Former President Marsha Hanen
WINNIPEG, MB – Dr. Marsha Hanen, former University of Winnipeg President and former President of the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership and currently Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at the University of Victoria, today announced her gift of $200,000 to establish The University of Winnipeg Marsha Hanen Global Dialogue and Ethics Program.
The University of Winnipeg’s Global College welcomes this new program, which supports the open expression and dissemination of ideas and provides a forum for dialogue and leadership on topics of global significance. Hanen has pledged an inaugural contribution of $200,000. The ultimate goal is to build the endowment to $500,000.
“Dr. Hanen has a long-standing commitment to this community and is highly respected for her work with the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership,” said University President & Vice-Chancellor Lloyd Axworthy. “I am very pleased to have her involvement in growing our Global College. This gift will allow faculty, students, and the community, local and international, to better explore and discuss global issues.”
The program will support the open expression and dissemination of ideas and informed discussion through the annual delivery of faculty-initiated seminars, conferences, research projects, publications and/or short courses that encourage ethical responsibility and respect for human rights. Topics to be explored include:
- women’s issues and women’s global roles
- local and international community needs
- freedom of expression and civil liberties
- citizenship and participation in globalization and democracy
- global corporate responsibility, ethics, and governance
- impacts of science and technology
- and global public health issues.
“The program is intended to encourage and support innovative, interdisciplinary work by faculty directed toward greater understanding of ethics, human rights and global issues,” said Dr. Hanen, who was University of Winnipeg President from 1989 to 1999. “This new initiative will help to promote the convergence of ideas among students, faculty members and the general public. The initiative is intended to assist us all in the active exploration and debate required to better recognize and understand the rights and responsibilities of individuals in a changing world.”
The Global College, established by President Lloyd Axworthy, provides students, faculty, visiting scholars, dignitaries and the community with a place to interact and share their diverse perspectives on global citizenship, human rights and issues affecting the planet. The College is an action-oriented, multi-disciplinary forum. Its institutes include Human Rights and Global Studies, Health and Human Potential, Literacy and Transformative Learning, Political and Cultural Studies of the Americas, War Affected Children, and Women’s and Gender Studies.
“Thanks to Dr. Hanen’s generous gift, we are able for the first time to invite our faculty to submit their proposals for global studies, seminars, conferences, publications or projects of their choice, in accordance with the Global Dialogue and Ethics Program,” said Global College Acting Principal Geoff Scott.
“This is a very exciting time for the University,” said Susan Thompson, President and CEO of The University of Winnipeg Foundation. “We have a very committed group of alumni, faculty, students and community leaders. Dr. Hanen’s gift will help realize the university’s vision of building dialogue locally and internationally, and establishing The University of Winnipeg as one of the most progressive and globally minded universities in North America.”
Throughout her career, Dr. Hanen has served on university and faculty committees and has been involved in community education, health organizations, arts organizations and women’s groups. Her academic work has been in philosophy of law, philosophy of science, feminist theory, epistemology, liberal arts, inter-disciplinary education and research, ethics and privacy.
This commitment of $200,000 is the latest in a series of financial contributions made by or in honor of Dr. Hanen in support of The University of Winnipeg. The Marsha P. Hanen Entrance Scholarship is one of The University’s most prestigious student awards. Along with the Marsha P. Hanen Undergraduate Scholarship, it recognizes students with outstanding academic records and outstanding leadership and extracurricular contributions. As well, there is The Marsha Hanen Award for Excellence in Creating Community Awareness, which is funded by TD and recognizes activities of faculty and staff which reinforce the value of a liberal education and expand understanding of, and respect for, The University of Winnipeg.
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Located in the heart of downtown, The University of Winnipeg is a compact, diverse, multi-cultural academic community committed to access and excellence. Home to more than 9,200 full- and part-time students, UWinnipeg has been ranked by our graduates in the Top-10 of all Canadian universities when asked about their “Entire Educational Experience” (MacLean’s Graduate Survey, June 2006). The Globe & Mail Report Card 2006 gives the University of Winnipeg an overall “A” grade in the areas of quality of education, teaching quality, class sizes, faculty-student interaction and the availability of faculty outside of classroom hours. Find out why. Visit www.uwinnipeg.ca.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Shawn Coates, Director of Marketing & Communications, University of Winnipeg
P: 204.786.9872, C: 204.230.0202, E: s.coates@uwinnipeg.ca
Prof. Geoff Scott, Acting Principal Global College, University of Winnipeg
P: 204.786.9297, E: g.scott@uwinnipeg.ca
