Announcing the winner of the Petro-Canada-McMaster University Young Innovator Award 

Dr. Selina Mudavanhu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies & Media Arts, is the 2022 recipient of the Petro-Canada-McMaster University Young Innovator Award.  

Using the autoethnographic research method, Mudavanhu’s proposed project will engage ten Black senior undergraduate students to reflect on their intersectional experiences of studying at McMaster and of living in Canada in bodies raced as Black. 

“At McMaster, momentum is building behind the idea that learning experiences are not only informed and influenced by the content and format of material, but also by individuals and the contexts they bring to the learning environment,” says Lori Goff, Director of the Paul R. MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Excellence in Teaching. “This important research for the University will further the understanding of diverse student experiences and inform our continued efforts to support inclusive environments and positive student experiences inside and outside the classroom at McMaster.” 

The Petro-Canada-McMaster Young Innovator Award, valued at $25,000, recognizes the research achievements of an innovative scholar within the first eight years of their research career at McMaster and provides funding support to enable the active participation of undergraduates in a research endeavour.  

The award funds provide an opportunity for researchers to garner student participation in a research activity that generates campus-wide recognition for innovative research achievement.  

A $250,000 endowment provided by Petro-Canada and a matching annual contribution from McMaster University’s Office of the Vice-President Research helps to finance the award.  

To learn more about past winners and their funded projects, visit the Petro-Canada-McMaster University Young Innovator Award webpage.