The Faculty of Arts and Science leadership team hosted a lunch for this year's winners of the Black Excellence in Mentorship Awards: Left to right: Sharon Regan, Acting Associate Dean (Research), Roberta Edem Abbeyquaye, Joseph Kangmennaang, and James Fraser, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies). Not pictured: Dr. Daniel McNeil and Christina Pilgrim.
Caring for their community
Two faculty members and two graduate students in the Faculty of Arts and Science have earned Black Excellence in Mentorship Awards. The awards were launched in 2023 to acknowledge and celebrate the mentorship work undertaken by the Black community at 91.
Earning the honour this year were , Faculty, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies; Daniel McNeil, Faculty, Department of History; Christina Pilgrim, Graduate Student, Department of Sociology; and Roberta Edem Abbeyquaye, Graduate Student, Department of Film and Media.
“This award encourages me to strive for greatness and accountability even when no one is watching and reminds me that those we dedicate our time to appreciate our efforts,” says Dr. Kangmennaang. “Professionally, the award encourages me to continue to improve my mentorship skills and to dedicate my time to supporting racialized students to thrive in academic spaces. The generosity of my advisors and peers with their time and mentorship shaped my academic journey, and I see it as my duty to pass it on to the next generation of Black scholars and leaders.”
Roberta echoed these sentiments. “I’m honoured to be receiving this award, and I am very proud of the community of African students we’ve built together. This nomination and award demonstrate that people see the efforts you put in to ensure that certain gaps that exist within the institution and / or for certain people are bridged. On a personal level, I’m happy to make these connections, and it speaks to the other things I care about outside of the degree I’m working toward here at Queen’s. I am always thinking, ‘how can I help’.”
The four winners were invited to lunch at the University Club by the FAS senior leadership team. Dr. McNeil and Christina were unable to attend but Sharon Regan, Acting Associate Dean (Research) and James Fraser, Associate Dean (Grad) hosted the other two winners.
“It was especially inspiring to have lunch with PhD student Roberta Abbeyquaye and Assistant Professor Joseph Kangmennaang, and hear how their early lives in Ghana have shaped their passion for research and commitment to mentorship,” says Dr. Regan.
“It's a real pleasure to witness the transformative impact of this year's Black Excellence in Mentorship award winners. Their dedication to building inclusive spaces is truly inspiring, and we are deeply proud to recognize their contributions to our Faculty and our community,” added Dr. Fraser.
Learn more about the awards on the Black Excellence in Mentorship Award webpage.