Congratulations to Anne Condon, Sara Swenson & Dawn McArthur on 2010 YWCA Women of Distinction Noms

Honorary SCWIST member Dr. Anne Condon and SCWIST members Sara Swenson and Dawn McArthur have been nominated in the Education, Training & Development category for a 2010 YWCA Women of Distinction Award.

Dr. Condon is a Professor of Computer Science and Associate Dean of the Department of Computer Science at UBC. Dr. Swenson is a Senior Research Grants Facilitator at SFU. Dr. McArthur is a Senior Research Development Facilitator at the Child & Family Research Institute. Drs. McArthur and Swenson received a co-nomination. Congratulations to all and best of luck!

The event will be held June 1, 2010. For more information please click here.

Nominee Profiles

Dr. Anne Condon A gifted Professor of Computer Science and Associate Dean of Science at UBC, Anne has led several successful initiatives aimed at broadening participation in science and engineering, with a particular focus on women in computing. As the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/General Motors Canada Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, she created a regional community of leaders who support girls and women in exploring non-traditional career goals and funded nationwide research and mentoring programs for women undergraduates in computing. Anne initiated the development of policies at UBC’s Faculty of Science that strengthen mentoring practices and support faculty who take maternity or parental leaves. Anne is an inspiring mentor and role model to countless students and faculty across North America.

Connecting the Community Award quote: “Education in computer science offers incredible opportunities for everyone to make a positive difference in society. I choose to support early learning and care for children so that our children can be curious, yet secure, in exploring the frontiers of tomorrow’s world.”

Drs. Dawn McArthur and Sara Swenson More than ten years ago, searching the Internet for “research grants facilitator” provided only two names: Dawn McArthur and Sara Swenson. Since then, almost every university and research institution in Canada has embraced Sara and Dawn’s model of research support. Dawn and Sara are scientists who love research, educators who love teaching and writers who love using language as a tool. They are out-of-the-box thinkers who play multi-faceted roles as advisors, collaborators, mentors, teachers and coaches. Dawn and Sara both have long histories supporting young women in science and scholarship and are both former Presidents of the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology.

Connecting the Community Award quote: “Reducing child poverty is one of our greatest social challenges; raising healthy children, one of our primary social responsibilities. I choose this area because the YWCA takes on the challenge of child poverty directly at the grassroots level—where services have the most impact—by providing community-based resources to support the essential daily needs of vulnerable children and women.” Dawn McArthur

Connecting the Community Award quote: “As the mother of three children—two sons in university and a daughter in high school—I understand how difficult it is to help youth make the transition from childhood to adulthood and the challenges that many youth face. I choose to support the YWCA program supporting healthy choices for youth which empowers young people to become self-confident, healthy, socially responsible adults.” Sara Swenson