A familiar face in the Brock University community is moving into a new role.

Alison Rothwell, President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), will be taking on the role of accessibility and inclusion advisor in the Office of Human Rights and Equity (HRE) as of July 1.

“I am thrilled to be joining such a passionate and dynamic team and am excited to help contribute towards achieving Brock’s strategic priorities with respect to accessibility and inclusion,” said Rothwell. “In particular, I am looking forward to having the opportunity to examine how operationalized normalcy impacts accessibility and inclusion in post-secondary practices, policies and philosophies as we work to help improve accessibility and inclusivity for all staff, faculty and students across campus.”

Rothwell is known for her direct communication, relentless work ethic and unflagging good humour in both her professional and personal life. She holds a degree in Comparative Literature and Philosophy from McMaster University and is in the final stages of completing her master’s in Applied Disability Studies at Brock. She also brings significant experience in program administration and advising, as well as expertise in human resources, rights-based negotiation, conflict resolution and labour/union policy and administration.

“HRE is delighted to welcome Alison to our team,” said Leela MadhavaRau, Director, HRE. “We know the importance of addressing issues of anti-ableism and accessibility, particularly in a world changed by a pandemic.”

“She is well-placed to take on the responsibilities of this role, including interpreting legislation pertaining to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, assessing the University environment for systemic barriers beyond legal requirements, and developing and initiating a campus-wide commitment to anti-ableism.”