While their time at Brock has ended, new Faculty of Applied Health Sciences graduates Emma Ratke (BKin ’25) and Jessica Braun (MSc ’21, PhD ’25) will leave a lasting legacy for their inclusive leadership and community involvement.

Each received the Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medal on Tuesday, June 10 during the University’s 117th Convocation in honour of their exceptional contributions.

Braun, who graduated with a PhD in Applied Health Sciences, is a passionate advocate for equity and inclusion when it comes to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Last year, she received the inaugural VPR Women in STEM Graduate Leadership Award for her exceptional leadership and efforts to advance women and underrepresented groups in STEM.

Braun played a pivotal role in launching the Niagara Chapter of the Girls SySTEM Mentorship program in January 2023, which connects women and non-binary youth with mentors in STEM. In its first year, the chapter matched 48 mentees with 21 mentors.

She credits the empowering and inspiring women in STEM that surrounded her childhood with continually fuelling her passion for championing equitable access to STEM.

“Representation matters,” Braun said. “Programs like Girls SySTEM help young people see what’s possible and feel like they belong in STEM.”

She continues to lead the chapter while organizing campus initiatives that foster connection and well-being, including the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Fun Golf Tournament.

Braun advanced her scientific career through research on oxidative stress and muscle health under the supervision of Val Fajardo, Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Tissue Re-modelling and Plasticity Throughout the Lifespan.

Through a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement, Braun is preparing for postdoctoral research with Lykke Sylow, an expert in molecular physiology and metabolic regulation at the University of Copenhagen.

Drawn to research early in her Bachelor of Kinesiology studies at Brock, Ratke pursued projects tackling complex questions at the intersection of health, movement and science. Her work earned praise for its clarity and impact, and her communication skills have made her a standout voice in both academic and public spheres.

A three-time recipient of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Award, Ratke contributed to four research labs and was first author of a peer-reviewed publication.

Ratke also distinguished herself as a student leader, researcher and mentor, serving as president of the Kinesiology Student Association and as a Peer Leader in the Human Anatomy Labs.

Off campus, she presented at international conferences and worked at Brock Sports Medicine and the Brock Functional Inclusive Training Centre, where she taught exercise classes to older adults with osteoporosis.

Known for her inclusive leadership, she has mentored several students while promoting evidence-informed, community-based approaches in health and movement.

“I’m grateful to Brock for providing a space where research, leadership and mentorship come together,” she said. “It’s helped me grow both as a scientist and a person.”