Social Justice Expert Appointed as Brock’s Director of Human Rights and Equity
Melissa Wilson has brought her extensive experience in equity work to Brock University.
Wilson has begun her new role as Director of the University’s Human Rights and Equity (HRE) Office, where she plans to continue the positive work she says drew her to the University.
“We have an amazing team here in HRE who willingly share their knowledge as subject matter experts with the Brock community,” she said. “Brock has invested into building the HRE team and has committed to supporting equity and inclusion in the University’s Strategic Plan. I’m excited to be part of this growing work.”
Having begun her career in teaching, Wilson has taken on a variety of roles related to equity and human rights in secondary and post-secondary education settings, along with recently serving as an Anti-Racist Consultant with the United Nations and completing a PhD in Social Justice Education from the University of Toronto in 2021.
She is now looking to draw on all of her experiences as she works with Brock’s HRE team.
“We want the whole of Brock to know that our office is here to support them through both proactive and reactive work,” she said. “We want people to feel like they belong and that they are represented in the work we are doing.”
Chelsea Takalo, Brock’s Associate Vice-President of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, says Wilson is a welcome addition to HRE.
“Melissa is a committed, collaborative and visionary leader who has built her career enhancing equity in community and institutional spaces across Canada and globally,” said Takalo. “I am excited for Melissa’s leadership to continue to strengthen Brock’s commitments in human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion.”
Continuing the equity-focused work the team is known for, Wilson and her HRE colleagues support human rights work through policies, response and resolutions, and equity work through advocacy, education and guidance.
However, Wilson says the team can’t accomplish these goals on its own.
“We want to collaborate alongside Faculties and departments from across campus,” she said. “Equity work must be done in community, and we want to know how we can support everyone at Brock and draw on their knowledge.”