Seven Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) community members have been recognized with Black Excellence Awards for making a meaningful difference at KPU and beyond.
Our very own Natasha Campbell, Instructor, Foundations in Design at KPU Wilson School of Design, is a recipient.
Campbell creates culturally-affirming learning spaces grounded in belonging and lived experience. From her work with the FIND Squamish First Nation cohort to her leadership across Wilson School of Design and Melville School of Business, she helps uplift marginalized voices and is committed to equity and accessibility in the classroom.
Through the Including All Citizens Pathway program, she has helped transform teaching practices through inclusive, disability-justice-informed pedagogy, creating classrooms where students feel seen, supported and empowered to share their lived experiences. Beyond the classroom, Natasha leads initiatives such as pitch competitions and leadership panels to intentionally build collaboration across faculties, alumni and communities.
“This year marks the first time we are presenting these awards, making it a special moment for our community. Our goal through these awards is to recognize and celebrate Black students, alumni and employees who demonstrate exceptional leadership, commitment and impact at KPU and beyond,” says Dr. Asma Sayed, Vice-President, Equity and Inclusive Communities at KPU.
From advocacy and mentorship to cultural celebration and community engagement, the award-winners have all demonstrated commitment, leadership and impact that support student success, advance racial justice, strengthen community wellbeing, challenge systemic barriers or celebrate the culture and identity of people of African descent.
The inaugural awards were presented March 23 by the Office of Equity and Inclusive Communities (OEIC) during the annual Anti-Racism Symposium at KPU Surrey.
KPU instructor Natasha Campbell and Amna Shah, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives.
Through these awards, KPU seeks to uplift the voices, labour and legacies of Black community members and support the ongoing work of racial justice and Black liberation across all areas of university life,
Zahra Mohamud — Advisor, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression, OEIC
The Black Excellence Awards align with KPU’s commitments under the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education. The charter calls on institutions to acknowledge “the galvanizing role that generations of Black students have played in redressing anti-Black racism, decolonizing curricular offerings and representing Black traditions of excellence” and “recognizing that redressing anti-Black racism and supporting Black inclusion, in its fulness and with careful attention to intersectionality, are crucial to promoting equality and an inclusive higher education for all.”
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