Last month, the Queen's Gazette highlighted the recipients of the federal Insight and Partnership Grants, awarded through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). These grants are part of a larger $1.3 billion federal investment in Canadian research, with over $240 million allocated to the social sciences and humanities. As reported by the Gazette, “Close to 50 researchers at Queen’s have secured $11.5 million across four SSHRC programs.”
Among these researchers are five scholars from the Faculty of Education, who have secured funding to support projects that promise to advance equity, innovation, and impact within the education sector. We spoke with each of them to learn how their projects will take shape over the coming years—and how their work is poised to influence educational research and practice at regional, national, and global levels.
The Insight Grants fund research excellence in the social sciences and humanities, enabling scholars to address complex issues about individuals and society and advance their research programs. Funding of up to $500,000 is available for up to five years.
Dr. Alana Butler: Examining Post 2020 Targeted Supports for Black Post-Secondary Students in Ontario Universities
The widespread public outcry following the recurring acts of police brutality in 2020, particularly the murder of George Floyd, sparked a broader societal reckoning with anti-Black racism. In this moment of collective reckoning, Alana noticed not only a heightened interest in combating anti-Black racism, but also in fostering Black thriving. She found inspiration in several Queen’s University initiatives, including QuARMS, the Black Studies program, Black @ Queen’s, the Yellow House, and others aimed at addressing systemic and demographic under-representation of Black students.
Among those who stood out to Alana was Stephanie Simpson of the Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO), whose tireless efforts to support EDII programming have left a deep impression. Simpson’s leadership in organizing monthly webinars and ongoing learning opportunities for both faculty and students reflects a deep commitment to institutional change. Alana underscored how critical it is that this learning be continuous—single, one-off sessions are insufficient to shift the entrenched realities faced by marginalized individuals within colonial institutions.
Alana was also inspired by the work of Dr. Katherine McKittrick, who founded the Black Studies undergraduate minor in 2021. This new program brings Black Studies scholarship and Black focused programming to Queen’s.
Importantly, Queen’s was among the Canadian universities that signed The Scarborough Charter in 2021, pledging to address anti-Black racism and support Black student thriving. That same year, the university introduced a specialized QuARMS admission pathway for Black and Indigenous medical school applicants. Although that version of the program has been replaced by new targeted admissions for low-SES students, Queen’s continues to provide meaningful supports—such as the Black Liberation Commons and access to a Black mental health counselor.
When asked how the rise of conservatism and anti-equity rhetoric in the U.S. might influence her work, Alana acknowledged that these ideological shifts are already having ripple effects in Canada. Many equity-focused programs launched around 2021 have since seen their funding slashed or have been quietly dismantled. In her current research, Alana is exploring how post-secondary institutions are adapting—or retreating—in the face of shifting equity climates. She aims to assess whether the momentum seen in 2020 has been sustained and how the Canadian landscape may be affected by developments in the U.S.
Alana is deeply engaged with student communities and intends to recruit research participants from across several Queen’s organizations, including Queen’s Black Academic Society (QBAS), Teacher Candidates of Colour (TCC), Yellow House, African & Caribbean Students’ Association (ACSA), the Levana Gender Advocacy Centre, and others. She plans to conduct interviews with students involved in these spaces, focusing on key questions: Do they feel supported and a sense of belonging at Queen’s? Do existing supports encourage them to stay and thrive in the post-COVID academic landscape? Alana is also expanding her research beyond Queen’s and has already formed collaborations with the University of Toronto and University of Guelph to gather perspectives across Ontario.
She anticipates that her findings will hold direct policy relevance at the provincial level. By identifying best practices, she hopes to offer actionable recommendations to improve support for Black and other underrepresented students. As a lifelong Torontonian, Alana also expressed concern about recent backlash against the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) for its equity initiatives—highlighting how trustees have come under fire for their advocacy efforts. With the provincial government now overseeing the board’s budget, Alana hopes her research might help protect and inform equity practices within K–12 education as well.
Finally, when asked what advice she would give to early career scholars, particularly racialized women, considering an SSHRC Insight Grant, Alana stressed the importance of simply getting involved early on. Her own journey began as a research assistant, co-authoring grants and learning by immersing herself in the process. She encourages emerging scholars to seek out and study successful applications, noting that many grant holders are willing to share their work.
Read about the other major SSHRC-funded projects at the Faculty of Education