The Faculty of Social Sciences celebrated their own Wednesday.

Professors, staff members and graduate students from across the Faculty’s 11 departments and centres gathered in Pond Inlet to share in a celebration of the achievements of their colleagues.

These successes were broad in range, from disciplinary recognitions to SSHRC and NSERC funding. Internal Brock awards for teaching and research were also recognized, including some of Brock’s highest honours— the Chancellor’s Chair for Research Excellence for 2015-18, held by Gordon Hodson (Psychology), the Award for Distinguished Research and Creative Activity, held by Catherine Mondloch (Psychology), and the Distinguished Teaching Award, held by Tanya Martini (Psychology).

In his opening remarks, Thomas Dunk, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, remarked on the hundreds of publications and presentations by faculty members and students each year that contribute to all six of Brock’s areas of institutional strength described in the Strategic Mandate Agreement.

“The breadth and depth of scholarship across the Faculty of Social Sciences is truly impressive and continues to grow,” said Dunk. “It is an honour to be connected to fantastic researchers and teachers who are making a positive difference in the lives of our students and communities.”

Graduate students were also front and centre at the celebration. Three graduate students received the Faculty’s top honours, the Graduate Student Writing Awards.

Paul Adachi, a graduate of the Psychology program who is currently a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Rochester, received the award for the Best PhD Thesis for his dissertation, entitled “Demolishing the Competition: The Association between Competitive Video Game Play and Aggression among Adolescents and Young Adults.”

Kate Paterson, who completed her MA in Social Justice and Equity Studies in the spring and is now pursuing a PhD in Educational Studies at the University of British Columbia, received the Best MA Thesis award for her work, entitled “”They’re trying to trick us!”: Making sense of anti-oppressive children’s literature in the elementary school classroom.”

And Michelle Mudge, currently a student in the MA in Social Justice and Equity Studies, was recognized for submitting the Best Graduate Course Paper in the Faculty. Mudge was the very first recipient of this new award.

“I am very proud of the many accomplishments of our graduate students in the Faculty of Social Sciences,” said Diane Dupont, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research. “The breadth of their research illustrates not only excellence within their disciplines but also the ability to provide answers to questions that transcend disciplinary boundaries.”