Media releases

• Brock researchers awarded more than $1.1 million in SSHRC funding

  Thursday, June 16, 2022 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 16 June 2022 – R0068

  With so many charities competing for a limited number of dollars, it’s hard to know who to support. Donors want to make sure groups they fund are using the money responsibly.

  Professor of Accounting Hemantha Herath is among those challenging the conventional way charities calculate and report their program expenses.

  With funding from the federal government’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Herath is researching how data science techniques can be integrated into current reporting methods to give a fuller picture of charities’ performances.

  Herath is among eight Brock University researchers awarded SSHRC’s Insight Grant, announced Thursday, June 16 by François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

  Brock University received more than $1.1 million in the latest round of Insight Grants, which support research excellence and are judged worthy of funding by fellow researchers and/or other experts. The research can be conducted individually or by teams.

  “SSHRC’s investment in our research enables our scholars to contribute valuable insights into our collective understanding of a wide range of challenges faced in society,” says Brock’s Vice-President, Research Tim Kenyon.

  In Herath’s case, he will use his funding to research how to recalculate the program expense ratio, which measures costs incurred by programs, services and other activities fulfilling a non-profit’s mission compared to its total costs.

  Herath is exploring how to integrate statistical techniques, including cluster analysis, which groups data that share similar properties, and text mining, which involves the process of examining large collections of documents to discover new information, into the accounting process.

  “This data-driven approach will generate more reliable information that will help donors, resource providers and the public evaluate the effectiveness of non-profit organizations so that they can make better funding decisions,” he says.

  Brock researchers awarded Insight Grants in 2022 are:

  • Julia Baird, Associate Professor, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre and the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, “Individual interventions to transform water governance”
  • Angela Book, Associate Professor, Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, “The Social Predator Hypothesis of Psychopathy”
  • Timothy Fletcher, Associate Professor, Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, “Champions for Meaningful Physical Education”
  • Hemantha Herath, Professor, Accounting, Goodman School of Business, “How to Choose a Charity: A Data Science Based Investigation”
  • Shannon Kerwin, Associate Professor, Sport Management, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, “Signaling Change: Exploring Gender EDI and Human Resource Management Practices, Board Gender Composition, and Board Outcomes in Non-profit Sport Governing Bodies”
  • Sean Locke, Assistant Professor, Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, “Understanding how reframing inaccurate barrier perceptions promotes physical activity participation”
  • Bradley Millington, Associate Professor, Sport Management, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, “Sport and the digital economy: A case study of the Canadian sports analytics industry”
  • Elizabeth Sauer, Professor, English Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, “Reorienting English National Consciousness: Renaissance to Late Restoration”

  Also announced June 16 are Stage 1 of SSHRC’s Partnership Grants, which provide support for new and existing formal partnerships over four to seven years to advance research, research training and/or knowledge mobilization in the social sciences and humanities.

  Brock University’s two awards, totalling $39,882, are:

  • Jennifer Roberts-Smith, Professor, Dramatic Arts, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, “Staging Better Futures/Mettre en scène de meilleurs avenirs”
  • Teena Willoughby, Professor, Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, “The impact of technology use on adolescent risk behaviours and wellbeing over time: A collaborative approach focusing on partnerships and comparisons across different research approaches”

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  * Doug Hunt, Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Brock University dhunt2@brocku.ca or 905-941-6209

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock grads urged to speak up and break down barriers

  Wednesday, June 15, 2022 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 14 June 2022 – R0067

  The message was clear: together, we can create a better world for all.

  Though two honorary doctorate recipients delivered separate addresses to the crowds at Brock University’s Spring Convocation ceremonies Tuesday, June 14, a common thread emerged to inspire the new graduates on their paths forward.

  Deena Ladd, co-founder and Executive Director of the Toronto Workers’ Action Centre and a champion for workers’ rights, and David Lepofsky, Chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Alliance and renowned disability rights advocate, called on the next generation to collectively make a difference.

  “So much of what we are told is that we are all individuals; that it is all on our own shoulders … to outshine everyone else, to make the most money, be the most popular, have the most likes, speak the best and be the best. Who cares about other people? They must have done something wrong to be where they are,” Ladd said during the Tuesday morning ceremony where she received her honorary degree. “I want to challenge this thinking.”

  While also acknowledging individual goals are needed, she stressed the importance of “collective responsibility” and the tremendous impact it can have in building better schools, workplaces and communities.

  “So, what does this mean for you?” Ladd asked the graduates. “It means standing up, being present and being aware of the people around you. It means changing the individualism that surrounds us that says, ‘it’s not my issue, I am fine, I can pay my bills, I am not affected by things like poverty. It’s not my problem.’

  “It means giving a damn.”

  Ladd urged the bright young minds in attendance to care whether everyone receives a living wage and has access to paid sick days, so they don’t have to choose between putting food on the table and taking a day off to take care of themselves.

  “It means when someone at work is being discriminated against, that you support them and be brave,” she said. “It means sometimes you will have to take a risk. It will be hard, but it will be important to speak out against unfairness.”

  Aim to leave the world a stronger place than when you arrived, Ladd said.

  “That is our challenge. It’s a tough path but I have no doubt that together we can collectively raise everyone up and not leave anyone behind.”

  Equity and inclusivity were also on the mind of Lepofsky, a decorated constitutional lawyer now retired from public service, as he addressed the crowd after receiving his honorary degree Tuesday afternoon.

  “We’ve got a problem in Ontario desperately needing to be fixed,” he said. “Ontario schools have hundreds of thousands of students with disabilities: physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health challenges. Some of you are amongst that population.”

  Nearly everyone will experience a disability of some kind at some point in their life, but that’s not reflected in society, said Lepofsky, who is blind.

  “The problem is that we live in a world, including an education system, which overwhelmingly has been designed and operated under the bogus, ridiculous, implicit assumption that it’s only for people without disabilities,” he said.

  Comprehensive plans to improve accessibility in Ontario’s K-12 and post-secondary education systems, developed by both those in the disability community and educators, were delivered to the provincial government earlier this year, Lepofsky said, but the support of advocates and allies are needed to help see them through.

  “We need those plans adopted and implemented so universities like yours can have a roadmap that they don’t have to reinvent themselves,” he said.

  Lepofsky came prepared with a homework assignment for the newest Brock graduates.

  “You have been given a rare gift: the unique training that you’ve learned at this university that equips you with researching, writing, speaking, organizing, communicating, persuading skills,” he said. “Use it. Use it to help push to get our education system’s barriers facing students with disabilities torn down and to prevent new ones from ever being created.”

  Brock University’s 111th Convocation resumes Wednesday, June 15 with 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ceremonies for the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.

  Receiving an honorary doctorate and delivering the Convocation address in the afternoon will be Bob Davis, former longtime Brock University athletic director who over his more than 30-year career helped to shape the athletic landscape at the University.

  All Spring Convocation ceremonies will be livestreamed at brocku.ca/livestream

  For more information and a full schedule of events, visit brocku.ca/convocation

  Media are welcome to attend Brock’s Spring Convocation. Interviews can be arranged with any of the graduands, honorary degree recipients or faculty members. Photographers shooting from directly in front of the stage are asked to wear a Convocation gown, which can be arranged through Communications and Media Relations Specialist Doug Hunt.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  * Doug Hunt, Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Brock University dhunt2@brocku.ca or 905-941-6209

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  Categories: Media releases