Carolyn Mullin, Margie Lizzotti and Nancy Cook are nominated for YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.

Three Brock women will be honoured tomorrow night at the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.

Nancy Cook, assistant professor of Sociology, is nominated in the education, training and development category. Carolyn Mullin, research and communications manager in Brock Research Services, is nominated in the public and community service category. Margie Lizzotti, assistant aquatic programs supervisor in Recreation Services, is also nominated in the education, training and development category.

Nancy Cook

Cook is the co-founder and co-chair of Justice at Brock, an activist group advocating for equality, diversity and social justice on campus. The nomination is exciting for the recognition it brings the group, Cook said.

“I like that the nomination is for campus activist work,” she said. “If you’re going to be nominated for something, that’s a good thing to be nominated for.”

Through Justice at Brock, Cook is helping organize sexual assault workshops for men. She has participated in the creation of the University’s first sexual assault protocol and spearheaded a new, student-fee funded Student Justice Centre, which will open in the fall.

Cook’s other work includes being co-chair and workshop facilitator for Brock’s Positive Space Campaign. She is a researcher/writer for KAIRIN, a Wellspring Niagara/Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation project. Her academic articles include training materials for international development workers on global citizenship and fairness, articles that draw on her collaborative research enterprises in a remote Pakistani village. Recently, she collaborated with two colleagues to develop a social justice-oriented Service Learning course.

Carolyn Mullin

Mullin is involved with several community service organizations in her home community of Pelham. She works with Project Pelham Cares, a volunteer group establishing a permanent home for the food and social agency Pelham Cares. She has worked with several United Way branches across the region, including Brock’s United Way campaign. She is also a member of the Rotary Club of Fonthill and the Fonthill bandshell committee, which brings free family entertainment to Pelham each summer. In addition, she is creating and leading a junior choir at Kirk on the Hill Presbyterian Church, where she is senior choir leader.

Mullin said her 15-year career in newspapers and magazines led to her volunteer work.

“When you get to know what’s going on in the community, you can’t help but get involved,” she said. “You don’t do it for recognition. You do it for how it makes you feel.”

Margie Lizzotti

An employee at Brock since 1984, Lizzotti’s work has saved lives.

She has won numerous major Lifesaving Society Awards. She is Niagara Region area chair of the Lifesaving Society of Ontario and serves as a mentor to Brock lifeguards and aquatics instructors. She also co-ordinates First Aid/CPR training for students, staff, faculty and the community.

Lizzotti, who has served in numerous positions at Brock over the years, said the nomination is “overwhelming.

“There are other people out there who are far more deserving than myself,” she said, laughing as she gestured to her co-workers. “I think it’s cool.”

What: YWCA Niagara Region’s Women of Distinction Awards fundraising gala
When: Thursday, May 6
Where: Club Italia, Niagara Falls
To purchase a ticket: 905-988-3528 x222

Links:
• 32 women in running for prestigious awards — St. Catharines Standard
• YWCA Niagara Region