York University Professor Haideh Moghissi has been awarded the prestigious Trudeau Fellowship prize from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.
“We were thrilled to learn that Professor Haideh Moghissi was a recipient of the Trudeau Fellowship prize,” said York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. “The Trudeau Fellowship is an 
incredible honour bestowed upon the finest thinkers who have demonstrated outstanding research achievements, creativity and social commitment in all disciplines of the humanities and social sciences. We are proud that one of our own is a member of this esteemed group.”
Right: Haideh Moghissi (left) with York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri at the Trudeau Fellowship ceremony
After a prolific career in Iran as an archivist, Moghissi became an internationally acclaimed analyst of women’s issues in the Muslim world. The Fellowship prize recognizes her work in this area.
“Even though I have had the good fortune of receiving several large research grants in the last decade or so, the Trudeau Fellowship has special significance as it reflects a recognition of my academic and community-related research in the areas that are also the focus of the Trudeau Foundation, including human rights and dignity, and responsible citizenship,” said Moghissi.
Moghissi, a professor in the Department of Equity Studies and the School of Women's Studies, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, was one of four new 2011 Trudeau Fellows announced Monday at a ceremony at York, including York alumnus Ronald Rudin (MA ’73, PhD ’77) of Concordia University.
Left: Haideh Moghissi (left) with Martin Singer, dean of York's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
“My academic work has always had a specific audience and specific purpose in mind, hoping to contribute, in the most modest way, to change in areas that need change, be it in my country of birth, Iran, or in Canada, the country that I now call home,” she said. “The fellowship will help me to continue my work, providing more opportunity to explore the complexities and nuances of such issues as multiculturalism, minority rights and belonging, under the present, rapidly changing political and social circumstance.”
Each prize is worth $225,000. Trudeau Fellowships are awarded to individuals who set themselves apart through research achievements, creativity and commitment to critical social issues of importance to Canada.
“The fellowship will provide more opportunity for organizing and attending academic gatherings to learn from and exchange ideas with others who work in these and similar areas, to provide support to a few 
more graduate students as future scholars,” Moghissi said.
Right: Guests watch as each of the Trudeau Fellowship recipients are honoured at a ceremony held in the Shulich private dining room at York
A Canadian institution with a national purpose, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is an independent and non-partisan charity. It was established in 2001 as a living memorial to the former prime minister by his family, friends and colleagues. In 2002, the Government of Canada endowed the foundation with a donation of $125 million following a unanimous vote in the House of Commons. In addition, the foundation benefits from private sector donations in support of specific initiatives. Through its scholarship, fellowship, mentorship and public interaction programs, the foundation supports outstanding individuals who make meaningful contributions to critical public issues.
More about Haideh Moghissi
A professor of sociology and women's studies at York University, Moghissi was a founder of the Iranian National Union of Women and member of its first executive and editorial boards, before leaving Iran in 1984.
At York she has served as associate dean external relations in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies; coordinator of the Certificate for Anti-Racist Research and Practice; chair of the executive committee of the Centre for Feminist Research; and as a member of the executive committee of the Centre for Refugee Studies.
Over the course of her career Moghissi has served as a commentator on Iran and women in the Middle East on CBC, TVO, the BBC World Service, Radio France and Voice of America, and on the editorial and advisory boards of The Journal of Comparative Public Policy, the Rutledge Women and Politics Series, Resources for Feminist Research and Feminist Forum.
Her publications in English includes seven monographs and edited volumes and 35 articles in books and journals such as Feminist Theory, Signs, Monthly Review, Humanity and Sociology, Third World Quarterly, Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Socialist Register, Global Dialogue, Comparative Family Studies and International Review of Comparative Public Policy.
Her book Feminism and Islamic Fundamentalism: The Limits of Postmodern Analysis (Oxford University Press, 2000 and Zed Press, 1999), winner of Choice Outstanding Academic Book Award, has been translated into Korean and Indonesian.
Republished courtesy of YFile– York University’s daily e-bulletin.