CBU invites nominations for the Margaret Dechman Community-Engaged Research Champion

Cape Breton University is seeking nominations for the Margaret Dechman Community-Engaged Research Champion Award. This award seeks to honour a community-engaged scholar who demonstrates a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, working within meaningful community partnerships. This award exemplifies its namesake, Dr. Margaret Dechman, a researcher and associate professor of sociology who passed away in 2020. Dr. Dechman was well-recognized as a champion for social justice and a tireless advocate for marginalized populations. This award honours her legacy of community service.

CBU’s Senate Research Committee Chair, Dr. Jan Hancock, will lead the adjudication of the research awards program. He says this award recognizes the importance of community partnerships in research.

“The essence of the selection criteria is a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and a record of active engagement with the community members whose lives are affected by the issue being studied,” Dr. Hancock explains. While many CBU researchers are likely candidates known for their extensive research to support social needs, he says this award also recognizes people in the community as eligible nominees.

“A unique feature of this award is that nominations are invited from within the community as well as within CBU,” he explains. “We welcome nominees that might include CBU academic researchers, members of community-based or peer-driven advocacy organizations, research participants and champions. As well, nominees may include students and non-academic research practitioners.”

The deadline for this award, along with two internal awards for research excellence in research and rising research among CBU faculty, is October 15. The nomination form for the Margaret Dechman Community Engaged Research Champion is available here.