Enakshi Dua, a professor in the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) Equity and Social Justice Award. This award celebrates her outstanding contributions to advancing the position of professors, academic librarians and other academic staff from historically marginalized communities.
Reflecting on the honour, Dua said: “While all individual awards are collective, this award is especially meaningful as it was truly based on collaborations with members of the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies and BIPOC colleagues at York University. It illustrates our shared commitment to anti-racism and all forms of equity. I am proud to be part of a School and have colleagues that are leaders in research and teaching. We are especially committed to teach the next generation of leaders. I hope this award inspires people to continue working toward positive change in our world.”
Dua's extensive body of work directly tackles systemic barriers and advocates for meaningful social change within higher education, centering on anti-racist feminism. Her scholarly publications and teaching portfolio reflect a career-long dedication to equity-deserving frameworks, moving from foundational theories to urgent contemporary critiques. Beyond the classroom, Dua has translated her recent publications into systemic institutional leadership and service aimed at shifting university structures.
Having previously served as director of the Centre for Feminist Research and in senior roles within the York University Faculty Association, Dua has applied these insights to help create institutional spaces that uplift marginalized voices and support collaborative, decolonial approaches to academic governance.
Learn more about the award on the OCUFA website.