply because she did not fit the traditional mould. Her award honours her steadfast commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion at Concordia and beyond.
In this summer issue, our cover story examines what alumni and researchers such as Chaudhri are doing to combat systemic and institutional racism at home and abroad (p. 28).
And our features all explore how Concordians, like people the world over, are navigating a future full of uncertainty.
You’ll learn how Montreal restaurant owners are dealing with pandemic-related restrictions (p. 22); how experts are helping design a more equitable gig economy for workers (p. 25); how research into concussions is leading to more effective treatments for sportsrelated brain injuries (p. 36); and how Concordians are contributing to the exciting new explorations of outer space (p. 42).
In June, our new School of Health was officially approved by the university’s Board of Governors (p. 41).
In the coming months, you’ll be hearing a lot more about the growth and evolution of the school, which will build on Concordia’s expertise in community health, clinical research and prevention, and biomedical science and engineering research.
We also welcomed close to 7,000 graduates to our network of 230,000 alumni this June, with our third edition of CU Celebrate (p. 50).
The past year has been anything but easy for our students, and I send out heartfelt congratulations to the new grads reading our magazine for the first time. Welcome to our community!
While there remain numerous unknowns with the pandemic — we’re not yet in the clear — I look forward to sharing more positive university news and milestones with you in our fall issue.
Until then, I wish you a safe and restful summer.
