Political Science professor brings home Sarah Shorten Award

In 2015 McMaster made national headlines for boosting the salaries of women faculty members to address a widespread gender pay equity gap. It didn’t take other universities long to follow suit.  One of the faculty members behind the study that spurred this change was Michelle Dion, a Political Science professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Acting Director for the Centre for Empirical Social Sciences.

This year the Canadian Association of University Teachers recognized Dion for this pioneering equity work with the Sarah Shorten Award. This national prize recognizes outstanding achievements in the promotion of the advancement of women in Canadian universities and colleges. A commitment to equity is something Dion has in spades. While serving as President of the McMaster University Faculty Association Dion advocated improvements in leave policies, family support policies and changes to student evaluation processes that are biases against women professors.

Dion’s interest in gender equality permeates her academic endeavours as well. She has studied the gendered experiences of women professors and has helped create a network of women political science methodologists – a male-dominated field.

Dion is a tireless advocate and vital force in advancing gender equity and inclusivity at McMaster University and beyond.