Geography Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Resources

The Department of Geography is committed to creating a community where all students, staff, and faculty feel respected, included, and supported. The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee works to promote inclusive practices, raise awareness, and address systemic barriers across teaching, research, and departmental life. Through events, discussions, and policy reviews, the committee supports equity-seeking students and collaborates with others to ensure EDI principles are embedded throughout the department. EDI is everyone’s responsibility. We invite all members of our community to engage, share ideas, and help make Geography a more welcoming and equitable place for all.

Committee Members

Prof. Sarah Turner (she/her)
Committee Chair

Prof. Genevieve Ali (she/her)

Kayleigh Christensen (she/they)
Geography Graduate Society (GGS)
kayleigh.christensen [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email)

Coco Einarsen (he/they/them)
McGill Undergraduate Geography Society (MUGS)
mcgillgeography [at] gmail.com (Email)

Camille Jones (she/her)
Geography Graduate Society (GGS)
camille.jones [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Email)

Ava Kleban (she/her)
Student Association of Sustainability, Science and Society (SASSS)
mcgill.sasss [at] gmail.com (Email)

Michelle Maillet (she/her)
Undergraduate Advisor

Prof. Kevin Manaugh (he/him)

Prof. Raja Sengupta (he/him)

Students, staff and Faculty in the Department are welcome to contact any member of the Department's Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee with equity-related questions or concerns.

Mandate and Terms of Reference

Equity-Related Student Funding Opportunities

Enriched Educational Opportunities: Need-Based Bursary Program (EEO) - potentially of help for geography fieldtrips and field courses

Enriched Educational Opportunities (EEOs) are high-quality off-campus mobility or other experiential opportunities, and are officially recognized by your Faculty. They foster self-development and help students transition successfully to the workplace or graduate studies. The EEO program is open to all students.

The EEO Bursaries Program is administered by the Scholarships & Student Aid Office as non-repayable forms of financial assistance based on demonstrated financial need. The Faculty has partnered with this program to ensure Science students have equal access to fully participate in these opportunities regardless of their financial capacity.

The Faculty of Science will determine which opportunities shall be eligible and will provide you with a supporting document (such as a transcript entry or letter) to prove their recognition. It generally involves a vetting/selection process, academic oversight, clear learning outcomes and objectives.

Eligible EEOs may include:

• Field Study Courses and Semesters
• Unpaid Internships and Research Experiences (excludes McGill on-campus or in affiliated hospitals and research institutes)
• Research Abroad

Geography Undergraduate Research Award (GURA) for students of Black Heritage (2025)

In association with the Faculty of Science and Provost’s initiative on Anti-Black Racism (ABR), the Department of Geography is offering one Geography Undergraduate Research Award (GURA) for Undergraduate students of Black Heritage who are enrolled in a BSc, BA&Sc or BA degree program (Honours, Major, Interfaculty Program or Minor) under the Department of Geography. The student should be interested in carrying out a full time summer research project with a faculty member in the Geography department. Both domestic and international McGill students may apply, and on the supervisor side, the award is not restricted to professors who hold research grants. Students at all undergraduate levels are encouraged to apply. Many undergraduates say that their summer research experience allowed them to understand their courses better, changed their academic and professional direction, or was the best part of their undergraduate degree.

GURAs are a 15-week-long paid ($6000) internships that will place students in a research setting (human or physical geography) or in the field to conduct hands-on research. No research experience is necessary; however, students should make contact with a Geography faculty member who agrees to supervise them. Applicants will be evaluated based predominantly on a short essay, and a faculty member’s commitment. 

Application deadline: April 21st, 2025 [pending details for 2026]

Equity at McGill

McGill’s Equity Office is firmly committed to advancing and implementing inclusive excellence. Through activities focused on education and policy development, the Equity Team works to build and sustain a campus community that understands and works to dismantle the varied social barriers that can stand in the way of access to and success within higher education.

Other useful resources and services at McGill University

People to reach out to:

• The Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education (OSVRSE) provides confidential, non-judgmental and non-directional support and education to students, faculty and staff of all genders who have been impacted by sexual violence. 
• The Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Student Society (SACOMSS) is a volunteer-run organization committed to supporting survivors of sexual assault and their allies through direct support, advocacy, and outreach. Their services include Drop-In and Line (DIAL), Support Groups, Advocacy, and Outreach. Additionally, they offer sexual assault sensitivity training to McGill and Montreal groups, provide information and referrals, and organize events to raise awareness about sexual assault.
• The Office of Mediation and Reporting (OMR) is responsible for receiving and responding to formal reports of discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence against members of the University community. The OMR offers confidential consultations to all members of the University community (students, staff, and faculty) to provide information on reporting processes as well as relevant University resources, support services, and training.
• The Office of the Dean of Students (for students).
• The Office of the Ombudsperson (for students).
• The McGill Equity Office's Harassment, Discrimination & Sexual Violence webpage provides a detailed list of further resources and support services (for students and staff).

Policies and other information can be found at the following links:

• McGill University Mission Statement and Principles
• McGill University Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Strategic Plan 2020-2025
• McGill University Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism 2020-2025
• McGill Policy On Harassment And Discrimination Prohibited By Law
• Harassment and Discrimination reporting process (Office of Mediation and Reporting)
• McGill Policy against Sexual Violence
• Sexual Violence reporting process (Office of Mediation and Reporting)
• Handbook on Student Rights and Responsibilities, Policy on Conflicts of Interest in Academic Supervision and Evaluation 

Statement regarding Black Lives Matter (2020)

The Department of Geography, McGill University firmly denounces all racism and racial violence and stands in solidarity with members of the Black community. We are deeply concerned with the violence and recent events in Canada and the US. We recognize that these events are not isolated and in Canada are situated in our country’s long history of violence against Visible Minorities and Indigenous Communities. Read our full statement from June 2020 here.

Statement on Appropriate Relationships among Faculty, Staff, and Students (2018)

In 2018 the Equity Committee wrote the following statement that was approved by the Department faculty, in response to events at different Canadian universities that have brought the issue of sexual harassment and violence front and center in the public domain. Read our full statement from September 2018 here.

This statement will be reviewed yearly by the Department’s Equity Committee.