Dana Seitler receives Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize
Published: May 7, 2020
For her research, teaching and volunteerism in sexual diversity and inclusion, Professor Dana Seitler has received the Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize.
The honour is one of the Awards of Excellence presented by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in collaboration with the university. The prestigious program dates back to 1921 and recognizes outstanding faculty, staff and students.
Over the course of her career, Seitler has built a reputation as a champion of human rights and inclusion. A professor of American literature in the department of English and director of the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, Seitler's research has a particular focus on marginalized communities and minority experience.
In awarding the honour to Seitler, the alumni association noted that she expanded the Bonham Centre’s commitment to advocacy for human rights, equity and anti-discrimination and transformed it into a thriving international hub for academic, artistic, community-based and activist work in trans, sexuality and queer life. Seitler also re-invigorated many initiatives at the centre: making the Sexual Representation Archive Collection more accessible to local and international researchers; promoting the Lynch History Grant to support community-based projects that mobilize knowledge about queer history to broad audiences and championing the Sexual Diversity Studies Fellows program and the Artist-in-Residence program.
